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Central Washington University Archives

Guide to the Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society Collection
  • MS 007, Series 07-04

    • Processed by: Ramirose I. Attebury
    Listed by: Dieter C. Ullrich
    Date: August 30, 2007

    Date Span: 1844-2002 (bulk 1890-1970)

    Size: 12.0 cubic feet.

    Number of Boxes: 13 letter sized document cases; 1 letter half sized document case; 6 oversized boxes and 4 map tubes.

    Type of material: Ledgers, financial records, newspaper clippings, correspondence, family history records, government documents, blueprints and maps.

    Physical condition: Fair with some ledgers and maps that are soiled, torn and have insect damage.

    Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically and organized by type and size of document.

    Historical or Biographical Sketch: The Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society was established to preserve the Thorpe Mill, which began operations in 1883, for the benefit of the local community and to make it available for the benefit of all citizens seeking to understand American culture and history. The Society devotes itself “to developing the mill site both as an interpretive site and as a gathering place for community activities, maintaining and fostering the close sense of community and family and the enterprising spirit that is Thorp’s heritage”. The Society also collects information and materials documenting the history of Thorp.

    Scope and Content Note: The collection consists of newspaper clippings from regional news agencies and correspondence of the early settlers in the central Kittitas Valley. Family histories and genealogies, birth, death, marriage, census records, and local cemetery information are included in the collection. There are extensive Thorp post office records and numerous materials related to the Thorp public schools. The F.C. Porter family, who owned a general store in Thorp during the first half of the 1900s, contributed many of their store records, shipping records, and children’s school books to the collection. Many materials in the collection are photocopies of the original documents. Also included are a dozen rare books given to the mill over the years. Photographs of the early Thorp community as well as the Thorp Mill restoration project are in the collection in both print and negative form.

    Research Note: Open to the public for educational research.

    Inventory List:
    Box 1
    1. Bowles Family Dispute, 1910
    2. Brain Family
    3. George Bush and Some Documentary Records of Slavery in Oregon, 1887
    4. Reminiscences of WM. M. Case and Mrs. Sarah A. Case, 1900, 1890
    5. Ellison Family
    6. Fischer Family Newspaper clippings
    7. Nathanial Ford’s Letter from Oregon, 1845
    8. Reminiscences of Mrs. Frank Collins, nee Martha Elizabeth Gilliam and of Washington Smith Gilliam, 1903, 1916
    9. Stories of Early Years in Johnson Canyon by Ethel McMillen Pearson Goodwin, 1883-1980
    10. Hatfield Family
    11. Reminiscences of Alanson Hinman, 1901
    12. Hutchinson Family
    13. Hutchinson Diary, Photocopy and Transcript, 1890
    14. Kittie Ireland Newspaper clippings and Writings
    15. Karlson Family
    16. Kellicut Family
    17. Mason Family
    18. Mattox Family
    19. Caroline “Callie” Mattox Family
    20. Clara Belle Mattox Parker Family
    21. Reason Turner Mattox Family
    22. William Miles Mattox Family
    23. James L. Mills Family
    24. John A. Yearwood Family
    25. John Minto, Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, 1901
    26. Minto and Parrish Letters Description, 1844
    27. Larry Morree Family
    28. Mrs. Nancy Irwin Morrison and Robert Wilson Morrison, 1890, 1894
    29. Newman and Wilcox Families
    30. Orndoff Family, Including Oral History Transcript
    31. Osborn Family
    32. Crossing the Plains in 1844, Diary of Rev. Edward Evans Parrish
    33. Pease Family
    34. Nona Reid, Daily Diary, 1918, 1921
    35. Dorothy M. Schwarek Letter, 1998
    36. Schultz Family
    37. Viola Splawn Shadel and Ethel Shadel Coughlin
    38. Biography of Capt. William Shaw, 1795-1887
    39. Southern Family
    40. Michael T. Simmons in Transactions of Oregon Pioneer Association, 1886
    41. Splawn Family History
    42. From an Interview with Mrs. W.D. Bruton, nee Flora Splawn
    43. Sublette Papers Description, 1844

