Montana. Department of Transportation

The Montana State Highway Commission was created in 1913 by the state Legislative Assembly. The original Commission was composed of three members. In 1917 new legislation altered the organization of the Commission by authorizing the appointment of twelve members according to geographic highway districts. Membership was changed again in 1921 to three members appointed by the Governor and in 1941 to five members, also appointed by the Governor. In 1971 the Commission was renamed the Montana Department of Highways, created by Chapter 7 of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1971 and implemented by executive order of the Governor on December 16, 1971. The Department of Highways took over all but the advisory functions of the State Highway Commission.

By 1972, the Department consisted of seven divisions: the Legal Division, Personnel Division, Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division. Each division was headed by an administrator. The Centralized Services Division, Engineering Division, Motor Pool Division, Gross Vehicle Weight Division, and the Maintenance Division were furthered sub-divided into bureaus, headed by Chiefs. In 1991, the Department of Highways became the Department of Transportation.

The Civil Rights Bureau was part of the Personnel Division, which operated under the Director of the Montana Department of Highways (MDOH)/Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). The Montana Department of Highways established the Civil Rights Bureau in order to administer the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Program (DBE). This program was developed to ensure the adequate direction and administration of funds provided to the MDOH by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987. This federal act established that 10% of all federal highway funds be expended to disadvantaged businesses. The goal of the DBE program, as administered by the Civil Rights Bureau, is to ensure that disadvantaged business enterprises have opportunity to participate in the performances of contracts and subcontracts administered by the Montana DOH/ Montana Department of Transportation.

From the guide to the Montana Department of Transportation, Civil Rights Bureau records, 1990-1995, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)

The Montana Department of Transportation, Photo Section Unit photograph collection is a compilation of the materials of the Department of Highways (later the Department of Transportation) Photo Section unit. The Photo Section unit employed photographers for the Montana Highways Department/Department of Transportation beginning in 1958. Many Department divisions utilized the Department photographers for various assignments. These included: the Safety Division for images of traffic accidents and safety procedures; the Materials Bureau to capture images of materials used; Construction and Preconstruction Division to capture before, during, and after images of Highway projects; and the Highways’ Attorneys to capture images for legal purposes. The Department of Highways Information Unit, later the Department of Transportation Public Affairs Bureau also frequently utilized department photographers for media relations such as images used by the Department for public information and awareness, images of major state events such as the National Governors’ Conference in 1960, Federal officials or National and International dignitaries visiting the state, and inauguration events for State Governors and Lieutenant Governors. The photographic services were also used for Department events such as retirement parties, employee identification photos, and Highway conferences. The Photo Section Unit operated until 1998. A list of the photographers that were employed by the Highways Department/Department of Transportation are: Chet Dreher, 1958-1965; Marvin Kalland, 1959-1970s; Ernie Neath, 1960s; Walter Sill, 1963-1965; Garry Wunderwald, 1965 to 1971, and Travis Smith, 1971-1990s.

From the guide to the Montana Department of Transportation (DOT), Photo Section Unit photograph collection, 1958-1998, (Montana Historical Society Research Center)