Montana Historical Society

Historical society and state agency in Montana, United States

Montana Historical Society

The Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building, home of the Montana Historical Society since 1953, as it appeared in 1999
Agency overview
Formed| February 2, 1865; 160 years ago (1865-02-02)
Jurisdiction| Montana State Government
Headquarters| Helena, Montana
Motto| Big Sky, Big Land, Big History
Agency executive|

* Molly Kruckenberg, Director

Website| mhs.mt.gov

The Montana Historical Society (MHS) is a historical society located in the U.S. state of Montana that acts to preserve historical resources important to the understanding of Montana history. The society provides services through six operational programs: Administration, Research Center, Museum, Publications, Historic Preservation, and Education. It is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees, appointed by the governor, which hires the director of the society and sets policy for the agency.[1] Founded in 1865, it is one of the oldest such institutions in the Western United States.[2]

## History and organization

[edit]

On December 21, 1864, seven months after the creation of the Montana Territory, Council Bill 15 was introduced into the Territorial legislature by Francis M. Thompson, a representative from Beaverhead County who would only live in Montana two and a half years, to create the Historical Society of Montana.[3][4] The bill, "An Act to Incorporate the Historical Society of Montana", was signed into law February 2, 1865 "in order to collect and arrange facts in regard to the early history of this Territory, the discovery of its mines, incidents of the fur trade, etc." and was incorporated by Hezekiah L. Hosmer, Christopher P. Higgins, John Owens, James Stuart, Wilbur F. Sanders, Malcolm Clark, Francis M. Thompson, William Graham, Granville Stuart, Walter W. deLacy, C.E. Irvine, and Charles S. Bagg.[5] The society is the second oldest state historical society west of the Mississippi River.[2] On March 25, 1865, members of the society elected Wilbur Sanders President, Granville Stuart Secretary-Treasurer, and the Honorable Hezekiah L. Hosmer Historian.[6] At the time of its founding, Granville Stuart was a merchant, Walter deLacy was the Territorial Surveyor, Hezekiah Hosmer was the Chief Justice of the Territorial Court and Wilbur Sanders was prominent in the Virginia City vigilante movement.

The Society was reorganized as a state agency March 4, 1891 and by "An Act to Perpetuate the Historical Society of the State of Montana" March 1, 1949.[7]

Originally located in Virginia City, it was moved to Helena in 1874 after a disputed election approved Helena as the territory's new capital. In 1902, it was located in the basement of the new Montana State Capitol building.[1]

## Collections

[edit]

When the Land Belonged to God by C.M. Russell is one of the highlights of the society's collections

The archives collections include manuscripts from the early 1860s to the present, in addition to a large number of oral histories, mostly from the 20th and 21st centuries. The archives has served as the legal repository, or state archives, for Montana state and local government since 1969, and therefore includes a great number of government records.[8] The photograph archives are extensive, housing over half-a-million images from the 19th and 20th centuries.[9] The library collection comprises books and pamphlets, newspapers and periodicals, maps, federal and state publications, posters and musical scores, as well as the state's largest collection of newspaper clippings and magazine articles.[10] The museum program has a substantial collection of art and artifacts documenting all of Montana history, including a large and representative group of materials documenting Montana Native American culture.[11]

## Publications

[edit]

The first significant publications of the society were the Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana published in ten volumes between 1876 and 1941. Under the leadership of Society director K. Ross Toole, in 1951, the society began publication of the quarterly journal The Montana Magazine of History. In 1953, under the masthead "To Preserve, To Publish, and To Promote interest in, The History of Montana", the journal was renamed: Montana, The Magazine of Western History.[2] The Society operates the Montana Historical Society Press to publish books for students and adults on subjects related to the people, places and events in Montana history.

## Montana Historical Society Museum

[edit]

The Montana Historical Society Museum, also known as Montana's Museum, is located in Helena, Montana. Open year-round, the museum's displays include the state's fine art, history, archaeological and ethnological artifacts. The Mackay Gallery of Russell Art features works by Western-artist Charles M. Russell in many media. Other displays include Native Americans, settlers and home life, mining, frontier weapons and a white bison mount.

