Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana Society of Engineers Records, 1887-2020
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana Society of Engineers
- Title
- Montana Society of Engineers Records
- Dates
- 1887-202018872020
- Quantity
- 6 linear feet and web archive
- Collection Number
- Collection 1082 (collection)
- Summary
- This Montana Society of Engineers Records includes the MSE's constitution and bylaws; minutes of the annual and periodic meetings; photocopies of Society activities printed in the Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies; correspondence. There is a selection of papers, minutes and correspondence of the various chapters around the state as well as the activities of the organization's committees. The records also include research papers composed by members; papers pertaining to conferences, meetings, proceedings and bulletins of assorted engineering associations; the controversy and problems of registration of engineers; some financial records and assorted ephemera complete the collection.
- Repository
-
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
- Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Montana Society of Engineers was proposed on March 22, 1887 at a meeting of a group of Civil Engineers and Surveyors in Helena. By July 1887, Officers of the Montana Society of Civil Engineers had been selected and by-laws adopted including setting an annual meeting for each January as well as monthly meetings when enough members desired to hold them. Forty six engineers from all parts of Montana Territory became charter members. The Society changed its name to Montana Society of Engineers in February, 1897 by striking the designation "Civil" because members included civil, electrical, mechanical, mining and other engineering professions including surveyors. Meetings featured both social and business elements with entertainment, professional conversation and presentation of papers. Formal dinners were the order of the day in early meetings with propriety emphasized and young engineers expected to be properly respectful to their elders. In the 1950s the nature of the Society became more serious. Three events in 1957 influenced the Society - affiliation with the National Society of Professional Engineers, the decision to formalize local chapters and State mandated registration for all engineers (civil engineer registration was passed in 1947). These changes caused a rapid growth in membership and prestige. Publications of the Society included the Quarterly Journal of the Montana Society of Engineers, later titled simply the Journal of the Montana Society of Engineers from 1916 to 1949 and the Montaneer from 1964 to 1977. In 1930, the Society instituted a Gold Award for one engineering student graduating from Montana State College in Bozeman and another from the Montana School of Mines in Butte. The Society is still active and has as their mission statement: "We are a society of engineering professionals from all disciplines that promotes the ethical and competent practice of engineering, advocates licensure, and enhances the image and well-being of its members."
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes the MSE's constitution and bylaws with various amendments over time; minutes of the annual and periodic meetings with related materials sometimes including papers read; photocopies of Society activities printed in the Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies; correspondence which includes many reports of accomplishments of both government agencies and commercial companies in Montana in response to a yearly questionnaire as well as Society business and membership communications; membership applications (incomplete) frequently including a signed oath of fealty, resignation letters and many memorial resolutions upon death of individual members; a full membership card file with assorted status notations; correspondence and records of gold medal winners from the Butte School of Mines and Montana State University, Bozeman. There is a selection of papers, minutes and correspondence of the various chapters around the state as well as the activities of the organization's committees, most of which are materials are from the legislative committee that monitored the state and national laws that impacted engineers. The records also include research papers composed by members; correspondence and notes related to Kathleen Hendricks, an MSU history graduate student who, in 1975, submitted a thesis titled "The advancement of the science of engineering and the interest of the profession : the Montana Society of Civil Engineers 1887-1899"; papers pertaining to conferences, meetings, proceedings and bulletins of assorted engineering associations ; the controversy and problems of registration of engineers; some financial records and assorted ephemera complete the collection. A web archive begins in 2020.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Series 1 Administrative records, 1887-1975
Series 2 Membership records, 1895-1957
Series 3 Correspondence, 1890-1967
Series 4: Web Archive, 2020
Acquisition Information
The Helena chapter of the Montana Society of Engineers (MSE) donated the bulk of the organization's records to Special Collections in October of 1974 with additional material added in 1975 by Kathleen Hendricks. This collection also incorporates material formerly assigned accession numbers 66 and 1132. This collection was reported to the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections in 1979 and assigned their control number 79-686.
