ADAM M.

SOWARDSisassociaLcprocssoro
hisLoryanddirccLoroLhcPrograminPacic
NorLhwcsLSLudicsaLLhcUnivcrsiLyoIdaho.
HcisLhcauLhoroTe Environmental Justice:
William O. Douglas and American Conservation.
EDI TED BY ADAM M. SOWARDS
Idahos
Place
I
onuo s rincsisananLhologyoLhc
mosL currcnL and original wriLing on
Ccm SLaLc hisLory. From Lhc sLaLcs
indigcnous rooLs and carly cnvironmcnLal
baLLlcs Lo rcccnL poliLical and social cvcnLs,
Lhcsccssaysprovidcmuch-nccdcdconLcxLor
undcrsLandingIdahosimporLanLrolcinLhc
dcvclopmcnLoLhcAmcricanWcsL.
Trough a crcaLivc approach LhaL combincs
cxploraLionsoconccpLssuchaspoliLics,gcn-
dcr,andraccwiLhLhcoralhisLoricsoIdaho
rcsidcnLsLhc vcry pcoplc who livcd and
madc sLaLc hisLoryLhis uniquc collccLion
shcds ncw lighL on Lhc sLaLcs surprisingly
conLcnLious pasL. Rcadcrs, whcLhcr Lhcy arc
longLimcrcsidcnLsorncwcomcrs,LourisLsor
scasonaldwcllcrs,policymakcrsorhisLorians,
willbcLrcaLcdLoarichnarraLivcinwhichLhc
many Lhrcads o Idahos hisLory cnLwinc Lo
produccacomplcLcLapcsLryoLhisbcauLiul
andcomplcxwcsLcrnsLaLc.
I
d
a
h
o

s

P
l
a
c
e
A

N
E
W

H
I
S
T
O
R
Y

O
F

T
H
E

G
E
M

S
T
A
T
E
PROGRAM I N PACI FI C NORTHWEST STUDI ES
uNivcrsi1voribtno
UNI VERSI T Y OF WASHI NGTON PRESS
ScaLLlcandIondon
www.washingLon.cdu/uwprcss
S
O
W
A
R
D
S
9 7 8 0 2 9 5 9 9 3 6 7 6
9 0 0 0 0
I SBN 978- 0-295- 99367- 6
1ackcLdcsignandillusLraLionbyDusLinKilgorc
NoLhingclscpublishcd cvcnrcmoLclydocswhaL
Lhis collccLion docs. IL is a major conLribuLion
LhaLllsmanyobviousgapsinLhchisLoryoLhc
CcmSLaLc.
CARLOS A. SCHWANTES,auLhoro
In Mountain Shadows: A History of Idaho

