Montana Book Company on Last Chance Gulch will host former Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins and his biographer, author Daniel Blake Smith, on Tuesday, October 6, for an evening conversation tied to the release of Smith's new book, "RUN: The Wilmot Collins Story — From Liberian Refugee to First Black Mayor in Montana," published by the University of Nebraska Press. Admission is free and open to the public.
Collins, who served as Helena's mayor after his 2017 election victory — the first time a Black candidate had won a mayoral race in Montana — has been a recognizable figure in the community for decades, both through his work in city government and his long career with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. His story, from arriving in the United States as a refugee fleeing civil war in Liberia to winning a municipal election in a predominantly white Western city, drew national attention at the time and has continued to resonate well beyond Helena.
Smith, whose previous work includes histories of early American family life, spent time in Helena researching and interviewing for the biography. The October 6 event will be a rare chance for Helena residents to hear both the subject and the author reflect on the project together. Montana Book Company has not announced a start time beyond the Tuesday, October 6 date; residents should contact the store directly for details.