Montana Department of Highways, Right of Way Bureau records

Collection

Identifier: RS-90

Staff Only

Abstract

This collection is a sub-subgroup under the Montana Department of Transportations records, RS 492. The Right of Way Bureau operates under the DOT Engineering Division. To see the other Department of Transportation records, visit the primary finding aid, RS 492.

Please note there are two distinct collections for the Right of Way Bureau, RS 90 and RS 419. These collections were initially processed separately and have not yet been integrated. Please visit RS 419 to view more Right of Way Bureau records.

These records (1955-1991) of the Montana Department of Highways, Right of Way Bureau consist of transcripts of testimony from two condemnation suits and an appraisal hearing: Montana vs. J. Paul Kleffner, 1963; Montana vs. Frank H. Albee, 1960; and the Alfred Nelson hearing, 1960; abstracts of title to lands taken by condemnation in Butte, Missoula, Fergus County, Rosebud County, and Yellowstone County; correspondence of the bureau, 1956-1991; minutes of meetings, 1964-1988; quarterly reports, 1983-1988; subject files, 1959-1991; and policy/procedure manuals, 1955-1991. Also included are records (1977-1986) of the Utilities Section, including correspondence and subject files re railroad crossings. RS 90 (20:1-5).

Dates

Creation: 1955-1991

Extent

13 linear feet (13 linear ft)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Montana Department of Highways, Right of Way Section. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--1973-1974.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Montana Department of Highways, Right of Way Bureau. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--July 1982. Accession number--(S1982-07).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Montana Department of Transportation, Right of Way Bureau. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--June and Sept. 1996. Accession number--(S1996-51).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Montana Department of Transportation, Right of Way Bureau. Method of acquisition--Transfer;; Date of acquisition--February 1998. Accession number--(S1998-08).

Scope and content

This collection is a sub-subgroup under the Montana Department of Transportations records, RS 492. The Right of Way Bureau operates under the DOT Engineering Division. To see the other Department of Transportation records, visit the primary finding aid, RS 492.

Please note there are two distinct collections for the Right of Way Bureau, RS 90 and RS 419. These collections were initially processed separately and have not yet been integrated. Please visit RS 419 to view more Right of Way Bureau records.

These records of the Montana Department of Highways, Right of Way Bureau consist of transcripts of testimony from two condemnation suits (Montana vs. J. Paul Kleffner, 1963, and Montana vs. Frank H. Albee, 1960); transcripts from an appraisal hearing (Alfred Nelson hearing, 1960); abstracts of title to lands taken by condemnation for lode claims in Butte (1927-1954), for the Crosby Addition in Butte (1953), for the Montana Addition in Missoula (1952), and for sections in Rosebud, Yellowstone, and Fergus counties (1949-1958); correspondence of the bureau, 1956-1991; minutes of meetings, 1964-1988; quarterly reports, 1983-1988; subject files, 1959-1991; and policy/procedure manuals, 1955-1991. Also included are records (1977-1986) of the Utilities Section including correspondence and subject files re railroad crossings.

Processing Information

Please note there are two distinct collections for the Right of Way Bureau, RS 90 and RS 419. These collections were initially processed separately and have not yet been integrated.

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Transportation were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 492, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Transportation's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 492. Rather than reprocessing over 280 linear feet of Transportation materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links in this Master 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.