Research Guides and Teacher Resources

Homesteading in Montana: History Collections

The Homestead Act of 1862 changed the course of United States history, opening up the West to millions of settlers. 270 million acres, about 10% of the total land area of the United States, was claimed through homesteading. People from all walks of life were eligible, as long as they could improve the land, build a home, and use the land. We are pleased to share a guide to searching the MMP website for content on homesteading.

Logging History in Montana

This photographic research guide illustrates the loggers’ work environment and some of the methods they employed during the early days of logging. Most of these photos were taken in Montana or north Idaho and most were taken during the days of the Logging Camp, before the advent of the chainsaw.

The Military in Montana: History Collections

The Montana History Portal, in collaboration with nearly 100 institutions around the state, is pleased to present a wide variety of historical resources on the military in Montana. Some of these collections are narrowly focused on military topics. Others cover a broader range of topics in Montana history, with selected items related to the military.

Montana Genealogy Resources

Genealogy is a popular and important activity for millions of Americans. The Montana History Portal has tens of thousands of items from dozens of institutions around the state which can be used for genealogical research. In order to make searching easier, we have compiled this helpful starter guide for those wishing to use the MMP site.

Montana History Books

The Montana History Portal, in collaboration with museums and libraries around the state of Montana, are pleased to present this collection of free-to-read digital history books. These books were published from the 18th all the way through the 21st centuries. The topics range from homesteading, to mining, to in-depth family histories. There are a number of autobiographies of early Montanans, as well as more modern looks back at the early days of the state. In particular, the books in this listing comprise an unparalleled collection of histories of Montana counties and localities.

Ranching in Montana: History Collections

Ranching in Montana began in the middle of the 19th century. The first ranchers settled in the mountain valleys of the western part of the state. Sheep and cattle arrived in Montana during this period. Over time cattle emerged as the focus for most ranchers. We are pleased to share a guide to searching the Montana History Portal website for content on ranching.

Winter Wheat by Mildred Walker: A Research Guide

Although she published 13 novels, four of which are set in Montana, Mildred Walker (1940s photo shown here) is not as well-known as some of her literary contemporaries who also called The Big Sky home. Her most popular novel, Winter Wheat, tells the story of Ellen Webb, a young woman who questions her life on a wheat farm after leaving Montana to attend college.