Bozeman Fire Department Records

Bozeman Fire Department Records, 1880-2020

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Bozeman Fire Dept. (Bozeman, Mont.)
Title: Bozeman Fire Department Records
Dates: 1880-2020 (inclusive)
18802020
Quantity: 7.4 linear feet
1 web archive
Collection Number: 2151
Summary: The Bozeman Fire Department Records consist of department records, relief association materials, and union papers. These records include legal and organizational papers; minutes of the department meetings; records of membership, roll calls, dues, reports to the city, records of fires for most years from 1880 to 1961, fire prevention and fire training information, Fire School papers, copies of speeches, business and professional correspondence, materials on special equipment and issues, financial records, newspaper clippings, cards, brochures, invitations, programs and memorabilia of social events, membership records, reports, investment materials, constitution, and assorted International Association of Firefighters papers and communications.
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: This 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

The Bozeman Fire Company was established in 1880, and four years later the Bozeman Fire Department was organized as a volunteer group with only 2 paid members. Men requesting membership in the department were voted on by a committee. After five years, an active member could become exempt from call and dues yet still participate in social events and discussion at meetings without voting privileges. For many years a social membership in the department existed, its members also voted on by committee. To raise funds for the department the first Fireman's Ball was held in 1884 and thereafter every year around Thanksgiving. The department had an annual stag banquet each January to review the year's events. The banquet was a significant social event for the men of Bozeman for many years. In 1911, the Montana State Legislature passed legislation to finance fire relief associations with allocated taxes. In response, the Bozeman Fire Department Relief Association was incorporated in 1912, replacing the department's relief committee. In 1939, after legislation on pensions and wages in the late 1930s was unsatisfactory, the Bozeman, Montana firemen joined the International Association of Firefighters Union as Local # 613. The first Fire Marshall (Chief) was A. P. Clark. W. G. Alexander succeeded him in 1889 and served until his retirement in 1925 after 41 years service in the department. Chief Alexander was instrumental in many of the advances in the department including a state-of-the-art centralized fire alarm system in 1910 and total motorization of the equipment by 1914. In 1890, the Fire Department moved into the new City Hall (Opera House) and remained until 1962. There were significant fires in Bozeman in Dec 1887, Dec 1922, 1936 (Nash-Finch building) and October 1961, all of which are documented in these records.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records include legal and organizational papers; minutes of the department meetings; records of membership, roll calls, dues; reports to the city, the state and the membership; records of fires for most years from 1880 to 1961; fire prevention and fire training information; Fire School papers; copies of speeches; business and professional correspondence; materials on special equipment and issues (1910 fire alarm system, 1922 fire report, resuscitator case histories, W. G. Alexander's retirement, John McCrosson's delayed certificate of birth papers, and Ernest H. Schumacher's life insurance policy); financial records including secretary's and treasurer's cash ledgers, check registers, savings books, cancelled checks, special expenses, plus bills and receipts; scrapbook materials include: newspaper clippings, cards, brochures, invitations, programs and memorabilia of social events. The Relief Association materials include legal and organizational papers, minutes, membership records, reports, correspondence, financial records, and investment materials. The Union Local #613 materials include a copy of the constitution, minutes, membership, correspondence, financial records, and assorted International Association of Firefighters papers and communications. A web archive begins in 2020.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

A newspaper clipping scrapbook in series 1, subseries 4, is restricted due to fragility. An inventory of the newspaper clippings is provided.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1: Departmental papers of the Bozeman Fire Department, 1880-1962

Sub-series 1: Operational reports and documents, 1880-1962

Sub-series 2: Correspondence, 1884-1950

Sub-series 3: Financial records, 1880-1962

Sub-series 4: Scrapbook, news clippings and other memorabilia, 1887-1947

Series 2: Bozeman Fire Department Relief Association papers, 1911-1959

Series 3: Bozeman Fire Department Union papers, 1939-1957

Series 4: Web Archive

Acquisition Information

The Bozeman Montana Fire Department Records were donated by the Museum of the Rockies August 13, 2001. The records had been donated to the museum by former Fire Chiefs Herbert Hoey (1973) and Billy Alexander (1982). One folder of items from 1884-1888 had been donated in 1985 and was integrated into the collection.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2009 April 3

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1: Departmental papers of the Bozeman Fire Department, 1880 - 1962Return to Top

