Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
David A. Bentzin expert witness files, 1975-1979
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bentzin, David A. (David Allan), 1936-
- Title
- David A. Bentzin expert witness files
- Dates
- 1975-1979 (inclusive)19751979
- Quantity
- 3.5 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 815
- Summary
- This collection consists of David Bentzin’s copies of reports, files, and documents related to Docket 279-D of the Indian Claims Commission case of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana vs. The United States of America in the 1970s. Bentzin acted as an expert witness for the Blackfeet Tribe in his capacity as a petroleum exploration geologist.
- 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
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
David Bentzin earned his Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Montana in 1960. Upon graduation, Bentzin moved to Casper, Wyoming, where he worked as a geologist for petroleum companies. In 1975, the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana brought suit against the United States alleging that the government was deficient in its management of the tribe’s oil and gas resources. The tribe believed that the United States government had permitted the allotment of the Blackfeet Reservation to individual Native Americans without reservation of the mineral estate to the Blackfeet tribe. The tribe also alleged that the federal government had discouraged development of Blackfeet oil and gas revenues and that the government had drained oil and gas from tribal lands to non-tribal lands. David Bentzin was presented as an expert witness for the Blackfeet Tribe in his capacity as a petroleum geologist. Bentzin developed a case for the Blackfeet based on the uneven oil and gas development of the Blackfeet portion of the Cutbank Oil field by the Bureau of Indian Affairs relative to the development authorized by the Bureau of Land Management on adjacent, non-tribal parcels. The Blackfeet Tribe was eventually awarded $5 million in damages by the United States Government.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists of David Bentzin’s copies of reports, files, and documents related to Docket 279-D of the Indian Claims Commission case of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana vs. The United States of America in the 1970s. Bentzin acted as an expert witness for the Blackfeet Tribe in his capacity as a petroleum exploration geologist. Researchers will find Bentzin’s annotations on a few reports.
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. Non-exclusive intellectual property rights transferred to The University of Montana
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], David A. Bentzin Expert Witness Files, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection has been maintained in original order.
Custodial History
This collection was created and maintained by the donor until time of donation to the Archives.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated to the Archives by David Bentzin in 2008.
Processing Note
The collection was kept in original order and no series divisions were imposed upon the collection. The materials were kept in their original folders or binders except when no housing existed and in those cases, materials were refoldered. Materials were then moved to acid-free boxes.
Related Materials
Montana State University-Bozeman Special Collections holds the Thomas R. Wessel Indian Claims Commission Research Papers consisting of photocopies of research reports and records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of the Interior, Indian Division gathered for Docket 279-D.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1-3 | Government Oil and Gas Report Exhibits, Docket 279-D, Indian Claims Commission | circa 1975-1979 |
| box-volume | ||
| 1/4 | Original Defendant’s Oil and Gas Report | 1975 |
| 1/5 | Original Defendant’s Oil and Gas Report with Annotation by David Bentzin, Plaintiff’s export witness | 1975 |
| 2/1 | Defendant’s Proposed Finding of Fact, Objections to Plaintiff’s Requested Findings of Fact and Brief | circa 1975-1979 |
| 2/2 | Digest of Historian's Exhibits, Volume I | circa 1975-1979 |
| 2/3 | Digest of Historian's Exhibits, Volume II | circa 1975-1979 |
| 2/4 | A History of Economic Influences on the Fort Belknap and Blackfeet Indian Reservation | 1975 |
| 3/1 | An Historical Analysis of the Administration of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation by the United States | 1975 |
| 4/1 | Evaluation of Range Management on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, plaintiff’s exhibit | 1975 |
| 4/2 | An Appraisal of Certain Land Dispositions and Uses on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, Vol. I, Plaintiff’s Exhibit | 1975 |
| 4/3 | An Appraisal of Certain Land Dispositions and Uses on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, Vol. II, Plaintiff’s Exhibit | 1975 |
| 4/4 | Plaintiff’s Requested Findings of Fact and Brief: Vol. III of VI, Oil and Gas Findings | 1978-1979 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/5 | Report Concerning Management of Oil and Gas Assets of the Blackfeet Tribe, Preliminary Report | 1975 |
| 4/6 | Report Concerning Management of Oil and Gas Assets of the Blackfeet Tribe, Final Report | 1975 |
| 4/7 | Bentzin Cross-Examination and notes | 1975 and undated |
| 4/8 | Plaintiff's Exhibit BR-18, Survey Map | circa 1975-1979 |
| 4/9 | Ashford-Raymond Cross-Examination | circa 1975-1979 |
| 5/1 | Property Accounting Report | circa 1975-1979 |
| 5/2 | Production, Cut Bank Field | circa 1975-1979 |
| 5/3 | Gas Production, Blackfeet Oil and Gas | circa 1975-1979 |
| 5/4 | Preliminary Findings of Fact | 1977 |
| 5/5 | Literature | 1975 and undated |
| 5/6 | Rebuttal | 1975 and undated |
| 5/7 | Reply to Defendant’s Objections, Blackfeet Tribal | 1979 |
| 6/1 | Reply to Defendant’s Objections | 1979 |
| box-volume | ||
| 6/2 | Petitioner’s Oil and Gas Exhibits | circa 1975-1979 |
| 6/3 | Resource Lease Records | circa 1975-1979 |
| 7/1 | Plaintiff’s Exhibit BR-17 Vol. I | circa 1975-1979 |
| 7/2 | Plaintiff’s Exhibit BR-17 Vol. II | circa 1975-1979 |
| 7/3 | Plaintiff’s Exhibit BR-17 Vol. III | circa 1975-1979 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Evidence, Expert
- Petroleum geologists--United States
Personal Names
- Bentzin, David A. (David Allan), 1936-Archives
Corporate Names
- United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs
- United States. Indian Claims Commission
- Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana--Claims vs. United States
- Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana--Trials, litigation, etc.
Geographical Names
- United States--Trials, litigation, etc.
Finding aid prepared by Amy
Weiss
2012
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
