Missoula's Chinese Community. During construction for a new brewery and pub on the 200 block of West Main Street, artifacts were discovered that included Chinese-made ceramics, pill vials associated with Chinese traditional medicine, opium paraphernalia and Chinese game pieces and coins. The pub was named "Cranky Sam's" after the proprietor of Sam's Cafe. Below this text is a photograph of Sam's Cafe, the window advertises Chop Suey Noodles and 25 cent Men's haircuts.
A series of artifacts accompanied by descriptive text on a black background. Alcoholic beverage bottles, perfume and cosmetic bottles, Sample of faunal remains with Chinese cleaver
Medicinal artifacts: A series of artifacts accompanied by descriptive text on a black background. Small medicine bottles, Milk of Magnesia bottle c. 1880-1890, Vaginal syringe fragments, Prescription 1000 venereal disease treatment c. 1907-1913, Lysol bottle.
UM graduate student Kate Kolwicz works with fragments of Chinese utilitarian brownware, including a soy pot, that were excavated in downtown Missoula
A late 1800s or early 1900s photograph of a well dressed young Chinese immigrant woman with the text Studio portrait of a Missoula Resident.
After the brothel closures, police began to target other businesses on Front and Main. Properties owned by women and minorities were especially vulnerable. Next to this text is a newspaper clipping that says Officers Arrest Nine in Gabling Den Raid. Sheriff Green and Party Raid Chinese Den on West Front Street. Released on Bond. Officer Bishop Effects Entrance and Arrest of Celestials Follows.
"Women, Indians, and minors" were banned from saloons in Montana, although these laws were not always enforced as this 1909 newspaper shows.
A Missoula politician in 1912 asserts his virtue by shutting down a "colored club" and opposing brothels. A newspaper clipping shows an interview with Dan J. Heyfron.
A newspaper with a prominent article about Immigration and White Slave Traffic.
Mary Gleim's legal encounters ranged from minor property disputes to assault and murder. A series of newspaper clippings detailing Gleim's crimes are displayed beside this text.
Mary Gleim (continued) further newspaper clippings about Mary Gleim are displayed here.
Mary Gleim's grave facing the railroad is accompanied by a photograph of Missoula from the railroad and newspaper clippings about her death and burial. "Mary Gleim Dies Queer Life Ends".
Two of Mary Gleim's eight "female boarding houses" still stand on Front street, restored to their original facades.
Delivery boys who brought alcohol to sex workers who operated outside of saloons are targeted as vagrants (The Daily Missoulian 1909) "Judge Makes New Ruling: Decides that Bellhops have not right to sell to women"
Only boarding houses for men such as Pierson's (below) were considered legitimate businesses. An accompanying photo shows a group of men in top hats.
Open reference to sex work was rare in newspapers of the time. Newspapermen commonly used terms like "secretary", "well-known woman", or "women of the restricted district" instead. Several attached newspaper clippings show the use of "secretary".
Parlors were favored by the law over private "crib" rooms where the women and their poverty were more publicly visible. Attached newspaper clippings about crib brothels vs parlors show a political preference for more "sanitary" parlors.
The mayor of Missoula expresses concern that limiting the sale of liquor would scatter the women in brothels on Front street across the city
(The Daily Missoulian 1911)
Closure of Front Street businesses begins in February, 1917. Newspaper clippings about the Ford letter and its effects are attached.
Claims that all "red-light" women left Missoula contrasts with evidence of clandestine sex work taking place (The Daily Missoulian 1917). "Mary Carson's Love of Khaki Cause of Exile: Woman Who Figured in Guard Camp Scandal Ordered Out of Town" "'Red-light' Women Have Left The City: Chief of Police Says But Three or Four Remain in Missoula. Are Behaving Well. Complaints Register From Residents Districts Found Without Merit"
A common source of concern about brothels before and after their closure was sanitation. Some worry about the living conditions of the women involved, while others focus on STI rates in the wider population. Clippings "West Front Street Gets Attention" "Redlight is Not Necessary Evil"
Unmarried women living with men were prosecuted as sex workers, and public concern concentrated on "white slaves". Clippings: "Mexicans Accused Under White Slave Law" "Jailed For Breach of Moral Ordinance".
Only a year after passing red-light laws, plays featuring white sex workers as victims were popular entertainment in Missoula. Advertisements for "The Trunk Mystery" and "The Girl Without a Chance" at the Missoula Theater are attached.
