The history of Bozeman’s African American community is in stark contrast to those histories of other Montana cities of comparable population.  As an agricultural and trade-oriented town, Bozeman lacked several of the more typical precipitators of black settlement.  Eventually, as the city grew and developed the type of service sector jobs that drew black working class families, its population did increase to between 30 and 50 individuals during the 1910s.  It is likely due to mining, railroads, and the military not being prevalent factors in the growth of Bozeman, that it did not engender a larger African American community in the late 19^th century, providing a base for community development in the 20^th century. Nevertheless, several families made their home in the Gallatin Valley, some even staying for a very long time. 

The story of black Bozeman is in many ways the story of successful individuals.  The most successful was certainly Samuel Lewis, a Haitian barber and land developer who took full advantage of Bozeman’s residential housing boom of the late 1800s. Lewis bought properties and built houses for the purpose of renting to the city’s more affluent citizens.  At the time of his death in 1896 his estate was worth a small fortune.  His life had been a constant struggle uphill, both socially and professionally, and for that reason, Lewis spent a considerable sum of money sending his sister Edmonia to school in Boston, Italy, and eventually Paris.  She became renowned the world over as the sculptor and creator of the famed piece, Death of Cleopatra, which gained intrigue as it thought to be lost forever, only to appear again at a racetrack, marking a horses grave.  While Samuel Lewis and his extravagant life is the best known, it is not however typical of the black experience in Bozeman.  Families such as the McDonalds better epitomize the story of black Bozeman. 

Richard and Mary McDonald, former slaves from Missouri, came to the Gallatin Valley in 1864.  Richard worked his team of oxen hauling freight across western Montana, even as far as Fort Benton.  His hard work allowed him to stay in Bozeman, and in 1872, Richard used scrap materials to build his family home.  As the first two story home in Bozeman, the McDonald house signified Richard’s intent to stay.  For the next 128 years a member of the McDonald family lived at 308 South Tracy, until February 9, 2000, when Richard and Mary’s only granddaughter Belle Fisher passed away at the age of 92. 

To learn more about the history of Samuel Lewis, the McDonalds, and other families who made Bozeman their home, in the side-bar are Historic Property Record Forms for the Smith and McDonald homes.  The Samuel Lewis House National Register Nomination is available on the National Register page.