The Story of Us: The Women Who Shaped Montana continues with Episode III, exploring the remarkable lives of three women whose courage and creativity left a lasting imprint on the Treasure State. Ella Knowles Haskell, Montana’s first female lawyer and a political trailblazer, fought for women’s voices to be heard in the late 1800s. Fannie Sperry Steele, a fearless bronc rider from the Prickly Pear Valley, rose to national fame at a time when women were rarely seen in the rodeo arena, breaking barriers for women in sports and western culture. Nancy Cooper Russell, wife and business partner of artist Charles M. Russell, preserved and promoted his legacy while also shaping Montana’s cultural identity through her own resilience and vision. Through powerful storytelling, archival materials, and expert insight, this episode highlights the depth and diversity of Montana women’s contributions to law, art, and western heritage.
The Big Sky Film Grant
The Greater Montana Foundation
Humanities Montana
The Knowles Foundation
Nancy Thurmond
Jan & Terry Cosgrove
