In February, 1865, the Montana territorial legislature passed "An Act Establishing a Common School System for Montana Territory." The act allowed for the creation of the Territorial School Fund through receipts of the sales of land granted to Montana for schools by the federal government. In 1866 the first public school opened in Virginia City. A provision of the 1865 law authorized the county superintendent of schools to divide his respective county into school districts. The purpose of creating school districts is three-fold, (1) to establish areas where students come from to be educated, (2) the area to be taxed and (3) the area within which trustees are to be elected. Bozeman public schools are located in Gallatin County's district 7.
The Gallatin County School Districts records include class rosters, payroll ledgers, expense receipts, and other operational documents pertaining to districts number 7, 13, 25, 27, 33, 39, 40, 44, 48, and 51. The materials have been arranged in series based on school district number. Series 11 contains various documents pertaining to the Montana State Teacher Certification Exams. These records represent an eclectic selection for each district and do not contain all available documents for the listed districts.
Series 1 District 7 records, 1893-1909
Series 2 District 8 records, 1879
Series 3 District 13 records, 1906-1954
Series 4 District 25 records, 1918-1954
Series 5 District 27 records, 1896-1925
Series 6 District 33 records, 1883-1907
Series 7 District 39 records, 1926-1961
Series 8 District 40 records, 1889-1960
Series 9 District 44 records, undated
Series 10 District 48 records, 1903-1907
Series 11 District 51 records, 1905-1939
Series 12 Miscellaneous records, undated
The collection is open for research.
Gallatin County School District records incorporate accession numbers 22, 123, 171, 984, 1109, and 2190. Records pertaining to Gallatin County school district 40 were donated by Betty Mae Davis in 1964 and given accession number 1. These records have been combined with others to create the current arrangement which represents several school districts in Gallatin County, Montana. Accession 22 was donated by Martha Haynes in 1968. John C. and Dorothy Paugh donated collection 123 in 1966. Documents from accession number 171 were presented for photocopying by the Monforton school board in 1964. In 1971, Olin D. Sharpe donated accession number 984. Collection 1109 was loaned for copying by Lawrence Christie in 1975. In 1985, accession number 2190 was transferred from the Museum of the Rockies. In 2009, graduation programs from Bozeman High School, formerly assigned accession number 105, were added to the collection.
This collection was processed 2009 October 13
Classroom grade and attendance rosters for Bozeman area schools in Gallatin County District 7. Graduation announcements for Bozeman High School, 1893, 1899, 1902.
Class book: C.A. Brittan, instructor, 1904-1905; Bozeman High School graduation programs
School census for Gallatin County District 8, Salesville (Gallatin Gateway).
Primarily expenditure receipt books, teacher reports, a financial register, and attendance records for Gallatin County District 13 (Cameron School).
Teacher's reports, 1920-1928; application for tax levy, 1934; term report, 1918-1924
Bound journal containing minutes of school board meetings for Gallatin County school district 25, Pass Creek.
A variety of teacher reports, minutes of school board meetings, and financial ledgers for Gallatin County District 27 Schools. Partial records for Monforton and Middle Creek schools. All records for District 27 are photocopies.
Trustee's meeting minute book and school census for Valley View school, 1883-1907
Various records regarding school board meetings, accounts, and correspondence regarding the operation and eventual abandonment of Gallatin County school district 39, Upper Bridger school.
Ledgers, school board minutes, legal documents, and a district map for Gallatin County District 40, Harper school.
1910 School District map, Township Plat, 1916
School District bond, 1933; Deed, 1890; Assessment, 1931-1932
Anonymous history of Gallatin County District 44, Belgrade, possibly written by an employee of the school.
Single attendance register with "Welch's System of Classification, Gradation and Close Supervision" from District 48, Lower Bridger school
Various attendance and grade reports, school census, and ledger for Gallatin County School District 51, Mountain View School.
Series of questions for Montana State Teacher's Certification Exam and suggested questions for student exams.