Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana State Examiner records, 1895-1970
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana. State Examiner
- Title
- Montana State Examiner records
- Dates
- 1895-1970 (inclusive)19901999
- Quantity
- 85.2 linear ft
- Collection Number
- RS 493 (Formerly RS 30)
- Summary
- This collection is a subgroup (Predecessor Agency) within the Montana Department of Administration records. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Administration records. The Montana State Examiner was responsible for auditing state agencies, city and county governments, and banks. Records include general correspondence; outgoing correspondence; annual reports of the State Examiner, of the State Banking Department, cities, towns, counties, fire department relief associations, irrigation districts, state institutions, and the Register of State Lands; audit reports of cities, towns, school districts, rural fire districts, and state agencies; and financial records of the Montana Banking Corporation.
- 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
-
Note: state banking records under review
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Montana Legislature established the Office of the State Examiner in 1895. Duties of the State Examiner included examining the books and accounts of all state officials and agencies, county officials, banks, and any public or private institutions doing business with the state. Additionally, the State Examiner was to prescribe standard accounting methods for state and county agencies to record all receipts and expenditures. The Examiner was also supposed to make periodic on-site inspections of each agency and bank. The county auditing function was later taken over by the Montana Department of Administration, Local Government Services Division (now Bureau). The Office of State Examiner was abolished in 1975.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection includes correspondence (1895-1959) with county officials, irrigation districts, fire department relief associations, banks, and the Montana Attorney General; legal documents (1900, 1902) consisting of bonds and contracts; and financial records (1908-1932) of The Banking Corporation. The bulk of the records consist of annual reports of the State Examiner (1928-1954), the State Banking Department (1923, 1927-1936), cities and towns (1936-1970), county clerks (1942-1970), county examinations (1895-1896, 1911-1969); county treasurers (1915-1970), fire department relief associations (1921-1970), irrigation districts (1921-1968), state institutions (1929-1941), and the Register of State Lands (1913-1923); and audit reports of cities and towns (1930-1969), county high schools (1936-1968), state banks (1902-1915), rural fire districts (1963-1968), school districts (1938-1969), and state offices and institutions (1903-1963).
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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 Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by series.
Location of Collection
18:1-4Processing Note
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Administration were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 493, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Administration's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 493. Rather than reprocessing over 190 linear feet of Administration materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links in the primary 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 Content Note above carefully to confirm if these are the records you wish to view.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition information is available upon request.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
General correspondence Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1 / 1-1b | County officers |
1895-1896, 1927-1936 |
| 1 / 2-13 | Fire Department Relief Association (Anaconda - Wolf
Point) |
1922-1959, undated |
| 1 / 14-28 | Irrigation districts (Alfalfa Valley - Zurich) |
1916-1957, undated |
| 1 / 29-31 | Attorney General |
1927-1937 |
| 2 / 1-11 | Montana banking (A-Y, misc.) RESTRICTED: under
review |
1906-1909 |
Outgoing correspondenceReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 12 | Letterpress book |
1896-1899 |
| 2 / 13 | Circular letters |