TcsLaLcoIdahoisLrulyblcsscdLodrawLhc
aLLcnLion o Lhis LalcnLcd, compcLcnL group
widclyrccognizcdorpasLscholarlyconLribuLions.
TcrangcanddcpLhoLhcrcscarchdisplaycdin
LhccssaysarcouLsLanding.
DAVI D H. STRAT TON,auLhor o
Terra Northwest: Interpreting People and Place
A
NEW
HISTORY OF
THE GEM STATE
REVISED-sowards-mechanical.indd 1 5/6/14 12:54 PM
ibtno s ritcc
sowards-text.indd 1 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
sowards-text.indd 2 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
t Ncw nis1orv or 1nc ccr s1t1c
Idahos
Place
cbi1cb sv
Adam M. Sowards
uNtvsastTv or wAsatNcToN rasss
sct11ic tNb ioNboN
raocaAu tN rActrtc NoaTawssT sTuotss
uNivcrsi1v or ibtno
sowards-text.indd 3 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
:o by Lhc UnivcrsiLy o WashingLon Prcss
PrinLcd and bound in Lhc UniLcd SLaLcs o Amcrica
Dcsign by DusLin Kilgorc
Composcd in Chaparral, a Lypcacc dcsigncd by Carol Twombly
, 6 :
All righLs rcscrvcd. No parL o Lhis publicaLion may bc rcproduccd or LransmiL-
Lcd in any orm or by any mcans, clccLronic or mcchanical, including phoLocopy,
rccording, or any inormaLion sLoragc or rcLricval sysLcm, wiLhouL pcrmission in
wriLing rom Lhc publishcr.
UnivcrsiLy o WashingLon Prcss
PO Box oo6, ScaLLlc, WA 8, USA
www.washingLon.cdu/uwprcss
Program in Pacic NorLhwcsL SLudics
DcparLmcnL o HisLory
UnivcrsiLy o Idaho
8, PcrimcLcr Drivc MS ,
Moscow, ID 88-,
RabbiL and 1ack RabbiL rcprinLcd by pcrmission rom Rodncy Frcy, Landscape
Traveled by Coyote and Crane: Te World of the Schitsuumsh (Coeur dAlene Indians)
(ScaLLlc: UnivcrsiLy o WashingLon Prcss, :oo), :.
Iibrary o Congrcss CaLaloging-in-PublicaLion DaLa
Idahos placc : a ncw hisLory o Lhc Ccm SLaLc / cdiLcd by Adam M. Sowards.
sL cdiLion.
pagcs cm
Includcs bibliographical rccrcnccs and indcx.
ISBN ,8 -o -: -6, -6 (cloLh : alk. papcr)
. IdahoHisLory. :. IdahoCivilizaLion. . FLhnologyIdaho. . Idaho
FLhnic rclaLions. I. Sowards, Adam M., cdiLor o compilaLion. II. UnivcrsiLy o
Idaho. Program in Pacic NorLhwcsL SLudics.
r,6.i: :o
,.6dc:
:oo6
Tc papcr uscd in Lhis publicaLion is acid-rcc and mccLs Lhc minimum rcquirc-
mcnLs o Amcrican NaLional SLandard or InormaLion ScicnccsPcrmancncc o
Papcr or PrinLcd Iibrary MaLcrials, tNsi z.88.
sowards-text.indd 4 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
To all my Lcachcrs and sLudcnLs
in wcsLcrn and norLhwcsLcrn hisLory
sowards-text.indd 5 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
sowards-text.indd 6 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
. Idahos Placc: Rcckoning wiLh HisLory
tbtr r. sowtrbs
:. Tc Conucncc o Rivcrs: Tc Indigcnous Tribcs o Idaho
robNcv rrcv tNb roscr1 rcctri
tonno votces: Native American History :
. Crossing Dividcs: An FnvironmcnLal HisLory o Idaho
xcviN r. rtrsn
tonno votces: Environmental History ,
. Idiosyncrasy and Fnigma: Idaho PoliLics ,6
xt1ncriNc c. tixcN
tonno votces: Political History o
. Tc Powcr and Lhc Clory: Idahos Rcligious HisLory o8
+iii x. ciii
tonno votces: Religious History 6
6. Dcying Boundarics: Womcn in Idaho HisLory 8
iturt woobwor1n-Ncv tNb 1trt t. rowc
tonno votces: Womens History 6
,. ConronLing Racc and CrcaLing CommuniLy: Idahos FLhnic HisLory 6,
ituric rcrcicr
tonno votces: Ethnic History 8
sowards-text.indd 7 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
8. IaLinos in Idaho: Making Tcir Way in Lhc Ccm SLaLc :o
crroi b. +oNcs
tonno votces: Latino History :
. ShiLing CurrcnLs: CulLural Fxprcssions in Idaho :8
ricntrb w. c1uitiN
tonno votces: Cultural History :6o
o. Tclling SLorics: Idahos HisLorians :6
+ubi1n tus1iN
tonno votces: Historians :8
Contributors
Index
sowards-text.indd 8 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
Acknowledgments
Among Lhc many who havc hclpcd crcaLc Lhis book, Lhosc who work aL
Lhc Idaho SLaLc HisLorical SocicLy dcscrvc promincnL Lhanks. Oral his-
Lorians, pasL and prcscnL, prcscrvcd imporLanL maLcrials LhaL I drcw on.
KaLhy Hodgcs madc a rcscarch Lrip Lo Boisc plcasanL and producLivc. On
LhaL samc Lrip, I drcw on 1udy AusLins gcncrosiLy and dcLailcd knowlcdgc
o Lhc socicLys phoLographic holdings, making my Lask ar casicr. I also am
cxcccdingly graLcul Lo Lhc Idaho HumaniLics Council or a granL Lo hclp
oscL Lhc unding or Lhis book, Rick Ardingcr graciously hclpcd aciliLaLc
LhaL proccss. FurLhcr unding and supporL camc Lhrough Lhc UnivcrsiLy
o Idahos Program in Pacic NorLhwcsL SLudics. KaLhcrinc C. Aikcn, Lhc
ormcr dcan o Lhc Collcgc o IcLLcrs, ArLs, and Social Scicnccs and currcnL
provosL or Lhc univcrsiLy, cnsurcd unding or Lhc program, cvcn in Limcs
o nancial challcngcs, and has bccn a supporLcr o Lhis projccL rom iLs
inccpLion. FlizabcLh Carncy, Mark Ficgc, Troy Rccvcs, 1c Sandcrs, and
Kcllcy Sowards gavc Lhc inLroducLion hclpul criLiqucs LhaL havc hclpcd
mc improvc my idcas and cxprcssion. Aaron Schab and Shanc Carncr pro-
vidcd cdiLorial assisLancc. Mariannc KcddingLon-Iang o Lhc UnivcrsiLy o
WashingLon Prcss gavc Lhis projccL carly supporL and cxccllcnL suggcsLions.
RanjiL Arab inhcriLcd Lhc projccL whcn Mariannc scmircLircd, hc has bccn
Lhc pcrccL combinaLion in an cdiLor, prodding and pcrsisLcnL, cncouraging
and hclpul. Tc rcsL o Lhc prcss sLa havc bccn modcls o procssionalism.
MosL o all, I Lhank Lhc auLhors o Lhcsc cssays or Lhcir nc work, Lhcir
inniLc paLicncc, and Lhcir (usually) good chccr in Lhc acc o whaL has
sccmcd Lo us all Lo bc cndlcss dclays. I can only hopc LhaL Lhc book mccLs
Lhcir cxpccLaLions. IasLly, as wiLh all projccLs, I Lhank my amilyncar and
ar, old and ncwor Lhcir orbcarancc and supporL. Tc book is dcdicaLcd
Lo all my Lcachcrs and sLudcnLs in wcsLcrn and norLhwcsLcrn hisLory, rom
Lhcm, I havc lcarncd and conLinuc Lo lcarn so much.
ix
sowards-text.indd 9 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
sowards-text.indd 10 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
ibtno s ritcc
sowards-text.indd 1 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
sowards-text.indd 2 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s

1
Idahos Place
Reckoning with History
tbtr r. sowtrbs
S
Now tNb rtiN rtii rror 1nc ibtno sxics. ts wt1cr, i1
rolls or sccps down hillsidcs and inLo crccks. IL collccLs inLo largcr
sLrcams and Lhcn inLo rivcrs. Tcn rivcrs convcrgc inLo largcr rivcrs. IL is
an imprcssivcly complcx sysLcm in which scvcral parLs cxisL individually,
buL as Lhcy movc Lhrough spacc and Limc, Lhosc indcpcndcnL picccs gaLh-
cr LogcLhcr and collccL inLo somcLhing largcr and Lhcn largcr sLill. AL Lhc
hcadwaLcrs, Lhc waLcr sysLcm sccms simplc. By Lhc Limc wc scc Lhc rivcr
downsLrcam, iL is Lhc accumulaLion o counLlcss LribuLarics and all LhaL
ows inLo cach o Lhcm.
HisLory is likc LhaL, Loo.

