United States Weather Bureau, Breckenridge & Moorhead Station Records
Collection
Identifier: MSS 32
Overview
The United States Weather Bureau Breckenridge and Moorhead Weather Stations records consists of
Correspondence and Subject Files.
The Correspondence Series is divided into the main body of actual correspondence and various indexes and miscellanea. The correspondence is arranged chronologically. The major portion contains daily correspondence between March 15, 1872 and April 5, 1899. Various other files contain miscellaneous correspondence from later years, 1902-1903, and an amendment to the regulations dated April 1, 1919. The second part of the correspondence consists of indexes and various other data. There are indexes for both incoming and outgoing correspondence. Although the outgoing correspondence indexes are not as complete as the incoming, they are very informative for they contain copies of the outgoing correspondence for those years.
The Subject Files Series include a postage book, 1879-1881, cataloging stamps received and sent, and a scrapbook containing some newspaper clippings. A station Memorandum book contains some data for 1905. A guidebook of station regulations sent out by the U.S. Weather Bureau is also included, 1905. The final folder contains summary graphs for the years 1881-1903.
The Correspondence Series is divided into the main body of actual correspondence and various indexes and miscellanea. The correspondence is arranged chronologically. The major portion contains daily correspondence between March 15, 1872 and April 5, 1899. Various other files contain miscellaneous correspondence from later years, 1902-1903, and an amendment to the regulations dated April 1, 1919. The second part of the correspondence consists of indexes and various other data. There are indexes for both incoming and outgoing correspondence. Although the outgoing correspondence indexes are not as complete as the incoming, they are very informative for they contain copies of the outgoing correspondence for those years.
The Subject Files Series include a postage book, 1879-1881, cataloging stamps received and sent, and a scrapbook containing some newspaper clippings. A station Memorandum book contains some data for 1905. A guidebook of station regulations sent out by the U.S. Weather Bureau is also included, 1905. The final folder contains summary graphs for the years 1881-1903.
Dates
- 1872-1905; 1911-1919
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyrights to this collection is held by The North Dakota State University Archives.
Biographical / Historical
The first National Weather Service was created by a resolution passed Feb. 9, 1870. Congressman Paine,
a leader in this campaign, named the secretary of War as its coordinator. It was further assigned to the
Chief of Signal Officers in the Army.
The meteorological Division of the Signal Office was popularly called the “weather bureau”. The field stations numbered only 24 in 1870, but grew to 284 by 1878. The first correspondence in this collection is dated March 15, 1872. The first station was at Breckenridge, Minnesota; it was later transferred to Moorhead and officially established there on Jan. 1, 1881. Located first in the Merchants Bank, it was moved July 1st, 1890 to the third floor of the First National Bank Building. As early as 1880 questions were raised on whether the role of the War Department included the running of Weather Stations.Frequently debated, it was recommended that this service be transferred to the new Department of Agriculture. The Weather Bureau was transferred to the Department of Agriculture on July 1, 1891.
The meteorological Division of the Signal Office was popularly called the “weather bureau”. The field stations numbered only 24 in 1870, but grew to 284 by 1878. The first correspondence in this collection is dated March 15, 1872. The first station was at Breckenridge, Minnesota; it was later transferred to Moorhead and officially established there on Jan. 1, 1881. Located first in the Merchants Bank, it was moved July 1st, 1890 to the third floor of the First National Bank Building. As early as 1880 questions were raised on whether the role of the War Department included the running of Weather Stations.Frequently debated, it was recommended that this service be transferred to the new Department of Agriculture. The Weather Bureau was transferred to the Department of Agriculture on July 1, 1891.
Extent
3 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by unrecorded donor, 1965 (Acc. 1408)
Legal Status
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the U.S. Weather Service, Breckenridge and Moorhead Station Records
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu