Most of the materials in this collection are open for research. Some of the materials within specific series are restricted. See the note at the series level for more information about the specific nature of the restrictions.
The materials in this record group were obtained via a series of transfers from the Office of Public Instruction to the Montana Historical Society. Information about specific transfers is available upon request.
This collection is divided into eight series based on department or division within the Office of Public Instruction. Some of the series are further divided into subseries.
In 1864, two years before the first school district was organized in Virginia City, Montana Territory, the position of school commissioner was created with the responsibility of reporting to the governor on matters relating to education in the territory. The office remained until the 1872 Montana Territorial Assembly passed a school law which provided that the guidance of the territory's schools be placed under a superintendent of public instruction. Governor Potts appointed Cornelius Hedges as the first territorial superintendent.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was re-established after statehood in 1889, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction was created as an elected position. At the same time, the 1889 Montana Constitution placed the newly created state's higher education system under the direction of the State Board of Education, composed of the superintendent of public instruction, the governor, the attorney general, and eight other members appointed by the governor. The State Board of Education was made responsible for the determination of educational programs and policy, preparation of budgets, financing of current operations, personnel administration, and planning and financing of physical facilities.
In 1959, the Montana Legislative Assembly created the Department of Public Instruction with the Superintendent of Public Instruction serving as chief administrator "for the purpose of the staff and administration of the duties and services of the superintendent of public instruction." In 1977 the name of the agency was changed to the Office of Public Instruction.
[Name of document or photograph number], Montana Office of Public Instruction Records, RS 102, [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives, Helena, Montana.
This record group consists of materials created by the Office of Public Instruction, the various divisions and departments that comprise that state agency, and by employees of the agency working in their official capacity as Montana state employees. These records reflect the breadth of the day-to-day concerns of the Office of Public Instruction as well as those of county superintendents. The bulk of the materials were generated by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as the Certification and Licensure Division.
The records contain a significant amount of correspondence between the Superintendent of Public Instruction and various county superintendents as well as correspondence to and from other agency employees. Topics represented in this collection cover a wide range of educational matters including: Indian education; distance education; school board-teacher relations; vocational and technical training; school bus transportation; religious schools; school district funding and school land issues; county superintendent concerns; school nutrition programs; and matters related to gender, sexuality, and sexual harassment.
Additional materials in this record group include department bulletins and newsletters, reports to and from the Superintendent, research and training materials for school district workshops, financial statements, and photographs.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases, permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright holders. For more information, contact the Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives.
In 2021 and 2022, the materials in this record group were significantly reprocessed and grouped by creating office. In addition, materials that were originally processed as separate record groups were added to this collection to facilitate better access. For information about the specific legacy record groups that were integrated, see the processing notes at the series level.
Future records transfers from the Office of Public Instruction will be added to this collection.
Includes Ridgeway settlement information
This video cassette is missing.
The microfiche is arranged by license numbers 3 - 4074, but many licenses within that range are not represented.
Another aspect of vocational education fell under the Supervisor of Business and Office Education—a position that was established in 1946 under Department Superintendent of Public Instruction. The program operated under numerous different names and organizational structures, including Distributive and Office Education, Business and Distributive Education, and Distributive Education Services. The term "distributive education" referred to marketing, merchandising, and management education.
With the creation of the Montana Council on Vocational Education in 1985 to comply with the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984, the division became the Vocational and Adult Services Division. It was later renamed the Career, Technical and Adult Education Division.
On-farm training for veterans
The Special Education Advisory Panel was created in 1977 to provide policy advice to the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities.
These materials also include organizational records such as advisory panel minutes, handouts, membership lists, by-laws, and correspondence of the Special Education Advisory Panel.
Because the materials in this series were originally processed as a different collection, the box numbers on the folders no longer match the box numbers on the boxes. The materials in each box match the box and folder list in this guide.
Folders 40 - 48 were rehoused in Box 178 because they contain restricted materials.
These materials are restricted due to FERPA.
These materials are missing.
Including Nancy B. Deden v. Montana High School Association
Including Nancy B. Deden v. Montana High School Association
Including Interrogatories and plaintiffs' reponses
Appeal from Montana First Judicial District
Appeal from Montana First Judicial District
Including Hays-Lodge Pole
Folder 2 was separated and re-housed in Box 178 because it contains restricted materials.
The materials in this folder are restricted due to FERPA.