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Montana Department of Public Instruction. Division of Indian Education Records, 1947-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana. Department of Public Instruction. Division of Indian Education.
Title
Montana Department of Public Instruction. Division of Indian Education Records
Dates
1947-1976 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
RS 334
Summary
The Division of Indian Education was a program within the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Records (1967-1977) include general correspondence; financial records on the dispersal of federal funds; contracts with the federal government; speeches and writings; subject files on related organizations; and miscellany.
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 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 office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was created by the 1872 Montana Territorial Legislative Assembly to replace the older office of school commissioner. The Montana Constitution of 1889 made the office elective and defined its functions. In 1959 the Montana Legislative Assembly created the Department of Public Instruction to administer the office under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The United States Congress passed the Johnson-O'Malley Act in 1934 to provide funding for public school districts on Indian reservations. The payments were in lieu of taxes to compensate for the tax exempt reservation lands. Until 1946 financial arrangements were made between the local Indian agency office and the local school board. In 1946 the Division of Indian Education was established within the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to negotiate contracts directly with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Gradually BIA schools were abandoned in favor of local school board-controlled schools. Starting in 1964 Public Law 874 regulated most of the funding of reservation schools, and Johnson-O'Malley funds were used primarily to fund special projects. Among the supervisors of Indian Education were Knute W. Bergen, William C. Howard, Earl J. Barlow, Dorrance D. Steele, and Robert W. Parsley. In addition superintendents Mary M. Condon, Harriet E. Miller, and Dolores Colburg handled much of the division's affairs directly. From 1975 to 1977 Bill Yellowtail served as assistant supervisor.

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Content Description

The records consist primarily of general correspondence (1948-1968) arranged chronologically and general correspondence (1973-1976) arranged separately by community and by correspondent. In addition there are financial records (1948-1975) on the dispersal of federal funds; contracts (1947-1962, 1968) with the federal government; speeches and writings; subject files (1957-1975) on related organizations; 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. 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 owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

34:3-5

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is 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

  • General Correspondence (by correspondent)

    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wesley D'Ewart, Mike Mansfield, et al. re administration of Indian education funds)
      Dates: 1948-1950
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, local school districts, Mike Mansfield, et al. re administration of Indian education funds, school conditions at Chinook, Ronan, Harlem, etc.)
      Dates: 1951-1952
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, local school districts, Mike Mansfield, et al. re administration of Indian education funds, including a controversy over delayed funding in 1954)
      Dates: 1953-1957
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, local school districts, Mike Mansfield, Lee Metcalf, et al. re surplus food commodities, conditions at Browning and Dixon, new school at Rocky Boy, etc.)
      Dates: 1958
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, local school districts, et al. re conditions at Poplar, new school at Rocky Boy, school lunch program, etc.)
      Dates: 1959-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, local school districts, Lee Metcalf, Mike Mansfield, et al. re school at Busby, Public Law 874 entitlement, etc.)
      Dates: 1961-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Bureau of Indian Affairs, local school districts, Lutheran Indian Mission, Miles S. Horn (White Crow) et al. re school at Rocky Boy, Signa Bell, etc.)
      Dates: 1966-1968
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)

  • General Correspondence (by community)

  • General Correspondence (by correspondent)

    • Description: A-F (includes Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Diane Dabbert re history of Indian education in Montana; and Far West Laboratory re career education curriculum)
      Dates: 1969-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: G-K (includes Jessica Schultz Graham re James Willard Schultz Indian Heritage Award; Indian Studies Project; and Herbert S. Kirk re Browning ceramics project)
      Dates: 1973-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 21
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: Mike Mansfield; Lee Metcalf
      Dates: 1974-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 22
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: M (includes Montana Indian Education Association; and Montana Inter-Tribal Policy Board)
      Dates: 1972-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 23
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: North American Indian Alliance (re Pride in Indian Heritage Program)
      Dates: 1973-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 24
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
      Dates: 1968-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 26
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (includes Office of Indian Education; Division of Bilingual Education; Public Health Service; etc.)
      Dates: 1973-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 27
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)
    • Description: U-W (includes University of Montana; and University of Utah)
      Dates: 1972-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 28
      Location: General Correspondence (by correspondent)

  • Interoffice Correspondence

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Budgets under federal contract
      Dates: 1948-1962, 1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Funds distribution, reimbursement, etc.
      Dates: 1948-1958, 1974-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Contracts with federal government for Indian education
      Dates: 1947-1962, 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Reports

    • Description: Annual reports to U.S. Office of Indian Education
      Dates: 1948-1950, 1963
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Annual report of Johnson-O'Malley program
      Dates: 1970, 1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Monthly activity reports
      Dates: 1973 March- 1975 June
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: Reports
    • Description: School visitation reports
      Dates: 1973-01975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: Reports
    • Description: Untitled report by R.J. Murray, educational field agent (re school financing)
      Dates: 1947
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Reports

  • Speeches and Writings

    • Description: Rocky Boy Public School dedication speech by Dolores Colburg
      Dates: 1947-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
      Location: Speeches and Writings

  • Subject File

    • Description: American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame
      Dates: 1973
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Congressional bill for termination of federal supervision of Flathead Reservation (includes Mary Condon testimony)
      Dates: 1954
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 11
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Developmental Indian Sports Clinic of the Upper States (DISCUS)
      Dates: 1974-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 12
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Indian education reimbursement (includes manual of procedures; and conference with Bureau of Indian Affairs)
      Dates: 1957-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 13
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Johnson-O'Malley Act (includes typed copy of bill; memo on program)
      Dates: 1934, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 14
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Montana Indian Education Conference
      Dates: 1972-1974
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 15
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Montana Indian High School Student Debate Tournament
      Dates: 1972-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 16
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Montana Indian Youth Practicum
      Dates: 1971-1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 17
      Location: Subject File
    • Description: Northern Cheyenne Research and Human Development Association
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 18
      Location: Subject File

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Address by Dr. Angie Deboe at Governors' Interstate Indian Council meeting
      Dates: 1957
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 19
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: "An Appreciation of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe," by Father Marion Roessler
      Dates: circa 1952
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 20
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Notes on Milk River flood damage; statistical data on reservations; etc.
      Dates: 1952, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 20
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: List of public schools served by Johnson-O'Malley funds
      Dates: 1975
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 21
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Nepotism law explanation
      Dates: 1973
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 22
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indians of North America--Education--Montana

Geographical Names

  • St. Ignatius (Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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