Montana Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Bureau records

Montana Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Bureau records, 1990-1995

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Montana. Department of Transportation
Title: Montana Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Bureau records
Dates: 1990-1995 (inclusive)
19901995
Quantity: 0.6 linear feet
Collection Number: RS 492 (Formerly RS 403)
Summary: This collection is a sub-subgroup (Bureau) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. The Civil Rights Bureau (now named Office of Civil Rights) currently (as of 2024) operates under the Professional Services Division. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records. This collection contains manuals from the Civil Rights Bureau (1990-1995).
Repository: Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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 Civil Rights Bureau was part of the Personnel Division, which operated under the Director of the Montana Department of Highways/Montana Department of Transportation. The Montana Department of Highways established the Civil Rights Bureau in order to administer the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Program. This program was developed to ensure the adequate direction and administration of funds provided to the MDOH by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987. This federal act established that 10% of all federal highway funds be expended to disadvantaged businesses. The goal of the DBE program, as administered by the Civil Rights Bureau, is to ensure that disadvantaged business enterprises have opportunity to participate in the performances of contracts and subcontracts administered by the Montana DOH/ Montana Department of Transportation.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Civil Rights Bureau remained in effect, with the same goals and activities, as the Department of Highways became the Montana Department of Transportation. Record for both MDOH and MDT are included in this sub-group. Records consist of two versions of the Civil Rights Bureau Manuals; the Department of Highways Civil Rights Bureau Manual (1990), and the Department of Transportation Civil Rights Bureau Manual (1993). Manuals contain EEO/Labor Contract Compliance, as well as DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises)/WBE (Women’s Business Enterprises) Program descriptions and directories. DBE needs assessment surveys and correspondence materials also included.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on 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.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into two Series: Subject Files and Correspondence. Both Series are arranged alphabetically. The Correspondence is arranged by districts.

Location of Collection

40:1-4

Processing Note

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 through the central 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.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1/1	“Civil Rights Manual”	1990
1/2	“Civil Rights Manual” Revisions [1 of 2]	1990
1/3	“Civil Rights Manual” Revisions [2 of 2]	1990
1/4	“Civil Rights Manual” [1 of 2]	1993
1/5	“Civil Rights Manual” [2 of 2]	1993
1/6	Civil Rights Bureau Annual Reports	1989-1990
1/7	Civil Rights Bureau Newsletters	1989-1990
2/1	Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Directory of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE): Evaluation/Targeted Firms	1989-1990
2/2	Montana Department of Transportation (MDT)Affirmative Action Plan	1997
2/3	Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Needs Assesment, Evaluations, Targeted Firms	1993
2/4	Civil Rights Manual	1995

Archives West Finding Aid

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