Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Montana Constitution Revision Commission Records, 1969-1971
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Montana Constitution Revision Commission
- Title
- Montana Constitution Revision Commission Records
- Dates
- 1969-1971 (inclusive)19691971
- Quantity
- .7 linear feet of shelf space
- Collection Number
- RS 20
- Summary
- These Montana Constitution Revision Commission records (1969-1971) consist of correspondence, minutes, subject files, writings, reports, news releases, organizational materials, and miscellany including public service announcements re Ref. 67. [See MM 35 for recording].
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Montana Constitution Revision Commission was created by the state's 41st Legislative Assembly on April 1, 1969, to "conduct a detailed study of the Montana Constitution, [and] compile factual data on whether the constitution impairs effective state government." The Commission membership numbered sixteen with four each being appointed by the governor, the Supreme Court, the Senate Committee on Committees, and the speaker of the House. Senator John K. McDonald was chairman of the Commission and Representative James E. Murphy served as vice chairman. Dale A. Harris was administrative assistant and executive director for the Commission.
It was recommended by the Commission that a constitutional convention be called as the most desirable method for changing the constitution. In order to accomplish this, the Commission prepared a constitutional convention enabling act, Referendum 67, which was presented to the voters at the November 3, 1970, general election.
A public information program was initiated by the Commission to promote passage of Referendum 67. This included an advertising campaign, working with various organizations (such as the Montana Education Association and the League of Women Voters of Montana) around the state to pass resolutions supporting the referendum, and the creation of the Montana Constitutional Convention Committee. This Committee, chaired by James R. Felt of Billings, was a private organization which promoted a constitutional convention through a network of county committees.
Referendum 67 was approved by the electorate by a two-thirds vote and the 42nd Legislative Assembly adopted the enabling act. The constitutional convention was convened on November 29, 1971.
The Montana Constitution Revision Commission ceased to function on March 31, 1971.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The records of the Montana Constitution Revision Commission include general correspondence; interoffice correspondence among members of the Commission; financial records; minutes of Commission meetings; news releases; organizational materials such as objectives and member information; reports from the administrative assistant and the legislature; speeches and writings prepared by the Commission for use during the promotional campaign; subject files for the League of Women Voters, Montana Constitutional Convention Committee, Referendum 67 campaign, etc.; and miscellany including mailing lists, recommendations, resolutions and proclamations. Printed materials and artifacts were transferred to the Library and Museum respectively.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
General Correspondence Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 1 | Miscellaneous (correspondents include Albert L. Sturm
and Mike Mansfield) |
1965, 1968-1970 |
1 / 2 | Miscellaneous (correspondents include Forrest H.
Anderson, John L. McKeon, Montana Education Association, Thomas L. Judge, Albert L.
Sturm, Robert Sidman, Montana Taxpayers Association, and Frank Murray) |
1970-1971, undated |
Interoffice Correspondence Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 3 | Miscellaneous (correspondents include Donald L. Sorte
and Dale A. Harris re Commission meetings) |
1969-1971 |
Financial Records Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 4 | Budgets, expenses, salary schedules |
1969-1971 |
Minutes Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 5 | Minutes (includes presentations to Commission
meetings by David Mason, Ellis Waldron, and Albert Sturm) |
1969-1970 |
News Releases Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 6 | Press releases |
1969-1970, undated |
Organization Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 7 | Membership lists and biographical information |
undated |
1 / 8 | "Objectives and Methods of Procedure" |
undated |
Printed Material Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 9 | List of printed material transferred to the Library |
undated |
Reports Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 10 | Administrative assistant |
undated |
1 / 11 | Legislative reports and revisions of constitutional
articles |
undated |
Speeches Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 12 | Miscellaneous |
1970, undated |
Subject Files Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 13 | The Jacobson Agency (advertising campaign) |
1970, undated |
1 / 14 | League of Women Voters of Montana |
1969-1970 |
2 / 1 | Legislation (providing for Legislative Council study
of constitution, reorganization of executive branch, creation of Montana Constitution
Revision Commission, constitutional convention amendment on ballot) |
1969 |
2 / 2 | Montana Constitutional Convention Committee |
1970-1971 |
2 / 3 | Referendum 67 campaign [See MM35 Public Service Ads
sponsored by the League of Women Voters re Ref. 67] |
1970, undated |
2 / 4 | Speakers bureau (includes list of speaking
engagements) |
undated |
Writings Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2 / 5 | "Issues for a Constitutional Convention"; "Why We
Need a Consitutional Convention"; "A Sketch of Montana's Constitutional History";
"What Is a Convention?"; "So What's Wrong with the Constitution?"; "The Montana
Constitution: Resource or Burden?" |
undated |
Miscellany Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2 / 6 | Envelope, forms |
undated |
2 / 7 | List of artifacts tranferred to the Museum |
undated |
2 / 8 | Mailing lists |
undated |
2 / 9 | Recommendations (public education campaign, school
activities, etc.) |
undated |
2 / 10 | Resolutions and proclamations ("Constitutional
Modernization," "Constitution Day," groups supporting Referendum 67) |
1970 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Constitutional conventions--Montana
- Government reorganization--Montana