IL bcgins wiLh small Lhingsan individual, a

amily, a villagc, a ycar. Tcy inLcracL and accumulaLc and convcrgc, adding
and changing inLo somcLhing alLogcLhcr ncwa Lown, a rcgion, an ccon-
omy, an cra. IaLcr, downsLrcam, as iL wcrc, Lhosc consLiLucnL parLs arc
so inLcrminglcd, so cnLanglcd, LhaL iL is impossiblc Lo disccrn onc sLrand
rom anoLhcr, and wc nd cach piccc wrappcd up wiLh all Lhc oLhcrs. So iL
is wiLh Idaho and iLs rich pasL. Tc waLcrways o hisLory arc abundanL. Tis
book hclps us charL Lhcm. IL shows us how Lhc sLrcams and rivcrs havc crc-
aLcdand conLinuc Lo crcaLcLhis vibranL placc, Idaho.
What is Idahos place? IL is a dcccpLivcly simplc qucsLion. Tc answcr, o
coursc, is, iL dcpcnds. IL dcpcnds parLially on how wc ramc Lhc qucsLion. I
wc considcr iL gcographically, Idaho is a mccLing ground o Lhc CrcaL Basin,
Rocky MounLains, and Columbia PlaLcau and is characLcrizcd by sLunning
sagcbrush, majcsLic mounLains, and roiling rivcrs. I wc cxaminc iL poliLi-
cally, Idaho is as conscrvaLivcly Rcpublican as any sLaLc Loday, buL bcginning
in ,, Lwo DcmocraLic govcrnors scrvcd six consccuLivc Lcrms, and Lhc
sowards-text.indd 3 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
tbtr r. sowtrbs
sLaLc has long bccn rcprcscnLcd by crccly indcpcndcnL Rcpublicans and
DcmocraLs unaraid o bucking Lhcir parLy csLablishmcnLs and scrving Lhc
sLaLc morc Lhan a parLys idcology. I wc conccivc o iL cLhnically, Idaho is
onc o Lhc mosL homogcncous sLaLcs in Lhc naLion, ycL oncc ncarly onc-Lhird
o iLs populaLion was Chincsc, a long and proud Basquc LradiLion sLrongly
inucnccs culLural cvcnLs and idcnLiLics, and iLs many Lribal mcmbcrs rcp-
rcscnL a conLinuing viLal prcscncc.
Tis lisL o paradoxcs could go on. Tc conLradicLions could bc dcscribcd
by Lhc common quip LhaL Idaho is Lhc only sLaLc wiLh Lhrcc capiLalsSalL
Iakc CiLy, Boisc, and Spokancwhich shows Lhc culLural, poliLical, and
cconomic scaLLcring o Lhc sLaLc. Tcy could highlighL how Lhc sLaLc pos-
scsscs somc o Lhc largcsL and longcsL-proLccLcd wildcrncss arcas amid a
populaLion LhaL cxhibiLs somc o Lhc naLions mosL hosLilc aLLiLudcs Loward
cnvironmcnLal proLccLion. Tcy could caLurc Lhc simulLancous opporLuni-
Lics and obsLaclcs, discriminaLion and Lolcrancc accd by divcrsc Idahoans
whilc Lhcy wcrc Lrying Lo makc a succcssul lic in Lhc sLaLc. In oLhcr words,
Lhc sLaLc is a divcrsc and in-bcLwccn placc whcrc Lhcrc is ar morc Lhan rsL
mccLs Lhc cyc or Lhan is rcvcalcd by Lhc popular sLcrcoLypcs o amous po-
LaLocs, Aryan NaLions, and opcn spaccs. To placc Idaho, Lo dcnc Lhis sLaLc,
wc musL rcckon rsL and lasL wiLh iLs hisLory. Tis book Lakcs on Lhis Lask.
A lcading hisLorian o Lhc rcgion oncc rcmarkcd LhaL Lhc Pacic NorLh-
wcsL was ar away rom and bchind Lhc Limcs o mainsLrcam Amcrica. And
iL is casy Lo concludc rom cxisLing rcgional wriLing LhaL Idaho is Lhc mosL
disLanL and mosL dclaycd o Lhc sLaLcs wiLh which iL is usually linkcd.
:
BuL
such a characLcrizaLion conccals morc Lhan iL rcvcals and dcpcnds largcly on
comparisons wiLh Ncw York or NorLh Carolina, MassachuscLLs or Missouri.
YcL cvcn hisLorians o Lhc Amcrican WcsL marginalizc Idaho, paying morc
aLLcnLion Lo iLs ncighbors, pcrhaps bccausc iLs complcx hisLory dccs casy
incorporaLion inLo largcr narraLivcs.

