Missoula, Montana

Bitter Root Chapter was officially organized May 17, 1919, in Missoula, by Organizing Regent  Miss Finetta W. Ewing.  The name Bitter Root was chosen for three  reasons: 1) Every spring the valley is covered with the pink bitterroot  blossoms, 2) the Bitter Root Mountain Range of the Rockies stands as the guardian to the west, and 3) the Bitter Root River slips through en route to the Pacific.

"Bitterroot" is now  generally written as one word, but the chapter retains the original  spelling of two words.  The state flower, commonly known as the  bitterroot, was first described and recorded botanically by Captain  Meriwether Lewis during the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and its genus, Lewisia rediviva, derives from Lewis' name.

Three State Regents  have come from Bitter Root Chapter:  Ethel Keith, Bleth Dobson, and  Louanna Butler.  In 1990, Andrea Phillip was Montana Outstanding Junior  and was also named the northwestern Division Winner.

The chapter has  approximately 65 members, and always needs more.  Several members are  excellent genealogists, and they are very willing and able to help  anyone interested in tracing her ancestors and joining the chapter.

For membership information, please contact the Chapter Regent.

To contact Webmaster.   This page was last modified on July 18, 2011.

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