Mydas Capps Zieg Diaries

Details

DescriptionDiaries (1920-1997) kept by Mydas Capps Zieg, teacher and Missoula County Deputy Superintendent of Schools. The diaries include descriptions of Zieg’s daily life as a teen; a flapper in the 1920s; college life; teaching in Rapelje, Montana; her marriage and children; her lobbying efforts; and work as a school superintendent. Mydas Capps Zieg was born March 7, 1908, on a homestead in Alberta, but spent much of her youth in California. After graduating from Berkeley in 1929, she took a teaching job in Rapelje, MT teaching English, speech, drama and coaching girls’ basketball. While in Rapelje she met Reuben Zieg, the math and science teacher. They married in 1932. In 1945 the couple moved to Missoula. Reuben taught math at Missoula County High School while Mydas became active in AAUW and PTA. She would eventually serve as president of the state PTA. During the 1950s she lobbied the state legislature for elected rather than appointed school boards. She began a new career in her 60s as Missoula’s Deputy County Superintendent of Schools. Mydas passed away on April 6, 1998 in Missoula, Montana.
Contributing InstitutionMontana Historical Society Research Center