Tc casual rcadcr, rcsidcnL, or visiLor

Lo Lhc sLaLc could bc orgivcn or Lhinking LhaL noL much happcncd Lhcrc
or LhaL cvcnLs in Idahos hisLory rcvcal liLLlc o imporLancc morc broadly.
Tis simply is noL Lruc.
Fvcn Lhc morc aLLcring porLraiLs do noL adcquaLcly rcprcscnL Idaho.
Considcr Iconard 1. ArringLons dcscripLion rom his Lhorough, Lwo-volumc
History of Idaho: [T]hc pcoplcs o Idaho havc adjusLcd Lo Lhcsc divcrs Lugs
sowards-text.indd 4 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
rccxoNiNc wi1n nis1orv
and pulls, and a rcsoluLc ciLizcn loyalLy Lo Lhc sLaLc has cmcrgcd. Idahoans
cnjoy Lhcir hisLorical uniqucncss.... Indccd, Idahoans Lakc pridc in Lhcir
singulariLyLhcir uniquc blcnd o conscrvaLism and progrcssivism, Lhcir
rcc-whccling dcmocracy, and Lhcir dccp commiLmcnL Lo LradiLional val-
ucs.

As asLuLc an obscrvcr as any, ArringLon skcLchcs Lhc sLaLc as singular

whcn in acL mosL wcsLcrn sLaLcs, pcrhaps all sLaLcs, would bc cqually wcll
characLcrizcd by Lhc gcncraliLics hc cmploys.
I noLiccd Lhis Lcndcncy Lo displacc or misplacc Idaho, dcspiLc good rca-
sons noL Lo, whcn I movcd rom Lcaching NorLhwcsL hisLory aL an urban
collcgc in ScaLLlc Lo doing so aL a rural univcrsiLy in Moscow, Idaho. IL was
casy Lo nd hisLorycxccllcnL hisLory, in acLabouL Idaho. ScnsiLivc
porLrayals o Idaho Lribal culLurc, surprising insighLs abouL Lhc social and
cnvironmcnLal hisLory o irrigaLion, and a bcsL-sclling accounL o indusLrial
violcncc and poliLical rcLribuLion had all bccn publishcd in Lhc cw ycars bc-
orc my movc.

DcspiLc Lhis work and much morc LhaL conLinucs Lo appcar

ycar aLcr ycar, Idahos hisLory has rcmaincd disconnccLcd and disjoinLcd,
much Lhc samc as Lhc sLaLcs sprawling landscapc.
6

