The West Old & New Vol. III Issue I January 2014 | Page 17

A Historic Archive in Butte,

The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives was established in 1981 through a city-county ordinance. It is the official repository of
all non-current records of Butte-Silver Bow Government. The archives also accept other archival material such as written, typed or
printed records, photographs, tape recordings, maps, film or other material of historical significance that may be donated by private individuals or groups that pertains to Butte-Silver Bow County. They provide public access to the materials encouraging
schools and organizations in the community to use of historical documents in learning environments. They have been an asset to
the preservation community in Butte-Silver Bow by providing information. The county is now located in the Butte Anaconda National Historic Landmark District.
The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives is housed in a former 1900 Butte Fire Department station located in uptown Butte. The
historic building retains its original wood and maple floors, lath and plaster walls and ceilings, fire station characteristics and accessories (bells, call system board, ladders, and clothing), trim and base board, doors, windows, and other character-defining architectural features which contribute to the historic character of the building.
The Archives recently outgrew the building’s current configuration, and with planning and design, seek to increase the usability of the existing building for archival storage, research areas, and exhibit and office space. A condition assessment report summarizes the building’s inadequacies and created a list of recommendations for the preservation, restoration, and adaptive re-use of
the building and subsequent protection of the archives. The total project has a four million dollar price tag to stabilize the building
and provide an archival sound storage and research space.
The collections of the Archives are comprehensive, interrelated and provide dynamic insights into the history of the second
industrial revolution (the electrification of America), and the history of copper mining. Home of the world's largest copper deposit,
Butte was once one of the most radically and ethnically diverse settlements in the West and was the wellspring of the western labor movement. The records in the care of the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives provide essential information on a number of subjects in the American West, including the history of technology, political history, environmental history, the history of women and
minority groups, and labor history. For a complete list of collections, contact the Archives.
The Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives priority of making its collections publicly accessible is number one. The archives provides assistance to all in house visitors, has a professional staff that will research requests. The Archives collections all have finding aides available in house and future plans to house them on line. Nearly 5000 researchers visit the facility every year. Researchers are conducting genealogy searches, academic research, research for film, articles and books as well as property and land.
The Archives staff will provide on site professional assistance with questions and concerns about document conservation and
collections management. The Archives staff will assist document cleaning, document repair, photo repair and special handling of
rare items.
The Archives objective to assist the preservation community in Butte-Silver Bow is met through public and class room presentations, through tours to historic sites and requests to have historic documents brought into the classroom.
Teachers and school officials should contact the Archives if they have questions regarding our services, the use of historic
documents, learning tool or field trip scheduling or to arrange a visit to the Archives.
The West Old & New Page 14