Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Center for the Aged records

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Center for the Aged records, 1912-1994

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Montana. Department of Public Health and Human Services. Center for the Aged
Title: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Center for the Aged records
Dates: 1912-1994 (inclusive)
19121994
Quantity: 2.8 linear ft
Collection Number: RS 495 (Formerly RS 452)
Summary: This collection is a sub-subgroup (State Healthcare Facility) of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. The Center for the Aged, now named the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center, operates as a State Healthcare Facility within the Department Public Health and Human Services. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. These Montana Center for the Aged records include correspondence, subject files, meeting minutes, personal files of patient Mayme Matson, and maps.
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 Center for the Aged was built on a 40 acre site overlooking the city of Lewistown by the State of Montana. It was first occupied in October of 1952, and it formerly operated within the Department of Institutions.

As of 2025, functions as the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center under the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The facility is a licensed 191-bed long term care facility established for persons who have a mental disorder, require a level of care not available in the community, but who cannot benefit from the intense psychiatric treatment available at the Montana State Hospital.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection is composed of five series:

Correspondence (1958-1980): Including incoming and outgoing correspondence between various organizations and departments dealing with the center.

Subject files (1953-1980): Including records on construction, additions to the facility, emergency plans, a manual on procedures, and dispatch books.

Meeting minutes (1976-1994): Including meetings of directors, supervisors, nurses, food service workers, and other staff.

Mayme “Maime” Matson’s Files (1912-1930): Mayme Matson was a patient at the Center for the Aged. She was born in Montana in 1896 and died in the Center for the Aged in 1981. Presumably staff at the center retained her personal belongings and that is why they were included with this collection. Included are Pratt institute annuals, a sketch book, and a photo album with the bulk of the records related to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where she studied dress design and pattern drawing (1916-1917).

Maps: Including maps of the facility and surrounding area.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Library & Archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Library & Archives 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 Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

43:8-1

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 495, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services' various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 495. Rather than reprocessing over 100 linear feet of DPHHS 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	Board of Institutions	1970-1974
1 / 2	Central Montana Hospital	1969-1974
1 / 3	Communications From Governor or His Office	1962-1979
1 / 4	Department of Administration	1971-1978
1 / 5	Department of Health and Environmental Services	1973-1977
1 / 6	Department of Institutions	1973-1978
1 / 7-8	Department of Institutions	1975-1979
1 / 9	Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services	1978
1 / 10	Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services - Medicaid	1972-1977
1 / 11	Geriatric Nurse Practitioners	1976
1 / 12	Gooch, Tom (Personnel Director)	1965-1978
1 / 13	Legislative Auditor	1973-1978
1 / 14	Lewistown Ministerial Association	1976
1 / 15	Medical Surgical Liaison Office and Contracted Services	1964-1971
1 / 16	Mental Health Association	1958-1979
1 / 17	Montana Foundation for Medical Care	1976-1980
1 / 18	Montana State Fish and Game Commission	1961-1976
1 / 19	Nursing Home Administration	1973-1975
1 / 20	Research Project – Human Services Planning	1974-1979
1 / 21	State Board of Examiners	1969-1973
1 / 22	State Board of Nursing	1969
1 / 23	State Controller	1963-1971
1 / 24	Superintendent’s Council	1965-1969

Subject FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 25	Administration License Papers	1969-1970
1 / 26	Alterations and Additions to the Existing Heating Plant	1966
1 / 27-30	Building Additions	1974-1979
1 / 31	Census Reports	1972
1 / 32	Complaints and Occurrences	1972-1980
1 / 33	Conservation of Energy	1973-1980
1 / 34	Dispatch Book	1956 January-September
1 / 35	Dispatch Book	1958 September-1963 February
1 / 36	Dispatch Book	1963-1967
2 / 1	Edward Fire and Alarm System (includes map)	undated
2 / 2	Emergency Plan – Employee Strikes	1969-1976
2 / 3	Facility Land Holdings Improvements	undated
2 / 4	Fire Alarm Hookup and System	1966-1978
2 / 5	Fire Marshall Report	1970-1978
2 / 6	Foot Care	1970-1974
2 / 7	Information on Montana Center for the Aged	1977-1980
2 / 8	Kitchen Staff Meetings	1974-1979
2 / 9	Land Status – Easements – Leases	1977
2 / 10	Legislative Audit Report	1976-1979
2 / 11	Long Range Building Program – Proposed Rear End Black Topping	1970-1971
2 / 12	Long Range Capital Construction	1975-1976
2 / 13	Maintenance Policy	1974-1975
2 / 14	Manual of Procedures	1965
2 / 15-17	Poetry	1953
3 / 1	Polio Vaccinations	1962-1963
3 / 2	Staff or Supervisors Meetings	1964-1978
3 / 3	State Insurance and Building Appraisal	1974-1979

Meeting MinutesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
3 / 4-6	Administrative Staff	1983-1986
3 / 7-9	All Staff	1985-1987
3 / 10	Association-Management Team	1984
3 / 11-13	Care Plan	1985-1987
3 / 14	Director’s Staff	1976-1979
3 / 15-17	Donations	1984, 1986-1987
3 / 18	Employee Dining Room Conversion	1986
3 / 19	Energy Conservation	1979
3 / 20-21	Environmental Safety Inspection Team	1986-1987
3 / 22-27	Food Service	1982-1987
3 / 28	Food Service Delivery Committee	1985-1987
3 / 29	Food Service/Nursing	1983, 1986
3 / 30	Inservice Committee	1985-1986
3 / 31-33	Management Team	1986-1987, 1994
3 / 34-35	Management Team	1984-1985
3 / 36-40	Nursing Supervisors	1983-1987
3 / 41-42	Policy Review Committee	1985-1987
3 / 43-47	Psychiatric Aide	1983-1987
3 / 48-51	RN and LPN	1982-1985
3 / 52	Space Utilization	1986
3 / 53	Superintendent/Department Supervisors	1983-1984
3 / 54	Supervisor’s Development	1986
3 / 55-56	Taskforce Committee	1984

Mayme “Mamie” Matson’s FilesReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
4 / 1	Montana Common School Diploma	1912
4 / 2	Sketch Book	1916-1917
4 / 3	Pratt Institute Annual	1916
4 / 4	Pratt Institute Annual	1917
4 / 5-7	Photo Album	1916-1923
4 / 8	Photo Album Miscellany	1916-1923
4 / 9	Cards and other Miscellany	1925-1930
4 / 10	Plaque	undated

MapsReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box/Folder
Oversize	Center for the Aged Property Boundary Map	undated
Oversize	“Old Folks’ Home Maps (3 copies)	undated

Archives West Finding Aid

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