Joseph Kinsey Howard (1906–51) was news editor for the Great Falls Leader and the editor of Montana Margins. A. B. Guthrie Jr.'s books include The Big Sky. William Kittredge is Regents Professor of English and Creative Writing Emeritus at the University of Montana. His books include The Nature of Generosity and The Best Stories of William Kittredge.

"Superior history of the state of Montana, by an indigenous editor who understands ecology as well as gun-play and who is tearing mad about what a mistaken land policy, monopoly practices, dust storms, and two wars have done to his native earth. Critical, well informed, and brightly written."—New Yorker "The best single book I know on the subject. Scholarly, yet eminently readable, entertaining all the way."—Weekly Book Review