Processing Note
This collection was processed 2009 September 22
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Administrative records, 1887-1975Return to Top
The constitution, by-laws, and related materials; minutes; photocopied published reports of the MSE appearing in Journal of the Association of Engineering Societies; materials from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE); Chapter and Committee records; assorted papers collected and possibly presented at meetings; 3 financial ledgers; assorted conference, meeting and proceedings papers and bulletins; records of Gold Medal winners; an incomplete subject index; research papers of Kathleen Hendricks; oral history tapes and an oral history transcript of early MSE member of Arthur E. Adami, Sr.; ribbons and other ephemera including a 1916 song book of the Society. The original cassette tapes of Adami's interview have been removed from Box 8, folder 13, for storage elsewhere.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Constitutions, by-laws, amendments and incorporation
papers |
1910-1972 |
| 1/2 | Minutes of first meeting 1887, list of charter
members, and short history of MSE |
1965 |
| 1/3 | Minutes and associated papers |
1891-1893 |
| 1/4 | Minutes and associated papers |
1894-1899 |
| 1/5 | Minutes and associated papers |
1900-1910 |
| 1/6 | Minutes and associated papers |
1913-1914 |
| 1/7 | Minutes and associated papers |
1915-1917 |
| 1/8 | Minutes and associated papers |
1918-1922 |
| 2/1 | Minutes and associated papers |
1923-1925 |
| 2/2 | Minutes and associated papers |
1926-1929 |
| 2/3 | Minutes and associated papers |
1930-1932 |
| 2/4 | Minutes and associated papers |
1933-1935 |
| 2/5 | Minutes and associated papers |
1936-1939 |
| 2/6 | Minutes and associated papers |
1940-1943 |
| 2/7 | Minutes and associated papers |
1944-1946 |
| 2/8 | Minutes and associated papers |
1947-1948 |
| 3/1 | Minutes and associated papers |
1949-1950 |
| 3/2 | Minutes and associated papers |
1951-1954 |
| 3/3 | Minutes and associated papers |
1955-1958 |
| 3/4 | Minutes and associated papers |
1959-1961 |
| 3/5 | Minutes and associated papers |
1962-1965 |
| 3/6 | Minutes and associated papers |
1966-1967 |
| 3/7 | Minutes and associated papers |
1968-1969 |
| 3/8 | Minutes and associated papers |
1970-1973 |
| 3/9 | Proceedings of eleventh to fourteenth
years |
1898-1901 |
| 4/1 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the Journal of Assn of
Engineering Societies (JAES) |
1888-1892 |
| 4/2 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1893-1894 |
| 4/3 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1895-1896 |
| 4/4 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1897-1899 |
| 4/5 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1900-1903 |
| 4/6 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1904-1906 |
| 4/7 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1907-1909 |
| 4/8 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1910-1912 |
| 4/9 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1913-1914 |
| 4/10 | Photocopies of MSE reports in the JAES |
1915 |
| 5/1 | National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
information and membership |
1956-1969 |
| 5/2 | NSPE newsletters |
1969 |
| 5/3 | Montana Technical Council - MSE |
1968-1969 |
| 5/4 | Guides to creating new Chapters from NSPE |
1951-1969 |
| 5/5 | Billings Chapter |
1958-1971 |
| 5/6 | Butte Chapter |
1957-1970 |
| 5/7 | Great Falls Chapter |
1958-1970 |
| 5/8 | Helena Chapter (prior to 1957 known as
Division) |
1942-1970 |
| 5/9 | Committee assignments and manual |
1967-1971 |
| 5/10 | MSE legislative committee |
1966-1967 |
| 5/11 | Legislative newsletters (NSPE) |
1966-1967 |
| 5/12 | MSE legislative committee- registration law
materials |
1968-1969 |
| 5/13 | Legislative newsletters (NSPE) |
1968-1969 |
| 6/1 | MSE legislative committee |
1968-1969 |
| 6/2 | MSE legislative committee |
1970-1971 |
| 6/3 | MSE legislative committee |
1972-1973 |
| 6/4 | Legislative newsletters (NSPE) |
1970-1972 |
| 6/5 | Papers presented at meetings or collected by the
Montana Society of Engineers |
1900s-1970 |
| 6/6 | Irrigation Questionnaire and report of W.W.
DeLacy |
1889 |
| 6/7 | Proceedings and bulletins of Montana engineering
organizations |
1918-1948 |
| 6/8 | Assorted national engineering conference and meeting
materials and proceedings |
1925-1949 |
| 6/9 | Provisions and problems of registration of
engineers |
1935-1936 |
| 6/10 | Chart of the census of engineers by rank and class in
the USA |
1930 |
| 7/1 | Financial ledger |
1955 July - 1957 May |
| 7/2 | Index of subjects in correspondence and minutes
(incomplete) |
1891-1971 |
| 7/3 | Gold medal awards to engineering students of Montana
State College (MSU) and Montana School of Mines |
1930-1972 |
| 7/4 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1930 |
| 7/5 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1931 |
| 7/6 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1932 |
| 7/7 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1933 |
| 7/8 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1934 |
| 7/9 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1935-1936 |
| 7/10 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1937 |
| 7/11 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1938 |
| 7/12 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1939 |
| 7/13 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1940-1941 |
| 7/14 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1942 |
| 8/1 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1943-1944 |
| 8/2 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1947 |
| 8/3 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1948 |
| 8/4 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1949 |
| 8/5 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1950-1951 |
| 8/6 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1952 |
| 8/7 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1953 |
| 8/8 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1954 |
| 8/9 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1955-1956 |
| 8/10 | Medal winners with correspondence and
scoring |
1957 |
| 8/11 | Research correspondence - Kathleen
Hendricks |
1973-1975 |
| 8/12 | Preliminary collection inventory and publicity
clippings for Kathleen Hendricks' research |
|
| 8/13 | Transcription of oral history interview of Arthur E.