    Box 2
    1. Fielden M. and Leonard L. Thorp, 1889
    2. Letters of Judge Joseph Thorp about His Father, 1880s
    3. Thorp Family History, 1630-1981
    4. Reminiscences of R. Paul Tjossem
    5. Tjossem Family
    6. Bridget Anna Elizabeth Mackay Warner and Grace Irene Werner Family
    7. Joseph Watt, Oregon Pioneer Association, 1890
    8. Weed Family
    9. Mrs. Nancy Dickerson Welch, Transactions of the Oregon Pioneer Association, 1897
    10. An Old Pioneer’s Return, The Oregon Pioneer Association, 1889
    11. Thorp Area Family Genealogies
    12. Pioneer Family Investigation
    13. Notices of Continuation of Classification, 1941
    14. World War II Newspaper Clippings, Thorp Residents
    15. World War II Newspaper Clippings, Thorp Residents
    16. Tanum House Meal Punch Cards, 1906
    17. Ed Birn’s “National” Cash Register History
    18. Mann Brothers Sliced Wood Products News clippings
    19. Quilt Signatures
    20. 1913 Fire Wagon
    21. The End of the Trail by Leta May Smith, Chapters 6 and 7
    22. Newspaper Clippings about Thorp, 1960
    23. Newspaper clipping by Clareta Smith, Donated with Mattox Family Material
    24. Sixth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1885
    25. Report of the Governor of Washington Territory to the Secretary of the Interior, 1885
    26. Tenth Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Washington, 1890
    27. Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Washington Territory to the Legislative Assembly, 1885
    28. Coal and Coal Mining in Washington by Stephen H. Green, 1947
    29. “Thorp, Be There June 26-30” Sign

    Box 3
    1. Thorp School Graduates and Teachers, 1935-1970
    2. Thorp High School Newsletter: The Bumble Bee, 1941-1942
    3. Thorp School News clippings
    4. Hialitza – Thorp High School Yearbook, 1922, 1924, 1926
    5. Hialitza – Thorp High School Yearbook, 1989
    6. School Census Records of Kittitas County, Washington, 1894-1895 (missing pages 1-4), 1896-1900
    7. Early Kittitas County Schools News clippings and Photographs
    8. Ellensburg Junior Chamber of Commerce Activities Report, 1951-52
    9. Plano Manufacturing Company Catalog, 1895
    10. Land Roller Patent, 1899
    11. Letters from J.A. Wilcox, Justice of the Peace, 1907
    12. Ancient Order of United Workmen Member Death Announcements and Dues Postcards, 1909
    13. Washington Fruit Labels
    14. Washington Fruit Labels
    15. Golden West Fine Graham Flour Sack, Thompson’s Flouring Mills, Shedd, Oregon

    Box 4
    1. Census Photocopies from Yakima County Territorial Census, 1871
    2. Abstract of Title, James H. McMurray to Milford A. Thorp, 1885
    3. Abstract of Title, Milford and Amanda Thorp to Lewis F. Ellison, 1901
    4. Typed List of Polk Directory for Kittitas County, Thorp Listings, 1919-1920
    5. Handwritten List of Names from Polk Directory, Kittitas County, Thorp Listings, 1921-1922
    6. Quit Claim Deed for Thorp Fire Station Property, 1944
    7. Homestead Patents, 1875-1898
    8. Deed to Wilken Briggs, 1887
    9. List of Leases at Thorp Station, 1904-1924
    10. Thorp Commercial Map, 1907
    11. Thorp Township Maps, 1934
    12. Assorted Thorp Area Maps
    13. Land Ownership Study Maps
    14. Final Report Ferrell Merit Scholarship, Thorp Land Ownership Study on Computer Layered Mapping, 1993
    15. Thorp Area Ranch Histories from Washington’s Centennial Farms: Yesterday and Today
    16. Christine Peck Railroad Thesis Research, 1991
    17. Northern Pacific Railway Employees and Rule Books, 1949-59
    18. Northern Pacific Railway Train Orders and Schedules, 1957-62
    19. Thorp Train Depot Transfer, Historic Thorp Mill Train Project, Proposed Creation of Thorp Historic District, 1993-2001
    20. Correspondence Received and Sent by Mill Society, 1994-2005
    21. Old Cemetery, North of I-90 West
    22. Thorp Cemetery Directory, Alphabetical Listing
    23. Thorp Cemetery Directory, by Grave Location
    24. Thorp Indian Cemetery
    25. Kittitas County Cemetery Available Plots, 1991
    26. Farming Statistics of Washington, 1890, 1899, 1909
    27. Upper Kittitas County Landmarks, 1999
    28. Mountains to Sound Greenway Aerial Photos, 1999

