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Montana Department Of Public Welfare records, 1933-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. Department of Public Welfare
Title
Montana Department Of Public Welfare records
Dates
1933-1971 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 linear ft
Collection Number
RS 495 (Formerly RS 236)
Summary
This collection is a subgroup (Predecessor Agency) of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. The Department of Public Welfare was abolished in 1971 and replaced with the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, which later combined with portions of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences to form the DPHHS. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. These records consist of general correspondence, arranged by subject; minutes of the Division of Child Welfare Services field staff, the Montana Relief Commission, the State Board of Public Welfare, and the Old Age Pension Commission; organizational records; reports on public assistance, day care facilities, and other matters; subject files on county medical plans, legal services, and other issues; writings; and miscellany.
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 open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

In 1901, Montana’s Seventh Legislative Assembly created the Montana State Board of Health. The Board was responsible for sanitation as well as investigations regarding diseases, epidemics, mortality, and other health-related concerns. In 1967, with the creation of the State Department of Health, the State Board of Health was given the additional duty of overseeing the new Department. The State Board of Health continued in an advisory capacity, but the day-to-day administration of the state laws regarding public health and related matters were relegated to the new Department. The State Board of Health became the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences (DHES) in 1971 with the passage of Governor Anderson’s Executive Reorganization Order 9-71.

The Montana Legislature established the Department of Public Welfare in 1937, consolidating all welfare activities within the department and abolishing all other government bodies which formerly handled these activities including: the Montana Relief Commission, which had operated from 1933 to 1937; the Montana Old Age Pension Commission; the Montana Orthopedic Commission; the Child Welfare Division of the Board of Health; the State Bureau of Child and Animal Protection; and the State Board of Charities and Reform.

The Department of Public Welfare was responsible for the administration and supervision of all forms of public assistance including general relief, old age assistance, aid to dependent children, all child welfare activities, and the supervision of agencies and institutions caring for dependent, delinquent, or mentally or physically handicapped children or adults. The Department was also responsible for developing provisions for service to the visually impaired, provide services to county governments in respect to organization and supervision of county welfare departments, and act as the agent of the federal government in carrying out state and federal social security laws and the administration of federal funds. In 1941, the Department was given the responsibility to aid to silicosis patients; this duty was later transferred to the Industrial Accident Board in 1961. The Department was administered by a five-member State Board of Public Welfare appointed by the governor, and a state administrator appointed by the Board.

In 1971, with the state reorganization, the Department of Public Welfare was abolished, and its functions were assumed by the newly created Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS). The SRS assumed the functions of various state agencies, including functions pertaining to vocational rehabilitation and education; the Commission on Aging; and the Council on Human Resources. The SRS administered all forms of public assistance, child protection, and child welfare; gave consultant service to private institutions providing care for the needy, indigent, handicapped, or dependent; developed provisions for services to the blind; supervised county boards of public welfare; and administered all funds allotted for public welfare activities.

In 1995, following another State government reorganization, SRS combined with portions of the Department of Health and Environmental Sciences (DHES) to form the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The Environmental Sciences Division was split from DHES to become the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Additionally, in 1992, the Department of Institutions was renamed the Department of Corrections and Human Services. In 1995, the Department was reorganized, with some duties and Divisions remaining with Corrections, while others were transferred to the newly created Department of Public Health and Human Services, including oversight of the Montana State Hospital at Warm Springs.

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Content Description

This collection consists of eight series: general correspondence (1934-1970); minutes (1933-1971); organization (1934-1971, undated); printed material; reports (1937-1971); subject files (1933-1971); writings (1970, undated); and miscellany (1934-1969, undated). Included in this collection are records of the Montana Relief Commission and the Montana Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

The general correspondence consists of files arranged by administrators and by subjects. These files contain much interoffice correspondence and many enclosures such as legal documents. There are many letters requesting opinions of the attorney for the Montana Relief Commission and of the Montana Attorney General; the opinions included in the attorneys' replies were never published. This series also contains the Director of the Division of Public Assistance's responses to state field supervisors' field reports, which "are lengthy comments on the relief activity in each county." The folders entitled "General Assistance for Strikers" contain correspondence from the County Departments of Public Welfare listing the number of families who received public assistance due to strikes, most often at the Anaconda Copper Mining Company. The reports series contains folders entitled "Monthly Statistical Reports" which contain statistics about old age assistance, assistance for needy dependent children, etc. After July 1941, these are broken down according to Indian and White recipients. Statistics covering the time before July 1941 are included in the minutes of proceedings of the State Board of Public Welfare. These monthly statistical reports also include statistics concerning payments for victims of silicosis.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on 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.