## Archive theft

[edit]

In November 2023, Brian D'Ambrosio was indicted on 10 counts related to theft of objects of cultural heritage from the Montana Historical Society which he offered for sale on eBay or to private collectors. The thefts occurred between April 2022 to September 2023.[12] He was caught when attempting to sell items to an undercover FBI agent;[13] the original indictment contained a list of eight items.[12] The prosecution argued that the items D’Ambrosio stole would bring him significant profit, such letters from Nancy Russell, wife of artist C.M. Russell. He pled guilty to theft of major artwork in July 2024, and the remaining nine counts were dropped as part of the plea agreement. In December federal judge Brian Morris sentenced him to six months in federal prison, imposed a $4000 fine and ordered $22,508 in restitution.[14][15] Upon release from incarceration, D’Ambrosio faces an additional year of supervised release. In addition to the 91 items D'Ambrosio tried to sell on eBay—at least 85 of which are believed to belong to the Montana Historical Society—the FBI also found 21 more historical items at D’Ambrosio’s residence, and four more were returned from a local business. Though 11 of the eBay items were recovered, As of January 2025[update] the other 80—at least 74 thought to belong to the Society—have yet to be found.[13]

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich stated at sentencing, “D’Ambrosio’s actions were intentional and calculated—designed to steal Montana’s cultural treasures so he could profit. The Montana Historical Society, and all Montanans, were victims of D’Ambrosio’s greed because these documents were deeply rooted in Montana history." The Montana Historical Society staff provided an additional statement for the record, “The items stolen by you (D’Ambrosio) from the collections belong to the people of Montana, not to you for your selfish, greedy purposes. Your actions forced us to implement stricter rules regarding access and use of historical documents, which impacts all future researchers…. The emotional and financial impacts will be felt for generations.”[14]

## Notable people

[edit]

* Laura E. Howey (1851-1911), Secretary and Librarian of the Montana State Historical and Miscellaneous Library (1898-1907)
* K. Ross Toole. Historian and Director of the Montana Historical Society

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "History, Goals, and Authorizations". Montana Historical Society. State of Montana. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
2. ^ a b c Shovers, Brian (Spring 2002). "Saving Montana's Past: The Creation and Evolution of the Montana Historical Society and Montana The Magazine of Western History". Montana The Magazine of Western History. 52 (1). Montana Historical Society: 48–59\. JSTOR 4520395.
3. ^ Thompson, Francis M. (2004). Owens, Kenneth N. (ed.). A tenderfoot in Montana: reminiscences of the Gold Rush, the vigilantes, and the birth of Montana Territory. Helena, Montana: Montana Historical Society. ISBN 0-9721522-2-9.
4. ^ "Guide to Montana Historical Society Board of Trustees records: 1865–2006". Northwest Digital Archives (NWDA). Retrieved 22 Feb 2012.
5. ^ Historical Society of Montana (1876). Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana, Vol. I. Helena, Montana: Rocky Mountain Publishing Company. Retrieved 22 Feb 2012.
6. ^ "Transactions". Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana. 1. Historical Society of Montana: 27–35\. 1876.
7. ^ "Montana Code Annotated 2011 — 22-3-101. Historical society". Montana Office of Public Instruction. Retrieved 22 Feb 2012.
8. ^ "Archival Collections". Montana Historical Society. State of Montana. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
9. ^ "Photographs". Montana Historical Society. State of Montana. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
10. ^ "Research Collections". Montana Historical Society. State of Montana. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
11. ^ "Museum Collections". Montana Historical Society. State of Montana. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
12. ^ a b Miller, Blair (January 19, 2024). "Author accused of stealing, selling items from Montana Historical Society". Daily Montanan. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
13. ^ a b Compton, Christine (3 January 2025). "80 historical Montana artifacts still missing after author sentenced for theft, state officials say". Independent Record. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
14. ^ a b "New Mexico man sentenced to prison for stealing Montana Historical Society documents; letters by wife of Western artist Charlie "C.M." Russell". www.justice.gov. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
15. ^ "Man who stole historical Montana artifacts sentenced to prison". KRTV NEWS Great Falls. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Historic Montana (MHS project)

