This collection consists of records
(1883-1915) filed with the City Clerk of the City of Helena, Montana. The
largest segment of the records consist of monthly reports of city officials and
committees. In addition there are correspondence, employee records, financial
records, legal documents, specifications, subject files, etc. The strength of
the collection is in documenting the development of the infastructure of
Helena.
Repository:
Montana Historical Society Research
Center Archives
225 N. Roberts PO Box 201201 Helena MT 59620-1201 (406) 444-2681 mhslibrary@mt.gov
Languages:
English
Sponsor:
Funding for encoding this
finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for
the Humanities.
Historical Note
Although Helena, Montana, was settled in 1864, it did not become a
formal city until 1881. Prior to that, public functions were handled by the
Lewis and Clark County government and by the Helena Board of Trade. Attempts to
incorporate the city repeatedly failed in general elections. Faced with
increasing needs for improved streets, fire protection, and sanitation, the
electorate finally approved city incorporation on March 3, 1881. Subsequent
amendments to the incorporation were passed in February 1883, January 1885, and
March 1885. These were formalized as the City Charter, published in 1887.
The city was headed by an elected mayor and city council. The mayor
was initially authorized to appoint a city attorney, who also served as city
clerk; a city marshal; one or more policemen; two night-watchman; a street
commissioner; a city engineer/surveyor; and a fire chief. The city clerk served
as the custodian of city records, recorder of city council meetings, and
counter-signer of all city warrants. Because he was official city record
keeper, all reports by city officials were filed with him. The City Clerk also
maintained files of all correspondence directed to the city.
The functions of the office stayed essentially the same until the
commission form of government was adopted around 1912.
Content Description
Records of the Helena City Clerk consist primarily of records filed
with the clerk, not records produced by the clerk. Incoming correspondence
(1884-1918) is filed by year. Within each year the correspondence is separated
into "communications" (complaints, information, informal requests, etc.) and
"petitions" (formal requests for specific action). Topics include public works
requests, complaints about nuisances, and a wide variety of other topics. Court
papers (1881-1917) include affidavits, several cases in which the City of
Helena was a party, and "John Doe" cases concerning stray animals. Employee
records include civil service applications; payrolls for the Fire Department,
Police Department, and Street Commissioner; and letters of resignation.
Financial records include a financial report (1911) and inventories (1891,
1894) of equipment in city offices. Legal documents (1884-1913) consist
primarily of bids and contracts for work on streets, sewers, sidewalks, and
other public works. There are also opinions of the City Attorney.
The largest series in this collection is Reports. Each city officer
filed monthly reports on operations and finances with the city clerk. Included
are reports of the Accountant (1907-1908), Auditorium Janitor (1910-1912),
Board of Health (1884-1915), Building Inspector (1890-1914), City Assessor
(1894), City Attorney (1888-1915), City Clerk (1888-1910), City Engineer
(1887-1915), City Marshal (1888-1895), Examining and Trial Board of the Police
Department (1912), Fire Marshal (1888-1914), Free Employment Agency (1912),
Inspector of Milk, Food, etc. (1892-1894), Inspector of Weights and Measures
(1890-1915), Library Board of Directors/Librarian (1888-1915), Light Inspector
(1913), Mayor (1896-1914), Police Chief (1895-1914), Police Magistrate/Judge
(1886-1912), Poundmaster (1906-1915), Street Commissioner (1887-1899),
Superintendent of Garbage (1897-1899), Superintendent of Sewers/Sewer Inspector
(1888-1914), Treasurer (1888-1899), and Water Department (1913).
There are also reports for various city committees, including Affairs
of City of Helena (1890), Auditing (1893-1898, 1910), Building Licenses (1898),
Fire Department (1888, 1898, 1908), Judiciary (1886, 1898), Library (1898),
Police (1898), Public Buildings (1898), Sewerage (1886, 1898), Special
Committee on City Clerk's Records (1898), Street Grades (1898), Streets and
Alleys (1898, 1910), Taxes and Licenses (1884, 1898), and Ways and Means
(1898). There are also reports on specific topics, including the sewer system,
the water system, and the removal of a police officer.
Subject Files include the city water system, the sewer system,
investigations of Police Judge Lincoln Working and the dismissal of four
policemen (1910-1912), and street paving projects (1890-1897).
