The Montana Cultural Landscape Archive documents the full landscape legacy of New Deal programs across Montana. It brings together photographs, maps, administrative records, engineering drawings, planning documents, field notes, and geospatial data to show how federal, state, tribal, and local initiatives reshaped farms, rangelands, forests, towns, reservations, and public institutions between 1933 and 1942.

The Archive treats New Deal activity as a series of interconnected cultural landscapes—ecological, infrastructural, administrative, cultural, and social. Each item is linked to specific places, programs, agencies, and landscape features, allowing users to move from individual projects to county‑wide patterns and statewide regimes of land use, governance, and environmental change.

What the Archive Includes

• Built environments: schools, courthouses, ranger stations, post offices, community halls, parks, and recreational facilities
• Transportation and access: roads, bridges, trails, airfields, and related infrastructure
• Conservation and land management: shelterbelts, stock ponds, erosion control, range improvements, reforestation, and watershed projects
• Agricultural and rural development: farm programs, resettlement, land tenure changes, and rural electrification
• Tribal and reservation landscapes: IRA reforms, CCC‑ID camps, infrastructure, and governance changes on reservations
• Cultural production: murals, public art, documentation projects, guidebooks, and community cultural initiatives
• Administrative and regulatory landscapes: agencies, districts, boards, and planning frameworks that reshaped decision‑making

How the Archive Is Organized

The Archive is organized to support both detailed case studies and broad comparative work. Items are grouped and cross‑referenced by:

• County and reservation (geographic focus)
• Landscape family (e.g., conservation, infrastructure, governance, cultural production)
• Program and agency (e.g., CCC, WPA, PWA, FSA, RA, BIA, state and local partners)
• Feature type (e.g., shelterbelt, stock pond, school, courthouse, ranger station, mural)
• Time frame (project dates, planning phases, and later modifications)

Each item page provides core metadata, a narrative description, program and agency links, and, where possible, spatial context and connections to related projects. Over time, the Archive will expand to include more counties, reservations, and partner collections.

Using the Archive

The Cultural Landscape Archive is designed for researchers, educators, students, agencies, tribal governments, local institutions, and community members. It supports:

• Historical research on New Deal programs, policy, and implementation
• Landscape and environmental history across multiple scales
• Preservation planning and resource evaluation
• Teaching and public programming using primary sources
• Community projects that document and interpret local New Deal legacies

As new partners join and additional collections are processed, the Archive will continue to grow as a statewide resource for understanding how New Deal programs reshaped Montana’s landscapes and institutions.

Collections Overview

The Collections within the Montana Cultural Landscape Archive bring together diverse materials that document New Deal activity across the state. Rather than a single centralized archive, this project connects holdings from federal repositories, state and local institutions, tribal archives, and private collections into a coherent, landscape‑focused framework.

This overview introduces the major collection families represented in the Archive and explains how they relate to New Deal programs, agencies, and landscape features.

Major Collection Families

Photographic Collections

• Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information (FSA/OWI) photographs of Montana communities, farms, and projects
• Agency and project photographs from CCC camps, WPA projects, PWA construction, and other program activities
• Local and private collections documenting specific buildings, landscapes, and community events

Maps and Plans

• Highway and transportation maps showing New Deal road and bridge projects
• Engineering drawings and site plans for public buildings, parks, and infrastructure
• Conservation and land‑use maps for shelterbelts, erosion control, range improvements, and watershed projects

Administrative and Project Records

• Project files from federal, state, tribal, and local agencies
• Reports, correspondence, and memoranda documenting planning, funding, and implementation
• Camp and district records for CCC, WPA, and related programs

Publications and Printed Materials

• New Deal era reports and bulletins produced by agencies and programs
• Guidebooks, pamphlets, and educational materials describing projects and policies
• Posters and public information materials related to New Deal initiatives in Montana

Cultural and Community Documentation

• Oral histories and interviews related to New Deal projects and their legacies
• Art, murals, and cultural programs supported by New Deal funding
• Local histories and commemorative materials produced by communities and institutions

Collection Relationships and Cross‑References

Items from these collections are cross‑referenced by county, reservation, program, agency, and landscape feature. A single project may appear through multiple lenses—for example, a courthouse might be represented by architectural drawings, construction photographs, funding records, and later preservation documentation.

The Collections Overview will expand as new partners contribute materials and as additional repositories are surveyed. Each collection family will be linked to more detailed guides, item sets, and partner institutions.

Metadata & Methods

The Metadata & Methods framework for the Montana Cultural Landscape Archive is designed to make New Deal materials discoverable, comparable, and reusable across institutions and disciplines. It combines cultural landscape history, archival practice, and geospatial thinking to describe how projects, programs, and places relate to one another.

