Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana Department of Highways, Engineering Division records, 1955-1989
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana. Department of Highways
- Title
- Montana Department of Highways, Engineering Division records
- Dates
- 1955-1989 (inclusive)19551989
- Quantity
- 1.4 linear feet
- Collection Number
- RS 492 (Formerly RS 427)
- 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. This collection is comprised of records documenting the work of the Engineering Division of the Department of Highways, and includes general correspondence (1969-1987) of the Division Administrator and Assistant Administrator; a file (1956-1965) on the division's occupancy of offices in the State Laboratory Building; Division staff meeting minutes (1981-1985, 1988-1989), monthly construction reports (1979), and engineering reports (1958-1977).
- 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 Department of Highways Engineering Division was historically responsible for project planning and oversight, including, but not limited to: reporting on project options, preparing feasibility reports, and completing reconnaissance studies. Currently, the Highways and Engineering Division prepares projects for bidding and coordinates highway construction through two primary functions: Preconstruction and Construction. Specific Preconstruction functions are administered by the Bridge, Consultant Design, Engineering Information Services, Environmental Services, Highways, Right-of-Way, and Traffic and Safety bureaus in addition to five District Construction Offices in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Glendive, and Missoula for budget purposes. Specific Construction functions are administered by the Contract Plans, Construction Engineering Services, Construction Administration Services, and Materials.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Documents in this collection reflect the day-to-day functions of the Engineering Division, and include: staff meeting minutes; correspondence between division heads and administrators, and other MDT departments; and reports on the feasibility of project routes, alternate routes for projects, and economic analyses of project routes. Also included in this collection is a subject file that discusses the State Laboratory Building, and reports by the Project Control Unit (in 1979, a unit of the Engineering Division). One linear foot of maps and building plans are included in this collection. Some of the more significant items in this series include plans of the State Highway Department Building.
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
41:5-3; Tubes Sub-basementProcessing 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 | ||
| 1/1-2 | Division Administrator (Homer Wheeler and
Beckert) |
1969-1981 |
| 1/3-5 | Division Head (Beckert) |
1979-1982 |
| 1/6 | Division Administrator (Don M. Harriott) |
1983-1987 |
MinutesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/7 | Division Staff Meetings |
1981-1985,1988-1989 |
ReportsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/8 | Construction Project Reports (includes Project Control
Unit records and reports) |
1979 |
| 1/9 | Brief Report on Access to Superior, MT |
1962 |
| 1/10 | Design Study Report for Fairfield, E. &
W. |
1971 |
| 1/11 | Economic Analysis of Alt. Hwy Routings of I 90 near
Missoula |
1960 |
| 1/12 | Economic Analysis of Hwy Routings from Cardwell to
Three Forks |
1962 |
| 1/13 | Engineering Brief: McDonald Pass Tunnel Routes, Helena
to Elliston |
1965 |
| 1/14 | Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Locations
(I15) |
1964 |
| 1/15 | Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Locations
(I15) |
undated |
| 1/16 | Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Locations
(I90) |
1964 |
| 1/17 | Engineering Report Comparing Alt. Interchange
Locations near Galen |
undated |
| 1/18 | I90 Route Location Study: Butte to
Whitehall |
1960 |
| 1/19 | Mullan – Montana Line Feasibility Study |
1963 |
| 1/20 | Reconnaissance Study, I15: Woodville to
Boulder |
1966 |
| 1/21 | Reconnaissance Study, I15: Woodville to
Boulder |
1966 |
| 1/22 | Reconnaissance Study, I90: Montana-ID border to
Saltese |
1962 |
| 1/23 | Reconnaissance Study: Railroad Grade Separation,
Glendive |
1976 |
| 1/24 | Rest Area Study: Great Falls to Sweetgrass |
1970 |
| 1/25 | Route Location Study: MT 40 through Columbia
Falls |
1970 |
| 1/26 | Study of Alternative Routes: Lodge Grass through
Wyoming |
1968 |
| 1/27 | Supplemental Report Comparing Alt. Interchange
Location: I90 near Galen |
1966 |
| 1/28 | US 91 Abandonment Study: Butte |
1977 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/29 | “Laboratory Building” |
1955-1987 |
MiscellanyReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1969-1974 |
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1975 |
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1976 |
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1977 |
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1978 |
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1979 |
| Tubes | Drop Inlets |
1980 |
| Tubes | “Fin. District 1” (projects in Lincoln, Flathead and
Lake Co.) |
undated |
| Tubes | Historic/Significant State Sites by Region |
1973 |
| Tubes | Plan for Addition to Montana State Highway
Building |
1956 |
| Tubes | Montana State Highway Building, New Bldg |
1957 |
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.
