1. History of the League of Women Voters of Montana
Presented by Claudette Morton,
Helena Area League
I am a researcher by trade, Lived in Helena since 1978 and am a native Montanan.

2. Introduction The LWV nationally began in 1920.
When did the Montana League Began?
April 26, 1920
Where did the organizational meeting take place?
Great Falls
The first regional convention was in Butte.
Who were some of the founding members?
A. F Rice of Butte was the first president.
Tip: Add your own speaker notes here.

3. Other members included:
Jeanette Rankin
Maggie Smith Hathaway
Frieda Fligalman
Belle Fligalman Winesteen
Maggie Smith Hathaway was Lewis & Clark Superintendent of Schools, Became a legislator from Ravalli County fron , and later
became the Secretary of the Montana Bureau od Child and animal protection. She got the animals transferred to another department.
Frieda and Belle Fligalman went to college rather than finishing school & both received degrees from the U of Wisconsin. They were life long members of the league. Frieda study for her doctorate at Columbia, but because her work was a new field linguistic sociology, she did not receive her doctorate. But she was recognized for her ground breaking work in the 60s and 70s. She wrote poetry. Belle supported Jeanette Rankin and became her secretary in Washington. They both believed in reason in Politics and supported equal rights and peace throughout their lives.

4. Purpose: Work toward efficient government The good of public welfare in government International cooperation to prevent war Not be aligned with any party

5. Early Years 1920s &1930s Met in Helena during the Legislature
Loosely structured organization
In-active during WWII
By 1952 local leagues in Billings, Butte, Greatfalls, Havre, Helena & Missoula
Tip: Add your own speaker notes here.

6. 1950s 1952 local leagues were in: Billings Butte Great Falls Havre
Helena
Missoula
In 1953 state league to study Montana govt
April 1955 first state convention
Held in Butte
Catherine Jones of Missoula elected president
An agenda was adopted
A budget was prepared
Format for the state has continued ever since

7. By 1988 MT had 8 local leagues Billings Bozeman Flathead County
Great Falls
Helena
Liberty County
Missoula
Ravalli County
Also had MALs from Butte, Havre, Miles City & South Lincoln County

8. Issues the MTLWV has studied
Montana Institutions
Executive Reorganization
Constitutional Revision
Unicameral Legislature
Human Resources re: welfare
International relations
Natural Resources
Equal Right Amendment
Montana High School Association
State Prisons, Warm Springs, Boulder, etc.
Under human resources also children services.
Natural Resources including air and water pollution and the facilities siting act. Companies said it would take jobs.

9. On-going programs Voter Registration Candidate Forums Issues Forums
Monitor Polling Places
Get out the vote

10. Where to find League History
Montana Historical Society
Where else locally?
Thank you.