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Montana State Board Of Education Records

 Collection
Identifier: RS-35

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the records of the State Board of Education and a subgroup of records of the State Board of Educational Examiners. Records of the State Board of Education consist of minutes, which include resolutions, financial and other reports of the Board, the Deaf and Blind School, and vocational schools, graduation lists from state colleges and universities, proposed legislation, and correspondence. The records also include reports, consisting of the 1895 annual report to the Governor, the 1895 report of the Executive Board of the State Agricultural College, and quarterly reports of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls. Also included is a register of certified teachers, listing teachers who received their life diplomas and state diplomas. The State Board of Educational Examiners subgroup contains minutes of the board, including lists of certified teachers.

Dates

  • Creation: 1893-1971

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Collection open for research

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Biographical / Historical

The 1889 Constitution established the State Board of Education as the governing body for all state educational institutions, including the state university. However, the Board was not functional until 1893, when the Legislative Assembly set its official powers and duties. The Board was composed of eleven members, including the Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Attorney General, and had control and supervision over the University of Montana, Montana State Normal College, Agricultural College of Montana, state orphan's home, Montana state school of Mines, school for the deaf and blind, and the state reform school. The duties of the Board consisted of creating rules and regulations for the government of state educational institutions, granting diplomas to graduates of those institutions, issuing state and life diplomas or certification, accrediting private and public high schools, and administering funds from the State Board of Land Commissioners or other sources. In 1959 the duties of the Board were expanded to include serving as the ex-officio board of regents of the University of Montana. In 1923 the Legislative Assembly created the State Board of Educational Examiners, which was to be composed of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, one member from the faculty of one of the component institutions of the University of Montana, one county superintendent of schools, one high school principal, and one district superintendent. The duties of this board consisted of providing rules and regulations for the issuance of all teachers' certificates. These rules were subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. The board was disbanded in 1949 and their duties returned to the State Board of Education.

Extent

7 linear feet

Abstract

These records (1893-1971) of the Montana State Board of Education, the policy making body of the state's school system and ex-officio Board of Regents for the University System, consist of minutes (1893-1971), including resolutions, financial reports of the Board, the school for the deaf and blind, and vocational schools, graduation lists, proposed legislation, and correspondence; reports (1895, 1951-1961); and miscellany, including a register of certified teachers (1895-1922). These records also include a subgroup for the State Board of Educational Examiners, a board that set examination and certification standards for the Board of Education. The records consist of minutes (1919-1958), which also include lists of certified teachers.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by subgroup and then series

Physical Location

18:6-5

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquisition information is available upon request.

Title
Guide to the Montana State Board of Education Records 1893-1971
Author
Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
Date
2004
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Repository Details

Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository

Contact:
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)