MTLRS452.xml Guide to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Center for the Aged Records1912-1994 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Center for the Aged records Finding aid prepared by Matt Kruse; Updated by Lindsey Mick Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Montana Historical Society Research Center 2013; 2025 Finding aid encoded by Matt Kruse; Updated by Lindsey Mick2013; 2025 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition). Montana Historical Society Library and Archives
225 North Roberts PO Box 201201 Helena MT 59620-1201 406-444-2681 mthslibrary@mt.gov
RS 452_RS 495 Montana. Department of Public Health and Human Services. Center for the Aged Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Center for the Aged records 1912-1994 2.8 linear ft This collection is a sub-subgroup (State Healthcare Facility) of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. The Center for the Aged, now named the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center, operates as a State Healthcare Facility within the Department Public Health and Human Services. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services records. These Montana Center for the Aged records include correspondence, subject files, meeting minutes, personal files of patient Mayme Matson, and maps. 43:8-1 English

The Montana Center for the Aged was built on a 40 acre site overlooking the city of Lewistown by the State of Montana. It was first occupied in October of 1952, and it formerly operated within the Department of Institutions.

As of 2025, functions as the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center under the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The facility is a licensed 191-bed long term care facility established for persons who have a mental disorder, require a level of care not available in the community, but who cannot benefit from the intense psychiatric treatment available at the Montana State Hospital.

This collection is composed of five series:

Correspondence (1958-1980): Including incoming and outgoing correspondence between various organizations and departments dealing with the center.

Subject files (1953-1980): Including records on construction, additions to the facility, emergency plans, a manual on procedures, and dispatch books.

Meeting minutes (1976-1994): Including meetings of directors, supervisors, nurses, food service workers, and other staff.

Mayme “Maime” Matson’s Files (1912-1930): Mayme Matson was a patient at the Center for the Aged. She was born in Montana in 1896 and died in the Center for the Aged in 1981. Presumably staff at the center retained her personal belongings and that is why they were included with this collection. Included are Pratt institute annuals, a sketch book, and a photo album with the bulk of the records related to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where she studied dress design and pattern drawing (1916-1917).

Maps: Including maps of the facility and surrounding area.

This collection is arranged by series.

Collection is open for research.

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Library & Archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Library & Archives before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 495, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services' various Divisions and Bureaus that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 495. Rather than reprocessing over 100 linear feet of DPHHS materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids, and provide access to them via links through the central finding aid. This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this subgroup/sub-subgroup pertains to your research needs.

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

Acquisition information available upon request

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Assisted Living Facilities--Aged--United States. Institutional care-­Montana Nursing homes—Montana Pratt Institute, Brooklyn Montana. Department of Institutions Montana. Department of Public Health and Human Services Montana Medicine and Health Mental Health Scrapbooks Drawings Detailed Description of the Collection Correspondence 1 / 1 Board of Institutions 1970-1974 1 / 2 Central Montana Hospital 1969-1974 1 / 3 Communications From Governor or His Office 1962-1979 1 / 4 Department of Administration 1971-1978 1 / 5 Department of Health and Environmental Services 1973-1977 1 / 6 Department of Institutions 1973-1978 1 / 7-8 Department of Institutions 1975-1979 1 / 9 Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services 1978 1 / 10 Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services - Medicaid 1972-1977 1 / 11 Geriatric Nurse Practitioners 1976 1 / 12 Gooch, Tom (Personnel Director) 1965-1978 1 / 13 Legislative Auditor 1973-1978 1 / 14 Lewistown Ministerial Association 1976 1 / 15 Medical Surgical Liaison Office and Contracted Services 1964-1971 1 / 16 Mental Health Association 1958-1979 1 / 17 Montana Foundation for Medical Care 1976-1980 1 / 18 Montana State Fish and Game Commission 1961-1976 1 / 19 Nursing Home Administration 1973-1975 1 / 20 Research Project – Human Services Planning 1974-1979 1 / 21 State Board of Examiners 1969-1973 1 / 22 State Board of Nursing 1969 1 / 23 State Controller 1963-1971 1 / 24 Superintendent’s Council 1965-1969 Subject Files 1 / 25 Administration License Papers 1969-1970 1 / 26 Alterations and Additions to the Existing Heating Plant 1966 1 / 27-30 Building Additions 1974-1979 1 / 31 Census Reports 1972 1 / 32 Complaints and Occurrences 1972-1980 1 / 33 Conservation of Energy 1973-1980 1 / 34 Dispatch Book 1956 January-September 1 / 35 Dispatch Book 1958 September-1963 February 1 / 36 Dispatch Book 1963-1967 2 / 1 Edward Fire and Alarm System (includes map) undated 2 / 2 Emergency Plan – Employee Strikes 1969-1976 2 / 3 Facility Land Holdings Improvements undated 2 / 4 Fire Alarm Hookup and System 1966-1978 2 / 5 Fire Marshall Report 1970-1978 2 / 6 Foot Care 1970-1974 2 / 7 Information on Montana Center for the Aged 1977-1980 2 / 8 Kitchen Staff Meetings 1974-1979 2 / 9 Land Status – Easements – Leases 1977 2 / 10 Legislative Audit Report 1976-1979 2 / 11 Long Range Building Program – Proposed Rear End Black Topping 1970-1971 2 / 12 Long Range Capital Construction 1975-1976 2 / 13 Maintenance Policy 1974-1975 2 / 14 Manual of Procedures 1965 2 / 15-17 Poetry 1953 3 / 1 Polio Vaccinations 1962-1963 3 / 2 Staff or Supervisors Meetings 1964-1978 3 / 3 State Insurance and Building Appraisal 1974-1979 Meeting Minutes 3 / 4-6 Administrative Staff 1983-1986 3 / 7-9 All Staff 1985-1987 3 / 10 Association-Management Team 1984 3 / 11-13 Care Plan 1985-1987 3 / 14 Director’s Staff 1976-1979 3 / 15-17 Donations 1984, 1986-1987 3 / 18 Employee Dining Room Conversion 1986 3 / 19 Energy Conservation 1979 3 / 20-21 Environmental Safety Inspection Team 1986-1987 3 / 22-27 Food Service 1982-1987 3 / 28 Food Service Delivery Committee 1985-1987 3 / 29 Food Service/Nursing 1983, 1986 3 / 30 Inservice Committee 1985-1986 3 / 31-33 Management Team 1986-1987, 1994 3 / 34-35 Management Team 1984-1985 3 / 36-40 Nursing Supervisors 1983-1987 3 / 41-42 Policy Review Committee 1985-1987 3 / 43-47 Psychiatric Aide 1983-1987 3 / 48-51 RN and LPN 1982-1985 3 / 52 Space Utilization 1986 3 / 53 Superintendent/Department Supervisors 1983-1984 3 / 54 Supervisor’s Development 1986 3 / 55-56 Taskforce Committee 1984 Mayme “Mamie” Matson’s Files 4 / 1 Montana Common School Diploma 1912 4 / 2 Sketch Book 1916-1917 4 / 3 Pratt Institute Annual 1916 4 / 4 Pratt Institute Annual 1917 4 / 5-7 Photo Album 1916-1923 4 / 8 Photo Album Miscellany 1916-1923 4 / 9 Cards and other Miscellany 1925-1930 4 / 10 Plaque undated Maps Oversize Center for the Aged Property Boundary Map undated Oversize “Old Folks’ Home Maps (3 copies) undated