Montana Department of Highways, Missoula District Office records
Scope and Contents
This collection is a sub-subgroup under the Montana Department of Transportations records, RS 492. The Missoula District Office operates under the DOT Director's Office Division. To see the other Department of Transportation records, visit the primary finding aid, RS 492.
This collection consists primarily of correspondence documenting district office activities, including: notifications of, and judgments on, encroachment of highway right of way; training needs and requirements for personnel; departmental policies and procedures; signing on Montana highways; plowing, sanding, speed limits, crossing lights/walks, and other pedestrian and driver safety measures; testing roadway durability; and scheduling roadway projects, such as resurfacing and widening.
It should be noted that the Archives is only in possession of the Department of Highway, Missoula District Office records, and did not receive any accompanying Missoula District Office records from the Department of Transportation.
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1988
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
The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.
By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division was headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division were furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation.
The Highway Department, the Department of Highways, and Department of Transportation maintained regional offices in five districts: Billings, Butte, Glendive, Great Falls, and Missoula. The District Engineer (later called the District Administrator) was the chief administrative officer in each district office. District office files document the activities of the district administrators, engineers, maintenance crew, and other district office employees. The district offices addressed administrative, functional, and project related issues of their particular area, including: highway needs, current construction projects, training for employees, road design, federal and state aid and grants, and reports to the Department of Highways/Department of Transportation in Helena.
Extent
5.8 linear feet
Abstract
Records of the Montana Department of Highways, Missoula District Office, consisting primarily of correspondence, both internal and inter-departmental, dealing with procedural, personnel, and project-related topics. There are also frequent communiqués from the Federal Highway Administration.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by series.
Physical Location
41:3-7
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
- Title
- Guide to the Montana Department of Highways, Missoula District Office records 1927-1988
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilley
- Date
- 2013
- 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 Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)
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