‘Blue Death’ documentary recalls Montana stories of 1918 influenza

In fall of 1918, the University of Montana shut its doors after dozens of Student Army Training Corps members collapsed from illness during routine drills. Hotels converted into hospitals. Most were sick or caring for the sick. 

It was influenza, or Spanish flu, a disease that turned the skin blue and killed more Americans than World Wars I and II combined. 

Glimpses of the 1918 influenza are hard to come by, despite the severe impact of millions succumbing to the virus across the world. In Montana, 5,000 people died within a few months; it was the fourth-worst-hit state. 

“Blue Death: the 1918 influenza in Montana” reveals the local stories of Montanans from the Spanish Flu. The documentary was created by UM professors 

Public Broadcasting Corporation

The lack of historical storytelling of the deadly time period led UM historians and researchers to create a documentary titled “Blue Death: The 1918 Influenza in Montana.”

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The 55-minute documentary showcases the sentiment of Montanans during the influenza outbreak and focuses on six stories of death and

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