The Society for Industrial Archaeology was founded in October of 1971 in order to "bring together [those] who share a common interest in the archaeology of industry, engineering and technology." SIA's North American headquarters are at the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. Montana's SIA chapter is named after Frank Klepetko, metallurgist and designer of Montana's two largest smelters - the Washoe Reduction Works in Anaconda, and the Boston and Montana Smelter in Great Falls. The Klepetko Chapter was established on February 22nd, 1986; it was the first SIA chapter west of the Mississippi. Among the officers elected at this inaugural meeting were President Mark Fiege, Vice President Fred Quivik, Secretary/Treasurer Dale Martin, Program Coordinator Mary McCormick, and Newsletter Editor Arthur Dolman. Since its inception, the Klepetko Chapter has had a consistent membership of around 50, produces a semi-annual newsletter, and visits historically significant industrial sites around the state at least once a year. Both the national organization and the state chapter also offer process tours of operating industrial facilities like sawmills, hydroelectric plants, gold mines and mills, oil refineries, and sugar beet processing plants. The Montana Chapter is dedicated to documenting, preserving, and interpreting historical industrial sites and artifacts.
This collection consists of correspondence (1985-2010); financial records (1985-2009), which include some yearly financial reports; organizational records, including membership and longevity lists (1985-2009); printed material (1986-2004), consisting primary of master newsletters and "as printed" versions; subject files (1986-2007), dealing primarily with the Klepetko Chapter's Fall and Spring field trips and tours; and miscellany, which includes several photos that were used in newsletters and flyers.
This collection is arranged into six series: Correspondence; Financial Records; Organizational Records; Printed Material; Subject Files; and Miscellany.
Collection open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. The Library & Archives 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.
[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives. Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
Processed in 2013.
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.