1935-1956 |
| 2 / 14 | Directives |
1922-1957 |
Legal documents Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2 / 15 | Bonds and contracts |
1900, 1902 |
| 2a / 1-26 | The Banking Corporation: mortgages, deeds, bonds
RESTRICTED: Under review |
1908-1932 |
Reports Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ||
| Vol. 1-23 | Annual reports: State Examiner |
1928-1954 |
| Vol. 24-34 | Annual reports: Superintendent of Banks; Banking
Department [after 1936, included in State Examiner's reports] RESTRICTED: Under review |
1923, 1927-1936 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3 / 1-21 | Annual reports: city and town (Alberton - Belt) |
1936-1970 |
| 4 / 1-20 | Annual reports: city and town (Big Sandy - Boulder) |
1936-1970 |
| 5 / 1-20 | Annual reports: city and town (Bozeman - Butte) |
1935-1970 |
| 6 / 1-21 | Annual reports: city and town (Cascade - Columbia
Falls) |
1936-1970 |
| 7 / 1-21 | Annual reports: city and town (Columbus - Denton) |
1936-1970 |
| 8 / 1-21 | Annual reports: city and town (Dillon - Eureka) |
1936-1970 |
| 9 / 1-22 | Annual reports: city and town (Fairfield - Geraldine) |
1936-1970 |
| 10 / 1-17 | Annual reports: city and town (Glasgow - Hamilton) |
1936-1970 |
| 11 / 1-23 | Annual reports: city and town (Hardin - Hobson) |
1936-1970 |
| 12 / 1-23 | Annual reports: city and town (Hot Springs - Kevin) |
1936-1970 |
| 13 / 1-22 | Annual reports: city and town (Laurel - Lodge Grass) |
1936-1970 |
| 14 / 1-23 | Annual reports: city and town (Malta - Nashua) |
1936-1970 |
| 15 / 1-24 | Annual reports: city and town (Niehart - Polson) |
1936-1970 |
| 16 / 1-23 | Annual reports: city and town (Poplar - St. Ignatius) |
1936-1970 |
| 17 / 1-23 | Annual reports: city and town (Scobey - Superior) |
1936-1970 |
| 18 / 1-20 | Annual reports: city and town (Terry - Valier) |
1936-1970 |
| 19 / 1-22 | Annual reports: city and town (Virginia City -
Wibaux) |
1936-1970 |
| 20 / 1-9 | Annual reports: city and town (Winifred - Wolf Point) |
1936-1970 |
| 20 / 10-19 | Annual reports: county clerk (Beaverhead - Big Horn) |
1942-1970 |
| 21 / 1-18 | Annual reports: county clerk (Blaine - Carbon) |
1942-1970 |
| 22 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Carter - Custer) |
1942-1970 |
| 23 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Daniels - Fallon) |
1942-1970 |
| 24 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Fergus - Garfield) |
1942-1970 |
| 25 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Glacier - Hill) |
1942-1970 |
| 26 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Jefferson - Lewis &
Clark) |
1942-1970 |
| 27 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Liberty - Madison) |
1942-1970 |
| 28 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Meagher - Musselshell) |
1942-1970 |
| 29 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Park - Podera) |
1942-1970 |
| 30 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Powder River - Ravalli) |
1942-1970 |
| 31 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Richland - Sanders) |
1942-1970 |
| 32 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Sheridan - Sweet Grass) |
1942-1970 |
| OvBx / 1 | Annual reports: county examination (Beaverhead -
Yellowstone) |
1895-1896 |
| 33 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county clerk (Teton - Valley) |
1942-1970 |
| 34 / 1-18 | Annual reports: county clerk (Wheatland -
Yellowstone) |
1942-1970 |
| 35 / 1-16 | Annual reports: county examination (Beaverhead -
Broadwater) |
1913-1969 |
| 36 / 1-15 | Annual reports: county examination (Carbon - Cascade) |
1916-1968 |
| 37 / 1-18 | Annual reports: county examination (Chouteau -
Dawson) |
1913-1966 |
| 38 / 1-15 | Annual reports: county examination (Deer Lodge -
Fergus) |
1913-1967 |
| 39 / 1-14 | Annual reports: county examination (Flathead -
Garfield) |
1907-1967 |
| 40 / 1-19 | Annual reports: county examination (Glacier -
Jefferson) |
1916-1969 |
| 41 / 1-17 | Annual reports: county examination (Judith Basin -
Liberty) |
1913-1968 |
| 42 / 1-16 | Annual reports: county examination (Lincoln -
Meagher) |
1913-1969 |
| 43 / 1-17 | Annual reports: county examination (Mineral - Park) |
1911-1969 |
| 44 / 1-18 | Annual reports: county examination (Petroleum -
Powell) |
1914-1967 |
| 45 / 1-15 | Annual reports: county examination (Prairie -
