Federal Agencies — New Deal Records, Archives, and Montana PartnershipsAdd Your Heading Text Here

Federal agencies administered the major New Deal programs that reshaped Montana’s landscapes, infrastructure, and communities. This directory provides an overview of the agencies, their roles, and the archival collections that document their work across the state.

Key Federal Agencies

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC): Forestry, trails, erosion control, park development.
Works Progress Administration (WPA): Roads, public buildings, arts, archives, surveys.
Public Works Administration (PWA): Dams, water systems, schools, large infrastructure.
Soil Conservation Service (SCS/NRCS): Soil surveys, erosion control, watershed planning.
Farm Security Administration (FSA): Rural rehabilitation, photography, resettlement.
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR): Irrigation projects, dams, water storage.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS): Timber, fire management, CCC camp administration.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Grazing, land surveys, range improvements.
National Park Service (NPS): Park infrastructure, trails, visitor facilities.

Resources

Federal Agencies Directory

These institutions hold the core documentation for CCC, WPA, PWA, RA/FSA, SCS, BOR, USFS, and USFWS programs. Their archives, field offices, and historical records shaped Montana’s New Deal landscape.

USFS Region 1 (Northern Region)

Region: Federal
Contact: Heritage Lead
Phone: 406-329-3511
Holdings: CCC project cards, lookouts, roads, annual reports
Why It Matters: Backbone of CCC forestry and conservation.
Priority Rank: 1

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — Montana/Dakotas

Region: Federal
Contact: State Archaeologist
Phone: 406-896-5000
Holdings: Grazing districts, RA/FSA transfers, range improvements
Why It Matters: Critical for grazing governance and land use change.
Priority Rank: 1

Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) — Great Plains Region

Region: Federal
Contact: Regional Historian
Phone: 406-247-7300
Holdings: Fort Peck, Milk River, irrigation projects
Why It Matters: Largest New Deal infrastructure projects in Montana.
Priority Rank: 1

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Region: Federal
Contact: Refuge Managers
Phone: 406-449-5225
Holdings: Wildlife refuges, habitat restoration
Why It Matters: Key for wildlife conservation and CCC refuge work.
Priority Rank: 2

NRCS — Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly SCS)

Region: Federal
Contact: State Conservationist
Phone: 406-587-6811
Holdings: SCS files, soil surveys, land use planning
Why It Matters: Core conservation archive for Montana.
Priority Rank: 1

National Archives (NARA)

Region: Federal
Contact: Staff
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-272-6272
Holdings: RG 35, 69, 75, 96, 114, 135, 49
Why It Matters: Full federal New Deal administrative record.
Priority Rank: 1

USDA National Agricultural Library

Region: Federal
Contact: Staff
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-504-5755
Holdings: SCS, RA/FSA, soil surveys
Why It Matters: Central archive for conservation and agricultural programs.
Priority Rank: 1

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Federal Agencies — New Deal Records, Archives, and Montana Partnerships