Miscellany (1880s-1910s) consists primarily of specifications for
public works projects.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use :
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the
Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication,
and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library
before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation :
item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box
and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives,
Helena, Montana.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
by series
Acquisition Information :
Acquisition information available upon request
Detailed Description of the Collection
Incoming Correspondence
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 1
"Communications" (correspondents
include W.H. Ulm, Richard Lockey, Wadsworth Post No. 8, G.A.R., John A. Quirk,
Curtis and Booker, James M. Ryan, W.P. Gleason, Jacob Switzer, Matt Carroll,
A.C. Van Doren, Houston T. Reeder, Charles H. Snell)
1883-1884
1 / 2-4
"Petitions" (re street grading,
sidewalks, flumes, sewers, police officers, street railroads, care of
destitute, private bridges, Chinese laundry)
1884
1 / 5
"Communications" (correspondents
include William Doran, Erastus D. Edgerton, Dutton and O'Brien, Walter W.
DeLacy, George B. Foote, George W. Keeler, Western Union Telegraph Company,
T.C. Power, George W. Storey, S.C. Ashby, A.C. Botkin, George K. Reeder, Fisk
J. Shaffer, C.W. Turner, Lewis and Clark Clerk and Recorder re new cemetery, J.
Crouch, George Booker fire marshal, John W. Wade, Helena Steam Power and
Lighting Company, Andrew J. Fisk, L.W. Frary)
1886-1887
1 / 6-10
"Petitions" (re streets,
sidewalks, sewers, street lights, water mains, business licenses, building
permits, policemen, appointment of fire marshal, discharge of firearms, taxes,
standard time, toboggan run, job wagon stand, street obstructions, Chaucer
Street reservoir, militia, water mains, pawnbroker, Villard Addition)
1886-1887
1 / 11
"Communications" (correspondents
include First National Bank; Helena Water Company; William Harrison; Mayor
Thomas Fuller; W.P. McMannamy; John G. Rumney; Don Davenport; Bishop John B.
Brondel; Porter, Muth, and Cox; Robert E. Fisk; George B. Worley; S.F. Porter;
Burke and Fitzgerald; George Woolston; R.H. Kleinschmidt, Helena Gas Light and
Coke Company; Gamewell Fire-Alarm Telegraph Company; E. Sutphin; J.J. Palmer;
Erastus D. Edgerton; Knights of Labor)
1889
1 / 12-13
"Petitions" (re applications for
business licenses, building permits, streets, sidewalks, water mains, etc.)
1889
1 / 14
"Petitions" (re nuisances and
complaints: street and alley blockage by wagons and street railways, proposed
streetcar line on Madison, condition of sidewalks, city dump, Chinese laundry,
escape of exhaust gas, driving of cows on streets, police behavior, fireworks,
proposed Villard and Hershfield Additions, low wages on sewer construction,
unprotected prospect hole filled with refuse, Chessman ditch, price of cemetery
lot, electric light wires, hack stands)
1889
1 / 15
"Petitions" (re proposals for
gas street lights, granite crosswalks, electric fire alarms, cleaning water
closets, street railway line)
1889
1 / 16
"Communications" (correspondents
include T.H. Clewell, Pat Gallagher, H.B. Palmer, City Board of Health, City
Treasurer, American Biscuit and Manufacturing Company, O.W. Jackson, Municipal
Guaranty Company, First National Bank, James B. Walker, L. Bevridge, Charles T.
Perry and Company, Trans-Mississippi Congress, John Abel, J.D. Thompson, Helena
Electric Company)
1890-1893
1 / 17
"Petitions" (re streets,
congestion of Main Street, crosswalks)
1890
1 / 18-20
"Petitions" (re budget
reductions during Panic of 1893, request by W.C.T.U. for removal of houses of
prostitution from Clore Street, use of auditorium, police, building permits)
1893
2 / 1
"Petitions" (re sidewalk)
1894
2 / 2
"Communications" (correspondents
include Toole and Wallace, Helena Power and Light Company, National Children's
Home Society, H.B. Palmer, City Treasurer H.F. Tilton, Buchanan Dillard, City
Attorney Massena Bullard, R.G. Williams, Richard Hoback, F.J. Edwards, A.T.
