The Women’s Protective Union

Gamer's Bakery Staff

The Women’s Protective Union was, in many ways, ahead of the women’s rights movement, and was incredibly successful at protecting its members. They were able to ensure women were paid a fair wage, protected from harassment, given sick leave, overtime pay, and even paid vacations. Although, the Women’s Protective Union had a much wider agenda than improving working conditions.

They held job skill classes for its members, as well as classes in personal hygiene and childcare, among others. Throughout its history, the WPU was well known for its progressive political and economic causes. They endorsed national health insurance, unemployment insurance, and a national retirement system. The women would also raise money for local improvements and would support their fellow trade union members in the event of a strike.

Below are snippets of some oral histories, all taken from interviews conducted by Whitney Williams, in 1995. She had interviewed those associated with the Women’s Protective Union, in an effort to preserve their experiences. Williams interviewed former WPU members Eleanor Peltomaa, Mildred Laitinen, and Rose Marie Johnson, as well as Bob Juliana, who worked closely with the union towards the end. 

List of Core WPU Members

• 1892 – President: Delia Moore   Secretary: Kate Mathews

• 1893 – President: Delia Moore   Secretary: Kate Mathews

• 1894 – Secretary: Jennie Condon

• 1895 – Secretary: Jennie Condon

• 1901- President: Maggie Keegan   Vice President: Mamie White  Secretary: Lizzie Boyle

• 1903 – President: Bridget McMahan   Secretary: Frances Calvin

• 1904 – President: Anna Riddle   Secretary: Frances Calvin

• 1905 – President: Mary Strume   Secretary: Katie McLeod

• 1906 – Business Agent: Frances Calvin

• 1907 – Business Agent: Frances Calvin

• 1908 – Business Agent: Maggie Bray

• 1909 – President: Kate Bartels   Secretary: Julia Mahoney

• 1912 – President: Annie Valentine   Secretary: Mary Herth

• 1914 – President: Kate Shea   Secretary: Florence Hall                        Business Agent: Ida Braman

• 1915 – President: Kate Shea   Secretary: Mabel Cameron                  Business Agent: Beatrice Gregory

• 1916 – President: Winifred Baxter   Secretary: Mabel Cameron         Business Agent: Lena Mattausch

• 1917 – President: Ethel Warren   Secretary: Margaret Mahoney

• 1918 – Secretary: Lena Mattausch

• 1923 – President: Christina Stanley   Secretary: Lena Mattausch      Business Agent: Sarah Nichols

• 1926 – Secretary: Mary Guihan

• 1927 – President: Lena Mattausch

• 1928 – President: Lena Mattausch   Vice President: Bridget Shea

• 1935 – Secretary: Sarah Johnson

• 1936 – Secretary: Sarah Johnson

• 1937- President: Teresa Theobold

• 1942 – President: Teresa Theobold

• 1943 – President: Bridget Walsh   Secretary: Frances Calvin              Business Agent: Kate Mohard

• 1944 – President: Teresa Theobold   Vice-President: Lena Mattausch   Business Agent: Bridget Shea

• 1945 – President: Teresa Theobold

• 1946 – President: Margaret Harrington   Vice President: Sarah Johnson   Secretary: Phoebe Larsen

Women's Protective Union Documents

• Cobble, Dorothy; Dishing it Out; Chicago, Illinois University of Illinois Press; 1991

• Crain, Ellen & Finn, Janet. Motherlode; Livingston, Montana, Clark City Press; 2005

• Judy, Beth; Bold Women in Montana History; Missoula, Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company; 2017

• Murphy, Mary; Mining Cultures; Chicago, Illinois, University of Illinois Press; 1997

Books

This project was generously funded by the Montana Community Foundation and the Harbaugh Foundation