Minnie Priest Dunton papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0613

Staff Only

Summary

Several handwritten speeches, letters, scrapbooks, photographs and other personal records of Dunton's community involvement. Significant material regarding Rebekah lodges, suffrage issues, including correspondence with Sen. Borah, and several signed letters of recommendation from Boise lawyers and other prominent citizens.

Dates

Creation: 1885 - 1920

Creator

Dunton, Minnie Priest, 1864-1921 (Person)

Biographical Note

Minnie Priesst Dunton, a prominent Boise woman, was known for her serivce to the Boise community as well as her eloquent speeches and lectures.

Born in massachusetts in 1867, she married Herbert Dunton in California and moved to Idaho in 1897. They first lived in Idaho City, then moved to Boise in 1899. She was State Librarian for the Law Library from 1907 until her resignation in 1915. During that time she oversaw the growth of the library and won the admiration of several prominent Boise lawyers.

She was president of the Suffrage Club of Idaho City in 1894, State Organizer of Republican Women in 1903, as well as Secretary (1894-1901) and President (1904-1905) for the Purity Rebekah Lodge #67.

She was active in such organizations as the Women's Columbia Club, the Good Citizens Club, and the Burbank Federation of Women's Clubs of Ada County.

After living in Portland, OR for a few years, Dunton returned to Boise in 1921, where she died on July 13.