Montana State Agencies — Archives, Contacts, and New Deal Holdings

Montana’s state agencies played a central role in coordinating, implementing, and sustaining New Deal programs across the state. This directory provides an overview of key agencies, their historical responsibilities, and the archival collections that document their work during the New Deal era.

Key State Agencies

  • Montana Department of Transportation (MDT): Highway construction, bridges, surveys, transportation planning.
  • Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC): Forestry, water resources, land management.
  • Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP): Parks, recreation, wildlife conservation.
  • Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Mining oversight, water quality, environmental regulation.
  • State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO): Cultural resource protection, historic site documentation.
  • Montana State Library: Maps, GIS, archives, and public information.

Resources

State Agency Directory

These institutions hold essential documentation for WPA, CCC, PWA, RA/FSA, SCS, REA, and other New Deal programs. Their archives provide critical insight into land use change, conservation, infrastructure development, and cultural landscapes across Montana.

Montana Historical Society (MHS)

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Archives Staff
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 406-444-2694
  • Holdings: WPA, CCC photos, Water Board files, Governor’s records
  • Why It Matters: Core statewide archive for all New Deal programs.
  • Priority Rank: 1

Montana State University Archives

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Staff
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 406-994-4242
  • Holdings: Extension Service, REA, SCS, county agents
  • Why It Matters: Essential for rural modernization and agricultural programs.
  • Priority Rank: 1

University of Montana Archives

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Staff
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 406-243-2053
  • Holdings: USFS Region 1, CCC, fire lookout records
  • Why It Matters: Core for CCC forestry and conservation history.
  • Priority Rank: 1

County Courthouses (Statewide)

  • Region: Statewide
  • Contact: Clerk & Recorder (varies)
  • Holdings: WPA approvals, RA/FSA transfers, SCS agreements
  • Why It Matters: Only source for local administrative records.
  • Priority Rank: 1

DNRC — Department of Natural Resources & Conservation

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Staff
  • Phone: 406-444-2074
  • Holdings: Water rights, state water projects
  • Why It Matters: Key for water governance and New Deal irrigation.
  • Priority Rank: 2

MDT — Montana Department of Transportation

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Staff
  • Phone: 406-444-6200
  • Holdings: WPA roads, bridges, highway projects
  • Why It Matters: Critical for WPA infrastructure history.
  • Priority Rank: 3

FWP — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Staff
  • Phone: 406-444-2535
  • Holdings: Wildlife restoration, Pittman–Robertson materials
  • Why It Matters: Key for wildlife conservation and habitat projects.
  • Priority Rank: 3

State Archaeologist / SHPO

  • Region: State
  • Contact: Staff
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 406-444-7715
  • Holdings: CRM reports, site files, WPA building inventories
  • Why It Matters: Essential for CCC/WPA structures and cultural landscapes.
  • Priority Rank: 1

Explore the Project

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.