UndcrsLanding Idahos placc and puLLing iL in conLcxL rcquircs a guidc-
book. Tis book aLLcmpLs Lo rcmcdy Lhc currcnL scaLLcrshoL undcrsLanding
o Lhc sLaLcs pasL. To daLc, Lhosc inLcrcsLcd in rcligious hisLory mighL know
o Idahos Church o 1csus ChrisL o IaLLcr-day SainLs or ChrisLian IdcnLiLy
sccLs, immigraLion hisLorians mighL know o iLs working-class mincrs or
agriculLural workcrs, culLural hisLorians mighL know o iLs wriLcrs or arL-
isLs. BuL Lhosc Lopics havc Lcndcd Lo rcmain diuscd. WhaL Lhc nc auLhors
in Lhis volumc havc donc is collccL and synLhcsizc Lhc bcsL o Idaho his-
Lory. Considcr, Lhcn, Lhis book a rcporL on Lhc sLaLc o Lhc sLaLcs hisLory.
Rcadcrs who pick up Lhis volumcwhcLhcr Lhcy arc longLimc rcsidcnLs or
ncwcomcrs, oncLimc LourisLs or scasonal dwcllcrs, policy makcrs or hisLori-
answill bc LrcaLcd Lo a rich pasL, onc in which Lhc many sLrcams o Idahos
hisLory inLcrminglc Lo producc Lhis bcauLiul, inLcrcsLing, and somcLimcs
conounding sLaLc.
WhaL docs Lhis work rcvcal abouL Idaho` IL would bc rcdundanL Lo sum-
marizc cach chapLcr hcrc, buL iL may bc uscul Lo poinL ouL Lo rcadcrs somc
ways various clcmcnLs o Idaho hisLory inLcrsccL, boLh LhcmaLically and
chronologically, as rcccLcd by Lhcsc gaLhcrcd LcxLs. As alrcady suggcsLcd,
sowards-text.indd 5 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
6 tbtr r. sowtrbs
paradox is a primc characLcrisLic o Lhis sLaLc, puzzlcs abouL Idahos pasL
arc plain in almosL all Lhc cssays LhaL ollow. Morc scl-consciously Lhan
any oLhcr availablc sourcc, Lhis book Lraccs how Idahos poliLical or culLural
paradoxcs cvolvcd so LhaL Lhc sLaLc bccomcs comprchcnsiblc, noL jusL a
collccLion o incxplicablc oddiLics. PoliLical paLLcrns, cnvironmcnLal divi-
sions, racial challcngcs, and culLural Lrcnds all cmcrgc rom Lhcsc pagcs in
ways LhaL makc clcar whaL aL rsL mighL sccm conusing or conLradicLory.
Tc rcason or Lhc clariLy, or Lhc unravcling o Lhcsc paradoxcs, is LhaL Lhc
auLhors rooL Lhcir analyscs in hisLorical dcvclopmcnLs. WhaL mighL sccm
cnigmaLic in Lhc LwcnLy-rsL ccnLury looking backward makcs scnsc whcn
sccn on Lhc pasLs own Lcrms. Or, Lo rcLurn Lo Lhc rivcr mcLaphor, wc can
nd our way bcsL Lhrough Idahos waLcrshcds by Lracing Lhcm rom Lhc
hcadwaLcrs o Lhc pasL Lhrough Lhcir conucnccs wiLh Lhc prcscnL.
AnoLhcr lciLmoLi in Lhc ollowing chapLcrs is how Idahoans builL Lhcir
communiLics, somcLimcs in Lhc acc o sLrong counLcrprcssurcs. WhcLhcr
cmphasizing Lhc rolcs o womcn and churchcs, cconomic and poliLical
rooLs, or cLhnic and culLural LradiLions, Lhc auLhors show commonaliLics
LhaL bound Idahoans Lo onc anoLhcr as Lhcy madc Lhcir way in Lhc world.
In Lhc acc o somcLimcs harsh physical and social cnvironmcnLs, Idaho-
ans bandcd LogcLhcr Lo crcaLc placcs in Lhcir Lowns, Lhcir sLaLc, and Lhcir
social insLiLuLions whcrc Lhcy clL aL homc and LhaL promoLcd a scnsc o
wcll-bcing, communiLy, and idcnLiLy. Such havcnspowwows, churchcs,
poliLical parLics, womcns clubs, labor unions, and morcocrcd muLual
aid in Lrying Limcs, a scnsc o idcnLiLy and bclonging, and connccLions Lo
oLhcr communiLics wiLhin and bcyond Idahos bordcrs.
InLcgral Lo Lhis communiLy building and LogcLhcrncss, Lhough, wcrc Lhc
hosLiliLy and discriminaLion many communiLics accd whilc making Lhcir
way. IaLLcr-day SainLs and Chincsc mincrs, womcn and Amcrican Indians,
IaLino migranLs and 1apancsc armcrs, and morc accd uncqual condiLions.
Such incqualiLy Look many orms, rom ocially sancLioncd lcgal discrimi-
naLion Lo inLcrpcrsonal violcncc. Idaho individuals and communiLics pcr-
sisLcd, survivcd, and ourishcd dcspiLc prcssurcs Lo assimilaLc, disappcar,
or rcmain in Lhc shadows. Tis Lhrivingso apparcnL in Lhc ollowing pagcs
and as onc Lravcls Lhc sLaLcilluminaLcs Idahoans powcr o pcrsisLcncc,
individualiLy, and communiLy.
sowards-text.indd 6 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
rccxoNiNc wi1n nis1orv ,
DivcrsiLy is anoLhcr prcvalcnL Lhcmc. WhcLhcr iL is Lhc divcrsiLy o cn-
vironmcnLs, culLural pracLiccs, poliLical scnsibiliLics, cconomic sLrucLurcs,
or communiLy bclics and LradiLions, Idahoans havc madc and cncounLcrcd
dicrcnccs and havc ncccssarily dcncd Lhcmsclvcs as parL o such mosa-
ics. Idaho rcsisLs casy characLcrizaLion. ConscqucnLly, Lhcsc wriLcrs havc
providcd a signal scrvicc in Lhcir carcul and scnsiLivc rcconsLrucLion o
Lhc sLaLcs pcoplcs and Lhc broadcr orccs wiLh which Lhcy inLcracLcd Lo
crcaLc hisLory.
WiLhin Lhis mulLipliciLy o Lhcmcs, Lhc auLhors hclp us idcnLiy somc