Newbury, Montana Central Railway Company)
1895
2 / 3
"Petitions" (re building
repairs, use of auditorium, use of city rock crusher, bicycles on sidewalks,
herding of cattle, boys hanging out at opera house, telegraph lines, garbage
collection)
1895
2 / 4
"Communications" (correspondents
include Charles S. Muffly, J.M. Clements, Henry N. Blake re grand juries,
Richard Lockey, James Mauldin re cesspool, C.B. Sperry re "Old Cemetery" fence,
Order of the Sons of Hermann, James Holleran, T.E. Crutcher, Peter Winne, A.M.
Holter and Brother)
1896
2 / 5-6
"Petitions" (re streets;
sidewalks; taxes; Merchants National Bank; prospecting in First Street;
appointment of Isaac Hayes as policeman, signed by 55 African American voters
of Helena; building permits; bonds; public library funding; use of auditorium;
appointment of City Impounder; licensing musicians)
1896
2 / 7
"Communications" (correspondents
include H.B. Palmer, Richard Lockey, John Wendel, E.D. Edgerton, Helena Power
and Light Company, W.E. Cullen, H.R. Lovett and Company)
1897
2 / 8-9
"Petitions" (re streets,
sidewalks, water lines, sewer, building permits, taxes, revision of city
ordinances, Salvation Army Rescue Home and open air meetings, advertising
banners, warrants)
1897
2 / 10
"Communications" (correspondents
include City Attorney Massena Bullard, H.B. Palmer and Company investments, Sol
Poznanski, W.H. Sutherlin, Helena Improvement Society, Helena Consolidated
Water Company, International Mining Congress, League of American
Municipalities, Attorney General C.B. Nolan, John W. Thompson, Lewis and Clark
County Commissioners, A.H. Wieber, Police Judge Ed S. Walker, Labor Protective
Union, Judiciary Committee, Charles W. Helmick, Northern Pacific Railway
Company, J.L. Perkins)
1898
2 / 11-12
"Petitions" (re streets,
sidewalks, sewer lines, water, warrants, taxes, lime kiln smoke, business
licenses, building permits and repairs, use of auditorium, mining at Mountain
Home Cemetery, proposed street railway line to East Helena, transportation of
materials for construction of State Capitol)
1898
2 / 13
"Communications" (correspondents
include League of American Municipalities, Helena Water and Electric Power
Company, H.B. Palmer and Company investments, City Treasurer H.F. Tilton, Carl
Kleinschmidt Jr., W.F. Darlington, State Capitol Building Commission, Helena
Power and Light Company, Richard Lockey, City Attorney Edward Horsky, Helena
Board of Education, A.M. Holter Hardware Company, Union Bank and Trust Company)
1899
2 / 14-16
"Petitions" (re proposed
railroad to haul limestone and passengers to East Helena by Helena Power and
Light Company, streets, sidewalks, sewers, electric street lights, use of
auditorium, steam heat, building permits and repairs)
1899
2 / 17
"Communications" (correspondents
include League of American Municipalities, D.R.K. Central Verein von
NordAmerika, International Mining Congress, City Treasurer H.F. Tilton, Helena
Power and Light Company, Massena Bullard, Gans and Klein, Helena Water and
Electric Power Company, Building Laborers' Union #4, Richard Lockey, retiring
city councilmen, Lewis and Clark County Commissioners, U.S. Census Office, R.S.
Hale, Mary A. Cruse, Helena Board of Education, First National Bank
receivership, J. Karatofsky, Arthur J. Craven, E.A. Carleton, A. McDonald and
Company, Charles W. Hellmick, E.R. Tandy, Helena Water Works Company)
1900
2 / 18-19
"Petitions" (re streets;
sidewalks; taxes; limestone quarry; building permits, repairs and removals;
impounded stock; prospecting; warrants; rent of city road machine)
1900
2 / 20
"Communications" (correspondents
include E.A. Macrum, Main Street property owners, J. Wendel, Helena District
Telegraph Company, Richard Lockey, retiring city councilmen, Montana Medical
Association, Helena Board of Education)
1901
2 / 21
"Petitions" (re relief from
taxes, building permits, sewers, street repairs)
1901-1902
2 / 22
"Petitions" (re applications for
licenses, building permits, etc.)
