Montana Department of Institutions records

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Montana. Department of Institutions
Title: Montana Department of Institutions records
Dates: 1894-1994 (inclusive)
18941994
Quantity: 4.75 linear feet
2 volumes
Collection Number: RS 506 (Formerly RS 235)
Summary: This collection is a subgroup (Predecessor Agency) of the Montana Department of Corrections records. In 1992, the Department of Institutions was renamed the Department of Corrections and Human Services. In 1995, the Department split into the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Corrections records. This collection consists of Montana Department of Institutions records from the Pine Hills Correctional Facility (Miles City), State Vocational School for Girls (Helena), the Swan River Youth Forest Camp, and the Women's Correctional Center (Warm Springs).
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: Most of the materials in this collection are open for research. Some of the materials within specific series are RESTRICTED. See the note at the series level for more information about the specific nature of the restrictions.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical Note

The 1963 Montana Legislature established the Department of Institutions to provide greater efficiency in state institution operations and create centralized state control. It was directed by Maurice A. Harmon for 15 months before he retired in August 1965, stating that he was resigning in “protest,” citing administrative and staffing difficulties. In 1971, following the Executive Reorganization, the Department of Institutions was re-established.

Additionally, the Montana State Board of Public Institutions was established in 1963 as the official administrator of nine Montana state institutions providing care and rehabilitation to state residents requiring institutional care. This Board was terminated in 1979.

The Montana Department of Institutions functioned as the administrator of Montana state institutions, including: the Montana Children's Center, the State Soldier's Home (Montana Veterans Home), the State Hospital (Warm Springs State Hospital), the State Training School and Hospital (Boulder River School and Hospital), the State Industrial School for Boys (Pine Hills School), the State Vocational School for Girls (Mountain View School), Montana State Tuberculosis Sanitarium (Galen State Hospital), the State Prison, the Eastmont Training Center, the Division of Mental Hygiene, the Swan River Youth Forest Camp, and the Montana Center for the Aged.

In 1992, the Department was renamed the Department of Corrections and Human Services. In 1995, the Department split into the Department of Corrections and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The oversight of the Montana State Hospital (Warm Springs) was transferred to DPHHS, while the Department of Corrections retained oversight of the Montana State Prison, Montana Women's Prison, and Pine Hills Correctional Facility.

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Content Description

This collection consists of materials created by and relating to the various correctional facilities overseen by the Department of Institutions, including Pine Hills Correctional Facility, the State Vocational School for Girls, Swan River Youth Forest Camp, and Montana Women's Correctional Center. These records include financial records, minutes, organizational materials, reports and subject files. Most of the records for Pine Hills and State Vocational School document the day-to-day operations of the facility. The Swan River materials consist of an architectural report and educational brochure, while the Women's Correctional Center materials focus primarily on remodeling on the Warm Springs campus, and planning for a new facility.

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Use of the Collection

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 holders. For more information, contact the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives.

Preferred Citation

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

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The materials in this collection are arranged by the creating office and are divided into four series. Series 1 is further organized into two subseries based on type of record.

Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated

Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964

Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated

Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated

Series 3: Swan River Youth Forest Camp, 1976 and undated

Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991

Location of Collection

29:7-4; volumes, 120:8-2

Processing Note

In 2025, the various collections of the Montana Department of Corrections and its predecessor agencies were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 506, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Corrections' various Divisions, State Institutions, and Boards that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 506. Rather than reprocessing over 1,100 linear feet of Corrections 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.

Separated Materials

Photographs and printed material have been transferred to the Photo Archives and the Library, respectively.

Related Materials

Please see the Warm Springs State Hospital records (now called the Montana State Hospital) for additional state institution records.

The Montana State Hospital currently operates within the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Please see RS 495, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records, for more information. RS 495 is the central finding aid for DPHHS.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated

3.25 linear feet

In 1893, the state of Montana established the State Reform School, which was located on the site of the old Women's Reformatory two miles east of Miles City. In 1894, the school opened and served any "sane boy or girl" aged 8 to 21 who had committed any crime except murder or manslaughter, or who, "for want of proper parental care is growing up in mendicancy, or vagrancy, or is incorrigible." The children had to be committed by a court and remained at the school until granted parole on account of good behavior or until they turned 21. The school was governed by a local board of trustees of three members appointed by the Governor and was under the daily supervision of a male director in charge of the boys and a matron in charge of the girls. The children attended classes in the morning and worked on the school farm. In later years, the older students learned a trade, while the younger helped with chores. In 1915, the institution was renamed the Montana State Industrial School, and by 1921, all of the female students had transferred to the Vocational School for Girls in Helena.

In 1951, a Board of Education investigating committee reported poor conditions and abusive methods at the school. The president was replaced, less coercive methods put into practice, and the curriculum revised. In 1953, an executive board was created. It consisted of five members appointed by the governor for four years and had "immediate direction and control other than financial of the affairs of the State Industrial School," subject to the State Board of Education. In 1967, the school was renamed the Pine Hills School, then later the Pine Hills Correctional Facility.

This series contains records created by the Pine Hills Correctional Facility.

This series is arranged into two subseries.