Lrcnds, Lhcy hclp us, in oLhcr words, in disLinguishing somc o Lhosc sLrcams
o hisLory rom oLhcrs. Onc imporLanL duLy or hisLorians is Lo pcriodizc
Lhc pasL, rccognizing LhaL major Lurning poinLs or onc group or rcgion
may bc almosL irrclcvanL Lo anoLhcr,
,
LhaL is, by cxamining broad scalcs o
Limc, hisLorians can idcnLiy pcriods whcn imporLanL shiLs and cmcrging
Lrcnds markcd a ncw agc. Across Lhcsc cssays, somc common shiLs coalcscc
aL imporLanL, i imprccisc, LransiLion poinLs.
Following Lhc cmcrgcncc o NaLivc pcoplcs in Lhc rcgion, Lhc rsL Lransi-
Lion camc whcn Furo-Amcricans arrivcd wiLh Lhcir animals, planLs, and dis-
cascs, aLcr which all Idahoans would rcckon wiLh Lhc conscqucnccs o con-
LacL unLil Lhc 88os. Bcginning around Lhc Lurn o Lhc cighLccnLh ccnLury,
Lradc ncLworks broughL Lhc biological armada (c.g., horscs, paLhogcns)
LhaL irrcvocably alLcrcd Idahos ccological and culLural rclaLionships. In c-
ccL, Lhis mcanL incorporaLing ncw cconomic paLLcrns and ashioning ncw
culLural inLcrdcpcndcncics or all. Cold and silvcr Lradcd hands alongsidc
salmon and mounLain goaLs, ChrisLianiLy addcd Lo indigcnous spiriLualiLy,
and Lhc Cocur dAlcnc bccamc succcssul armcrs whilc ILalian and Wclsh
immigranLs orgcd unions o hard-rock mincrs. Puzzling ouL Lhosc iniLial
changcs iniLiaLcd by colonialism rcmaincd Lhc primary Lask o all Idahoans,
NaLivc and ncwcomcr alikc. UnLil Lhc ncxL LransiLion.
By Lhc Limc Idaho gaincd sLaLchood in 8o, Furo-Amcricans asscrLcd
powcr Lhrough poliLical, cconomic, and rcligious insLiLuLions, cnLiLics LhaL
somcLimcs quiLc harmully cnLwincd wiLh or ovcrpowcrcd indigcnous in-
sLiLuLions and landscapcs. PoliLical lcadcrs csLablishcd Idahos boundarics
and govcrning bodics, and capiLalisLs consLrucLcd an indusLrial sysLcm LhaL
Lransormcd cconomic and ccological sLrucLurcs. Tc cxLcnsion and con-
sowards-text.indd 7 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
8 tbtr r. sowtrbs
scqucnccs o Lhosc dcvclopmcnLs occupicd much o Lhc succccding ccn-
Lury. Ncw Lcchnologics and migraLions movcd Idaho Loward and inLo Lhc
LwcnLicLh ccnLury wiLh much Lhc samc impacL as in oLhcr wcsLcrn placcs.
FLhnic groups arrivcd and workcd in Lhc clds, orcsLs, and mincs, modcrn
indusLrial Lcchniqucs accclcraLcd cconomic growLh and incrcascd Lhc pacc
aL which Idahoans Lransormcd naLurc inLo commodiLics Lo bc Lradcd in
naLional and global markcLs. Policicscdcral and sLaLc, ormal and inor-
malaciliLaLcd Lhcsc changcs, gcncrally pursuing whaL mosL Amcricans
LhoughL Lo bc Lhc common good whilc cxprcssing liLLlc conccrn or ncgaLivc
conscqucnccs or NaLivc pcoplcs, Lhc working classcs, or ccosysLcms. Con-
scrvaLion policics undcd dams or irrigaLion and hydropowcr, whilc orcsL-
crs managcd land or Limbcr and gamc producLion, immigraLion policics
cncouragcd and Lhcn discouragcd and nally sclccLcd who could immigraLc
Lo Idaho (and Lhc UniLcd SLaLcs gcncrally) Lo labor in Lhc sLaLcs cconomy
and build iLs communiLics. Mcanwhilc, womcn, workcrs, IaLLcr-day SainLs,
and oLhcrs noL in Lhc malc, WASP (whiLc Anglo-Saxon ProLcsLanL) cliLc
achicvcd grcaLcr rccogniLion, righLs, and powcr, alLhough discriminaLion
and powcr imbalanccs cndurcd.
By Lhc os and os, Idahoans clL cdcral involvcmcnL in Lhcir livcs
and livclihoods Lo a grcaLcr dcgrcc as Lhc govcrnmcnL aLLcmpLcd Lo chcck
capiLalisms cxccsscs and abuscs. Morcovcr, changcs in govcrnancc on In-
dian rcscrvaLions (c.g., Lhc Indian RcorganizaLion AcL o ) and in labor
and immigraLion pracLiccs (c.g., Lhc braccro program) similarly modicd
social paLLcrns. Closc cxaminaLion in Lhc ollowing pagcs will rcvcal LhaL
culLural pracLiccs, poliLical dcsircs, and cconomic dynamics had shiLcd
noLiccably by Lhcn, buL in many rcspccLs iL was only Lhc cmphascs LhaL
changcda shiL in dcgrcc, noL kind, LhaL is, raLhcr Lhan a ull-scalc dc-
parLurc rom an carlicr pcriod, Lhc Dcprcssion, World War II, and posLwar
ycars ound Idahoans adjusLing Lo modcrn lic and Lhc insLiLuLions LhaL had
grown up wiLh Lhc sLaLc, consolidaLing and cxpanding powcr in amiliar
sLaLc sLrucLurcs.
By Lhc 8os, howcvcr, Idahoans wcrc orging a ncw hisLorical cra. Tc
naLurc o Lhis LransiLion was complcx and noL uniorm, and iLs implica-
Lions arc sLill unolding in ways LhaL hisLorians arc puzzling Lhrough. Ncv-
crLhclcss, in Lhc pasL Lhrcc dccadcs, Idahoans havc asscrLcd Lhcmsclvcs
sowards-text.indd 8 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
rccxoNiNc wi1n nis1orv
in unprcccdcnLcd ways. Idahos indigcnous naLions havc pursucd, along
