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Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Human Rights Division records

 Collection
Identifier: RS-126

Scope and Contents

This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry records, RS 498. The Human Rights Bureau (formerly Human Rights Division) operates within Employment Standards Division of DLI. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Labor and Industry records.

Records consist of interoffice and general correspondence (1974-1987); minor financial, hearing, and legal files; minutes of the Commission (1974-1986); minutes of the Executive Committee (RESTRICTED); minutes of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee for Women (1977); organizational materials, including organizational charts, work plans, bylaws, etc.; reports (1977-1980); subject files and legal research files (1974-1986) on various discrimination issues; miscellany; and clippings.

Dates

  • Creation: 1974-1987

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 Montana Human Rights Division of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry is the administrative arm of the Montana Human Rights Commission. The Commission was created in 1974 as part of legislation designed to "prevent discrimination in employment, public accommodations, education, and real property transactions." The five Commission members were appointed by the governor. Complaints of discrimination were made to the Department of Labor and Industry which then notified the Commission. The Commission was scheduled to meet at least four times each year to hear complaints filed and take the required action. If the Commission upheld a complaint, it could order the person accused of discriminatory conduct to refrain from such conduct. If this failed, the Department of Labor and Industry could then petition the district court to enforce the Commission's order by injunction. The Division staff conducted investigations of individual cases brought before the Commission, and did legal research into types of discrimination, current case law, and policies in other jurisdictions.

Extent

2.75 linear feet

Abstract

This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry records, RS 498. The Human Rights Bureau (formerly Human Rights Division) operates within Employment Standards Division of DLI. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Labor and Industry records. These records of the Human Rights Bureau consist of interoffice and general correspondence, minor financial, hearing, and legal files, minutes of the Human Rights Commission, minutes of the Executive Committee [RESTRICTED], minutes of the Interdepartmental Coordination Committee for Women, organizational materials, reports, subject files and legal research files on various discrimination issues, miscellany, and clippings.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Physical Location

28:4-4

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquisition information is 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 & 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.

Title
Guide to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Human Rights Division Records, 1974-1987.
Status
Completed
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
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

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