Oral Histories
Longtime residents retain a wealth of information. They can tell us how people have lived within the ecosystem over time. Their stories are not only entertaining, they provide clues as to how we can both use and protect our forests, wildlife, water and a rural way of life. Swan Valley journalist, Suzanne Vernon, local students and volunteers, are conducting oral histories of longtime residents and summarizing them for Swan Ecosystem Center and the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, with the goal of publishing a book.

A collection of summaries are available for $15 at SEC in the notebook “Swan Valley, a Century of Change.” Featured below is an excerpt:

Resource Center
Swan Ecosystem Center also offers an extensive resource center for public use. Resources include tapes, transcripts and photos from the Oral History Project, homestead documents, maps, books and hundreds of scientific reports relevant to the Upper Swan Valley. Contact us so that we may assist you in finding the cataloged information relevant to your topic.

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Gyda Monrad Newman

When you see the sparkle in this woman's bright, blue eyes, you know that she loves life. Her Norwegian ancestors would be proud. Her life has been framed by challenges, and she has met them all with confidence and dignity. Many times over, the mountains of the Swan Valley have provided a place of refuge for her during hard times. The granite peaks, spruce green forests and turquoise lakes have nurtured her soul...

Click here to read
the complete installment

(PDF format)

Swan Ecosystem Center
6887 Hwy 83, USFS Condon Work Center, Condon, MT 59826