Department of Transportation

Record Group

Identifier: US-MeSA-17

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Maine State Archives (MSA) collects and holds the permanent historical records of the Maine State Government. MSA was created in 1965. By 1971, MSA housed the historical records that had been held by the Secretary of State, Legislature, Courts and Executive Departments. This included records from defunct agencies.

With the implementation of a records management system, groups of records were identified as having permanent historical value and were sent to the Archives after a designated period of time. These included Commissioner/Executive correspondence, meeting minutes from Boards and Commissions, as well as department-specific records.

Dates

1913 -

Biographical / Historical

Maine Department of Transportation had its origin in 1905, when a Commissioner of Highways was appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner became head of a new State Highway Department, which was created to apportion money to political subdivisions, plan road improvements, and contract for road construction. In 1913, both the department and the office of Commissioner of Highways were abolished and replaced by a State Highway Commission of three members whom the Governor appointed.

In 1972, the Commission was dissolved, and all of its functions were transferred to a newly established Department of Transportation headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor. At the same time, several independent, transportation-related agencies such as the Maine Port Authority were integrated into the department.