This collection is a subgroup (Predecessor Agency) of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. The Department of Public Welfare was abolished in 1971 and replaced with the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, which later combined with portions of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences to form the DPHHS. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records.

This collection consists of eight series: general correspondence (1934-1970); minutes (1933-1971); organization (1934-1971, undated); printed material; reports (1937-1971); subject files (1933-1971); writings (1970, undated); and miscellany (1934-1969, undated). Included in this collection are records of the Montana Relief Commission and the Montana Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. The general correspondence consists of files arranged by administrators and by subjects. These files contain much interoffice correspondence and many enclosures such as legal documents. There are many letters requesting opinions of the attorney for the Montana Relief Commission and of the Montana Attorney General; the opinions included in the attorneys' replies were never published. This series also contains the Director of the Division of Public Assistance's responses to state field supervisors' field reports, which "are lengthy comments on the relief activity in each county." The folders entitled "General Assistance for Strikers" contain correspondence from the county departments of public welfare listing the number of families who received public assistance due to strikes, most often at the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. The reports series contains folders entitled "Monthly Statistical Reports" which contain statistics about old age assistance, assistance for needy dependent children, etc. After July 1941 these are broken down according to Indian and Caucasian recipients. Statistics covering the time before July 1941 are included in the minutes of proceedings of the State Board of Public Welfare. These monthly statistical reports also include statistics concerning payments for victims of silicosis.