Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Women's Bureau records
Scope and Contents
This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry records, RS 498. The Women's Bureau formerly operated within the Employment Relations Division (Employment Relations now operates within the Employment Standards Division). The Women's Bureau lost its funding in 1981. Please see the primary finding aid for more
Montana Department of Labor and Industry records.
These records of the Montana Women's Bureau consist of general and interoffice correspondence (1973-1981); news releases (1974-1980); copies of Newsbriefs (1980-1981) the Bureau newsletter; monthly reports (1977-1981); project reports (1978); subject files (1978-1981); miscellany (1981) including mailing and referral lists; and clippings (1974-1981).
Dates
- Creation: 1973-1981
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Biographical / Historical
In an effort to "enable women to reach their fullest potential of service and contribution to society" the 43rd Montana Legislature, passed legislation requiring the Department of Labor to study the difficulties women faced in the work place and serve as a watch dog on public and private employment practices. To oversee and coordinate this effort, the Montana Women's Bureau was created within the Employment Relations Division in 1974. In addition the Montana Advisory Council on Women was created.
The first Bureau Chief was Sue Bartlett, who served in that post until replaced by Joan Duncan in 1975. Joan Duncan remained in that position until 1981. The Women's Bureau served as a clearing house for access to information regarding grants, discrimination, occupational education and training, sexual harassment, child and health care, and other issues of special interest to female employees. The Bureau published a newsletter, provided job hunting information, produced weekly television news spot, sponsored seminars, conducted surveys, and served as a resource library.
The Bureau lost its funding during the 1981 Legislature after extensive debate over funding shortfalls and possible duplication of services within the Department of Labor.
Extent
1 linear feet
Abstract
This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry records, RS 498. The Women's Bureau formerly operated within the Employment Relations Division (Employment Relations now operates within the Employment Standards Division). The Women's Bureau lost its funding in 1981. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Labor and Industry records. These records of the Women's Bureau consist of correspondence, press releases, publications, reports, subject files, and clippings.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by series.
Physical Location
34:6-3
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
Processing Information
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 498, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library and Archives catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Labor and Industry's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 498. Rather than reprocessing over 20 linear feet of DLI materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids and provide access to them via links in the primary finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Women's Bureau records, 1973-1981
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Jodie Foley, 1992.
- Date
- 2006
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- 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
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)
mhslibrary@mt.gov