Western Montana Fish and Game Association Records, 1915-1982

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Western Montana Fish and Game Association
Title
Western Montana Fish and Game Association Records
Dates
1915-1982 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.5 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 213 (collection)
Summary
The Western Montana Fish and Game Association was formed to further the conservation interests of hunters and fishermen. The collection contains material generated by the activities of the Association from 1915 to 1981.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

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 Western Montana Fish and Game Association (originally named Western Montana Anglers Association) was organized in 1911 and held their first meeting in 1915. This non-profit organization grew from a group formed to further the direct interests of hunters and fishermen as a well-organized conservation group. Through their many committees the organization was actively involved in land and resource management, hunting and fishing regulations, road and water access, pollution control, sportsman-farmer/rancher relations, and in education and action programs dealing with state and government resources. The Association also lobbied congressmen and senators, including Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf and Burton K. Wheeler, and government agencies, such as the Forest Service and the Fish and Game Department, on conservation issues. The Association had access to and membership from the University of Montana, the Forest Service, and Montana Fish and Game Department as well as corporations with vast land holdings such as the Anaconda Company and the Northern Pacific Railway Company.

The Western Montana Fish and Game Association is still thriving. The membership grew from approximately 100 in the middle 1970s to almost 1,000 in 1997, and is one of the largest regional organizations in Montana.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains material generated by the activities of the Western Montana Fish and Game Association from 1915 to 1981. This collection is divided into nine series: Organization, Financial and Legal Documents, Minutes, General Correspondence, Committees, Speeches and Writings, Clippings, and Other Organizations. The collection also originally contained photographs, maps, pamphlets and government documents that were separated during 1998 reprocessing. The records contain material related to conservation, environmental issues, gun control, wilderness, big game hunting, fishing and numerous other activities associated with outdoor life in western Montana and surrounding areas.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Western Montana Fish and Game Association Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is divided into nine series:

Series I: Organization, 1 folder, 1936-1971

Series II: Financial and Legal Documents, 0.5 linear feet, 1934-1976

Series III: Minutes, 0.25 linear feet, 1930-1973

Series IV: General Correspondence, 3.0 linear feet, 1915-1981

Series V: Reports, 0.25 linear feet, 1936-1973

Series VI: Committees, 0.75 linear feet, 1933-1973

Series VII: Speeches and Writings, 1 folder, 1948-1982

Series VIII: Clippings, 1 folder, 1954-1971

Series IX: Other Organizations, 1.0 linear feet, 1936-1976

Custodial History

The materials in this collection remained in the possession of the Western Montana Fish and Game Association until donation to the K. Ross Toole Archives.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Gary Marbut and the Western Montana Fish and Game Association, 1992

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown. In January 1998, the collection was completely rearranged and re-described.

Separated Materials

During original processing the three collection photographs were transferred to the Archives general photograph collection; maps were transferred to the Mansfield Library Map Department; and government documents were transferred to the Mansfield Library Government Documents department. Records on identifying numbers assigned to the photographs from this collection could not be found.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Organization , 1936-1971 Return to Top

1 folder

This series consists of organizational data produced by the association. It includes by-laws, articles of incorporation, president's and annual reports, constitution and reorganization information, membership and mailing lists.

The series is arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
1935-1971, undated

Series II:  Financial and Legal Documents , 1934-1976 Return to Top

0.5 linear feet

This series contains the financial and legal documents generated by the association in the course of business. It includes receipts, bills payable, expense, budget and audit reports. Legal documents include contracts and agreements.

The series is arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/2
1934-1936
1/3
1937
1/4
1938
1/5
1939
1/6
1940
1/7
1941
1/8
1942
1/9
1943-1947
1/10
1920-1959
1/11
1960-1969
1/12
1970-1976
1/13
undated
1/14
Legal Documents
1938-1959
1/15
1964-1976

Series III:  Minutes , 1930-1973Return to Top

0.25 linear feet

This series contains the minutes of the Western Montana Fish and Game Association meetings held quarterly each year.

The series is arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/1
1930
2/2
1931
2/3
1932
2/4
1933
2/5
1934
2/6
1935
2/7
1936
2/8
1937
2/9
1938
2/10
1939
2/11
1940
2/12
1941
2/13
1942
2/14
1955-1956
2/15
1957
2/16
1958
2/17
1959
2/18
1960
2/19
1963
2/20
1964-1967
2/21
1968
2/22
1969
2/23
1970
2/24
1971
2/25
1972
2/26
1973

Series IV:  General Correspondence , 1915-1981 Return to Top

3 linear feet

This series embodies correspondence to and cc'd to the association. It contains letters to notable figures of the century including presidents, senators, congressmen and conservationists. Box 2, folders 27, 28, 29, 30 (labeled general correspondence) contain bound volumes. These volumes, ranging from 1915-1919, are the combined records of the association for those years (correspondence, financial, minutes, reports etc.).

The series is arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/27
1915
2/28
1916
2/29
1918
2/30
1919
3/1
1934-1937
3/2
1938
3/3
1939
3/4
1939
3/5
1940
3/6
1941
3/7
1942-1943
3/8
1945-1946
3/9
1947-1948
4/1
1949-1956
4/2
1957
4/3
1958
4/4
1959
4/5
1960
4/6
1961-1963
4/7
1964
4/8
1965
5/1
1965
5/2
1965
5/3
1965
5/4
1965
5/5
1966
5/6
1966
5/7
1966
5/8
1966
5/9
1966
5/10
1967
5/11
1967
6/1
1967
6/2
1968
6/3
1968
6/4
1968
6/5
1968
6/6
1968
6/7
1969
6/8
1969
6/9
1970
6/10
1970
7/1
1971
7/2
1972
7/3
1973-1981
7/4
undated

Series V:  Reports , 1936-1973 Return to Top

0.25 linear feet

This series consists of reports produced by the association regarding activities and events of interest to the association.