Core Metadata Elements

Each item in the Archive is described using a consistent set of core fields. These fields are designed to align, where possible, with established standards used by major repositories.

• Title — concise description of the item or project
• Date(s) — creation date and/or project date range
• Creator / Agency — person, office, or program responsible
• Program — New Deal program(s) involved (e.g., CCC, WPA, PWA, FSA, RA, BIA)
• Associated agencies — federal, state, tribal, and local partners
• Location — county, reservation, place name, and where possible, coordinates
• Landscape family — conservation, infrastructure, governance, cultural production, etc.
• Feature type — building, road, shelterbelt, stock pond, mural, etc.
• Description — narrative summary of the item and its significance
• Source / Repository — holding institution and collection
• Identifier — call number, digital ID, or other reference
• Rights / Use — rights statement and usage guidance

Landscape‑Based Methodology

The Archive uses a landscape‑based methodology to interpret New Deal activity. Rather than treating each project as an isolated event, items are grouped into broader patterns of land use, governance, and environmental change.

• Multi‑scalar analysis: items can be viewed at the site, community, county, and statewide levels
• Program layering: multiple programs acting on the same landscape are documented together
• Temporal change: items are used to trace persistence, modification, and loss over time
• Administrative landscapes: districts, boards, and agencies are treated as part of the landscape record

Data Sources and Integration

Metadata is drawn from a combination of:

• Archival finding aids and catalog records from partner institutions
• Published reports and project lists from New Deal agencies
• Maps, plans, and engineering drawings that locate and describe projects
• Field documentation and site visits where feasible
• Secondary scholarship that contextualizes specific programs and places

As the Archive grows, metadata practices will be refined in consultation with partners, with an emphasis on transparency, interoperability, and clear documentation of sources and assumptions.

Transparency and Revision

The Metadata & Methods framework is intended to be transparent and revisable. Each item and collection can be updated as new information emerges, as partners contribute corrections, and as additional sources are identified. Methodological notes will be maintained so that users can understand how interpretations and classifications were developed.

Programs & Agencies

New Deal activity in Montana involved a dense network of programs and agencies operating at federal, state, tribal, and local levels. The Montana Cultural Landscape Archive treats these entities as part of the landscape itself—shaping where projects occurred, how decisions were made, and which communities and environments were affected.

Major Federal Programs

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) — conservation work, forestry, parks, erosion control, and infrastructure
• Works Progress Administration (WPA) — public buildings, roads, parks, cultural projects, and community facilities
• Public Works Administration (PWA) — large‑scale infrastructure, water systems, and public buildings
• Farm Security Administration (FSA) — farm programs, resettlement, rural rehabilitation, and photography
• Resettlement Administration (RA) — land use planning, resettlement, and land tenure changes
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and CCC‑ID — reservation infrastructure, conservation, and governance reforms
• Rural Electrification Administration (REA) — rural electrification and cooperative power systems

State, Tribal, and Local Partners

• State agencies involved in highways, natural resources, education, and public institutions
• Tribal governments and councils implementing New Deal and IRA‑era programs on reservations
• Counties and municipalities sponsoring projects and providing matching funds or in‑kind support
• Conservation districts and local boards managing land use, water, and soil conservation initiatives

Program–Landscape Relationships

Each program and agency left distinct but overlapping marks on Montana’s landscapes. The Archive documents:

• Where specific programs operated (by county, reservation, and region)
• What types of projects they funded or implemented
• How programs interacted in the same places (e.g., CCC work in a park later improved by WPA)
• Which administrative structures (districts, boards, offices) were created or reshaped

Program and Agency Index

Over time, this page will link to a structured index of:

• Individual programs with brief descriptions and Montana‑specific context
• Agencies and offices with their roles and jurisdictions
• Representative projects illustrating each program’s landscape impact

This index will help users trace how New Deal programs and agencies interacted with specific places, communities, and landscape families across Montana.

How to Use the Archive

The Montana Cultural Landscape Archive is designed to support a wide range of users—researchers, educators, students, agencies, tribal governments, local institutions, and community members. This page outlines practical ways to navigate the Archive and make use of its materials.

