Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana Department of Transportation, Legal Services Unit records, 1956-1996
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana. Department of Transportation.
- Title
- Montana Department of Transportation, Legal Services Unit records
- Dates
- 1956-1996 (inclusive)19561996
- Quantity
- 7.4 linear feet
- Collection Number
- RS 492 (Formerly RS 425)
- Summary
- This collection is a sub-subgroup (Office/Unit) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. The Legal Services Unit (now named Office of Legal Services) 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 is comprised of records documenting the work of the Legal Services Unit of the Montana Department of Transportation, which was responsible for litigation, legal opinions, contract review, legislation and bill analysis, and labor relations. It includes correspondence and subject files.
- 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 by 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 Legal Services Unit was comprised of an Administrator/Director, and a legal team of between six and eight lawyers. Legal Services was responsible for dealing with litigation leveled against the Department of Transportation (e.g. involving damage to public property, etc.), legal opinions, contract review, legislation and bill analysis, and labor relations.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Documents in this collection reflect the day-to-day functions of the Legal Services Unit. Therefore, a large portion of this collection is comprised of correspondence between various MDT divisions/bureaus and Legal Services, requesting opinions on legal cases, legislation, proposed projects and contracts. Also included are subject files dealing with specific cases being handled by Legal Services staff lawyers.
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 by series.
Location of Collection
41:4-7Processing 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
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1-10 | Correspondence |
1969-1992 |
| 1/11 | Eschler, Jo |
1983-1986 |
| 1/12 | Reorganization |
1982-1983 |
| 1/13-16 | Willows, Sharlon |
1988-1991 |
| 1/17 | Admin. Div., Acct. Services Bureau |
1989-1990 |
| 1/18 | Admin. Div., Info. Services Bureau |
1989-1990 |
| 1/19 | Centralized Services Division |
1979-1988 |
| 1/20 | Director’s Office, Audit Section |
1980, 1985-1987 |
| 2/1-2 | Construction Bureau |
1982-1990 |
| 2/3-6 | Director’s Office, Director |
1979-1990 |
| 2/7 | Director’s Office, Deputy Director |
1982-1984, 1987 |
| 2/8 | Director’s Office, Strategic Planning |
1989-1993 |
| 2/9-13 | District Offices: Billings, Butte, Glendive, Great
Falls, and Missoula |
1980-1991 |
| 2/14-17 | Engineering |
1978-1991 |
| 2/18 | Materials Bureau |
1984-1988 |
| 2/19 | Planning and Research Bureau |
1964-1973 |
| 2/20-21 | Preconstruction Bureau |
1981-1990 |
| 2/22-3/6 | Right of Way Bureau |
1968-1990 |
| 3/7-8 | Gross Vehicle Weight |
1979-1988 |
| 3/9-10 | Maintenance |
1981-1988 |
| 3/11 | Motor Pool and Van Pool |
1979-1987 |
| 3/12-13 | Personnel |
1980-1988 |
| 3/14-15 | Civil Rights Bureau |
1981-1987 |
| 3/16 | Safety and Training Bureau |
1980-1988 |
| 3/17 | Planning and Statistics Bureau |
1982-1985 |
| 3/18 | Program Development |
1982-1988 |
| 3/19 | Project Analysis Bureau |
1982-1988 |
| 4/1-3 | Aeronautics Division |
1991-1996 |
| 4/4 | Administration Division |
1991-1992 |
| 4/5-8 | Accounting Services Bureau |
1991-1996 |
| 4/9 | Information Services Bureau |
1991-1992 |
| 4/10 | Purchasing Services Bureau |
1991-1996 |
| 4/11 | Director’s Office |
1991-1994 |
| 4/12-13 | Human Resources |
1989-1996 |
| 4/14-18 | District Offices: Billings, Butte, Glendive Great
Falls, and Missoula |
1991-1996 |
| 4/19 | Engineering Div., Materials Bureau |
1995-1996 |
| 4/20 | Engineering Div., Right of Way Bureau |
1995-1996 |
| 4/21 | Highways Division |
1991-1994 |
| 4/22 | Highways Div., Environ. & Hazardous
Waste |
1992-1994 |
| 4/23 | Highways Div., Preconstruction Bureau |
1991-1994 |
| 4/24-5/2 | Highways Div., Right of Way Bureau |
1991-1994 |
| 5/3 | Maintenance Division |
1995-1996 |
| 5/4 | Rail and Transit Division |
1991-1994 |
| 5/5 | Transportation Planning Division |
1994-1995 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/6-12 | Coalition for Canyon Preservation (CCP) [Glacier
