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Missoula Fire Department Photographs and Scrapbooks, 1887-1962

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Missoula Fire Department
Title
Missoula Fire Department Photographs and Scrapbooks
Dates
1887-1962 (inclusive)
Quantity
55 photographs and 1 roll microfilm
Collection Number
Mss 507
Summary
The Missoula Fire Department Photographs and Scrapbooks contain images, newspaper clippings, thank you notes, and party invitations from 1887-1962. Most materials relate to fire fighting in Missoula, Montana, politics, and obituaries. Some of the photographs also feature fire departments from other Montana cities and towns, including Anaconda, Butte, and Great Falls. The collection is on negative film and microfilm.
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
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Historical Note

Missoula Fire Department records are incomplete prior to 1900, but there is evidence dating from the mid 1870s of the presence of a volunteer fire department in Missoula, Montana. On February 16, 1901 the fire department was incorporated with the city. Upon incorporation the city government hired a fire marshal/chief, two drivers and other staff as the City Council deemed necessary, but most of the fire fighters at this time remained volunteers. In 1911 the Missoula Fire Department became fully funded by the city, transitioning from an organization relying on volunteers to one consisting of paid staff. The Missoula Fire Department continues to operate as a service of the City of Missoula.

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Content Description

The Missoula Fire Department Photographs and Scrapbooks contain images, newspaper clippings, thank you notes from families and individuals to the fire department, and invitations to fire fighter dances in towns across Montana and Idaho. Many of the photographs depict the Missoula Fire Department's station building, personnel, equipment, and response to structure fires from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. In addition, some of the images feature fire departments from other Montana cities and towns, including Anaconda, Butte, and Great Falls. The majority of the newspaper clippings come from Missoula newspapers, but other publications are included such as The Great Falls Tribune, The Anaconda Standard, The Portland Telegram, and The Victoria Daily Times (British Columbia, Canada). Most of the newspaper clippings in these scrapbooks pertain to issues directly related to fire fighting including fire fighting innovations, fire prevention, fire deaths and damages, fire chief profiles, fire fighter conferences, and political decisions that impacted funding. Other articles refer to local news and contemporary social and cultural issues.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to the University of Montana

Preferred Citation

Missoula Fire Department Photographs and Scrapbooks, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series.

Series I: Photographs, 1887-1956, 55 images

Series II: Scrapbooks, 1896-1962, 1 roll of microfilm

Location of Originals

The location of the originals is unknown

Custodial History

The Missoula Fire Department held the items in this collection.

Acquisition Information

Chief Robert Kelly loaned the scrapbooks and photographs in this collection to the University of Montana Archives and Special Collections in 1970 and 1976 for duplication. The originals were returned to the Missoula Fire Department.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

Corporate Names

Form or Genre Terms