Mining Childhood : Growing up in Butte, 1900 - 1960

by Janet L. Finn

• ISBN13: 9780980129243
• ISBN10: 0980129249
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2012-12-18
• Publisher: Montana Historical Society Press

Summary

Children of the Hilloffers a fresh perspective on Montana history. Drawing from a broad range of archival materials and oral histories, the book offers a child's-eye view of key events in Butte's history and considers how social, political, and economic forces shaping life in Butte left their marks on children. With its rich stories, the book captures children's experiences of school, play, and work by exploring their joys and miseries, their keen impressions of life in Butte, and the varied lessons learned. These stories illuminate the meaning and purpose of mining life in Butte: people came in search of a better life for themselves, and they stayed and struggled in order to build a better life for their sons and daughtersliving with the hardships and dangers of mining life so that their children might have a life beyond mining. Children were, quite simply, Butte's reason to be.

Author Biography

Janet L. Finn is professor of social work at the University of Montana and faculty member in the international development studies and gender studies departments. She has written extensively about Butte and childhood.

Table of Contents

Preface: The Meaning and Making of Childhood in Butte, Montana Chapter One: Children of The Hill: Situating Children in Butte’s History    Chapter Two: Mining Childhood                                                                         Chapter Three: Saving Children                                                                                      Chapter Four: Child’s Play                                                                                             Chapter Five: School Days                                                                                             Chapter Six: Learning to Labor                                                                                       Chapter Seven: A McQueen Childhood                                                               Chapter Eight: Epilogue: Childhood Matters                                                                     Index Acknowledgements Photo Credits