Preferred Citation

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

29:7-5

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 495, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services' various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 495. Rather than reprocessing over 80 linear feet of DPHHS 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 is available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: Administrator (W.J. Butler, William Ruffcorn, Joseph Watson, Theodore Carkulis)
      Dates: 1934-1936, 1969-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1-1a
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Application of relief (re process of)
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Assistant Administrator (Frank McCarthy)
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Attorney General opinions
      Dates: 1934-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4-5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Building leases
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Bozeman Canning Company and Great Falls Meat Company contracts
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Comptroller (J.A. Buley)
      Dates: 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Dental care for relief patients
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of Compensation (J.W. Hughes)
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of Federal Transient Service (R.M. Canon, Riley E. Mapes)
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of Social Service (Samuel Gerson)
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (Joseph Roe for central counties)
      Dates: 1942-1951
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (Lillian Jelstrup for north central counties)
      Dates: 1942-1952
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (John T. Murphy for northeastern counties)
      Dates: 1942-1952
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (Merle Beebe for southeastern counties)
      Dates: 1951-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (Lillian Obst for southeastern counties)
      Dates: 1942-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (T.J. Sivalon for southwestern counties)
      Dates: 1942-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 18
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Director of the Division of Public Assistance responses to state field supervisors' field reports (J.A. Lehr for northwestern counties)
      Dates: 1942-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Executive Secretary (Royal L. Mann)
      Dates: 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 20
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Fraudulent attempts to obtain relief
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 21
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: General assistance for strikers (Cascade County)
      Dates: 1959-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 22
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: General assistance for strikers (Deer Lodge County)
      Dates: 1959-1960, 1967-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 23
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: General assistance for strikers (Granite and Jefferson counties)
      Dates: 1959-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 24
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: General assistance for strikers (Lewis and Clark County)
      Dates: 1959-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 25
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: General assistance for strikers (Powell County)
      Dates: 1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 26
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: General assistance for strikers (Silver Bow County)
      Dates: 1959-1963, 1967-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 27-30
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Helena Synagogue (re offer of building to Montana Relief Commission by Helena Jewish community)
      Dates: 1934-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 31
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 32
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Medical care for relief recipients
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 33
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Memorandum from the attorney for the Montana Relief Commission
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 34
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Memorandum to field supervisors and county personnel
      Dates: 1969-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 35
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Montana State Land Board resolution pertaining to state land for water reservoirs
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 36
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Old age pension
      Dates: 1934-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Optical care for relief recipients
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Pasture and hay contracts
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Petroleum County purchase of oil well casing
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Proposed legislation regarding funding and structure of relief agencies
      Dates: 1935
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Reports by field supervisors to the director of the Division of Public Assistance on district meetings and Aid to Dependent Children reviews
      Dates: 1955-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Requests for statistical information
      Dates: 1937-1959, 1965
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7-10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Sale of wool and pelts to the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Silver Bow County Poor Fund
      Dates: 1961-1962
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare
      Dates: 1969-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12a
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Valentine-Blood Creek Reservoir
      Dates: 1934-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Water conservation
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Well drilling
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Yellowstone County Trades and Labor Assembly vs. Yellowstone County Emergency Relief Board (re dispute over wages)
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Minutes

    • Description: Division of Child Welfare Services field staff meetings
      Dates: 1963-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17-19
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Division of Child Welfare Services field staff meetings: index
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Field staff supervisors' meetings
      Dates: 1941, 1945-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 21-24
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Governor's Joint Committee for Mental Health and Mental Retardation meetings
      Dates: 1962-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 25
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Interagency Children and Youth Committee meetings
      Dates: 1960-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 27
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Interagency Council on Mental Retardation meetings
      Dates: 1960-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 27
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Montana Relief Commission meetings
      Dates: 1933-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 28-29
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: Montana Relief Commission meetings
      Dates: 1935-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1-2
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: State Board of Public Welfare meetings
      Dates: 1937-1971
      Container: Volume Vol. 1-5
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: State Board of Public Welfare meetings
      Dates: 1958-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3-6
      Location: Minutes
    • Description: State Old Age Pension Commission meetings
      Dates: 1936-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: Minutes

  • Organization

    • Description: Organizational chart, personnel lists, and program descriptions
      Dates: 1965-1967, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Reorganization plan (Task Force on Social and Rehabilitation Services)
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8a
      Location: Organization