National Park highway challenges] |
1981-1987 |
| 5/13 | Administrative Rules Recodification |
1979-1980 |
| 5/14 | Sage Advertising Contract |
1973-1975 |
| 5/15 | Aeronautics |
1992 |
| 5/16 | Annexations, Shelby |
1978 |
| 5/17 | Appointment of Council |
1969-1974 |
| 5/18 | Highway Council |
1969-1970 |
| 5/19 | Archaeological Investigation |
1970-1971 |
| 5/20 | Footpaths and Bicycle trails |
1975-1979 |
| 5/21 | Big Cattle Drive |
1989 |
| 5/22 | Billboards and Junkyards |
1973 |
| 5/23 | Board of Highway Appeals |
1972-1973 |
| 5/24 | Bozeman Pass |
1976-1978 |
| 5/25 | “Buy America” Act |
undated |
| 5/26 | Cattle herding |
1969 |
| 5/27 | Citizen Participation |
1976 |
| 5/28 | Classification, Pay plan |
1975-1976 |
| 6/1 | Contractor Overtime Law |
1972 |
| 6/2 | Encroachments |
1970-1975 |
| 6/3 | Environment Statement (Nat’l Environ. Policy Act) |
1972-1973 |
| 6/4 | EEO Joint Venture Compliance |
1972 |
| 6/5 | Reorganization |
1972 |
| 6/6 | Federal Highway Act |
1973 |
| 6/7 | Federal Highway Act |
1976 |
| 6/8 | Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Bureau of
Public Roads |
1969-1971 |
| 6/9 | FHWA Report (Conflict of Interest, Cert.) |
1972-1976 |
| 6/10 | Fish and Game |
1969-1972 |
| 6/11 | Fort Peck Indian Reservation |
1984-1985 |
| 6/12 | Fuel Escalation |
1991 |
| 6/13 | Gas Tax |
1978-1981 |
| 6/14 | “Airport Road – Gore Hill (Graybill)” |
1973-1975 |
| 6/15 | Great Falls Bridge and Utilities
Relocations |
1974-1978 |
| 6/16-22 | Gross Vehicle Weight (petitions and law changes) |
1974-1992 |
| 6/23 | Highway Building Appraisal |
1976-1977 |
| 6/24 | Gross Vehicle Weight, Reciprocity |
1970-1974 |
| 6/25 | Highway Tourist Map |
1970 |
| 6/26 | Highwood, Ft. Benton Route Study |
1973-1976 |
| 6/27 | Historic Preservation |
1978-1979 |
| 6/28 | “Indian Jurisdiction” |
1977-1979 |
| 6/29 | Motor Carrier Services Div., International
Registration Plan |
1980-1984 |
| 7/1 | “Junkyards” |
1969-1978 |
| 7/2 | Kountz Bridge |
1972 |
| 7/3 | “Labor” |
1972-1973 |
| 7/4 | Labor, Collective Bargaining Procedure |
1973 |
| 7/5 | “Labor Department Agreement” |
1969-1971 |
| 7/6 | “Labor Temple, Billings” |
1969-1975 |
| 7/7 | “Labor, Maintence” |
1974 |
| 7/8 | Negotiation Committee |
1969-1970 |
| 7/9 | “Union – Non-Maintence |
1960-1970 |
| 7/10 | “Overtime” |
1956-1976 |
| 7/11 | Montana Highway Commission, Union
Contracts |
1962-1965 |
| 7/12 | Montana Highway Commission, Lease/Insurance Of
Aircraft |
1962 |
| 7/13 | “Lee Newspaper Article” |
1971-1974 |
| 7/14 | Libby Dam |
1971-1974 |
| 7/15 | (Don) “Cowles – Livingston” (US 89) |
1972-1973 |
| 7/16 | Lockwood Water Users Association |
1990-1991 |
| 7/17 | Big Sky (Spur) |
1975-1977 |
| 7/18 | Longevity and Increments |
1974 |
| 7/19 | Looking Glass Hill |
1992 |
| 7/20 | Madison Valley Hospital (Ennis) |
1991 |
| 7/21 | Milwaukee Railroad Abandonment |
1978 |
| 7/22 | Milwaukee Railroad (Saltese) |
1973 |
| 7/23 | Milwaukee (DeBorgia) |
1972 |
| 7/24 | Missoula, Over- and Underpass |
1973 |
| 7/25 | Missoula School Crossings |
1976 |
| 7/26 | Motor Pool |
1971-1974 |
| 7/27 | Operation and Maintenance Charges |
1968-1969 |
| 7/28 | Occupational Safety and Health Act |
1970 |
| 7/29 | Outdoor Advertising Case Law |
1985 |
| 7/30 | Outdoor Advertising Control
Briefs/Findings |
1980-1986 |
| 7/31 | “Mel Palin” |
1964-1978 |
| 7/32 | Prequalification Board |
1966-1979 |
| 7/33 | Railroad Crossings Meeting |
1970-1977 |
| 7/34 | Railroad Insurance |
1992-1993 |
| 7/35 | Recodification of Highway Laws |
1977-1978 |
| 7/36 | Reorganization |
1991 |
| 7/37 | Right of Way Excess Land Sales |
1975-1979 |
| 7/38 | “St. Ignatius Pablo (FHA Concurrence)” |
1969-1971 |
| 7/39 | Secondary Roads |
1962-1970 |
| 7/40 | Seely-Swan Forest Service Easement |
1990 |
| 7/41 | 10th Avenue South Speed Zone |
1978 |
| 7/42 | Summit Valley Inc., Proposed Rule Change |
1974-1977 |
| 8/1 | Thompson Falls Logging Road |
1965 |
| 8/2 | “Utility Occupancy Regulations in Lien Of
Easements |
1970-1972 |
| 8/3 | Vehicle Size and Weight on the Interstate System |
1972-1975 |
| 8/4 | Wolf Point Storm Sewer |
1973 |
| 8/5 | York Bridge |
1979 |
| 8/6 | “Miscellaneous” |
1970-1976 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Roads
- Roads--Montana
- Transportation--Montana
Finding aid prepared by Rachel Lilley; Updated by Lindsey
Mick
2013;
2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