wiLh somc changcs in cdcral policy, scl-dcLcrminaLion and sovcrcignLy
wiLh grcaL succcss, IaLinos, Basqucs, and oLhcr cLhnic communiLics havc
publicly cclcbraLcd Lhcir LradiLions, and Lhc Aryan NaLions and ChrisLian
IdcnLiLy movcmcnLs ound LransiLory rcugcs in which Lo cxprcss Lhcir
own violcnL vcrsions o racial pridc and haLc. Mcanwhilc, poliLicians and
Lhc public havc bccomc morc combaLivc, wiLh Lhc sLaLcs conscrvaLivc basc
sLrcngLhcning, and ncw issucsrom rcligious cxprcssion Lo womcns
righLs Lo cndangcrcd spccicsanimaLing Lhc sLaLcs public dcbaLcs and
lcading Lo wcll-publicizcd and hoLly conLcsLcd campaigns. Tis asscrLivc-
ncss, Lhcn, includcs mixcd signsvigorous public parLicipaLion and rising
culLural pridc, ubiquiLous poliLical conicL, and Lircsomc xcnophobia. Tcsc
clcmcnLs havc rooLs sLrcLching back LhroughouL Idahos hisLory, alLhough
as Lhc wriLcrs LhaL ollow makc clcar, somcLimcs subLly and somcLimcs cx-
pliciLly, somcLhing shiLcd around 8o Lo hcighLcn and makc morc sLridcnL
Lhcsc divisions. Whcn Idahoans producc Lhc ncxL LransiLion is impossiblc Lo
prcdicL, or hisLorians can only orccasL Lhc pasL, noL Lhc uLurc.
IL is Limc Lo placc Idaho sccurcly wiLhin iLs hisLorical conLcxL, and Idahos
Place docs LhaL. By rccognizing LhaL hisLorical dcvclopmcnLs in Lhis sLaLc arc
nciLhcr as disLanL nor as inconscqucnLial as somc may Lhink, Lhis volumc
suggcsLs LhaL Idahos placc is propcrly undcrsLood Lo bc a producL o iLs
spaccs, culLurcs, and Limcs. ParL and parccl o Lhc NorLh Amcrican WcsL,
Idaho rcvcals a rich pasL o sLrugglc and achicvcmcnL, o divcrsiLy and com-
mon inLcrcsLs, o conLinuiLics and changcs, o crcaLiviLy and imiLaLion. As
a dynamic placc and mccLing ground, Lhc sLaLc has sLrugglcd aL Limcs wiLh
nding a common idcnLiLy. BuL Orcgon and WashingLon rouLincly cxpcri-
cncc chang bcLwccn Lhcir casLcrn and wcsLcrn halvcs, sprawling Tcxas
includcs boLh high-Lcch HousLon and cmpLy wcsLcrn plains, and disLanL up-
sLaLc Ncw York docs baLLlc wiLh iLs downsLaLc mcLropolis. In oLhcr words,
lack o cohcrcncc is noL uniqucly Idahos burdcn, and rcckoning wiLh LhaL
sccming incohcrcncc is bcsL donc Lhrough hisLory. Tc hcrc and now o Lhc
sLaLc, aLcr all, is Lhc producL o iLs pasL. WriLing Idaho hisLory is an ongoing
and ncccssarily incomplcLc proccss. NcvcrLhclcss, in Lhis volumc, sLudcnLs
and Lcachcrs, rcsidcnLs and visiLors havc a hisLorical guidcbook LhaL can
hclp Lhcm bcgin piccing LogcLhcr Lhc sLory o Lhis placc. WiLhin Lhcsc pagcs,
sowards-text.indd 9 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
o tbtr r. sowtrbs
rcadcrs will nd cnough dcLails Lo challcngc Lhcir sLcrcoLypcs, dccpcn Lhcir
undcrsLanding, and answcr Lhc qucsLion, What is Idahos place?
As much o Idahos waLcr lcavcs Lhc sLaLc via Lhc Snakc Rivcr aL Icwis-
Lon, Idahos lowcsL poinL, iL carrics wiLh iL scdimcnLs o Lhc sLaLcs pasL, Lhc
ragmcnLs o iLs hisLory, Lhc Lhorough commingling o pcoplc and placc and
Limc. I iL could spcak, iL could Lcll o Shoshoncs hunLing dccr and gaLhcring
pinc nuLs, o cxplorcrs, Lradcrs, missionarics, and cmigranLs cxchanging
idcas and goods wiLh indigcnous groups, o prospccLors and Lown buildcrs,
boosLcrs, and minisLcrs, NaLivcs and ncwcomcrs making homcs and com-
muniLics amid consLanLly shiLing circumsLanccs. Tc waLcrs would havc
wiLncsscd conronLaLion and coopcraLion in orcsLs and clds, in courL-
rooms and Lhc lcgislaLurc, among armcrs and ranchcrs, unionisLs and cx-
ccuLivcs. Tcy would carry wiLh Lhcm runo rom irrigaLion and polluLion
rom mining, bc slowcd by dams and Lurbincs, and swirl around invasivc
carp and dcclining salmon. Such waLcr would havc providcd good hcalLh
or amilics, rclic during a hoL days work, and inspiraLion or wriLcrs and
arLisLs. Fach sLrcam, cach wiLncssing, cach conucncc adds Lo Lhc wcighL
o hisLory in Lhosc waLcrs.
n uo1e ou oant nis1oaies
In addiLion Lo Lhc cxccllcnL scholarship rcccLcd in Lhc ollowing pagcs,
Lhis book includcs cxccrpLs rom oral hisLorics. Tc Idaho SLaLc HisLorical
SocicLy has bccn collccLing oral hisLorics sincc ,8, and iLs Oral HisLory
CcnLcr is a Lrcasurcd rcposiLory o Lhc sLaLcs hisLory. Tc voiccs o Idahoans
rcmain ccnLral Lo wriLing and undcrsLanding Lhc sLaLcs many pasLs. I hopc
LhaL Lhc shorL cxccrpLs includcd hcrc will makc Lhc hisLory comc alivc, sccm
morc rcal, pcrsonicd in ways LhaL oral hisLorics cspccially can achicvc. I
also hopc LhaL you will parLicipaLc in and supporL Lhc sLaLcs oral hisLory
program, so LhaL Lhcsc valuablc rcsourccs will conLinuc Lo bc availablc Lo
our uLurc hisLorians and ciLizcns.
8