Other Descriptive Information

Some of the records in this series are restricted due to the presence of student grades, conduct information. Restrictions are listed at the item level.
- Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  
  2 linear feet
  
  The materials in this series are arranged alphabetically by topic when feasible.
  
  This subseries contains correspondence produced by the State Industrial School.
  - Description: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local #441
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1958-1960
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Athletics
    2 folders
    
    Dates: 1922-1955
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2 - 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Attorney General
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1908-1929
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: The Boys' Messenger
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1924-1929; 1955
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Budget
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1959-1963
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Commitments, Inquiries regarding
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1917-1922
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Commitments, Terms of
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1912-1917
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Commitments and parole commitments
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1940-1941
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Courts
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1927
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Arthur C. Dorr, president
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1920-1930
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Employment of school children outside of school
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1916-1927
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Farm
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1913-1951
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Governor of Montana
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1919-1948
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Health care
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1912-1951
    
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Institution
    2 folders
    
    Dates: 1916-1962
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 1 - 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Instructors
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1914-1920
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Interoffice correspondence
    3 folders
    
    Dates: 1914-1964
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 4 - 6
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Irrigation
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1917-1923
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 7
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Legislature and appropriations
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1927-1928; 1941
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 8
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Liquor permits
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1925-1930
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 9
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Samuel R. McCleery, president
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1942-1943
    
    Container: Box 2, Folder 10
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Miscellaneous state agencies
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1916-1918
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana Department of Public Welfare
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1952-1953
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana Orphans' Home; School for the Deaf and Blind; State Hospital
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1923-1930
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana State Board of Education
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1912-1956
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 4
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana State Board of Examiners
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1908-1922
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 5
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana State Fair
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1911-1921
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 6
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana State Fish and Game Commission
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1941
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 7
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Montana State Vocational School for Girls
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1919-1928
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 8
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Movies
    4 folders
    
    Dates: 1913-1949
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 9 - 12
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Parole officers
    2 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1916-1947
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 4 - 5
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Prison associations, charity groups, women's clubs, etc.
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1916-1922
    
    Container: Box 3, Folder 13
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Probation officers
    3 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1923-1940
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 6 - 8
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Questionnaires and inquiries
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1921-1943; 1956
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: School census
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1912-1920
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 9
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Testing and grading
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1923-1939
    
    Container: Box 7, Folder 10
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: United States Marine Corps
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1953
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Youth for Christ
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1952-1953
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
  - Description: Youth guidance councils and homes
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1952-1953
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 4
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964
- Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  
  1.25 linear feet
  
  The materials in this subseries are arranged by record type when feasible.
  
  This subseries contains other records produced by the State Industrial School--budgets, reports, inventories, legal documents, etc.
  - Description: Descriptive List of Minors Received at State Reform School
    1 volumes
    
    Dates: 1894-1896
    
    Container: Volume 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Inmates discharged from State Reform School
    1 volumes
    
    Dates: 1894-1896
    
    Container: Volume 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Budget
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1939-1943
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 5
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Expense ledger
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1894
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 6
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Salaries
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1911-1912
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 7
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Board of Education (in the matter of Carl Horn)
    2 folders
    
    Pages 1-59 and Part II, pages 168-380, only
    
    Dates: 1951
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 8 - 9
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Joint Investigating Committee to Investigate the Montana State Industrial School at Miles City report
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1953
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 10
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Joint Investigating Committee to Investigate the Montana State Industrial School at Miles City transcript
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1993
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 11
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Administrative Committee minutes
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1953-1958
    
    Container: Box 4, Folder 12
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Local Executive Board minutes
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1962-1963
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Organizational charts and personnel lists
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1949-1961
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Position descriptions
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1951
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Conduct reports
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1955-1964
    
    Container: Box 8, Folder 1
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Reports of the State Industrial School to the State Board of Education
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1934-1963
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 4
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Reports of Information for the Governor's Committee on Reorganization
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1941
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 5
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: School accreditation
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1951-1954
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 6
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Building inventory
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1922-1925
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 7
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Student correspondence list
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: circa 1940
    
    Container: Box 8, Folder 2
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Cash-on-hand of boys
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1937-1940
    
    Container: Box 8, Folder 3
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Entertainment programs
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1915-1947
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 8
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Girls demerit book
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1902-1906
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 9
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Menus
    2 folders
    
    Dates: 1913-1964
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 10 - 11
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Menus for the "short-ration" table
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1913-1914
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 12
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Parolees
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1942-1945
    
    Container: Box 8, Folder 4
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Custer County Health Department report on school's sanitary conditions
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1951
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 13
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Report to the Montana State Board of Education on the State Industrial School
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1951
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 14
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Supply inventory
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1924-1926; 1941-1943
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 15
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Miscellaneous records
    1 folders
    
    Dates: 1914; 1928; 1914; undated
    
    Container: Box 5, Folder 16
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
  - Description: Transcript of statements concerning conditions at Montana State Industrial School
    1 folders
    
    RESTRICTED
    
    Dates: 1951
    
    Container: Box 8, Folder 5
    
    Location: Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated / Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated
Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated

1.25 linear feet

In the 1917 Legislative Assembly a bill, supported by the Montana Federation of Women's Clubs and the Good Government Club, requested a separate school for girls. The bill failed, but was reintroduced in the 1919 session and passed. The primary function of the school was to be "the care, education, training, treatment and rehabilitation of girls ten (10) years of age or older and under twenty-one (21) years of age who were committed to the school by a court as provided by law." In April 1920, six girls were transferred to the newly built Vocational School for Girls outside Helena. The last girls were transferred from Miles City to Helena in 1921. In 1967, the school was renamed Mountain View School, and in 1996, it ceased operation.