Starting Points

• By place: begin with a county or reservation and explore projects and items linked to that area
• By landscape family: focus on conservation, infrastructure, governance, cultural production, or other themes
• By program or agency: trace the work of specific New Deal programs across multiple locations
• By feature type: look for particular kinds of resources (e.g., schools, ranger stations, shelterbelts, murals)

Item Pages

Each item page provides:

• Core metadata (title, date, creator, program, location, repository, rights)
• Narrative description of the item and its landscape context
• Program and agency links to related initiatives and administrative structures
• Place‑based connections to other items from the same county, reservation, or site
• Source links to the holding institution where possible

Research and Teaching Uses

• Historical research: trace specific projects, programs, or policy changes
• Landscape and environmental history: examine how land use and governance shifted over time
• Preservation planning: identify and contextualize surviving New Deal resources
• Classroom use: build assignments, case studies, and primary‑source sets
• Community projects: support local exhibits, tours, and public programs

Citing the Archive

When using materials from the Archive, please:

• Cite the original holding institution and collection where indicated
• Include the item title, identifier, and repository in your citation
• Mention the Montana Cultural Landscape Archive as the access point where appropriate

As the Archive grows, additional guidance and sample citations will be provided for different citation styles and use cases.

How to Contribute

The Montana Cultural Landscape Archive is a collaborative project. Its strength depends on contributions from museums, archives, tribal cultural departments, agencies, researchers, and community members across the state. This page outlines ways to participate and help expand the record of New Deal landscapes in Montana.

Institutional Contributions

Institutions can contribute by:

• Identifying relevant collections related to New Deal programs, projects, or landscapes
• Sharing metadata and item lists for integration into the Archive
• Providing digital surrogates (where available) or guidance on access and use
• Collaborating on descriptive work to refine project, program, and place information
• Developing joint exhibits or educational resources based on shared materials

Community and Individual Contributions

Community members and individuals can contribute by:

• Sharing photographs, documents, or stories related to New Deal projects in their area
• Helping identify locations and features shown in historical images
• Providing local knowledge about surviving resources and landscape changes
• Suggesting sites or themes that should be documented in more detail

Proposed Contribution Process

As the Archive develops, a structured contribution process will be established, which may include:

• Online contribution forms for submitting information about items, sites, or collections
• Partner intake forms for institutions interested in formal collaboration
• Guidelines for file formats, metadata, and rights information

Until those tools are in place, interested partners and contributors are encouraged to reach out directly to discuss potential collaborations and contributions.

Partners & Collaborators

The Montana New Deal Heritage Partnership is built on collaboration. The Cultural Landscape Archive depends on the expertise, collections, and commitments of institutions, agencies, tribal governments, researchers, and community organizations across Montana and beyond.

Current and Prospective Partner Types

• Statewide institutions — state archives, historical societies, and libraries
• County museums and historical societies — local collections and community knowledge
• Tribal cultural departments and heritage offices — tribal archives, governance records, and cultural materials
• Federal and state agencies — project records, maps, and administrative documentation
• Universities and research centers — scholarly expertise, student projects, and digital tools
• Conservation districts and local boards — on‑the‑ground knowledge of land and water projects
• Community organizations and nonprofits — public programming, outreach, and local initiatives

Roles and Contributions

Partners may contribute in different ways, including:

• Sharing collections and metadata related to New Deal projects and landscapes
• Collaborating on research and interpretation of specific sites, themes, or programs
• Hosting public programs such as talks, exhibits, or workshops
• Supporting field documentation and site visits where appropriate
• Advising on methods, ethics, and community priorities

Founding Partners and Early Collaborators

As formal partnerships are established, this page will list founding partners and early collaborators, with brief descriptions of their roles and links to their own websites and collections. The goal is to recognize contributions, highlight institutional strengths, and make it easy for users to move between the Archive and partner resources.

Becoming a Partner

Institutions and organizations interested in partnering are invited to:

• Discuss potential collaboration around collections, research, or public programming
• Identify relevant materials that could be represented in the Archive
• Explore joint projects such as digital exhibits, teaching modules, or community initiatives

As the Partnership grows, this page will serve as a living directory of collaborators and shared projects.

External Links Directory

The External Links Directory connects users of the Montana Cultural Landscape Archive to related digital collections, research projects, and institutional resources. These links point outward to repositories and initiatives that complement the Archive’s focus on New Deal landscapes in Montana.

National and Federal Resources

• National archives and libraries with New Deal records, photographs, and publications
• Federal agency archives related to conservation, infrastructure, agriculture, and tribal affairs
• Digital collections documenting New Deal programs across the United States

Montana‑Based Digital Collections

• Statewide digital portals aggregating Montana historical materials
• University and college collections with relevant archives and special collections
• Local and regional projects focused on specific communities, landscapes, or themes

Thematic and Comparative Projects

• New Deal mapping and documentation projects in other states or regions
• Landscape and environmental history initiatives with overlapping methods or scope
• Digital humanities projects that offer models for interpretation and presentation

As the Archive develops, this directory will be populated with specific links, brief descriptions, and notes on how each resource relates to Montana’s New Deal landscapes. The goal is to help users move easily between the Archive and a broader ecosystem of research and digital collections.