The departmental papers have been divided into 4 sub-series: sub-series 1 contains the operational reports, documents, and literary papers related to the subjects of membership, fire prevention and protection, apparatus, histories, reports of fires, and topics of special interest. Sub-series 2 includes the business and departmental correspondence related to operations, individual issues, and appreciation. Sub-series 3 are the financial records of the department including ledgers, bank books, checks, registers, bills, receipts and related materials. Sub-series 4 holds scrapbook material and memorabilia of the department including a scrapbook, newspaper clippings, invitations, dance cards, tickets, brochures, and assorted ephemera.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		1: Operational reports and documents The constitutions, bylaws, and amendments begin this series. Following are the department record books which in the early years included most pertinent daily records. Later these records split into several categories including: memberships, roll calls, secretary's minutes, treasurer's records, fire reports, and dues records. In 1918, the secretary and treasurer positions were combined. Also present are annual and monthly reports of the Fire Chief to the city and the members; reports of the secretaries, treasurers, and assorted committees; reports to the State Auditor and State Fire Marshall; roll call records; general papers and special topics. Topics featured are Red Cross, Civil Defense, specialized equipment, fire training and prevention, city ordinances and state laws, and maintenance records. Beginning records are arranged chronologically followed by special topics in alphabetical order.	1880 - 1962
Box	Folder
1	1	Constitution and by-laws (Bozeman Fire Company)	1880
1	2	Constitution, bylaws and amendments, (ledger includes member lists)	1884, 1907
1	3	Constitution and instruction for members booklets	1884, 1903, 1906
1	4	Histories of Bozeman Fire Department
1	5	Fire Department records book	1884-1886
1	6	Fire Department records book	1887-1891
1	7	Fire Department records book	1891-1893
2	1	Fire Department records book	1894-1895
2	2	Fire Department records book	1900-1907
2	3	Fire Department records book	1907-1914
2	4	Fire Department minutes	1914-1944
2	5	Fire Chief's Book - includes fire records and inventories	1902-1912
3	1	Chief's annual report to the city	1884-1923
3	2	Chief's annual report to the city	1924-1938
3	3	Chief's annual report to the city	1941-1956
3	4	Chief's monthly report to the city	1942-1951
3	5	Annual reports to the members	1884-1922
3	6	Secretary's and Treasurer's reports	1885-1949
3	7	Trustees and Finance committee reports	1916-1923
3	8	Annual building inspection reports	1911-1924
3	9	City Clerk's report to the State Auditor	1911-1949
3	10	Reports on fires to the State Fire Marshall	1926-1936
3	11	Banquet Committee reports	1884-1949
4	1	Reports of fires (loose), see also Fire Department records book	1882-1885, 1884-1886, 1887-1891
4	2	Reports of fires book	1889 May 24 - 1910 September 17
4	3	Reports of fires book	1910 May 1 - 1912 December 31
4	4	Reports of fires book	1913 January 3 - 1915 April 24
4	5	Reports of fires book	1915 May 2 - 1917 March 31
4	6	Reports of fires book	1919 August 19 - 1922 April 28
4	7	Reports of fires book	1927 January 19 - 1928 November 1
4	8	Reports of fires book	1928 November 6 - 1930 May 23
5	1	Reports of fires book	1930 June 1 - 1932 December 9
5	2	Reports of fires book	1932 December 15 - 1934 December 24
5	3	Reports of fires book	1938 July 20 - 1939 December 27
5	4	Reports of fires book	1940 January 3 - 1941 August 8
5	5	Reports of fires book	1941 August 14 - 1943 February 28
5	6	Reports of fires book	1944 July 6 - 1945 September 26
5	7	Reports of fires book	1945 September 26 - 1946 August 22
5	8	Reports of fires book	1946 August 22 - 1947 October 13
6	1	Reports of fires book	1947 October 14 - 1948 September 24
6	2	Reports of fires book	1948 September 25 - 1949 July 31
6	3	Reports of fires book	1949 August 2 - 1950 June 29
6	4	Reports of fires book	1959 January 2 - 1959 December 26
6	5	Reports of fires book	1960 January 3 - 1960 December 29
6	6	Reports of fires book	1961 January 5 - 1961 October 31
6	7	Reports of fires book	1961 November 4 - 1961 December 30
6	8	Report of fires notepads	1943 March - 1948 June
6	9	Report of fires notepads	1955 January - 1956 June
6	10	Report of fire (single sheet) (fatality; John Robinson)	1922 December 15
Volume
1		Master Fire Record Book (oversized)	1943 July 1 - 1961 October 16
Box	Folder
7	1	Membership lists - includes active exempt social and deceased	1889-1935
7	2	Proposals for membership	1882-1889
7	3	Applications for membership	1913-1949
7	4	Applications for social membership	1915-1920
7	5	Resignations from department	1884-1889
7	6	Roll call book	1900-1906
7	7	Roll call ledger - includes active exempt and social lists; financial records	1907-1913
7	8	Roll call ledger - includes active exempt and social lists	1913-1951
