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Montana Council Of Defense records, 1916-1921

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana Council of Defense
Title
Montana Council Of Defense records
Dates
1916-1921 (inclusive)
Quantity
6 linear feet
Collection Number
RS 19
Summary
The Montana Council of Defense was established during World War I to coordinate county war efforts. It also investigated cases of alleged disloyal activities. Records (1916-1921) include minutes, correspondence, subject files, testimony and exhibits for hearings and special investigations, membership lists, and correspondence of various county councils of defense. Correspondence has been digitized and is available on the Montana Memory Project.
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 Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Montana Council of Defense was established in response to an order by President Woodrow Wilson which set up the National Council of Defense and requested each state to set up a state Council. Initially Governor Samuel V. Stewart appointed the Council by executive action. However, because of the lack of clear legal authority,the difficulty county Councils of Defense had in enforcing their regulations, and the desperate need for the state to purchase seed grain, the governor called a special session of the legislature in February 1918. The legislature officially established the Council in an act passed on February 20, 1918. The Montana Council of Defense was empowered, until the end of World War I, to "do all acts and things not inconsistent with the Constitution of laws of the State of Montana, or of the United States, which are necessary of proper for the public safety and for the protection of life and public property... and perform all acts and things necessary or proper so that the military, civil and industrial resources of the State may be most efficiently applied toward maintenance of the defense of the State and nation... and toward the successful prosecution of [the] War...." In order to carry out its duties the Council was put in charge of all organizations in the state that were involved with war work, including charitable associations. The Council was required to terminate its affairs within three months of the end of the war.

The Council was composed of the Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture and Publicity, serving ex officio, plus nine citizens appointed by the governor, at least three of whom had to be farmers. The Council was empowered to appoint a three member council in each County to coordinate local work.

Initially the Council concerned itself primarily with agricultural production which increased by 30%. The Council also promoted patriotic local meetings to boost enthusiasm for the war to counteract Montana's strongly anti-war labor unions, radical farmers, and large immigrant population. It was this war propaganda campaign which gradually led to the suppression of all dissent with which the Council eventually became identified. Many sedition trials were held and people identified as radicals or of questionable loyalty were publicly ostracised. Many of the problems of agricultural production for the War were drought-caused and could only have been solved, if at all, by direct government action. During 1918 the decline of Montana agricultural communities which culminated in the early 1920s, began. In spite of efforts by the Council to encourage agriculture, farm failures increased and the economy which agriculture supported also declined.

With the Armistice signed in November 1918, the Council quickly ceased active functioning although it was not formally dissolved until July 1921 after the United States had signed a treaty with Germany.

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Content Description

The bulk of the records consist of general correspondence and subject files. The correspondence (1917-1920) of the statewide office of the Montana Council of Defense is primarily with the National Council of Defense and with county councils, concerning their day-to-day work. There is also some correspondence with a variety of individuals, county agricultural extension agents, and state agencies. the subject files cover the broad range of the Council's activities, including agricultural programs, patriotism, war relief, conscientious objectors, the German language, loyalty and sedition, and demobilization. In addition there are financial records, minutes (April 1917-August 1921), proceedings, testimony in the Von Waldru case, and miscellany.

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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 and Archives. The Library and 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 and Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

17:6-6

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Censorship
  • Civil defense
  • County agricultural agents
  • German Americans
  • Germans
  • Patriotism
  • Sedition
  • World war, 1914-1918--Censorship
  • World war, 1914-1918--Public opinion
  • World war, 1914-1918--War work

Geographical Names

  • Beaverhead County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Big Horn County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Blaine County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Broadwater County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Carbon County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Carter County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Cascade County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Chouteau County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Custer County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Dawson County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Deer Lodge County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Fallon County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Fergus County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Flathead County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Gallatin County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Granite County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Hill County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Jefferson County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Lewis And Clark County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Lincoln County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Madison County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Meagher County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Mineral County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Missoula County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Musselshell County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Park County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Powder River County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Prairie County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Ravalli County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Richland County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Rosebud County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Sanders County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Sheridan County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Silver Bow County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Stillwater County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Sweet Grass County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Teton County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Toole County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Valley County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Wheatland County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Wibaux County (Mont.)--Politics and government
  • Yellowstone County (Mont.)--Politics and government

Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
2004

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