Roosevelt) |
1916-1967 |
| 46 / 1-17 | Annual reports: county examination (Rosebud - Silver
Bow) |
1913-1967 |
| 47 / 1-19 | Annual reports: county examination (Stillwater -
Treasure) |
1916-1967 |
| 48 / 1-16 | Annual reports: county examination (Valley -
Yellowstone) |
1916-1966 |
| 49 / 1-22 | Annual reports: county treasurer (Beaverhead -
Dawson) |
1943-1970 |
| 50 / 1-22 | Annual reports: county treasurer (Deer Lodge -
Jefferson) |
1943-1970 |
| 51 / 1-22 | Annual reports: county treasurer (Judith Basin -
Musselshell) |
1943-1970 |
| 52 / 1-22 | Annual reports: county treasurer (Park - Rosebud) |
1943-1970 |
| 52a / 1-2 | Annual reports: county treasurer (Prairie) |
1915-1942 |
| 53 / 1-24 | Annual reports: county treasurer (Sanders -
Yellowstone) |
1943-1970 |
| 54 / 1-24 | Annual reports: Fire Department Relief Association
(Alberton - Columbus) |
1924-1970 |
| 55 / 1-24 | Annual reports: Fire Department Relief Association
(Conrad - Hamilton) |
1922-1969 |
| 56 / 1-23 | Annual reports: Fire Department Relief Association
(Hardin - Missoula) |
1921-1969 |
| 57 / 1-26 | Annual reports: Fire Department Relief Association
(Moore - Townsend) |
1926-1969 |
| 58 / 1-12 | Annual reports: Fire Department Relief Association
(Troy - Wolf Point) |
1926-1969 |
| 58 / 13-29 | Annual reports: irrigation districts (Alfalfa Valley
- Clinton) |
1921-1968 |
| 59 / 1-31 | Annual reports: irrigation districts (Columbus -
Lower Yellowstone) |
1921-1968 |
| 60 / 1-21 | Annual reports: irrigation districts (Malta - Zurich) |
1921-1968 |
| 61 / 1-24 | Annual reports: state institutions (Montana Deaf and
Blind School - Montana, miscellaneous) |
1929-1941 |
| Volume | ||
| Vol. 1 | Annual report to Governor: work sheets |
1928-1932 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 62 / 1-36 | Audit reports: city and town (Alberton - Boulder) |
1930-1969 |
| 63 / 1-34 | Audit reports: city and town (Bozeman - Chester) |
1930-1968 |
| 64 / 1-37 | Audit reports: city and town (Chinook - Deer Lodge) |
1930-1968 |
| 65 / 1-44 | Audit reports: city and town (Denton - Froid) |
1930-1968 |
| 66 / 1-33 | Audit reports: city and town (Fromberg - Harlowton) |
1930-1967 |
| 67 / 1-35 | Audit reports: city and town (Hamilton - Joliet) |
1929-1967 |
| 68 / 1-36 | Audit reports: city and town (Jordan - Malta) |
1930-1969 |
| 69 / 1-39 | Audit reports: city and town (Manhattan -
Philipsburg) |
1930-1964 |
| 70 / 1-38 | Audit reports: city and town (Plains - St. Ignatius) |
1930-1967 |
| 71 / 1-41 | Audit reports: city and town (Scobey - Troy) |
1930-1967 |
| 72 / 1-36 | Audit reports: city and town (Twin Bridges - Wolf
Point) |
1930-1968 |
| 73 / 1-37 | Audit reports: county high schools (Beaverhead -
Wibaux) |
1936-1968 |
| 74 / 1-10 | Audit reports: head start (Cascade County -
Yellowstone County) |
1966-1968 |
| 74 / 11-47 | Audit reports: high school extracurricular funds (Big
Horn County - Wheatland County) |
1954-1973 |
| 74 / 48 | Audit reports: Montana state banks RESTRICTED: Under
review |
1902-1915 |
| 74 / 49-76 | Audit reports: rural fire districts |
1963-1969 |
| 75 / 1-46 | Audit reports: school districts (Beaverhead County -
Flathead County) |
1950-1968 |
| 76 / 1-39 | Audit reports: school districts (Gallatin County -
Liberty County) |
1938-1969 |
| 77 / 1-39 | Audit reports: school districts (Lincoln County -
Ravalli County) |
1939-1968 |
| 78 / 1-42 | Audit reports: school districts (Richland County -
Yellowstone County) |
1949-1969 |
| 79 / 1-35 | Audit reports: state offices and institutions
(American Dairy Association of Montana - Montana Industrial School) |
1908-1963 |
| 80 / 1-28 | Audit reports: state offices and institutions
(Montana Liquor Control Board - Montana State College) |
1903-1961 |
| 81 / 1-21 | Audit reports: state offices and institutions
(Montana State College - Montana Relief Commission) |
1909-1961 |
| 82 / 1-12 | Audit reports: state offices and institutions
(Montana Tuberculosis Association - state officers) |
1904-1963 |
Miscellany Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 82 / 13 | House Bill 74: delinquent taxes |
1949 |
| 82 / 14 | Tables and forms |
1939-1954, undated |
| 82 / 15 | Vehicle taxes |
1949-1952 |
| 82 / 16 | Miscellaneous |
1920-1953 |
Finding aid prepared by MTHS Staff; Updated by Lindsey
Mick
2004;
2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
