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Missoula Electric Cooperative Records, 1950-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Missoula Electric Cooperative
Title
Missoula Electric Cooperative Records
Dates
1950-1979 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.5 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 229 (collection)
Summary
The Missoula Electric Cooperative was formed in 1936 to supply power in and around Missoula, Montana. The collection includes general information about MEC including correspondence, history, and technical and financial reports.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

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 1935 Montana legislature passed the State Electrification Authority Act, which tied Montana into contact with the state water development projects. In the same year, President Roosevelt formed the Rural Electric Administration in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Missoula Electric Cooperative, Inc., (MEC) was formed in Missoula, Montana, in 1936. It was one of several electric co-operatives formed because the Montana Power Company, the state's major provider, would not provide power in many rural areas because construction costs outweighed potential profits. Members of the co-op paid a fee, installation and consumption costs; the organization is non-profit. Electric cooperatives played an important role in rural electrification in Montana and many other states. Eugene Pike came to work for the co-op in 1937. Soon after it was formed, the MEC received a loan from the Rural Electrification Administration to build power lines from Missoula to Frenchtown, down the Bitterroot Valley, and out to Clinton, a project known as the "A" project. When World War II began, power line construction slowed considerably, and the company stopped construction in 1943. Pike returned from his shipyard job to become co-op manager in 1946.

There was no power supplier for Seeley Lake, Montana, at this time, and the co-op wished to begin line construction. They were unable to get a loan for this from the REA because the co-op purchased its power from Montana Power, and the rates they were being charged were too high. However, the REA agreed to lend the co-op the money for line construction if they bought their power from another supplier at a lower rate. Bonneville Power wished to do business in Montana, but the Montana Power Company did not welcome this competition. Senator James Murray helped pass legislation to allow Bonneville Power to come into Montana so that the co-op would be able to build its line to Seely Lake. The co-op remained hooked up to Montana Power lines, but would pay Bonneville Power for the electricity; Bonneville in turn paid Montana Power. The co-op also explored other power sources, including the fledgling nuclear power industry.

The co-op constantly clashed with the Montana Power Company over questions of competition in the state. In the late 1960s, the MEC clashed with Montana Power Company over territorial integrity, the question of whether the for-profit companies could begin to serve customers in territories formerly served only by the co-ops. The state legislature finally resolved some of these conflicts in 1970.

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Content Description

The collection contains information from 1957-1975. Most of the information was written by or sent to Eugene Pike. There is general information about MEC including correspondence, history, and technical and financial reports. The collection includes numerous training manuals from the Rural Electric Administration. There is information about co-operative utilities in Montana, the Pacific Northwest and the United States. There is detailed information regarding power generation in the northwest including nuclear, hydroelectric and hydrothermal.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Missoula Electric Cooperative Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is divided into nineteen series:

Series I: Correspondence, 1.0 linear foot, 1956-1977

Series II: Clippings, 4 folders, 1953-1976

Series III: Certificates, 1 folder, 1966-1969

Series IV: Publications, 2 folders, 1960-1969

Series V: Speeches and Writings, 1 folder, 1958-1973

Series VI: Legislation, 0.25 linear feet, 1961-1976

Series VII: National Rural Electric Co-Op Association, 0.5 linear feet, 1960-1976

Series VIII: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Electric Administration, 1 folder, 1951-1959

Series IX: Montana Associated Utilities, 4 folders, 1962-1976

Series X: Bonneville Power Company, 0.25 linear feet, 1963-1976

Series XI: Breeder Reactor Corporation, 0.25 linear feet, 1971-1976

Series XII: Northwest Intertie, 0.25 linear feet, 1963-1975

Series XIII: Washington Public Power Supply System, 1.0 linear foot, 1962-1977

Series XIV: Public Power Council, 0.5 linar feet, 1966-1976

Series XV: Federal Power Commission, 2 folders,1963 and 1975

Series XVI: Northwest Public Power Association, 5 folders, 1968-1976

Series XVII: Montana Power Company, 2 folders, 1957-1966

Series XIX: Other Groups, 0.5 linear feet, 1962-1979

Custodial History

Held by the Missoula Electric Cooperative until donation.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Missoula Electric Cooperative, 1977 and 1978.

Processing Note

The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1997, the collection was reprocessed.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • Consumer cooperatives--Montana
  • Consumer cooperatives--Montana--Missoula
  • Electric power--Montana
  • Electric power--Northwest, Pacific
  • Hydroelectric power plants--Northwest, Pacific
  • Hydrothermal electric power systems
  • Nuclear power plants--Northwest, Pacific
  • Rural electrification--Montana

Corporate Names

  • Breeder Reactor Corporation
  • Montana Associated Utilities
  • Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association
  • Montana Power Company
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • Northwest Public Power Association
  • United States. Bonneville Power Administration
  • United States. Federal Power Commission

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Pike, Eugene

    Corporate Names

    • United States. Rural Electrification Administration
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