Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT 59717-3320
United States
Phone (406) 994-4242
Fax (406) 994-2851
http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/
University Archivist
spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 295, MtBC, us
Madison County (Mont.). Board
of County Commissioners
Madison County Commissioners
Records
1863-1875
microfilm aperture card copies
The Madison County Commissioner Records consist of mining
claim record books for the Fairweather, Summit, and Junction mining districts from 1863
through 1866. Also included in the records are the Commissioners record books which contain
the transactions of the group during their periodic meetings from 1864-1875. The information
in these books includes the name of the petitioner, the legal description of the claim, and
any other parties involved with the ownership or sale of the claim. The record books also
discuss the establishment of roads and improvements, the appointment of county officers, the
care of indigents in the community, and other governmental operations in Madison
County.
Collection materials are in English
Historical Note
Madison County, Montana Territory, was first created in the Territory of Idaho on January
16, 1864. Local government was organized on April 22, 1864 went the commissioners took the
oath of office and began work. Montana Territory was admitted to the Union on May 26, 1864
and Madison County became officially recognized as part of the new jurisdiction on February
2, 1865. Although formal government operations came long after the discovery of gold in the
Alder Gulch area first led to a massive influx of prospectors, the need to establish the
legal rights of those who sought to stake claims was immediate. Claim books, administered by
representatives of the first miners themselves, recorded the first holdings of prospectors
and later became part of the county records.
The Madison County Commissioner records consist of mining claim record books for the
Fairweather, Summit, and Junction mining districts from 1863 through 1866. The information
in these books includes the name of the petitioner, the legal description of the claim, and
any other parties involved with the ownership or sale of the claim. Also included in the
records are the Commissioners record books which contain the transactions of the group
during their periodic meetings from 1864-1875. Information includes the establishment of
roads and improvements, the appointment of county officers, the care of indigents in the
community, and other governmental operations in Madison County. The aperture cards on which
the books appear have been arranged within the two groups of mining claim books and
commissioners record books.
This collection is open for research.
Microfilm aperture card copies of the Madison County Commissioners records, comprising the
commissioner meeting record books and the mining claim registration books, were purchased by
Special Collections from Frank E. Blair of Virginia City, Montana, on April 29, 1969.
This collection was processed 1999 April 29
Madison County (Mont.)-Politics
and government-19th century
County government-Montana-Madison
County
Mining claims-Montana-Madison County
Poor-Services for-Montana-Madison
County
Roads-Montana-Madison County
Public records-Montana-Madison
County
Mines and Mineral
Resources
Public
Works
Montana
1
Mining claim books
Fairweather District, Book A
1863-1864
no pagination (23 cards)
Fairweather District, Book B
1863-1864
pages index; 2-156; 296-320; 1-8 (101 cards)
Summit District, Book 1
1863-1866
pages 15-20; 25-26; 29-160 (72 cards)
Summit District, Book 2
1863-1866
pages index; 1-104; 128-165 (78 cards)
Summit District, Book 3
1863-1866
pages 1-17 (10 cards)
Junction District, Book 1
1863-1866
pages 3-310 (155 cards)
1
County Commissioners Records
Book A
April 22, 1864 - June 2, 1866
129 pages (66 cards)
Book B
July 2, 1866 - August 6, 1869
269 pages (137 cards)
Book C
October 4, 1869 - June 6, 1872
469 pages (231 cards)
Book D
June 6, 1872 - April 7, 1873
273 pages (137 cards)
Book E
June 2, 1873 - December 3, 1873
400 pages (201 cards)
Book F
December 3, 1873 - September 4, 1874
400 pages (199 cards)
Book G
September 9, 1874 - April 9, 1875
396 pages (201 cards)