Archives West Finding Aid
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Governor's Original Mansion Restoration Society Advisory Council records, 1970-2009
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Governor's Original Mansion Restoration Society Advisory Council
- Title
- Governor's Original Mansion Restoration Society Advisory Council records
- Dates
- 1970-2009 (inclusive)19702009
- Quantity
- 0.8 linear feet
- Collection Number
- MC 390 (collection)
- Summary
- This collection consists of records created by the Governor's Original Mansion Restoration Society Advisory Council, and includes correspondence, financial records, minutes, organizational, reports, subject files, 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
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
In 1959 Governor Hugo Aronson vacated the 1888 Queen Anne Mansion at 304 Ewing Street, and moved to the new Executive Mansion at 2 Carson Street. Originally, the Helena Chamber of Commerce undertook the historic preservation and restoration of the old mansion. Soon however, Helena Mayor Dave Lewis and the City Commission negotiated for the Mansion to be leased to the City of Helena so that it could be restored and maintained as a historic museum. To oversee this effort, in 1969 Mayor Lewis appointed the Governors' Old Mansion Restoration Committee. The committee consisted of the following people: Mr. Joe A Maierle (Chairman), Mr. John Schroeder (Co-Chairman), Mr. George Schotte, Mr. Lester Loble II, Mrs. Sherman W. Smith, Mayor Dave Lewis (Ex-Officio member), Mrs. Tim Babcock, Mrs. Sam C. Ford, Mrs. Forrest Anderson, Mrs. Fred Gannon, and Mrs. J.R. Kaiserman.
In 1969, the Legislative Assembly appropriated thirty-five thousand dollars towards initial repairs of the building; these funds were used to restore the exterior. To supplement these funds, the City of Helena filed an application with the Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Historic Preservation Grant, and the Committee worked to secure funds from donors around the State. The Committee and the Chamber also introduced a bill into the 1971 Legislative Assembly for an additional thirty-nine thousand dollars to match Federal funds to complete the restoration at a cost of seventy-eight thousand dollars.
By 1980 the City of Helena was unable to continue management of the Mansion financially. The State terminated the lease to the city and the Montana Historical Society (MHS) took responsibility for restoration, maintenance and management of the Mansion. The Mansion Committee continued to function as the policy and management authority, consistent with the overall policies of the MHS, while the Governors' Original Mansion Restoration Society Board's primary function was to act as a fund-raising entity and sponsor annual events to raise money. The Secret Garden Tour, created in 2005, is now the main fund raising effort of the Original Governor's Mansion Restoration Society Board (now called the Governors' Original Mansion Restoration Society Advisory Council), a volunteer group of Montana citizens dedicated to OGM restoration projects.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists of correspondence (1973-1981); financial records (1973-1977, 1980), which include quotations for the purchase of furnishings, and accounts payable receipts; minutes (1974-2009); organizational records (1974-1980), including by-laws of the Board/Advisory Council and official register of board members; reports (1975-1976, 1978-1980), including committee reports and monthly reports; subject files (1970, 1974-1978), including Master Plan for Interior Restoration, Specifications for Exterior Restoration, Original Governor's Mansion research materials, and inventory of Mansion furnishings, and contract materials; and miscellany (1978, 1979), including newsletter and Old House Heritage Tour.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives 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]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into seven series: Correspondence; Financial Records; Minutes; Organizational; Reports; Subject Files; and Miscellany.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
CorrespondenceReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | General (Correspondents include: Joe
Marierle, Betty Babcock, Don Harriott, Mike Mansfield, John J.
McLaughlin, and John N. DeHaas) |
1973-1975 |
1/2 | General (Correspondents include: Robert
Archibald, Carol Harrison, Campeau & Crennen, Harriet Meloy, Raymond
L. Beaver, Shirley Gannon, Mary Holtz, and A.W. Scribner) |
1976-1981 |
Financial RecordsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/3 | Accounts Payable |
1975 |
1/4 | Budget Material |
1974-1977, 1980 |
1/5 | "Quotations" [Price quotes for
furnishings] |
1973-1975 |
MinutesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/6 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
1974-1978 |
1/7 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
1976-1977 |
1/8 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
1977-1978 |
1/9 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
1978-1979 |
1/10 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
1980-1981, 1983 December |
2/1 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
2001-2003 |
2/2 | Meeting Minutes [includes associated
materials] |
2004-2009 |
2/3 | Meeting Minutes [executive committee and
Original Governor's Mansion board of trustees] |
1980 |
OrganizationalReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/4 | By-laws and Official Register of Board
Members |
1974-1980 |
ReportsReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/5 | Committee and Monthly |
1975-1976, 1978-1980 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/6 | Master plan for interior restoration;
Specifications for exterior restoration; Master Plan for Restoration of
the Governors Original Mansion City of Helena, Montana |
undated, 1970, 1975 |
2/7 | "Contract - Copy of Opal Smith and City of
Helena" |
1974 |
2/8 | "Governor's Old Mansion -
Research" |
1974-1978 |
2/9 | "Inventory - Furnishings list" |
1974 |
MiscellanyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/10 | "Original Governor's Mansion," newsletter,
Old House Club Heritage Tour |
undated, 1978, 1979 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Historic Buildings--Montana--Helena
- Historic Preservation
Corporate Names
- Governor's Original Mansion Restoration Society Advisory Council (creator)
- Original Governor's Mansion (Helena, Mont.)
Geographical Names
- Helena, Mont.