This series contains records created by the State Vocational School for Girls.

Other Descriptive Information

Some of the records in this series are restricted due to the presence of student grades, conduct information. Restrictions are listed at the item level.
- Description: Correspondence
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1931-1945
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 1
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Staff payroll
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1931-1933
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 2
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Bond for Blanche D. Walker
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1940
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 3
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Board of Education minutes
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1932-1948 and undated
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 4
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Quarterly and annual reports
  2 folders
  
  Dates: 1924-1948
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 5 - 6
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Report on building repair
  1 folders
  
  Dates: August 21, 1944
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 7
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Population movement ledger
  1 boxes
  
  RESTRICTED
  
  Dates: 1966
  
  Container: Oversizebox OS 9
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
- Description: Attendance records
  
  RESTRICTED
  
  Dates: 1960-1965
  
  Container: Oversizebox OS 9, Oversize Folder 1 - 5
  
  Location: Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated
Series 3: Swan River Youth Forest Camp, 1976

2 folders

In July 1968, the Swan River Youth Forest Camp began operations. Located in the 39,000-acre Swan River State Forest, the camp served as a minimum-security correctional facility for young law offenders aged 16 to 25, referred by court commitments or the Pine Hills School. In 1972 the Department of Institutions began using the camp for the rehabilitation of felons from the Montana State Prison, up to and including age 25. The camp offered a work program, including forestry, carpentry, mechanics, and camp maintenance. In 1975 an average of 85% of the inmates obtained their GED. By the 1980s, the facility was transferred to private ownership.

This series contains miscellaenous materials about the Swan River Youth Forest Camp.
- Description: Architectural Specifications by Brinkman & Lemon, Architects and Engineers
  1 folders
  
  Dates: June 15-16, 1976
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 8
  
  Location: Series 3: Swan River Youth Forest Camp, 1976
- Description: Educational brochure
  1 folders
  
  Dates: circa 1970s
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 9
  
  Location: Series 3: Swan River Youth Forest Camp, 1976
Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991

0.25 linear feet

Prior 1982, women inmates were housed at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, a facility which also housed male inmates. The establishment of the Women's Correctional Center (WCC), located on the Warm Springs campus, was originally authorized by the Montana Legislature as a temporary facility to house a maximum of 30 female inmates. Opened in 1982, the facility was a converted nurses' dormitory. Due to overcrowding, the 1989 legislature directed the Department of Institutions, in cooperation with the Criminal Justice and Corrections Advisory Council, to develop a comprehensive plan for housing adult female inmates and present it to the 52nd legislature. A subcommittee on women offenders was appointed to study the issue. In 1991, based on the committee's recommendations, the legislature passed House Bill 528, which provided financing for a 120-bed facility with support services capable of serving 200 inmates in the future. In 1994, the new Women's Correctional Center opened in Billings, and by 2022, it was officially named the Montana Women's Prison.

This series contains records documenting the establishment of a Women's Correctional Center in Montana.
- Description: Correspondence
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1989-1991
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 10
  
  Location: Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991
- Description: Expansion budget
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1989
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 11
  
  Location: Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991
- Description: HB 528 and Women's Correctional Facility Site Selection Committee
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1990-1991
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 12
  
  Location: Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991
- Description: History of the Women's Prison
  1 folders
  
  Dates: 1991
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 13
  
  Location: Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991
- Description: Unit 57 conversion to Women's Correctional Center
  1 folders
  
  Dates: circa 1981
  
  Container: Box 6, Folder 14
  
  Location: Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Correctional institutions--Montana
Education
Juvenile delinquency
Law enforcement--Montana
Reformatories--Montana
Vocational education--Montana
Youth

Corporate Names

Montana. Department of Institutions
Pine Hills School
State Vocational School for Girls (Helena, Mont.)
Swan River Youth Forest Camp
Women's Correctional Center (Billings, Mont.)

Montana Department of Institutions records, 1894-1994

Table of Contents

Overview of the Collection

Historical Note

Content Description

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

Administrative Information

Arrangement

Location of Collection

Processing Note

Acquisition Information

Separated Materials

Related Materials

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Pine Hills Correctional Facility, 1894-1994 and undated

Other Descriptive Information

Subseries 1: Correspondence, 1908-1964

Subseries 2: Additional Records, 1894-1994 and undated

Series 2: State Vocational School for Girls, 1924-1966 and undated

Other Descriptive Information

Series 3: Swan River Youth Forest Camp, 1976

Series 4: Women's Correctional Center, circa 1981-1991

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Corporate Names