Montana Industrial Accident Board records, 1915-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. Industrial Accident Board.
Title
Montana Industrial Accident Board records
Dates
1915-1971 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.6 linear ft
Collection Number
RS 498 (Formerly RS 310)
Summary
This collection is a sub-subgroup (Board) of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry records, RS 498. The Industrial Accident Board operated independently until 1971, when it was abolished and its duties transferred to the Department of Labor and Industry. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Labor and Industry records. These records of the Industrial Accident Board consist of a financial journal, Board minutes, and two subject files concerning the Speculator and Bear Creek (Smith Mine) mine disasters. (OVERSIZE MATERIAL: map case)
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.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Montana Industrial Accident Board was established in 1915 for the purpose of ensuring financial compensation to victims of industrial accidents. Mining has played an important role in the history of Montana, and the industry has been a significant employer. Consequently the Accident Board played a major role in providing compensation to victims of Montana's mine disasters.

Mining is a dangerous occupation, and large and small mine disasters have claimed the lives of many miners in the state. On June 8, 1917 a fire, started by a carbide lamp, spread rapidly through the shafts of the Speculator Mine, owned by the North Butte Mining Company in Butte. The disaster was responsible for the deaths of 164 miners. Following an explosion in 1943 in the Smith Mine, a coal mining property of the Montana Coal and Iron Company at Bear Creek, 74 miners lost their lives.

The Industrial Accident Board was abolished in 1971 and the Board's duties were transferred to the newly formed Division of Workmen's Compensation within the Department of Labor and Industry.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists primarily of Board minutes (May 3, 1915-December 6, 1971). Also included is a financial journal (1915-1925) listing Board expenses and premium income debits and credits; and two subject files (1934-1950, undated) concerning mine disasters.

One of the subject files (1934-1950) contains information relating to the Bear Creek (Smith) Mine disaster including correspondence; lists of miners killed and their next of kin; lists of widows and other beneficiaries paid compensation and funeral allowance; a list of 73 miners buried by a Red Lodge funeral home; and a list of those receiving emergency hospital service from the American Red Cross, including addresses, occupations, type of injury, and dates of admission and discharge. Also included is a "List of Widows Receiving Compensation as of January 1, 1940" for fatal injuries in mining accidents.

The other subject file (undated) contains a "List of Fatal Accidents Occurring at Speculator Mine June 8, 1917" (undated) providing the name of the accident victim; date of death; their beneficiary; date claim was filed, allowed, paid, and the amount; and marital status. (OVERSIZE MATERIAL: map case)

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

33:6-7; Financial Records Volume 120:9-6; Map Case

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 498, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Labor and Industry's various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 498. Rather than reprocessing over 20 linear feet of DLI 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 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

Financial Records Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Volume
1
Journal
1915-1925

Minutes Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 1-2
Volume 1
1915 May- 1919 April
1 / 3-4
Volume 2
1919 May -1922 March
1 / 5-6
Volume 3
1922 March- 1924 September
1 / 7-8
Volume 4
1924 October- 1927 January
1 / 9-10
Volume 5
1927 January- 1928 December
1 / 11-12
Volume 6
1928 December- 1930 July
1 / 13-14
Volume 7
1930 August- 1932 March
1 / 15-16
Volume 8
1932 April- 1933 October
1 / 17-18
Volume 9
1933 October- 1935 May
1 / 19
Volume 10
1935 May- 1936 June
2 / 1
Volume 10 (cont.)
1936 June- 1937 August
2 / 2-3
Volume 11
1937 August- 1939 June
2 / 4-5
Volume 12
1939 July- 1941 April
2 / 6-7
Volume 13
1941 May- 1942 November
2 / 8-9
Volume 14
1942 December- 1944 October
2 / 10-11
Volume 15
1944 October- 1947 March
2 / 12-13
Volume 16
1947 March- 1949 March
2 / 14-15
Volume 17
1949 March- 1950 December
2 / 16-17
Volume 18
1951 January- 1952 December
2 / 18
Volume 19
1952 December- 1953 December
3 / 1
Volume 19 (cont.)
1954 January-August
3 / 2-3
Volume 20
1954 August- 1956 April
3 / 4-5
Volume 21
1956 May- 1957 November
3 / 6-7
Volume 22
1957 November- 1959 October
3 / 8-9
Volume 23
1959 November- 1961 September
3 / 10-11
Volume 24
1961 October- 1963 September
3 / 12-13
Volume 25
1963 September- 1965 August
3 / 14-15
Volume 26
1965 August- 1967 May
4 / 1-2
Volume 27
1967 May- 1969 March
4 / 3-4
Volume 28
1969 March- 1970 April
4 / 5-6
Volume 29
1970 April- 1971 December

Subject Files Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4 / 7
Bear Creek (Smith) Mine Disaster (includes correspondence, a list of miners buried by a Red Lodge funeral home, an agreement for funeral services, a list of miners receiving services from the American Red Cross, a list of miners killed and their next of kin, and a list of widows paid compensation)
1943-1950
OVFD /
Speculator Mine disaster (consists of a "List of Fatal Accidents Occurring at Speculator Mine June 8, 1917") (OVERSIZE MATERIAL: Map case)
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Coal mines and mining--Montana.
  • Copper mines and mining--Montana.
  • Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Disaster, Mont., 1917
  • Industrial accidents--Montana.
  • Mine accidents--Montana.
  • Mines and mineral resources--Montana.
  • Smith Mine Disaster, 1943.

Geographical Names

  • Bear Creek (Mont.)--History.
  • Smith Mine (Mont.)
  • Speculator Mine (Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by Connie Geiger; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2006; 2024

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