    Box 5
    1. Post card Receipts Mailed to F.C. Porter, 1907-09
    2. Receipts and Calculations
    3. Receipts and Calculations
    4. Receipts and Calculations
    5. List of Items from Porter’s Store Box, 1992
    6. Blank Account Ledger
    7. Invoices Received by Porter’s Store, 1905-06
    8. Invoices Received by Porter’s Store, 1907-08
    9. Invoices Received by Porter’s Store, 1911-22
    10. Inventory List from Porter’s Store Black Binder, 1992
    11. Thank You Letters to Porter’s Store for Field Trip of Mrs. Erickson’s 4th Grade Class, 1956
    12. Blank Composition Book with List of Baseball Team Players and Positions in Front Page
    13. Barton Porter’s Composition Books (4), Mostly Blank
    14. Charles Porter’s Composition Books
    15. Gerald Porter’s Scrapbook
    16. Gerald Porter’s Latin Notebook, 1916-17
    17. Charles Porter’s Composition Books

    Box 6
    1. Barton Porter’s Spelling Tablet
    2. Barton Porter’s Augsburg’s Drawing Graded Practice Tablet, #1 and 2
    3. Barton Porter’s Augsburg’s Drawing Graded Practice Tablet, #3 and 5
    4. Barton Porter’s Augsburg’s Drawing Graded Practice Tablet, #7
    5. Barton Porter’s Notebooks
    6. Gerald Porter’s White’s Outline Studies in the History of the United States
    7. Two Mostly Blank Ledgers, Porter Family
    8. Porter Children Schoolbook Inventory List, 1992
    9. University of Washington, University Hospital Meal Ticket, 1960

    Box 7
    1. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1907
    2. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1908-09
    3. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1909
    4. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1909
    5. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1909
    6. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1909-1910

    Box 8
    1. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1910
    2. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1910
    3. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1910
    4. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1910
    5. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1910
    6. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1911

    Box 9
    1. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1911
    2. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1911
    3. F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records, 1912
    4. Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter, 1913
    5. Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter, 1915
    6. Receipts from Items Purchased by Joe Deshayer and F. C. Porter, 1915-16
    7. Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter, 1916
    8. Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter and Joe Deshayer, 1916
    9. Pocket Books from F.C. Porter’s Records
    10. Miscellaneous Papers and Receipts from F.C. Porter’s Records

    Box 10
    1. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA, 1923-24
    2. Third Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA, 1929-30
    3. Third Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA, 1931-32
    4. Third Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA, 1932-33
    5. Postmaster’s Daily Savings Bond Cash and Stock Summary, Thorp, WA, 1945-47
    6. Postmaster’s Daily Savings Bond Cash and Stock Summary, Thorp, WA, 1949-50
    7. Thorp Post Office and Surrounding Area Post Offices History
    8. Transcript of Splawn Water Rights Testimony, 1868-1886
    9. Journal Entries from Unknown Author Traveling through Thorp Area, 1870
    10. Newspaper Articles about Thorp, 1893-1914
    11. Record of Thorp Marriages and Births and Deaths, 1893-1910
    12. Thorp Literary Society Constitution and Minutes, 1899
    13. Above the Clouds Production by Thorp Residents, Program, 1900
    14. Thorp Flood, Newspaper Clipping, 1906
    15. “Thorp, Washington,” by Eugene J. Brain in The Coast, 1908
    16. “The Little Shepherd Who Was Left Behind: A Christmas Play in Three Parts” by Helen M. Roberts, 1938
    17. Death Announcements, News clippings, 1943-74
    18. Thorp Church of Christ Golden Jubilee, 50th Anniversary Church Program, 1945
    19. Newspaper Wedding Announcements, 1953-60
    20. Newspaper Articles about Thorp, 1957-74
    21. Handwritten “Early Days in Thorp, 1909,” Author Unknown, 1970
    22. Highway 10 Landslide, Newspaper Clippings, 1970-71
    23. Newspaper Article on Sawmill and the McPherson Monument, 1976
    24. Newspaper Articles about Thorp, 1989-2002
    25. “The Social and Economic Structure of the Thorp Area During the Year 1900” by Edward M. Tucker III, 1992
    26. Letters from Former Residents’ Families
    27. Miscellaneous Photocopies about Thorp Area
    28. Morrison and Lowe Pool Hall Coin
    29. Handwritten Notes, Newspaper Citations about Thorp Area
    30. Miscellaneous Correspondence to and from Thorp Residents

