Religious academies, designed to counter vices like saloons and brothels prevalent on the frontier, were established throughout the American west in the 1870s. One was the Gallatin Valley Female Seminary, administered by the Presbyterian church “to give Christian education to the young people of Bozeman.” John Russell will discuss the history of the Seminary, and touch upon some other private education school efforts in the Bozeman area. John C. Russell received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Montana State University in 1978. He has worked as a broadcast journalist, and most recently as director of the Gallatin (County) Historical Society. John’s book on Bozeman pioneer Nelson Story, “Treasure State Tycoon, Nelson Story and the Making of Montana” was published in 2018 by the Montana Historical Society and is available at local bookstores.