This collection contains records from the various Offices, Boards, Units, etc. associated with the Montana Office of the Governor. The Montana Office of the Governor records were integrated under one collection number to help facilitate access and reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog.

To learn more detail about the records in each subgroup, please click on the links below in the arrangement section to be redirected to those finding aids.

Subgroup 1: Executive Office

This subgroup contains the records from the sub-subgroup, Executive Orders (1971-2004). This collection consists of executive orders from the Governor. The bulk of the orders are from 1981 through 2004 and include a contents sheet for each year. Also included are a few scattered orders from 1971 through 1979. To see recent executive orders issued, please visit the Governor's Office website.

Subgroup 2: Office of Budget and Program Planning

This subgroup contains records from the Office of Budget and Program Planning (1961-1978). Records consist of general correspondence, interoffice correspondence, news releases, organizational materials, reports, speeches, subject files, and miscellaneous. The general correspondence is largely outgoing, with a substantial portion from the Governor. The correspondence discusses agencies' budgets and requests, fiscal policy and procedures, relevant legislation, and special projects. The interoffice correspondence discusses similar topics.

The press releases consist of miscellaneous items, including the breakdown of expenditures, appropriations for Highway Patrol, public school funding, etc. The organizational materials include agency charts and position descriptions. The reports consist of reviews of the agency's work for the fiscal year. The three speeches concern the general work of the agency, state revenue, and budget agency policy. The subject files concern special studies which the Office of Budget and Program Planning undertook, usually in conjunction with other state agencies. The miscellany series contains blank budget forms and some unidentified writings chiefly concerning taxes in Montana.

Subgroup 3: Office of Indian Affairs

This subgroup consists of records from the Office of Indian Affairs (1948-1971). Records consist of correspondence, subject files, financial records, organizational materials, reports, and clippings.

General correspondence discusses education, tribal industries, housing, legislation, statistics, personal problems of tribal members, meetings, donations to the tribes, etc. The financial records contain information about the budget of the Coordinator. Organizational materials include a description of the Coordinator's goals and duties, as well as a criticism of a proposed State Indian Commission. The subject files comprise the bulk of the collection and include information on all the reservations and many Indian organizations and programs.

Subgroup 4: Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors

This subgroup contains records from the Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors (1976) which is administratively attached to the Governor’s Office. Records consist of the first annual report (1976) of the Board to the Governor. Included in the report are bylaws, correspondence with institutions, reports of visits to Warm Springs State Hospital, Galen State Hospital, Boulder River School and Hospital, and other institutions. In addition, there are two handbooks (1976): Handbook for the Habilitation and Commitment of the Developmentally Disabled and Mental Commitment and Treatment Handbook.

Subgroup 5: Montana Government Operations Unit

This subgroup contains records from the Montana Government Operations Unit (defunct, 1973-1974), whose duties were absorbed by the Budget and Planning Office in 1974. Records consist of general correspondence, interoffice correspondence within the Governor's Office, reports to the Governor and the legislature, subject files kept by the office containing materials from departments of the executive branch and from federal agencies, and miscellany.

Montana Indian Historical Jurisdiction Study

This subgroup contains records from the Montana Indian Historical Jurisdiction Study (1851-1975). In December 1977, the Governor's Office contracted with Historical Research Associates (HRA) of Missoula, Montana, to conduct research into treaties, statutes, and executive orders affecting Montana reservations.

Records consist of copies of documents housed in the National Archives and the Seattle Federal Records Center that concern Montana Indians and reservations and include copies of treaties, statutes, executive orders, and reports compiled and microfilmed by Historical Research Associates. Also included are four volumes containing a description of the project, a review of Montana Indian policy, individual reservation histories, lists of legislative acts, a list of documents on microfiche, a bibliography, significant excerpts from the reservation superintendents' annual reports, and an index to archival documents on Montana Indian reservations.