The series is arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
7/5
1936-1953
7/6
1954-1966
7/7
1967-1970
7/8
1971-1973
7/9
undated

Series VI:  Committees , 1933-1973 Return to Top

0.75 linear feet

This series contains the records of the activities generated by the appointed committees of the association and includes minutes, reports, literature, and membership lists. The series begins with committee lists, arranged chronologically and is then broken down into sub-groups by the following committees: access, archery, auditing and finance, big game, bird, budget, conservation-education, executive, farmer-sportsmen, fish, hunting, junior-sportsman association, legislative, membership, nominating, publicity and wilderness.

The subgroups are arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
8/1
Committee Lists
1945-1971
8/2
Access Committee
1964-1972
8/3
Archery Committee
1967-1968
8/4
Auditing and Finance Committee
1970
8/5
Banquet Committee, Financial
1936-1971
8/6
Banquet Committee, Members
1933-1937
8/7
Banquet Committee, Prizes
1936-1970
8/8
Banquet Committee, Programs
1933-1968
8/9
Banquet Committee, Tickets & Invitations
8/10
Big Game Committee, Budget
1951-1966
8/11
Big Game Committee, Membership Lists
1959-1971
8/12
Big Game Committee, Minutes
1959-1972
8/13
Big Game Committee, Reports
1952-1972
8/14
Big Game Committee, Seasons
1947-1966
8/15
Bird Committee, Migratory Birds
1964-1973
8/16
Bird Committee, Upland Birds
1947-1972
8/17
Budget Committee
1957-1969
8/18
Conservation-Education Committee
1965-1970
8/19
Executive Committee, Members
undated
8/20
Executive Committee, Minutes
1938-1968
9/1
Executive Committee, Minutes
1969-1973
9/2
Farmer-Sportsman Committee
1964-1970
9/3
Fish Committee, Budget
1965-1968
9/4
Fish Committee, Fish Plants
undated
9/5
Fish Committee, Minutes
1945-1968
9/6
Hunting Committee
1972
9/7
Junior Sportsman Association Committee
1967-1971
9/8
Legislation Committee, Legislation
1937-1972
9/9
Legislation Committee, Minutes
1968-1972
9/10
Legislation Committee, Reports
1968-1973
9/11
Membership Committee
1934
9/12
Nominating Committee
1967-1971
9/13
Publicity Committee
1965
9/14
Wilderness Committee
1966-1967

Series VII:  Speeches and Writings , 1948-1982 Return to Top

1 folder

This series consists of speeches and writings generated by the association in the course of business and includes resolutions, recommendations, editorials, statements, notices, suggestions, remarks, petitions and newsletters.

The series is arranged chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/15
1948-1982

Series VIII:  Clippings , 1954-1971 Return to Top

1 folder

This series contains clippings from American newspapers and magazines.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/16
1954-1971

Series IX:  Other Organizations , 1936-1976 Return to Top

1.0 linear foot

This series contains material generated by other organizations related to the association's activities and goals.

The series is arranged alphabetically by organization and then chronologically.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
9/17
Bitterroot Valley Resource Conservation & Development Project
1966-1968
9/18
Forest Service
1937-1970
10/1
Forest Service
1965-1975
10/2
Montana organizations
1941-1965
10/3
Montana organizations
1965-1966
10/4
Montana organizations
1966-1967
10/5
Montana organizations
1967-1968
10/6
Montana organizations
1968-1972
10/7
Montana organizations
undated
10/8
Montana Fish and Game
1936-1972
10/9
Montana Wilderness Association
1965-1966
10/10
Montana Wildlife Federation, Minutes
1957-1966
10/11
Montana Wildlife Federation, Minutes
1966-1969
10/12
Montana Wildlife Federation, Minutes
1970-1973
11/1
Montana Wildlife Federation, Newsletters
1937-1970
11/2
Montana Wildlife Federation, Organizational Material
1965-1969
11/3
Montana Wildlife Federation, Speeches & Writings
1964-1972
11/4
United Sportsmen's Association of Montana, Minutes
1964-1968
11/5
National Wildlife Federation
1964-1966
11/6
Natural Resources Council, Minutes
1972-1974
11/7
Pacific Northwest Resource Conservation Council
1960-1969
11/8
Save the Selway
1964-1965
11/9
Save the Selway
1965-1968
11/10
USA organizations
1943-1965
11/11
USA organizations
1965-1976
11/12
USA organizations
undated
11/13
The Wilderness Society
1965-1966
11/14
The Wilderness Society
1966-1968

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Big game hunting--Montana
  • Conservation of natural resources--Montana--Societies, etc.
  • Environmental protection--Montana
  • Fishers--Montana
  • Fishing--Montana--Societies, etc.
  • Gun control--Montana
  • Hunters--Montana
  • Hunting--Montana--Societies, etc.
  • Outdoor life--Montana
  • Wilderness area--Montana--Recreational use
  • Wildlife-related recreation--Montana--Societies, etc.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Western Montana Anglers Association