MJ Bradbury Brings Historical Figure to Life at Canton Church
Author: mt43news staff reporter
MJ Bradbury Brings Historical Figure to Life at Canton Church
MT43 News Staff Reporter
Wellington D. Rankin was well known in Broadwater County two generations ago. He ran a large ranch up Avalanche Creek. Who was not well known in the county is his sister Jeannette, who was one of the most famous political figures in both Montana and US history.
Mary Jane Bradbury, a speaker from Humanities Montana, told Jeannette’s story for a full house at the Canton Church east of Townsend Friday. A storyteller, historian and educator, Bradbury has entertained in the Broadwater County venue often. Her gestures, facial expressions and costume breathed life into Rankin’s persona.
Rankin was a Suffragette in the early 20th century when she worked tirelessly to bring the vote to women, according to Bradbury. The 19th Amendment passed in 1920. Rankin never married, but she went into sweatshops and farm fields to see children working for small or no wages. Disgusted with what she witnessed, she ran for US Congress in 1916 as a Republican from Montana and won by 7,000 votes with her brother Wellington’s help. She lobbied for child labor laws and is credited with championing the 1st social services bill ever passed in Congress.
In an unusual political twist, Rankin lost in her next election, so was not active in politics until war’s ugly head reared itself again in 1937. Well known among politicians and women during the 20’s and 30’s, she ran again and won by a landslide in Montana. She cast the only vote against the nation entering World War II in 1941.
Rankin’s personal life was as unusual as her political life. The oldest of seven children, she was raised in Missoula, had a college degree and had traveled the world extensively. She did spend summer days at Wellington’s rustic ranch home at Avalanche Gulch. She lived most of her later life in a Georgia cabin which had dirt floors. Not far from her roots, however, the dirt floors were covered with Oriental rugs she purchased while abroad, Bradbury pointed out.
Rankin’s legacy as an idealist and champion of the rights of the downtrodden, poor people and children speaks well for Montana. The Congresswoman and artist Charlie Russell are the only bronze statues in the US Capitol to represent Montana.
Bradbury ended her presentation encouraging the audience to do as Rankin did - use their voices to lobby for what they believe in. She asked everyone to lobby our present Congressmen to protect the arts by funding the National Endowment for the Arts.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks, MT43News Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Mary Jane Bradbury brought Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin to life at the Canton Church last weekend.
Nancy Marks, MT43 News Photographer
