Florence Murray Tubbs Interview, October 24, 1982

Florence Murray Tubbs recalls her family’s experiences in moving to and living in rural Montana in the early 1900s. She describes how her father obtained a homestead near Belt and Raynesford, Montana, in 1918, and how much upkeep it required. She talks about the chores she and each of her sibling were responsible for, including protecting sheep from coyotes and milking the cows. Tubbs discusses importance of cooperation and teamwork in the community and how much the neighbors relied on each other during haying and harvest season, particularly during the Great Depression. She recalls her time in a one-room schoolhouse, which was also built as a collaborative effort in the community, especially the games she and her classmates played and the events that were held in the building. She mentions on holiday traditions, limited medical assistance, and what she and her family did for fun on the ranch. Tubbs also addresses the lack of racial prejudice in her community, which had a significant immigrant population, and how much she admires those who made it through the Great Depression.