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Montana Fish and Game Commission records, 1901-1966

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana Fish and Game Commission
Title
Montana Fish and Game Commission records
Dates
1901-1966 (inclusive)
Quantity
6.8 linear feet
Collection Number
RS 497 (Formerly RS 125)
Summary
This collection is a subgroup (Division) of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks records, RS 497. Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks records. These records (1901-1966) of the Montana Fish and Game Commission (now named Fish and Wildlife Commission) consist of financial records, legal documents, reports, subject files, and miscellany.
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.
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Historical Note

The Board of Game and Fish Commissioners was established in March of 1895 to oversee licensing and hunting practices in the state. The Board was comprised of three commissioners, appointed by the Governor and was empowered to appoint a State Fish and Game Warden. The warden also served as secretary and business agent of the Board. The first warden was chosen in 1898. The Board was abolished in 1901, but the functions were assumed by the State Fish Commissioners in 1907. The State Fish Commissioners consisted of the Warden and two commissioners. By 1911, two more commissioners were added. In 1921, the two commissions, State Fish Commission and Fish and Game Commission, merged and were empowered to establish fish and game districts and to close or open seasons on all game animals, birds, and fish. The administrative arm of the Commission gradually came to be referred to as the Fish and Game Department, although the Department was not legislatively formalized until 1972. It was renamed the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in 1979.

The Commission is currently (as of 2024) named the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and is made up of seven members appointed by the govorner. It sets fish and wildlife regulations, approves property acquisitions, and approves certain rules and activities of the department as provided by statute.

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Content Description

These records consist of financial records, including audit reports; legal documents regarding the removal of State Fish and Game Warden J. S. McFarland; reports; subject files regarding Flint Creek, fish test projects, and the Montana Search and Rescue Association; and miscellany, including journals for state fish spawning stations and hatcheries; blueprints and architectural drawings of Lewis and Clark Caverns, formerly Morrison Cave; case records of regulation violations; confiscation registers; license registers; and docket registers.

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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 Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by series.

Location of Collection

120:4-1

Processing Note

In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 497, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives catalog, and to follow best archival practices.

Collections from Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' various Divisions and Commissions that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 497. Rather than reprocessing over 17 linear feet of FWP materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those collections/finding aids and provide access to them via links in the master 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 pertains to your research needs.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information is available upon request.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

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

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Audit reports
      Dates: 1933-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1-4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Register of receipts and disbursements
      Dates: 1924-1927
      Container: Box/Folder Vol / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous (re James W. Corey)
      Dates: 1933-1936
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: In the matter of the removal of J.S. McFarland, State Fish and Game Warden: Briefs
      Dates: 1943
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: In the matter of the removal of J.S. McFarland, State Fish and Game Warden: Exhibits
      Dates: 1943
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Reports

    • Description: Report of State Fish and Game Commission
      Dates: 1941 April - September
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Reports

  • Subject Files

    • Description: DC shocker tests
      Dates: 1953-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Flint Creek (re test stream project)
      Dates: 1957, 1959-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Flint Creek stomach samples
      Dates: 1954-1955, 1958
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: TDS growth studies (includes "Electrical Conductivity and Trout Growth Rates in Montana" by Jack Bailey)
      Dates: 1958-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Test stream: barricades
      Dates: 1953-1956
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Test stream project
      Dates: 1953-1960
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9-10
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Test stream: shockers (includes "Collecting Fish with Electricity" by V. K. Roberts)
      Dates: 1954-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: Montana Search and Rescue Association
      Dates: 1956-1958
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: P. A. Young: Gallatin Petrified Forest, Square Butte "spook rocks," and pictograph caves (includes photographs)
      Dates: 1932-1940
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: Subject Files

  • Miscellany

    • Description: Case records of regulation violations
      Dates: 1914-1939
      Container: Box/Folder Vol / 7-21
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Confiscations (of illegally harvested game)
      Dates: 1942-1950
      Container: Box/Folder Vol / 22
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Confiscations (of illegally harvested game)
      Dates: 1929-1939
      Container: Box/Folder Vol / 34
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Docket registers
      Dates: 1901-1938
      Container: Box/Folder Vol / 35-38
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Hunting and fishing license stubs (Montana residents)
      Dates: 1926
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Hunting and fishing license stubs (Montana residents)
      Dates: 1926
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Lewis and Clark Caverns (formerly Morrison Cave; includes blueprints and architectural drawings; MAP CASE)
      Dates: circa 1938-1964
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / OVSZ
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: License register
      Dates: 1913-1919, 1920-1924
      Container: Box/Folder Vol / 23-33
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Spawning station journals: Alvord Lake (near Troy)
      Dates: 1934-1948
      Container: Volume Vol. 1
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Spawning station journals: Libby Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1930-1945
      Container: Volume Vol. 2
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Spawning station journals: Libby Fish Hatchery
      Dates: 1945-1956
      Container: Volume Vol. 3
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Spawning station journals: Madison (near Hebgen Lake)
      Dates: 1933-1943
      Container: Volume Vol. 4
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Spawning station journals: Madison (near Hebgen Lake)
      Dates: 1943-1947
      Container: Volume Vol. 5
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Environmental policy--Montana
  • Fish populations--Montana
  • Fish-culture--Montana
  • Game wardens--Montana
  • Picture-writing--Montana
  • Search and rescue operations--Montana
  • Wildlife conservation--Montana--Law and legislation

Geographical Names

  • Alvord Lake (Mont.)
  • Flint Creek (Mont.)
  • Hebgen Lake (Mont.)
  • Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (Mont.)
  • Libby (Mont.)
  • Libby (Mont.)

Finding Aid created by MTHS Archives Staff; Updated by Lindsey Mick
2004; 2024

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

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