Butte historian explores Butte Victorian culture and the obesssion with the occult – KXLF-TV

Report on the Socio-Economic Dynamics of Occultism in Victorian Butte and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Cultural Heritage and Community Development

An examination of newspaper archives from Butte, Montana, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries reveals a significant cultural preoccupation with mysticism and the occult. This historical phenomenon, explored in a presentation by Butte-Silver Bow County historic preservation officer Kate McCourt, offers a unique lens through which to analyze the community’s development in the context of several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The preservation and study of this cultural history directly support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by safeguarding and promoting local cultural heritage as a vital component of community identity and resilience.

SDG 5: Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment

The proliferation of mystics and fortune tellers in Victorian Butte provided a rare and significant avenue for female economic independence in an era of limited career opportunities for women. This historical trend represents an unconventional pathway toward achieving the aims of SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

• Economic Agency: The practice of clairvoyance and fortune-telling became a lucrative profession for many women, allowing them to establish themselves as independent entrepreneurs.
• Professional Identity: These women often adopted professional titles, such as “doctor” or “reverend,” to build credibility and establish their practice as a formal enterprise, challenging traditional gender roles in the workforce.
• Contribution to Local Economy: As business owners, they participated actively in the bustling mining town’s economy, as evidenced by their consistent advertising in major newspapers like the Butte Miner.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The business of mysticism functioned as a distinct sector within Butte’s informal economy, reflecting principles related to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The services offered were diverse and catered to the specific anxieties and aspirations of a populace in a volatile industrial environment.

1. Entrepreneurship: Individuals, particularly women, established small businesses, or “shops,” offering services that were in high demand.
2. Market Responsiveness: Practitioners tailored their services to meet client needs, which extended beyond personal matters to include critical financial advice on investments, a key concern in a mining-based economy.
3. Challenges to “Decent Work”: The concurrent study of “mountebanks,” or charlatans, highlights the lack of regulation and consumer protection, raising questions about the legitimacy and ethical standards of this work, a core component of the “decent work” agenda.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The services provided by mystics addressed the mental and emotional well-being of the community, aligning with the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). In a high-risk environment marked by mining disasters and social instability, these practitioners offered crucial psychological support.

• Mental Well-being: Séances and other methods offered a means for individuals to process grief by seemingly communicating with deceased loved ones, serving as an early form of bereavement counseling.
• Reducing Anxiety: Fortune-telling provided clients with a sense of clarity and control over uncertain futures, from romantic prospects to financial security, thereby reducing personal anxiety.
• Access to Services: The widespread availability of these services, as indicated by numerous classified advertisements, suggests they were accessible to various social strata, potentially reducing inequalities (SDG 10) in access to forms of personal and financial counsel.

Conclusion: Preserving Heritage for a Sustainable Future

The historical analysis of mysticism in Butte, Montana, demonstrates how local cultural practices intersect with broad objectives for sustainable development. The community event “The Mystic and The Mountebank” at the Butte Cultural Heritage Center serves as a modern initiative that advances SDG 11.4 by strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard cultural heritage. By examining this history, the community can better understand the complex social and economic structures of its past, including early forms of female entrepreneurship and informal economies that addressed fundamental human needs for well-being and financial security.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article highlights the historical context of women’s economic opportunities. It states that the business of being a mystic or fortune teller was particularly significant “for women, who had limited opportunities to have a career or make money at that time.” This directly connects to the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by showcasing a historical example of women finding a “lucrative” niche for economic independence.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This goal is relevant as the article discusses a specific form of entrepreneurship and employment in Victorian Butte. The mystics “set up shop,” and for women, “they found their work to be quite lucrative.” This touches upon themes of productive employment and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic activity, even in an unconventional historical sector.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article explicitly mentions efforts to preserve and celebrate local culture and heritage. The work of Kate McCourt, the “Butte-Silver Bow County historic preservation officer,” and the events at the “Butte Cultural Heritage Center” directly relate to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, with a focus on protecting cultural heritage.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article describes a “free presentation” being held at the Butte Cultural Heritage Center to educate the public about a specific aspect of the town’s history. This initiative promotes lifelong learning opportunities and appreciation for local culture, which aligns with the broader aims of inclusive and equitable quality education.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

  The article provides a historical illustration of women’s economic participation. By noting that “Most of the seers… were women,” it points to a field where women could achieve economic agency and run their own lucrative businesses, which is a form of participation in economic life, especially relevant given the “limited opportunities” they otherwise faced.

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

  The article describes the work of mystics as a “booming” and “lucrative” business in Butte. This reflects the concept of productive employment, where individuals, particularly women, were able to generate income and sustain a career, contributing to the local economy.

• Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

  This target is directly addressed through the actions described in the article. The presentation by the “historic preservation officer” at the “Butte Cultural Heritage Center” is a clear example of an effort to protect and safeguard the unique cultural history of Butte by sharing it with the community.

• Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

  The “free presentation” on Butte’s mystic history serves as an informal educational event that promotes an appreciation of cultural diversity and history. It is an activity designed to ensure learners (in this case, the general public) acquire knowledge about their local heritage.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 5 & 8: Proportion of women in entrepreneurial or self-employed roles.

  The article implies this indicator by stating, “Most of the seers and the people who had that clairvoyance…intuitiveness, were women, and they found their work to be quite lucrative.” This suggests that a significant proportion of entrepreneurs in this specific historical sector were women, which could be used as a measure of female economic participation.

• Indicator for SDG 11: Existence of institutions and public events dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage.

  The article explicitly mentions the “Butte-Silver Bow County historic preservation officer” and the “Butte Cultural Heritage Center.” The existence of such roles and institutions, along with the “free events” they organize, serves as a direct indicator of efforts being made to safeguard local culture.

• Indicator for SDG 4: Availability of free public education programs on cultural heritage.

  The mention of a “free presentation on Oct. 28th” is a specific instance that can be used as an indicator. The number and accessibility of such free public talks and events can measure progress towards promoting lifelong learning and cultural appreciation within the community.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: kxlf.com