    Box 11
    1. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA, 1927-29
    2. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1933-35
    3. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1935
    4. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1935-36
    5. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1936-37
    6. Third Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1937
    7. Third Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1938-39
    8. Third Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1939-40
    9. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1940-41
    10. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1941-42
    11. Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA, 1942-43
    12. Register of Money Orders Issued, Thorp, WA, Post Office, 1948-50
    13. Register of Money Orders Issued, Thorp, WA, Post Office, 1950-51
    14. Abstract of Title, Multiple Transfers, 1926
    15. James L. Mill Deed for Millrace, ca. 1880
    16. Land Transfer Records, 1882-1910
    17. Tenem Ditch Company vs. F.M. Thorp, 1887-1888
    18. Town of Thorp Plat and Addition
    19. J. L. Mills Financial Papers, 1880-1883
    20. Photocopy of Polk Directory, Kittitas County, 1913-14
    21. Photocopy of Polk Directory, Kittitas County, 1914-15

    Box 12
    1. Cashbook of the Domestic Money Order Office, Thorp Post Office, 1920-22
    2. Thorp Post Office Savings Bond Records, 1945-48
    3. Thorp Post Office Savings Bond Records, 1949-50
    4. Thorp Post Office Savings Bond Records, 1950-53
    5. Record of Credit for Store Customers, 1895
    6. Invoices Received by Porter’s Store, 1906, 1908, 1910
    7. Invoices Received by Porter’s Store, 1907
    8. Journal Used as Account Ledger, Mostly Blank, 1912
    9. Thorp Manufacturing Company Financial Records, 1901-05
    10. Store Advertisements
    11. 50th Anniversary Announcements, Newspaper Clippings, 1953-77
    12. Blank Legal Tablet with Painting on Inside of Back Cover

    Box 13
    1. Photographs – Business and Occupations, 1890s-1930s
    2. Photographs – People and Families, 1890s-1950s
    3. Photographs – People and Community, early 1900s
    4. Photographs – People and Community, 1890s-1970s
    5. Photographs – Landscapes and Buildings, 1900s-1920s
    6. Photographs – School Classes and School Houses, 1900s-1959
    7. Photographs – Mill Restoration, 1988-89
    8. Photographs – Mill Restoration, 1988-89
    9. Photographs – Mill Restoration, 1988-89
    10. Photographs – Mill Restoration, 1988-89
    11. Photographs – Mill Restoration, 1988-89
    12. Photographs from Newsletters
    13. Copies of Miscellaneous Photographs of Early Days in Thorp from Collection of Shirley Mattox Churchill

    Box 14
    1. Photographs – Square Dancing
    2. Photographs and Drawing of Mill
    3. Frances H. Spero and Schoolchildren, 1919-20
    4. Photocopied Photographs Donated by Anita F. Boren, 1936-42
    5. John and Felicia McDonald Family Photos, 1910, 1919
    6. Eva May Fischer Family, 1900s-1971
    7. Don Barrett Family Photo, 1918
    8. Amy and John Ellison, Rose and George Harvey, Olive Spencer, Sidney Spencer Family Materials
    9. Aerial Photos and Negatives
    10. Negatives
    11. Negatives – Thorp and Community

    Box 15
    Oversized Photographs – Thorpe and surrounding areas

    Box 16
    Oversized documents – Thorpe Census Records

    Box 17
    Oversized maps - Thorpe

    Box 18
    Oversized ledgers - Postmaster’s Account and Cashbooks, Thorpe Post Office, 1943-1954

    Box 19
    Oversized ledgers - Postmaster’s Account and Cashbooks, Thorpe Post Office, 1955-1965

    Box 20
    Oversized ledgers - Postmaster’s Account and Cashbooks, Thorpe Post Office, 1965-1971

    Box 21
    Oversized map in tube container - Kittitas County Road System, Upper County, 1971

    Box 22
    Oversized map in tube container - Kittitas County Road System, 1974

    Box 23
    Oversized map in tube container - Northern Pacific Cascade Division Mainline, Thorpe, Kittitas County, Washington, December 22, 1902 (revised November 12, 1924 and March 21, 1925)

    Box 24
    Oversized map in tube container – Station Map of Lands, Tracks and Structures, Northern Pacific Railway, Seattle Division, Thorp, Kittitas County, Washington, May 21, 1931

    Box 25 (Added November 16, 2007)
    1. Photo Genealogy Project – Compact Discs
    2. Photo Genealogy Project – Identification of material on Compact Discs
    3. Photo Genealogy Project – Identification of Photographs
    4. Photo Genealogy Project – Letter of Agreement with Kittitas County Genealogical Society
    5. Photo Genealogy Project – Loose photographs
    6. Photo Genealogy Project – Newspaper clippings and ephmera

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