View XML QR Code

Montana Department of Public Instruction Records, 1893-1967

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana Department of Public Instruction
Title
Montana Department of Public Instruction Records
Dates
1893-1967 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.5 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
RS 140
Summary
These Department of Public Instruction records (1893-1967) consist primarily of a subject files concerning the State Board of Education, the Board of Regents, the University System, and state institutions. (Architectural blueprints of buildings at several colleges and institutions are in oversize folders.)
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Return to Top

Historical Note

In 1864, two years before the first school district was organized in Virginia City, Montana Territory, the position of "school commissioner" was created with the responsibility of reporting to the governor on matters relating to education in the territory. The office remained until the 1872 Montana Territorial Assembly passed a school law which provided that the guidance of the territory's schools be placed under a superintendent of public instruction. The Constitution made the position of superintendent elective. At the same time the Constitution also placed the newly created state's higher education system under the direction of the State Board of Education, composed of the superintendent of public instruction, the governor, the attorney general, and eight other members appointed by the governor. The State Board of Education was made responsible for the determination of educational programs and policy, preparation of budgets, financing of current operations, personnel administration, and planning and financing of physical facilities. Beginning in 1959 the State Board of Education became ex officio the Board of Regents. A Department of Public Instruction, under the superintendent's direction, was created by the Montana Legislative Assembly in 1959, "for the purpose of the staff and administration of the duties and services of the superintendent of public instruction." This legislation made legal the name which had been used informally by the superintendent's office for many years.

Return to Top

Content Description

Record consist primarily of subject files, organized into three sections. Section one consists of materials kept by the superintendent relating to meetings of the State Board of Education (1914, 1948-1967) and of the State Board of Education, ex officio Board of Regents (1959-1965). These materials include correspondence of the Board concerning the meetings, agendas, complete texts of some resolutions ummarized in the minutes, and documents mentioned but not reproduced in the minutes. Section two consists of files relating to the five sections of the University of Montana (1895-1959). These are arranged first by college regardless of current name used, and then roughly chronologically within each college. The files include information concerning several disputes between faculty and administration within the colleges. Section three consists of files relating to state educational institutions, including the School for the Deaf and Blind (1893-1963), the State Industrial School at Miles City (1942), the State Orphan's Home at Twin Bridges (1947), and Vocational Rehabilitation (1954-1958). Architectural blueprints of buildings at several state colleges and institutions have been placed in oversize folders. Bylaws (1921) of the Board of Education are in the Miscellany series.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society 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.

Preferred Citation

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

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

28:5-4

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is available upon request.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Academic freedom--Montana
  • Deaf--Education--Montana
  • Deaf--Institutional care--Montana
  • Education--Curriculum--Montana
  • Education--Montana
  • High schools--Montana
  • Public schools--Montana
  • School management and organization--Montana
  • Schools--Centralization--Montana
  • Teachers colleges--Montana
  • Universities and colleges--Montana

Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...