Starting Sunday, the Inter Lake presents a look at the black community in the Flathead's early years
Artie Thompson poses with son Sylvester Douglas when he was about 10 years old. Artie worked as a housekeeper for many years for the John Sherman family in Kalispell, and was an active member of Epworth Methodist Church.
As Black History Month concludes, the Daily Inter Lake presents an in-depth look Sunday and Monday at how black families have played an important role in the Flathead since the pioneer days.
Some of Kalispell’s earliest black residents were born into slavery before they later made their way to Montana after the Civil War. Snippets of their lives can be pieced together by searching the archives of the Daily Inter Lake, which has reported on the lives of the Flathead Valley’s citizens since 1889.
That citizenry included a modest number of black residents whose lives and livelihoods were a part of Kalispell’s early days. The newspaper reported frequently about the happenings of Kalispell’s early black community, extolling their virtues in obituaries, detailing lawn parties held by local black families and even reporting about the birthday parties of black children. Their achievements in the military and college were duly noted.
The Inter Lake shares our research, including interviews with elderly black citizens who have moved away but still hold precious memories of their time in Kalispell — along with occasional stories of prejudice. Read their story Sunday and Monday in the Daily Inter Lake’s series titled “Black in the Flathead: A Living History.”