7	9	Bozeman business and residential addresses, maps of fire districts
7	10	Bozeman City ordinances	1902-1935
7	11	Civil Defense	1940-1942
8	1	Equipment inventories; first aid cabinet	1885-1917, 1937
8	2	Fire Alarm system (1910) with list of apparatus and cost
8	3	Fire Prevention	1928-1941
8	4	Fire prevention talks presented by Fire Chief	1911
8	5	Fire School	1930
8	6	Fire School	1931
8	7	Fire School	1932
8	8	Fire School	1933
8	9	Fire School	1934
8	10	Fire School materials	circa 1930-1934
8	11	Fire School materials	circa 1938-1939
8	12	Fire service training manual, chapter 1
8	13	Fire service training manual, chapter 2
8	14	Fire service training manual, chapter 3
8	15	Fire service training manual, chapter 4
8	16	Fire service training manual, chapter 5
8	17	Fire service training manual, chapter 6
8	18	Fire service Basic unit training course	1950
9	1	General papers	1884-1949
9	2	Red Cross	circa 1940s
9	3	Resuscitator case histories and endorsements	1940s
9	4	State Firemen's Tournament	1891
9	5	State Legislative Bills	1935-1941
9	6	Vehicle maintenance record book	1927-1962
		2Subseries 2: Correspondence Business correspondence; general correspondence including thank you cards; Building Inspector notifications with attachments; letters and telegrams about legislation, wages and pensions; files related to individual personnel; and communications with fire associations are present.	1884-1950
Box	Folder
10	1	Building Inspector (Fire Chief) notifications with some legal attachments	1921-1948
10	2	Business Correspondence	1884-1888
10	3	Business Correspondence	1924-1947
10	4	General Correspondence	1885-1949
10	5	General correspondence (thank you cards)	undated
10	6	Legislation, letters and telegrams	1935-1941
10	7	Montana State Firemen's Association	1922-1949
10	8	Pacific Coast Assn of Fire Chiefs; International Assn of Fire Chiefs	1927-1950
10	9	Pensions and retirement	1920s-1949
10	10	Personnel: W. G. Alexander, retirement - correspondence and personal history	1925
10	11	Personnel: John McCrosson, delayed certificate of birth papers	1942-1946
10	12	Personnel: Ernest H. Schumacher, life insurance policy	1893-1934
10	13	Wage increase petitions	1905-1943
		3Subseries 3: Financial records Sub-series 3 begins with bonding papers. Treasurer's and Secretary's cash ledgers and account summaries follow. Certificate books for membership dues were used to issue a certificate of membership each time dues were paid at 50 per quarter. Savings books, check registers, cancelled checks, bills and receipts for both department and social events are present as well as assorted association dues receipts, expense records and tax exempt information.	1880-1962
Box	Folder
11	1	Surety bond papers	1887; 1903; 1944
11	2	Treasurer's cash ledger - general and relief funds	1887-1892
11	3	Treasurer's cash ledger - general, social funds	1900-1905
11	4	Secretary's cash ledger	1900-1907
11	5	Secretary's cash ledger - general, relief and social funds	1908-1918
11	6	Treasurer's cash ledger, summaries	1896-1918
11	7	Secretary-Treasurer's account ledger	1918-1956
12	1	Trustees cash ledger (1925 expenses for BFD inserted)	1892-1910
12	2	Expense ledger - includes salaries, supplies and equipment	1925-1945
12	3	Savings books	1887-1888; 1918-1927; 1926-1936
12	4	Check registers	1887-1931
12	5	Check registers	1936-1948
12	6	Cancelled checks	1920-1931
12	7	Cancelled checks	1941-1954
12	8	Bank statements, deposit slips, check stubs	1958-1962
13	1	Bills and receipts	1880-1885
13	2	Bills and receipts	1888-1905
13	3	Bills and receipts	1923-1935
13	4	Bills and receipts	1936-1950
13	5	Banquets and Balls - bills and receipts	1884-1888
13	6	Banquets and Balls - bills and receipts	1931-1949
13	7	Tax exemption papers for non-profit fund raisers	1922-1942
13	8	Certificates granted ledger	1896-1900
13	9	Certificate book with stubs	1911-1913
13	10	Certificate book with stubs	1921-1946
13	11	Certificate book with stubs	1939-1950
13	12	Certificate book for social membership, empty
13	13	Fire extinguisher expense record	1951-1952
13	14	Receipts: dues; Pacific Fire Chiefs Assn, National Fire Protection Assn
Volume
2		Certificate register of dues paid, members (oversize)	1896-1915
		4Subseries 4: Scrapbook, news clippings and other memorabilia A scrapbook from the W.G. Alexander years; miscellaneous newspaper clippings; Fireman's Ball tickets and dance cards; Stag Banquet invitations, replies, programs, and invitation lists; assorted brochures and certificates comprise sub-series 4.	1887-1947
Box	Folder
14	1	Fireman's Ball: tickets and dance cards	1892-1947
14	2	Annual Stag Banquets- invitation lists, invitations and replies
14	3	Programs: Annual Stag Banquet	1909-1918 scattered
14	4	Programs: Annual Stag Banquet	1920-1937, scattered
14	5-6	Assorted brochures	circa 1930s-1940s
14	7	Certificates for active membership, exempt status and social membership	circa 1910
15	1	Newspaper clippings	1887-1944
15	2	Inventory of articles identified from scrapbook: Bozeman, state, and national sources
15	3	Scrapbook of newspaper clippings	1908-1931
15	4	Miscellaneous ephemera