Adami, Sr. by Kathleen Hendricks |
1973 December 12 |
| 8/14 | Ribbons for officers and annual meetings, suggested
logo for society |
1901-1938 |
| 8/15 | Assorted memorabilia and ephemera including society
song book of 1916 |
Series 2: Membership records, 1895-1957Return to Top
Application forms and early membership rolls followed by updated membership lists up through 1957. Membership applications are in chronological order, and some have oaths of fealty, resignation letters and memorial letters attached. There are two ledgers that incompletely list the dues collections for members during 1909 to 1937. Finally there are file cards (Box 11) that should have all members listed chronologically. The cards have notations as follows: Left top is the name and address, company or position of the member, right top has the date voted into membership and an asterisk to indicate a charter member, æO.M.' to indicate an organizing member, æC.M.' to indicate a corresponding member, æA.M.' to indicate an associate member and æH.M.' to indicate an honorary member. In the middle left are lists of references to the member. The reference notations are C= correspondence; M= minutes; and # = year. For example, a C-39 notation means a reference in the 1939 correspondence file; an M-39 notation would refer to a reference in the minutes of 1939. M.A. represents a membership application which sometimes shows that it was rejected as unqualified. On the right middle are listed the year of offices held and also resignations, and dates of death for active members.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 9/1 | Application forms and membership lists |
1895-1915 |
| 9/2 | Membership lists |
1936-1957 |
| 9/3 | Membership applications A-B |
|
| 9/4 | Membership applications C-D |
|
| 9/5 | Membership applications E-H |
|
| 9/6 | Membership applications I-L |
|
| 10/1 | Membership applications M |
|
| 10/2 | Membership applications N-S |
|
| 10/3 | Membership applications T-Z |
|
| 10/4 | Membership dues ledger No. 1 |
dated 1909-1937 |
| 10/5 | Membership dues ledger No. 2 (some continued records
from ledger No. 1) |
dated 1929-1937 |
| Box | ||
| 11 | Alphabetical index file of all members and applicants
(key to notations in front of box) |
Series 3: Correspondence, 1890-1967Return to Top
Index cards listing subjects of correspondence, followed by the chronologically sorted letters related to regular business of the Society and assorted special issues and concerns, along with replies from Montana organizations and industries listing their annual accomplishments in response to a yearly request from the society. There are also exchanges about scheduling of meetings, chapter news, and recommendations for papers and medal candidates, and associated materials.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 12/1 | Index |
1890-1930 |
| 12/2 | Index |
1931-1968 |
| 12/3 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1890-1891 |
| 12/4 | Correspondence associated with Worlds
Exposition |
1891-1892 |
| 12/5 | Associated with Senate Bill S663 on surveys by T.C.
Power |
1981-1983 |
| 12/6 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1892-1893 |
| 12/7 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1894-1899 |
| 12/8 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1900-1901 |
| 12/9 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1902-1905 |
| 12/10 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1906-1912 |
| 12/11 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1913-1915 |
| 12/12 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1916-1919 |
| 13/1 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1920-1925 |
| 13/2 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1926 |
| 13/3 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1927 |
| 13/4 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1928-1930 |
| 13/5 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1931 |
| 13/6 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1932 |
| 13/7 | Correspondence and associated materials
(cont.) |
1932 |
| 14/1 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1933 |
| 14/2 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1934 |
| 14/3 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1935 |
| 14/4 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1936-1937 |
| 14/5 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1938-1941 |
| 14/6 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1942-1945 |
| 15/1 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1946-1948 |
| 15/2 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1949-1951 |
| 15/3 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1952-1955 |
| 15/4 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1956-1958 |
| 15/5 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1959-1961 |
| 15/6 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1962-1965 |
| 15/7 | Correspondence and associated materials |
1966-1967 |
Web Archive, 2020Return to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Engineering teachers-Montana-Butte-Interviews
- Engineering students-Montana-Bozeman
- Engineering students-Montana-Butte
- Engineering-Awards-Montana
- Engineering-Montana-Billings-Societies, etc
- Engineering-Montana-Butte-Societies, etc
- Engineering-Montana-Great Falls-Societies, etc
- Engineering-Montana-Helena-Societies, etc
- Engineering-Montana-Societies, etc
- Engineers-Montana-Butte-Interviews
- Irrigation-Montana
Personal Names
- Adami, Arthur E. (Arthur Ernest), 1886-1978-Interviews
Corporate Names
- Montana School of Mines-Faculty-Interviews
- Montana School of Mines-Students
- Montana Society of Engineers-Archives
- Montana Society of Engineers-Awards
- Montana Society of Engineers-History
- Montana State College-Students
Form or Genre Terms
- Intervews-Montana
- Oral histories-Montana
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- De Lacy, W. W. (Walter Washington), 1819-1892 (creator)
- Hendricks, Kathleen Lucille, 1949- (creator)
Corporate Names
- Montana Society of Engineers-Billings Chapter (creator)
- Montana Society of Engineers-Butte Chapter (creator)
- Montana Society of Engineers-Great Falls Chapter (creator)
- Montana Society of Engineers-Helena Chapter (creator)
- Montana Society of Engineers-Helena Division (creator)
- Montana Society of Civil Engineers (creator)
Kim Allen Scott
2009
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