* v
* t
* e

State of Montana

Helena (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Climate change
* Congressional delegations
* Geography
* Government
* Governors
* History
* bibliography
* People
* Protected areas
* Sports
* State symbols
* The Last Best Place
* Transportation
* Tourist attractions

Society|

* Abortion
* Cannabis
* Crime
* Culture
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Gun laws
* Politics
* LGBT rights

Regions|

* Eastern Montana
* The Flathead
* Glacier National Park
* Regional designations of Montana
* Western Montana
* Yellowstone

Largest cities|

* Anaconda
* Belgrade
* Billings
* Bozeman
* Butte
* Columbia Falls
* Dillon
* Glendive
* Great Falls
* Hamilton
* Havre
* Helena
* Kalispell
* Laurel
* Lewistown
* Livingston
* Miles City
* Missoula
* Polson
* Sidney
* Whitefish

Counties|

* Beaverhead
* Big Horn
* Blaine
* Broadwater
* Carbon
* Carter
* Cascade
* Chouteau
* Custer
* Daniels
* Dawson
* Deer Lodge
* Fallon
* Fergus
* Flathead
* Gallatin
* Garfield
* Glacier
* Golden Valley
* Granite
* Hill
* Jefferson
* Judith Basin
* Lake
* Lewis and Clark
* Liberty
* Lincoln
* Madison
* McCone
* Meagher
* Mineral
* Missoula
* Musselshell
* Park
* Petroleum
* Phillips
* Pondera
* Powder River
* Powell
* Prairie
* Ravalli
* Richland
* Roosevelt
* Rosebud
* Sanders
* Sheridan
* Silver Bow
* Stillwater
* Sweet Grass
* Teton
* Toole
* Treasure
* Valley
* Wheatland
* Wibaux
* Yellowstone

Montana portal

* v
* t
* e

State agencies of Montana

Boards and Commissions|

* Board of Crime Control
* Board of Regents of Higher Education
* Board of Public Education
* Public Service Commission

Departments|

* Department of Agriculture
* Department of Commerce
* Department of Corrections
* Department of Environmental Quality
* Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
* Department of Justice
* Department of Labor and Industry
* Department of Livestock
* Department of Military Affairs
* Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
* Department of Public Health and Human Services
* Department of Revenue
* Department of Transportation
* Office of Higher Education
* Office of Public Instruction
* Office of the Secretary of State

Law Enforcement|

* Commissioner of Political Practices
* Montana Highway Patrol
* State Auditor (Commissioner of Securities and Insurance)

Other|

* Montana Arts Council
* Montana Historical Society
* Montana Lottery
* Montana School for the Deaf and Blind
* Montana State Library
* Public Employees Retirement Administration
* State Fund
* Teachers Retirement System

* v
* t
* e

Historical societies of the U.S. states

Northeast|

| New England|

* Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
* Maine Historical Society
* Massachusetts Historical Society
* New Hampshire Historical Society
* Rhode Island Historical Society
* Vermont Historical Society

|

Mid-Atlantic|

* Delaware Historical Society
* Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
* Maryland Historical Society
* New Jersey Historical Society
* New York Historical
* Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Midwest|

| East North Central|

* Illinois State Historical Society
* Indiana Historical Society
* Historical Society of Michigan
* Ohio History Connection
* Wisconsin Historical Society

|

West North Central|

* State Historical Society of Iowa
* Kansas Historical Society
* Minnesota Historical Society
* State Historical Society of Missouri
* Missouri Historical Society
* Nebraska State Historical Society
* State Historical Society of North Dakota
* South Dakota State Historical Society

South|

| South Atlantic|

* Florida Historical Society
* Georgia Historical Society
* North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office
* South Carolina Historical Society
* Virginia Historical Society
* West Virginia Division of Culture and History

|

East South Central|

* Alabama Historical Commission
* Kentucky Historical Society
* Mississippi Historical Society
* Tennessee Historical Commission