Notos
I am indcbLcd Lo Rodncy Frcy and RobcrL McCarl, Lhc auLhors o chapLcr : in Lhis
book, whosc mcLaphor o rivcrs and conucncc prompLcd Lhis discussion.
: Carlos Arnaldo SchwanLcs, Te Pacic Northwest: An Interpretive History, rcv. cd.
sowards-text.indd 10 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
rccxoNiNc wi1n nis1orv
(Iincoln: UnivcrsiLy o Ncbraska Prcss, 6), 6. SchwanLcs cxLracLcd Lhc Idaho
porLions o Lhc rsL cdiLion o Te Pacic Northwest, rcshapcd and addcd Lo Lhcm,
and publishcd Lhc rcsulL as In Mountain Shadows: A History of Idaho (Iincoln: Uni-
vcrsiLy o Ncbraska Prcss, ). SLill, Idaho rcmains Lhc clcar minoriLy parLncr in
Lhc rcgions publishcd hisLory. As anoLhcr cxamplc, Terra Pacica, a nc collccLion
o cssays on NorLhwcsL hisLory, includcs only a singlc cssay on Idaho. Scc Paul W.
HirL, cd., Terra Pacica: People and Place in the Northwest States and Western Canada
(Pullman: WashingLon SLaLc UnivcrsiLy Prcss, 8). William C. Robbins and Ka-
Lrinc Barbcrs ncw LcxL on Lhc grcaLcr NorLhwcsL improvcs Lhc rcprcscnLaLion, buL
cvcn so, Idaho rcmains ouLsidc Lhc hcarL o Lhcir LrcaLmcnL. Scc Natures Northwest:
Te North Pacic Slope in the Twentieth Century (Tucson: UnivcrsiLy o Arizona Prcss,
:o).
Cary ClayLon Andcrson and KaLhlccn P. Chambcrlain, Power and Promise: Te
Changing American West (Ncw York: Pcarson Iongman, :oo8), Annc M. BuLlcr and
Michacl 1. Iansing, Te American West: A Concise History (Maldcn, MA: Blackwcll,
:oo8), Richard W. FLulain, Beyond the Missouri: Te Story of the American West (Al-
buqucrquc: UnivcrsiLy o Ncw Mcxico Prcss, :oo6), Carol I. Higham and William H.
KaLcrbcrg, Conquests and Consequences: Te American West from Frontier to Region
(Whccling, II, and Cody, WY: Harlan Davidson and Lhc Bualo Bill HisLorical Ccn-
Lcr, :oo), RobcrL V. Hinc and 1ohn Mack Faraghcr, Te American West: A New In-
terpretive History (Ncw Havcn, CT: Yalc UnivcrsiLy Prcss, :ooo), PaLricia Nclson
Iimcrick, Te Legacy of Conquest: Te Unbroken Past of the American West (Ncw York:
NorLon, 8,), Richard WhiLc, Its Your Misfortune and None of My Own: A New His-
tory of the American West (Norman: UnivcrsiLy o Oklahoma Prcss, ). In nonc
o Lhcsc LcxLs docs Idaho gurc promincnLly.
Iconard 1. ArringLon, History of Idaho (Moscow and Boisc: UnivcrsiLy o Idaho Prcss
and Idaho SLaLc HisLorical SocicLy, ), :xvii.
I am Lhinking in parLicular o Rodncy Frcy, in collaboraLion wiLh Lhc SchiLsuumsh,
Landscape Traveled by Coyote and Crane: Te World of the Schitsuumsh (Coeur dAlene
Indians) (ScaLLlc: UnivcrsiLy o WashingLon Prcss, :oo), Mark Ficgc, Irrigated Eden:
Te Making of an Agricultural Landscape in the American West (ScaLLlc: UnivcrsiLy o
WashingLon Prcss, ), 1. AnLhony Iukas, Big Trouble: A Murder in a Small Western
Town Sets O a Struggle for the Soul of America (Ncw York: Simon and SchusLcr, ,).
6 Idaho Yesterdays is Lhc sLaLcs pccr-rcvicwcd hisLory journal o rccord and Lhc bcsL
sLarLing poinL or sLaying abrcasL o hisLorical dcvclopmcnLs. Scc hLLp://www
.idahoycsLcrdays.com (acccsscd March , :o). Sincc I arrivcd aL Lhc UnivcrsiLy
o Idaho, scvcral imporLanL scholarly and popular books on Idaho hisLory havc
appcarcd, dcmonsLraLing Lhis vibrancy: KaLhcrinc C. Aikcn, Idahos Bunker Hill:
Te Rise and Fall of a Great Mining Company, (Norman: UnivcrsiLy o
Oklahoma Prcss, :oo), Karl Boyd Brooks, Public Power, Private Dams: Te Hells
Canyon High Dam Controversy (ScaLLlc: UnivcrsiLy o WashingLon Prcss, :oo6),
TimoLhy Fgan, Te Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire Tat Saved America (BosLon:
HoughLon Miin HarcourL, :oo), RobcrL Tcrry Hayashi, Haunted by Waters: A
Journey through Race and Place in the American West (Iowa CiLy: UnivcrsiLy o Iowa
Prcss, :oo,), 1ohn W. HcaLon, Te Shoshone-Bannocks: Culture and Commerce at Fort
Hall, (Iawrcncc: UnivcrsiLy Prcss o Kansas, :oo), Crcgory F. Smoak,
Ghost Dances and Identity: Prophetic Religion and American Indian Ethnogenesis in the
sowards-text.indd 11 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s
: tbtr r. sowtrbs
Nineteenth Century (Bcrkclcy: UnivcrsiLy o Caliornia Prcss, :oo6), FllioLL WcsL,
Te Last Indian War: Te Nez Perce Story (Ncw York: Oxord UnivcrsiLy Prcss, :oo),
Iaura WoodworLh-Ncy, Mapping Identity: Te Creation of the Coeur dAlene Indian
Reservation, (Bouldcr: UnivcrsiLy Prcss o Colorado, :oo).
, Tis is a signicanL lcsson broughL Lo Lhc orc by womcns hisLorians. Iaura Wood-
worLh-Ncy and Tara A. Rowc makc much Lhc samc argumcnL in chapLcr in Lhis
volumc.
8 Tc Oral HisLory CollccLion wcbpagc ocrs inormaLion abouL iLs holdings, including
a lisL o narraLors. Scc hLLp://idahohisLory.cdmhosL.com/cdm/scarch/collccLion/
po,coll (acccsscd AugusL ,, :o).
sowards-text.indd 12 4/24/14 11:32 AM
U
n
i
v
e
r
s
i
t
y

o
f

W
a
s
h
i
n
g
t
o
n

P
r
e
s
s