Johanna McElwain Interview, May 31, 1977

Johanna McElwain describes her childhood on a homestead at Douglas Creek, located outside of Drummond, Montana. She discusses the household chores she was assigned, what her family did for entertainment, and the community dances they attended. She talks about growing up in a German community, learning English, and attending grade school with her siblings. McElwain recalls working as a housekeeper in Missoula, Montana, when she was 16, going to dances in the Orchard Homes area, and meeting her husband. She describes her reluctance to get married then finally accepting his proposal. McElwain details her experiences giving birth and the pain of losing her first two children. She concludes by talking about the clubs to which she belonged, including Order of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile, and what she remembers about women’s suffrage.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtwomen_oralhistory/1036/thumbnail.jp