1905-1906
3 / 1-2
"Petitions" (re streets,
sidewalks, sewers, alley abandonment for building of St. Helena Cathedral,
firemen's wages, property line dispute on Howie and Ming Streets, use of
auditorium, protest against allowing saloons on Park Avenue, taxation of church
property, collection of city taxes by county)
1905-1906
3 / 3
"Communications" (correspondents
include William T. Pigott re special improvement districts, Richard Lockey,
Helena Water Works Company, livery stable on Park Avenue, League of American
Municipalities, Helena Trades and Labor Assembly, Montana Independent Telephone
Company, Butte Electric Supply Company, J. Miller Smith, Mayor F.J. Edwards,
Judge J.M. Clement re grand juries)
1909
3 / 4-7
"Petitions" (re removal of
prostitutes from Clore Street to Wood Street, saloon licenses, streets,
sidewalks, sewers, storm flumes, plats, closing of alley, bill board on Rodney
and State, dog license, underground telephone cables, building permits and
repairs, use of auditorium)
1909
3 / 8
"Communications" (correspondents
include William T. Pigott, Burns and McDonnell re appraisal of water works,
T.J. Walsh, Massena Bullard, Helena Trades and Labor Assembly, Helena Light and
Railway Company, City Engineer Charles W. Helmick, Board of Park Commissioners,
Police Judge Lincoln Working, Mary E. McNamara)
1910
3 / 9-11
"Petitions" (re saloon licences,
streets, sidewalks, sewers, taxes, use of auditorium, automobile garage,
removal of stable, plumbing license)
1910
3 / 12
"Communications" (correspondents
include Helena Water Works Company receiver, Helena Base Ball Company, Helena
Light and Railway Company, City Engineer Charles Helmick, United States Public
Buildings Office of Custodian, Mayor Edward Horsky)
1911
3 / 13-15
"Petitions" (re Rocky Mountain
Bell Telephone Company, commission form of government, saloon licenses, water
meters, garbage men's salaries, use of auditorium, city purchase of water works
plant, sidewalks, sewers, underpass to Fairgrounds, Catholic Hill privies,
warrants)
1911-1912
3 / 16
"Communications" (correspondents
include City Engineer William Jordan, City Treasurer E. Fischl)
Monthly reports of city
officials: Auditorium Janitor
1910-1912
5 / 14-19
Monthly reports of city
officials: Board of Health (1891 includes weather statistics)
1884, 1889-1896, 1906-1915
5 / 20-22
Monthly reports of city
officials: Building Inspector
1890-1899, 1907-1914
6 / 1
Monthly reports of city
officials: City Assessor
1894
6 / 2-4
Monthly reports of city
officials: City Attorney
1888-1896, 1909-1915
6 / 5-7
Monthly reports of city
officials: City Clerk
1888-1893, 1899, 1906-1910
6 / 8-12
Monthly reports of city
officials: City Engineer
1887-1894, 1898-1900, 1906-1915
6 / 13-15
Monthly reports of city
officials: City Marshal
1888-1895
6 / 16
Monthly reports of city
officials: Examining and Trial Board of Police Dept.
1912
6 / 17-19
Monthly reports of city
officials: Fire Marshal
1888-1896
7 / 1-2
Monthly reports of city
officials: Fire Marshal and Fire Department
1897-1899, 1906-1914
7 / 3
Monthly reports of city
officials: Free Employment Bureau
1912
7 / 4
Monthly reports of city
officials: Inspector of Milk, Food, etc.
1892-1894
7 / 5-9
Monthly reports of city
officials: Inspector of Weights and Measures (1890-1891 includes inspection of
milk and wood)
1890-1893, 1907-1915
7 / 10-13
Monthly reports of city
officials: Librarian / Library Board of Directors
1888-1898, 1906-1915
8 / 1
Monthly reports of city
officials: Light Inspector
1913
8 / 2
Monthly reports of city
officials: Mayor
1896, 1912, 1914
8 / 3-6
Monthly reports of city
officials: Police Chief (includes statistics on number of people arrested for
violation of city ordinances and of state laws, number of people provided with
housing, and money taken in for dog licenses, impounded stock, etc.)
