Louise Chapman Line was a mover and a shaker in the early days of Missoula, involved in women’s suffrage, culture, parks, theosophy, and ranching.

Born to immigrants in Billings, MT, Columbia Sassano had to repeat first grade because, the first time around, she only spoke Italian. Columbia went on to work as an army nurse during WWII then became a nurse anesthesiologist in Billings for the rest of her career.

Known for her caustic wit and the historical accuracy of her writing, Dorothy Johnson of Whitefish and Missoula, Montana, made her name with short stories, several of which became Hollywood hits, e.g., “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.”

Montana native Diane Sands has served many terms in the state legislature. She was the first openly gay legislator in the state. She has also contributed vital research and writing in MT women’s history—for example, on midwives in Montana.