  • Reports

    • Description: "Causes for turnover in the occupational environment of Montana welfare workers," by W. Kenneth Calvin ("Calvin Study")
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8b
      Location: Reports
    • Description: County supervisors' meeting reports describing the duties and functions of county supervisors
      Dates: 1949-1950
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Day care facilities for children: reports to the State Department of Public Welfare
      Dates: 1960
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Medical Assistance for the Aged Program applicant case characteristics: statistical reports
      Dates: 1966
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Monthly statistical reports on public assistance
      Dates: 1937-1947
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12-19
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Monthly statistical reports on public assistance
      Dates: 1948-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1-19
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Monthly statistical reports on public assistance
      Dates: 1958-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1-7
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Orientation and Mobility Project: interim report
      Dates: 1969
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 7a
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Reasons for opening public assistance cases, statistical reports
      Dates: 1946-1953
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 8
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Service to individual children by public welfare agencies: reports to the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
      Dates: 1944-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 9-10
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Summaries of conferences held between Division of Public Assistance individual field supervisors and Division personnel
      Dates: 1947-1950
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Summary of accomplishments
      Dates: 1969-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11a
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Survey of County and City Jails
      Dates: 1939-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11b
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Survey of County Farm Homes, Hospitals, and Private Hospitals
      Dates: 1939-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11c
      Location: Reports
    • Description: War ration books issued
      Dates: 1943-1944
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 12
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Ward Indians: summary of discussions held at a meeting attended by Aid to Dependent Children program workers with large ward Indian caseloads
      Dates: 1955
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 13
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Miscellaneous (includes "Report of information for the Governor's Committee on Reorganization and Economy"; activities relating to medical aspects of public assistance; eligibility in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program; homemaker services and home health care; foster care for the aged)
      Dates: 1941-1970
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 14
      Location: Reports

  • Subject Files

    • Description: Aid to Dependent Children program
      Dates: 1961-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 15
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Carbon County relief
      Dates: 1933-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 16
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: County medical plans
      Dates: 1955-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 17
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: County medical plans: Montana Medical Association
      Dates: 1955-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 18
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: County medical plans: B-Y
      Dates: 1957-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 19-23
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Cuban refugees
      Dates: 1961-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 24
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Division of Child Welfare Services
      Dates: 1959-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 25
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Division of Public Assistance district field staff meetings
      Dates: 1947-1950
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Division of Public Assistance field staff supervisors workshop
      Dates: 1950
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation
      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 3
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Governor's Joint Committee on Mental Health and Mental Retardation
      Dates: 1962-1967
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Juvenile courts
      Dates: 1946-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Legal services for the indigent project
      Dates: 1968-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6-7
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Missoula County relief
      Dates: 1935-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 8
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Model Cities Coordinating Committee
      Dates: 1970-1971
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 9
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Montana Association for the Advancement of Social Workers
      Dates: 1967-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 10
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Montana Mental Retardation Planning and Implementation Committee
      Dates: 1964-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 11
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Petroleum County relief
      Dates: 1933-1934
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 12
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Sheep pelts and wool, sale of in Iowa and New York
      Dates: 1936
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 13
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Social Security
      Dates: 1935-1937
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 14-15
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Sweet Grass County relief (bulk of material on a single fraud case)
      Dates: 1933-1934
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 16
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Work Projects Administration (re effects of liquidation of WPA on requests made to public agencies for assistance)
      Dates: 1941-1942
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 17
      Location: Subject Files

  • Writings

    • Description: "The Grapevine," (newsletter of the Division of Staff Development)
      Dates: 1970
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 18
      Location: Writings
    • Description: Personnel manual (draft)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 19
      Location: Writings

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Blank forms
      Dates: 1934-1935
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 20
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Division of Child Welfare Services field staff orientation outline and guidelines for submitting field reports
      Dates: 1966, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 21
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Old-age assistance plan submitted to the U.S. Social Security Board
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 22-23
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Relief cases synopsis
      Dates: 1934
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 24
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: State plan for aid to needy dependent children submitted to the U.S. Social Security Board
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 25-26
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: State plan for vocational rehabilitation service for the blind
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 27
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Statistical compilation (includes poor fund budgets, federal program expenditures, etc.)
      Dates: 1946-1969
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 28
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Child welfare--Montana
  • Dental public health--Montana
  • Depressions--1929--Montana
  • Indians of North America--Public welfare--Montana
  • Medical care--Montana
  • Mental health services--Montana
  • Municipal government--Montana
  • Old age assistance--Montana
  • Public welfare--Montana
  • Silicosis--Montana
  • Social security--Montana
  • Strikes and lockouts--Copper mining--Montana
  • Transients, Relief of--Montana
  • Unemployed--Montana
  • Youth--Montana

Finding aid prepared by MTHS Staff; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2004; 2025

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