John White Speaker Series returns to History Museum
Josephine Doody, known as the "Bootleg Lady of Glacier Park," is now celebrated as an icon of the Middle Fork of the Flathead. Her story and others will be retold by John Fraley March 6 during this winter's John White Lecture Series at the Northwest Montana History Museum.
Now in its 19th year, the popular Northwest Montana Historical Society’s John White Speaker Series returns this winter with a slate of engaging discussions. This year the series will be available in both in-person and digital presentations.
Feb. 6 — Flathead Lake Biological Station ecologist Tom Bansak will present “Morton Elrod: Montana’s Pioneer Renaissance Man.” Morton John Elrod was the first professor of biology at the University of Montana, founded the Flathead Lake Biological Station in 1899 and later became Glacier National Park’s first naturalist.
Feb. 20 — The museum will stream the PBS documentary “For This and Future Generations,” originally produced 20 years ago to commemorate the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention to celebrate its 50th anniversary, with an introduction from longtime state legislator and Historical Society board member Bob Brown.
March 6 — Local author John Fraley will discuss Josephine Doody, the Bootlegger of Glacier Park, Betty the Trapper, as well as many other new stories about Middle Fork pioneers since his original book “Wild River Pioneers” was published in 2008.
March 20 — Northwest Montana History Museum director Jacob Thomas, Brit Clark of the Conrad Mansion Museum and Alyssa Cordova of the Hockaday Museum of Art will discuss “The Joys and Challenges of the Museum Profession in Kalispell.”
All John White Series presentations are Sundays at 2 p.m.
New for 2022, the museum will offer three different ways to experience the John White Speaker Series:
• Members of the Northwest Montana Historical Society can reserve the entire series for a discounted rate of $35.
• General admission to each event is $10 per person.
All admission sales include a digital version of the presentation, provided by email the day after the event. Purchase at the museum, located at 124 Second Ave. E. in Kalispell, or call 406-756-8381 to register and pay by credit card.
• Digital-only access will be available on the museum’s website (nwmthistory.org) for $8 per event, and will also include entry to the “overflow” room at the museum with a live-stream during the presentation. The digital version will also be provided the day after the event.
In-person attendance will be limited, so advance reservations are highly recommended. For more information, contact the museum at 406-756-8381, or email museum@nwmthistory.org.