Gallatin County, Mont., School District records, 1879-1961

Overview of the Collection

Title
Gallatin County, Mont., School District records
Dates
1879-1961 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.4 linear feet
Collection Number
0001, Collection 0001, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Gallatin County School Districts Records include class rosters, payroll ledgers, expense receipts, and other operational documents pertaining to Montana school district numbers 7, 13, 25, 27, 33, 39, 40, 44, 48, and 51.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Languages
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In February, 1865, the Montana territorial legislature passed "An Act Establishing a Common School System for Montana Territory." The act allowed for the creation of the Territorial School Fund through receipts of the sales of land granted to Montana for schools by the federal government. In 1866 the first public school opened in Virginia City. A provision of the 1865 law authorized the county superintendent of schools to divide his respective county into school districts. The purpose of creating school districts is three-fold, (1) to establish areas where students come from to be educated, (2) the area to be taxed and (3) the area within which trustees are to be elected. Bozeman public schools are located in Gallatin County's district 7.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Gallatin County School Districts records include class rosters, payroll ledgers, expense receipts, and other operational documents pertaining to districts number 7, 13, 25, 27, 33, 39, 40, 44, 48, and 51. The materials have been arranged in series based on school district number. Series 11 contains various documents pertaining to the Montana State Teacher Certification Exams. These records represent an eclectic selection for each district and do not contain all available documents for the listed districts.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 District 7 records, 1893-1909

Series 2 District 8 records, 1879

Series 3 District 13 records, 1906-1954

Series 4 District 25 records, 1918-1954

Series 5 District 27 records, 1896-1925

Series 6 District 33 records, 1883-1907

Series 7 District 39 records, 1926-1961

Series 8 District 40 records, 1889-1960

Series 9 District 44 records, undated

Series 10 District 48 records, 1903-1907

Series 11 District 51 records, 1905-1939

Series 12 Miscellaneous records, undated

Acquisition Information

Gallatin County School District records incorporate accession numbers 22, 123, 171, 984, 1109, and 2190. Records pertaining to Gallatin County school district 40 were donated by Betty Mae Davis in 1964 and given accession number 1. These records have been combined with others to create the current arrangement which represents several school districts in Gallatin County, Montana. Accession 22 was donated by Martha Haynes in 1968. John C. and Dorothy Paugh donated collection 123 in 1966. Documents from accession number 171 were presented for photocopying by the Monforton school board in 1964. In 1971, Olin D. Sharpe donated accession number 984. Collection 1109 was loaned for copying by Lawrence Christie in 1975. In 1985, accession number 2190 was transferred from the Museum of the Rockies. In 2009, graduation programs from Bozeman High School, formerly assigned accession number 105, were added to the collection.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 October 13

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  District 7 records, 1893-1909Return to Top

Classroom grade and attendance rosters for Bozeman area schools in Gallatin County District 7. Graduation announcements for Bozeman High School, 1893, 1899, 1902.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Irving School attendance records
1907-1909
1/2
Class records
Class book: C.A. Brittan, instructor, 1904-1905; Bozeman High School graduation programs

Series 2:  District 8 records, 1879Return to Top

School census for Gallatin County District 8, Salesville (Gallatin Gateway).

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/3
School Census
1879

Series 3:  District 13 records, 1906-1954Return to Top

Primarily expenditure receipt books, teacher reports, a financial register, and attendance records for Gallatin County District 13 (Cameron School).

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/4
Two receipt books
November 10, 1916-September 28, 1923
1/5
Two receipt books
September 5, 1921-April 5, 1930
1/6
Two receipt books
August 17, 1931-September 7, 1934
1/7
Two receipt books
September 28, 1934-March 15, 1937
1/8
Two receipt books
December 12, 1939-May 24, 1946
1/9
One receipt book
June 6, 1946-April 4, 1959
1/10
Attendance record for Cameron School
September 1906-May 1910
1/11
Financial register
June 30, 1921-March 31, 1954
1/12
Reports and application
Teacher's reports, 1920-1928; application for tax levy, 1934; term report, 1918-1924

Series 4:  District 25 records, 1918-1954Return to Top

Bound journal containing minutes of school board meetings for Gallatin County school district 25, Pass Creek.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/1
Journal of minutes for District 25
1918-1954

Series 5:  District 27 records, 1896-1925Return to Top

A variety of teacher reports, minutes of school board meetings, and financial ledgers for Gallatin County District 27 Schools. Partial records for Monforton and Middle Creek schools. All records for District 27 are photocopies.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/2
Teacher's reports of
1896; 1901; 1902
2/3
School ledger
1900-1912
2/4
Trustee's annual report and District Tax Levy
1924-1925
2/5
Financial record book and school board minutes
1883-1908
2/6
School board minutes
1908-1935
2/7
Ledger
1912-1920
2/8
Teacher's daily register
April 21, 1895-1903

Series 6:  District 33 records, 1883-1907Return to Top

Trustee's meeting minute book and school census for Valley View school, 1883-1907

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/9
Trustee's minute book and school census
1883-1907

Series 7:  District 39 records, 1926-1961Return to Top

Various records regarding school board meetings, accounts, and correspondence regarding the operation and eventual abandonment of Gallatin County school district 39, Upper Bridger school.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/10
School board minutes
April 18, 1937-April 19, 1947
2/11
School board minutes
June 26, 1947-June 15, 1954
2/12
School board minutes
March 17, 1955-April 10, 1961
2/13
Insurance policies and correspondence regarding the sale of various school property
2/14
Account book
1924-1951

Series 8:  District 40 records, 1889-1960Return to Top

Ledgers, school board minutes, legal documents, and a district map for Gallatin County District 40, Harper school.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/1
Ledger
1923 July 1-1940 June
3/2
Ledger
1940 June 30-1960 June
3/3
Minutes and Accounts
1889 June-1932 March; 1889 November-1913 July
3/4
Minutes
1940 August-1961 June
3/5
District map and Township Plat
1910 School District map, Township Plat, 1916
3/6
District financial documents
School District bond, 1933; Deed, 1890; Assessment, 1931-1932

Series 9:  District 44 history, undatedReturn to Top

Anonymous history of Gallatin County District 44, Belgrade, possibly written by an employee of the school.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/7
Single page history of Gallatin County School District 44

Series 10:  District 48 attendance register, 1903-1907Return to Top

Single attendance register with "Welch's System of Classification, Gradation and Close Supervision" from District 48, Lower Bridger school

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/8
Daily attendance register
1903-1907

Series 11:  District 51 records, 1905-1939Return to Top

Various attendance and grade reports, school census, and ledger for Gallatin County School District 51, Mountain View School.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
3/9
Grade and attendance book
1907-1911
3/10
Bound record book containing Board minutes and accounts
1915-1939
3/11
Bound account book
1922-1925
4/1
Bound ledger of business transactions for Mountain View School
1911-1915
4/2
Bound Attendance and grade report
1903-1905

Series 12:  Miscellaneous recordsReturn to Top

Series of questions for Montana State Teacher's Certification Exam and suggested questions for student exams.

Container(s) Description
Box/Folder
4/3
Questions for County Teacher Examination, State of Montana Department of Public Instruction. Suggested questions for student final examinations
4/4
Bound journal with County Teacher examinations

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • School districts--Terry (Mont.)
  • School districts-Montana-Gallatin County

Geographical Names

  • Montana-Gallatin County