1895-1899, 1906-1914
OvBx / 1
Monthly reports of city
officials: Police Magistrate (includes lists of people brought before city
court for misdemeanors, primarily drunk, disorderly conduct, and prostitution)
1886-1887
OvBx / 2
Monthly reports of city
officials: Police Magistrate (includes lists of people brought before city
court for misdemeanors, primarily drunk, disorderly conduct, and prostitution)
1888-1892
OvBx / 3
Monthly reports of city
officials: Police Magistrate / Police Judge (includes lists of people brought
before city court for misdemeanors, primarily drunk, disorderly conduct, and
prostitution)
1893-1897, 1901-1902, 1904-1905
OvBx / 4
Monthly reports of city
officials: Police Judge (includes lists of people brought before city court for
misdemeanors, primarily drunk, disorderly conduct, and prostitution)
1906-1912
9 / 1-2
Monthly reports of city
officials: Pound Master (includes lists of stray horses and cows; some months
included with Board of Health report)
1906-1915
9 / 3-6
Monthly reports of city
officials: Street Commissioner (includes lists of streets graded, gutters,
sidewalks, crosswalks, etc. built; some years also include flumes)
1887-1899
OvBx / 4
Monthly reports of city
officials: Street Commissioner (includes lists of streets graded, gutters,
sidewalks, crosswalks, etc. built; some years also include flumes)
1906-1911
9 / 7
Monthly reports of city
officials: Superintendent of Garbage
1897-1899
9 / 8
Monthly reports of city
officials: Superintendent of Sewers / Sewer Inspector / Plumbing and Sewer
Inspector
1888-1889, 1899, 1906-1914
9 / 9
Monthly reports of city
officials: Treasurer (includes City Clerk, 1899)
1888-1899
9 / 10
Monthly reports of city
officials: Water Department
1913
9 / 11
Monthly reports of city
committees: Affairs of City of Helena Committee (includes audit report)
1890
9 / 12
Monthly reports of city
committees: Auditing Committee
1893, 1897, 1898, 1910
9 / 13
Monthly reports of city
committees: Building License Committee
1898
9 / 14
Monthly reports of city
committees: Fire Department Committee
1888, 1898, 1909
9 / 15
Monthly reports of city
committees: Judiciary Committee
1888, 1898, 1909
9 / 16
Monthly reports of city
committees: Library Committee
1898
9 / 17
Monthly reports of city
committees: Police Committee
1898
9 / 18
Monthly reports of city
committees: Public Buildings Committee
1898
9 / 19
Monthly reports of city
committees: Sewerage Committee [includes samples of 1890 sewage bonds]
1886, 1898
9 / 20
Monthly reports of city
committees: Special Committee on City Clerk's records
1898
9 / 21
Monthly reports of city
committees: Street Grades Committee
1898
9 / 22
Monthly reports of city
committees: Streets and Alleys Committee
1898, 1910
9 / 23
Monthly reports of city
committees: Taxes and Licenses Committee
1884, 1898
9 / 24
Monthly reports of city
committees: Ways and Means Committee
1898
9 / 25
Monthly reports of city
committees: re Brett warrants against Street Fund
1897
9 / 26
Monthly reports of city
committees: miscellaneous (includes Committee on Ordinances, Relief Committee,
Sanitation and Garbage Committee, Committee on Electric Lights, special ad hoc
committees)
1888, 1898, 1911
9 / 27
"Last Chance Gulch Storm Sewer,"
by Gustavus N. Miller
1888
9 / 28
Mayor Frank F.P. Lindsay report
to City Council
1906
9 / 29
Mayor Edwards recommendations re
Water Company judgement
1901
9 / 30
Mayor's report on old and new
water plants
1911
9 / 31
Mayor's veto message (re
procedure for removal of police officer)
1890
9 / 32
Report of Emil Starz to Special
Gas Committee
1907
9 / 33
Report on Oro Fino Gulch water
diversion to Hale Ditch
1889
9 / 34
"Report on Sewerage System," by
Gustavus N. Miller [plans and maps in OVERSIZE FOLDER]
1888
9 / 35
Miscellaneous items filed in
"Reports" box (includes telegram of sympathy to City of San Francisco after
earthquake, veto of ordinance for appointment of Milk and Meat Inspector,
resolution re telephone controversy, list of water pipes overflowing sidewalks,
notice of special meeting of Council concerning death of Police Judge John J.
Grogan)
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana
Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about
related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.
