The Montana Legislature created the Montana State Purchasing Department in 1921. The Department supervised the State Purchasing Agent, who was appointed by the governor. The Agent was "to contract for and purchase or direct and supervise the purchase and sale of all supplies of whatever nature necessary for the proper transaction of the business of each and every state department, commission, board, institution, or official" upon the approval of the State Board of Examiners. The Agent also arranged the renting and maintenance of warehouses and let contracts for printing, paper, fuel, lights, etc. In 1934, specifications were issued and bids accepted from contractors for reconditioning the passenger elevators in the Montana State Capitol. The contract was awarded to the Kimball Bros. Company of Salt Lake City. In 1951, the State Controller became the ex-officio State Purchasing Agent and purchasing duties for the state were transferred to the Controller.
Both the State Purchasing Department and the position of State Purchasing Agent were abolished in 1974, and their duties were transferred to the Department of Administration's Purchasing Division. As of 2024, the Purchasing Division is now the State Procurement Services Division.
These Montana State Purchasing Agent records (1933-1934) consist of a subject file (1934) on the acquisition of elevator equipment for the Montana State Capital Building, including correspondence with Otis and Kimball Elevators, and a copy of the architect's specifications.
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Collection open for research.
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In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Administration were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 493, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Administration's various Divisions and Bureaus
that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
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