Montana Department of Highways, Centralized Services Division records

Montana Department of Highways, Centralized Services Division records, 1954-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Montana. Department of Highways.
Title: Montana Department of Highways, Centralized Services Division records
Dates: 1954-1990 (inclusive)
19541990
Quantity: 0.2 linear feet
Collection Number: RS 492 (Formerly RS 409)
Summary: This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Department of Transportation records, RS 492. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Transportation records and other Centralized Services Division records. This collection contains subject files of the Department of Highways Centralized Services Division (this Division is no longer active).
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 is headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division are furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation. This was primarily a name change. However, there were some structural and administrative changes.

The Centralized Services Division for the Department of Highways operated directly under the Director and provided administrative, print, mail and file, accounting, and technical services for the entire DOH. These general services had been part of the DOH and State Highway Commission since the departments inception. The CSD absolved after 1990, whereupon the functions it provided were dispersed among other Bureaus, including the Accounting Bureau, Administration Division, the Financial Management Bureau, and the Purchasing Bureau. of the Department of Transportation.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The files of the Centralized Services Division contain materials related to the operations of the division and its major functions. Included are Subject Files (1954-1990), which contain correspondence, meeting minutes, and project files.

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

The collection is organized into one series: Subject Files.

Location of Collection

40:5-1

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	Accounting Bureau Supervisors Meetings	1987-1989
1/2	Bureau Chief Memorandum	1991
1/3	Construction of State Highway Building Division (Scott Hart Building)	1956-1959
1/4	Extension to Helena Headquarters Building: Architecture	1954-1958
1/5	Department of Highways “Performance Appraisal Task Force” Information	1981-1982
1/6	Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act	1986
1/7	Technical Services Bureau: Monthly Report	1989
1/8	Supervisors Meetings	1989-1990

Archives West Finding Aid

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