Property Research Guide
This guide provides a list of resources useful for conducting property research. It includes links to resources inside and outside of the Montana Historical Society and suggestions on other locations to look for property information. Some resources may only be available by visiting us. If you have specific questions about your Montana property or anything in this guide, please contact us by submitting a research request.
Our State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is the best source of information about the National Register of Historic Places. Please visit our National Register of Historic Places page for information on how to nominate your property or find out more about properties already listed on the registry. SHPO can also provide information about preservation programs and consultants, including tribal consultations.
Montana's counties hold most property records, including deeds, lode records, tax and mortgage records. The best way to start searching for these records is to contact your county's Clerk and Recorder's Office and Treasurer's Office.
MTHS Lode Records & Mortgage Records (MF 490)
We hold lode records and mortgage records for select counties on microfilm. Visitors to our Reference Room may access these using a microfilm reader.
- Broadwater County: Lode Records, 1865-1953; Mortgage Records, 1897-1948
- Deer Lodge County: Lode Records, 1864-1988; Mortgage Records, 1868-1953
- Jefferson County: Lode Records, 1864-1957; Mortgage Records, 1865-1951
- Lewis & Clark County: Lode Records, 1865-1936; Mortgage Records, 1865-1928
- Powell County: Lode Records, 1865-1926; Mortgage Records, 1865-1924
- Silver Bow County: Lode Records, 1881-1932; Mortgage Records, 1897-1932
MTHS Deeds Records (MF 490)
We have deeds for select counties on microfilm. Visitors to our Reference Room may access these using a microfilm reader. These records may be offsite, and we require at least 24 hours notice to retrieve them. Please contact us to request them.
- Broadwater County: 1866-1928
- Deer Lodge County: 1896-1988
- Jefferson County: 1864-1951
- Lewis & Clark County: 1865-1940
- Powell County: 1865-1948
- Silver Bow County: 1881-1937
Probate records are held by the District Court in each Montana county. The best way to start searching for these records is to contact your county's Clerk of District Court.
MTHS Probate Records Holdings (MF 440)
The Library & Archives holds some of these records for select counties on microfilm. Please see the list below for our holdings.
- Broadwater County: 1884-1949
- Deer Lodge County: Index
- Jefferson County: Index and Case Files 1-590 (undated)
- Missoula County: 1901-1908
- Powell County: Index and Case Files 1-515
Homestead and Land Patents
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provides online access to General Land Office records, including a searchable database of land and homestead patents. Online resources also include some tract books, survey plats, and field notes.
Additional General Land Office Records
The BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office in Billings holds serial register books, historical indices, and tract book information for each township in Montana. The office also has original survey maps that date to the late 1880s through the 1920s, some with updates and resurveys. Contact the Montana/Dakotas State Office for more information.
Homestead Case Reports
The National Archives maintains the Case Reports for homesteads. These files contain information homestead applicants filed with the local land office during the patenting process, which may include details about buildings, improvements, crops, and other details. Visit the National Archives Land Records website for more information.
City Directories
City Directories have information on property owners and occupants, organized by both address and name. These are available to browse in person in our Reference Room. Some directories are available on Ancestry.com.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The Sanborn Company prepared thousands of maps for over 200 towns in Montana from the late-nineteenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. Visit us to browse our collection in person or access the Sanborn Maps online through the Library of Congress.
Local Histories
County histories and other local histories often have information about properties and land owners. Search our catalog or view the digitized collection of local histories on the Montana History Portal.
Historical Newspapers
Newspapers contain stories about almost every topic, including the construction of new buildings. Browse our newspaper holdings and access our digitized newspapers on our newspaper page.
Census Records & Genealogical Records
There are various places to look for information about property occupants. Consider searching U. S. Census records through the National Archives or looking at death records, marriage records, cemetery records, and other genealogical information. Most of our genealogical records are available on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. They are also available in person by visiting our Reference Room. For specific questions, please contact us by submitting a research request.
Library & Archives Collections
Our Vertical Files contain miscellaneous information on thousands of topics and people in Montana and are available by visiting our Reference Room. In addition, our other collections may have information helpful for property research, such as business records, oral histories, and photographs.
Montana History Compass
Catalog
Search our catalog to find records from our entire collection, including library materials, archival and manuscript collections, government records, and photograph collections.
Finding Aids
Search our Finding Aids to find detailed inventories of our archival and manuscript collections, government records, and photograph collections.