West South Central|

* Arkansas Historical Association
* Louisiana Historical Society
* Oklahoma Historical Society
* Texas State Historical Association

West|

| Mountain|

* Arizona Historical Society
* History Colorado
* Idaho State Historical Society
* Montana Historical Society
* Nevada Historical Society
* Historical Society of New Mexico
* Utah State Historical Society
* Wyoming State Historical Society

|

Pacific|

* Alaska Historical Society
* California Historical Society
* Hawaiian Historical Society
* Oregon Historical Society
* Washington State Historical Society

* v
* t
* e

U.S. state history museums

Northeast|

| New England|

* Museum of Connecticut History (Hartford)
* Maine State Museum (Augusta)
* Maine Historical Society Museum (Portland)
* Commonwealth Museum (Boston)
* Vermont History Museum (Montpelier)

|

Mid-Atlantic|

* Delaware History Museum (Wilmington)
* City Museum of Washington, D.C. (Washington, D.C.)
* New Jersey State Museum (Trenton)
* New York State Museum (Albany)
* State Museum of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg)

Midwest|

| East North Central|

* Illinois State Museum (Springfield)
* Indiana State Museum (Indianapolis)
* Michigan History Museum (Lansing)
* Ohio History Center (Columbus)
* Wisconsin Historical Museum (Madison)

|

West North Central|

* State Historical Museum of Iowa (Des Moines)
* Kansas Museum of History (Topeka)
* Minnesota History Center (Saint Paul)
* Missouri State Museum (Jefferson City)
* Missouri History Museum (St. Louis)
* Museum of Nebraska History (Lincoln)
* North Dakota Heritage Center (Bismarck)

South|

| South Atlantic|

* Museum of Florida History (Tallahassee)
* Virginia Historical Society (Richmond, Virginia)
* North Carolina Museum of History (Raleigh)
* South Carolina State Museum (Columbia)

|

East South Central|

* Alabama Department of Archives and History (Montgomery)
* Kentucky Museum (Bowling Green)
* Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History (Frankfort)
* Museum of Mississippi History (Jackson)
* Tennessee State Museum (Nashville)

West South Central|

* Historic Arkansas Museum (Little Rock)
* Louisiana State Museum (New Orleans)
* Louisiana History Museum (Alexandria)
* Oklahoma History Center (Oklahoma City)
* Bullock Texas State History Museum (Austin)

West|

| Mountain|

* Arizona State Museum (Tucson)
* History Colorado Center (Denver)
* Idaho History Center (Boise)
* Montana Historical Society Museum (Helena)
* Nevada State Museum (Las Vegas)
* Nevada State Museum (Carson City)
* New Mexico History Museum (Santa Fe)
* Wyoming State Museum (Cheyenne)

|

Pacific|

* Alaska State Museum (Juneau)
* The California Museum (Sacramento)
* Oregon Historical Society Museum (Portland)
* Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)

* v
* t
* e

Western U.S. historical societies

Mountain|

| Arizona|

* Arizona Historical Society (Tempe)

|

Colorado|

| Denver|

* Colorado Aviation Historical Society
* History Colorado

|

Pueblo|

* Bessemer Historical Society
* Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society

Others|

* Adventures in Preservation (Boulder)
* Society for French Historical Studies (Colorado Springs)
* St. Vrain Historical Society (Longmont)

Idaho|

Idaho State Historical Society (Moscow)

Montana|

| Helena|

* Montana Historical Society
* Society of Montana Pioneers

|

Nevada|

* Las Vegas Historical Society (Las Vegas)

New Mexico|

* New Mexico Historic Preservation Division (Santa Fe)

Utah|

| Salt Lake City|

* Church History Library
* Daughters of Utah Pioneers
* Utah State Historical Society

|

Others|

* Mormon History Association (Heber City)
* Utah Aviation Hall of Fame (Roy)

Wyoming|

* Wyoming Division of State Parks and Historic Sites (Cheyenne)