2: Bozeman Fire Department Relief Association papers, 1911-1959Return to Top

The Relief Association papers include: incorporation, by-laws and amendments; minutes; membership applications; annual reports; correspondence; financial records including savings books, investments, bills and receipts, and cancelled checks. Check registers of pensions paid, group insurance proposals and legislative concerns are also present.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
16	1	Relief Association Records Book - Incorporation, minutes, Chief's retirement and pension	1912-1949
16	2	Relief Association By-Laws and amendments	1913; 1928
16	3	City Council Resolution; minutes of first member meeting and first trustee meeting	1911 October-1913
16	4	Applications for membership	1914-1943
16	5	Annual report: To State Examiner, audits of Relief Fund	1922-1949
16	6	Annual report: To State Auditor, financial report of Relief Fund	1929-1948
16	7	Annual report to members	1915-1940
16	8	Group insurance proposal	circa 1940s
17	1	Correspondence with State Auditor	1911-1949
17	2	Legislative papers with correspondence	1918-1950
17	3	Correspondence and billings, Justin Smith (association lawyer)	1912-1933
17	4	Miscellaneous correspondence	1913-1948
17	5	Certificate book with stubs	1913-1954
17	6	Duplicating receipt book	1935-1959
17	7	Relief Association cash ledger-warrants, disbursements, investments (includes member list and roll call)	1913-1946
17	8	Check registries	1913-1937
17	9	Check registries	1937-1949
17	10	Vouchers	1913-1915
17	11	Deposit slips	1917-1950
17	12	Dues stubs; Bank books; Savings books	1913-1928; 1932-1939
18	1	Cancelled checks	1913-1935
18	2	Cancelled checks	1936-1943
18	3	Cancelled checks	1944-1950
18	4	Bills and receipts	1913-1947
18	5	Investments	1913-1950

3: Bozeman Fire Department Union papers, 1939-1957Return to Top

Union Local # 613 papers include the constitution, minutes, roll call records, correspondence, and financial records of the union. Also present are papers, reports, receipts, and assorted papers of the International Association of Firefighters.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
18	6	Constitution	1939
18	7	Secretary's minutes	1939-1957
18	8	Roll call book	1939-1952
18	9	International Association of Firefighters: constitution and assorted papers
18	10	International Association of Firefighters: reports, receipts, cancelled checks	1939-1950
18	11	Correspondence	1938-1955
18	12	Treasurer's cash book	1939-1957
18	13	Dues book	1939-1951

4: Web Archive, 2020Return to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Fire departments-Montana-Bozeman
Fire extinction-Montana-Bozeman
Fire fighters-Labor unions-Montana-Bozeman
Fires-Montana-Bozeman
Labor unions-Montana-Bozeman

Corporate Names

Bozeman Fire Dept. (Bozeman, Mont.)-Relief Association
International Association of Fire Fighters
International Association of Fire Fighters-Local 613 (Bozeman

Geographical Names

Bozeman (Mont.)-Social life and customs

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