top of page
Bear-Bones-Logo8-Grit.png

These are the stories of remarkable Jews that we have uncovered so far. This is just the beginning, as we begin to dig deeper into the history of  North-Western United States. 

Leiser-Image2_edited.jpg

Settled in Missoula, MT in 1870

Jacob S. Leiser

In 1857, Jacob Leiser immigrated to the United States from Prussia, beginning his life as a tailor and clothing purveyor in California.

Herman-Portrait2.png

Settled in Missoula, MT in 1879

Herman Kohn

Herman Kohn first settled in Helena, then moved to Missoula in 1879. He set up his saddlery on West Front Street and by 1883 created a jewelry and loan store across the street.

Bandman-Image_edited.jpg

Settled in Missoula, MT in 1888 

Daniel E. Bandmann

Daniel Bandmann was born in Cassel, Germany. He made his debut at the court theater of New Strelitz, Germany, where he established his reputation for Shakespearian dramas.

Levine-Image.jpg

Moved to Missoula, MT in 1916

Louis L. Levine

Born near Kiev in Ukraine, Louis Levine was brought to the United States at the age of 4. He would become instrumental in shaping the socio-economic policies of the last century.

Work in progress
Sam%20Rivin%201935_edited.jpg

Settled in Missoula, MT in 1925

Sam Rivin

Sam Rivin settled in Missoula in 1925. Four years later, the country was devastated by the Great Depression. By 1937, Sam Rivin was a national labor leader in NY.

Work in progress
Fiedler-Portrate2_edited.jpg

Moved to Missoula, MT in 1941

Leslie Fiedler

Leslie Fiedler's biographer, Mark Roydon Winchell, writes, "In my judgment, Leslie Fiedler is the single most influential critic of American literature ever."

​

Henry the Patriarch-BW.jpg

Henry D. Ephron

Henry Ephron became an 

internationally recognized 

classical Greek and Latin 

scholar, a code cracker, and a spellbinding lecturer at the University of Montana and around the country.

Work in progress
Green-Image3_edited.jpg

Bob Marshall

On August 16, 1940, Agriculture Secretary Wallace honored the memory of Bob Marshall with a 950,000-acre roadless area in Montana in his name.

Work in progress
Mansfield-Library-University-of-Montana_edited_edited.jpg

Our objective is to bring Leiser's Footsteps exhibit to museums around the NW United States. 

Jews-of-Missoula-Museum-Intro-header.png

Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library is hosting

Leiser's Footsteps museum exhibit until June, 2022

 

We are looking forward to launching our new exhibit called: From Gold to Granite in the Winter of 2022. 

This is an exploration of Jews during the Gold Rush period.

​

​

bottom of page