Research Resources
In an effort to help other researchers study the Chinese experience in Montana, this section of the website will contain public domain documents for dissemination to interested parties. These resources may include census abstracts, newspaper extractions, pictures of selected Chinese artifacts, and many other types of documents. If anyone has additional information, or documents relating to this experience, please send Merritt an email that can be found under “Contact Us”.
Dissertation
Newspaper Extractions
Census/Population
Chinese in Montana Bibliography
Dissertation
Thanks to an awesome committee comprised of Dr. Kelly Dixon, Dr. John Douglas, Dr. Richard Sattler, Dr. Philip West and Dr. Ellen Baumler (of the Montana Historical Society) I have completed my dissertation and it is posted on this page for other researchers to use and build. Thanks also to all the students, volunteers, and paid staff that made this effort possible.
"The Coming Man from Canton: Chinese Experience in Montana (1862-1943)"
Newspaper Extractions
The following newspaper extractions are by no means comprehensive, as the attempt was to collect a cross-section of Chinese experience in Montana by touching as many locations and time periods as possible. If other researchers wish to contribute extractions to this page please contact the author at the email located on the Contact page.
The Helena Daily Herald (1867-1878)
--Helena, MT
The New Northwest (1869-1888)
--Deer Lodge, MT
The Missoula and Cedar Creek Pioneer (1869-1873)
--Missoula, MT
The Benton Record (1875-1884)
--Fort Benton, MT
--Special Thanks to the Overholser Historical Research Center
Fort Benton River Press (1880-1923)
--Fort Benton, MT
--Special Thanks to the Overholser Historical Research Center
The Granite Mountain Star (1890-1891)
--Granite, MT
The Helena Independent (1875-1884, 1894, 1924-1954)
--Helena, MT
The Colored Citizen (1894-1894)
--Helena, MT
The Great Falls Tribune (1901-1912)
--Great Falls, MT
The Montana Plaindealer (1906-1911)
--Helena, MT
The Mineral County Independent (1906-present)
--Superior, MT
--Special Thanks to the Mineral County Historical Society
The Montana Standard (1929-1936)
--Butte, MT
Census Records
1870 Federal Census Extraction for Chinese Individuals
1880 Federal Census Extraction for Chinese Individuals
1900 Federal Census Extraction for Chinese Individuals
1930 Federal Census Extraction for Chinese Individuals
1870 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1880 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1900 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1910 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1920 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
1930 Federal Census, Chinese by Location
Summary of Data
| Year |
# of Chinese in MT |
Total MT Population |
Chinese % of Population |
| 1870 |
1,933 |
20,595 |
9.39% |
| 1880 |
1,895 |
39,159 |
4.84% |
| 1890 |
2,564 |
142,924 |
1.79% |
| 1900 |
1,717 |
243,329 |
.71% |
| 1910 |
1,188 |
376,053 |
.32% |
| 1920 |
868 |
548,889 |
.16% |
| 1930 |
363 |
537,606 |
.07% |
| 1940 |
258 |
559,456 |
.05% |
| 1950 |
209 |
591,024 |
.04% |
| 1960 |
240 |
674,767 |
.04% |
| 1970 |
289 |
694,409 |
.04% |
| 1980 |
346 |
786,690 |
.04% |
| 1990 |
655 |
799,065 |
.08% |
| 2000 |
827 |
902,195 |
.09% |
Source: U.S. Federal Census, 1870-2000, Washington, D.C.