Pacific|

| California|

| Pan-Californian|

* California Historical Society
* California Register of Historical Resources
* Native Sons of the Golden West
* Society of California Pioneers
* E Clampus Vitus

|

Bay Area|

* Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association
* Berkeley Historical Society
* California Trolley and Railroad Corporation
* GLBT Historical Society
* Hayward Area Historical Society
* History San José
* IT History Society
* Oakland Heritage Alliance
* San Francisco Museum and Historical Society
* Silicon Valley Historical Association
* Sonoma County Historical Society
* South Bay Historical Railroad Society
* Walnut Creek Historical Society
* Western Society for French History

Central Coast|

* Carpinteria Historical Society
* Conejo Valley Historical Society
* Goleta Valley Historical Society
* Pajaro Valley Historical Association
* San Buenaventura Conservancy

Central Valley|

* Fort Tejon Historical Association
* San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum

Greater
Los Angeles|

* Association of Moving Image Archivists
* Centinela Valley Historical Society
* Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
* Getty Conservation Institute
* Glendora Historical Society
* H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society
* Los Angeles Conservancy
* San Fernando Valley Historical Society
* Society for the Preservation of Downtown Los Angeles
* West Adams Heritage Association
* Westminster Historical Society
* Whittier Conservancy

South Coast|

* American Aviation Historical Society
* Association of Ancient Historians
* La Jolla Historical Society
* Orange County Historical Society
* San Diego History Center
* Save Our Heritage Organisation
* Santee Historical Society Museum
* The Conference on Faith and History

Others|

* Humboldt County Historical Society (Eureka)
* Modoc County Historical Society (Alturas)
* Nevada County Historical Society (Nevada City)
* Perris Valley Historical and Museum Association (Perris)

Hawaii|

* Hawaiian Historical Society (Honolulu)

Oregon|

* Association for Recorded Sound Collections (Eugene)
* Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society
* Oregon Historical Society (Portland)
* Restore Oregon (Eugene)

Washington|

| Olympia|

* Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
* Washington Women's History Consortium

|

Seattle|

* Historic Seattle
* Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society

Tacoma|

* American Society for Environmental History
* Washington State Historical Society

Others|

* Disability History Association (Mountlake Terrace)
* Eastside Heritage Center (Bellevue)
* Mercer Island Historical Society (Mercer Island)
* United States Lighthouse Society (Hansville)
* Whitman County Historical Society (Whitman County)

* v
* t
* e

Government archival agencies in the United States

Federal|

* National Archives and Records Administration

State|

* Alabama Department of Archives and History
* Alaska State Archives
* Arizona State Library
* Arkansas State Archives
* California State Archives
* Colorado State Archives
* Connecticut State Library
* Delaware Public Archives
* State Library and Archives of Florida
* Georgia Archives
* Hawaiʻi State Archives
* Idaho State Archives
* Illinois State Archives
* Indiana Archives and Records Administration
* State Historical Society of Iowa
* Kansas Historical Society
* Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
* Louisiana State Archive and Research Library
* Maine State Archives
* Maryland State Archives
* Massachusetts Archives
* Archives of Michigan
* Minnesota Historical Society
* Mississippi Department of Archives and History
* Missouri State Archives
* Montana Historical Society
* History Nebraska
* Nevada State Library, Archives, and Public Records
* New Hampshire Archives and Records Management
* New Jersey State Archives
* New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
* New York State Archives
* State Archives of North Carolina
* State Historical Society of North Dakota
* Ohio History Connection
* Oklahoma Department of Libraries
* Oregon State Archives
* Pennsylvania State Archives
* Rhode Island State Archives
* South Carolina Department of Archives and History
* South Dakota State Historical Society
* Tennessee State Library and Archives
* Texas State Library and Archives Commission
* Utah Division of Archives and Records Service
* Vermont State Archives and Records Administration
* Library of Virginia
* Washington State Archives
* West Virginia Archives and History
* Wisconsin Historical Society
* Wyoming State Archives

Federal district|

* District of Columbia

Agencies within libraries or historical societies in italics.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel
* 2

Other|

* SNAC
* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template