Edward Corliss Kilbourne papers, circa 1888-1958

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Kilbourne, Edward Corliss, 1856-
Title
Edward Corliss Kilbourne papers
Dates
circa 1888-1958 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.56 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Collection Number
0184 (Accession No. 0184-001)
Summary
Biography, correspondence, notes, writings, clippings and scrapbook of Seattle pioneer, dentist and land developer
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Edward Corliss Kilbourne was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on January 13, 1856. Two years later, the Kilbourne family moved to Aurora, Illinois. Following his graduation from high school at the age of 16, Kilbourne studied dentistry under his father. After a few years of working first as a country dentist in Illinois and, later, as a miner in Colorado, in 1883 he moved to Seattle, where he established a new dental practice. Kilbourne’s move was inspired by his uncle, Corliss P. Stone, who had been an early pioneer to Seattle and had served as the city’s mayor from 1872 to 1873. On June 23, 1886, Kilbourne married Leilla Shorey, the daughter of early Seattle pioneers Oliver C. and Emiline Bonney Shorey, at Plymouth Church.

Kilbourne’s dental practice grew rapidly and, in 1886, he became one of the founders of the Washington Territory Dental Association. He was also named Chief Dental Examiner by the territory’s governor. After his dental office was destroyed in the fire of 1889; however, Kilbourne began to focus his work on different endeavors. He had invested much of his earnings in real estate, and purchased forty acres on the north shore of Lake Union, which he intended to sell as home lots. He also purchased the steamer Maud Foster in order to transport residents to this new area. After partnering with the firm L. H. Griffith & Co, he was able to sell many of these lots quickly. He then purchased an additional 240 acres slightly west of his initial purchase. The newly-developed town in which this second tract of land existed—now a Seattle neighborhood—was named Fremont after Griffith’s home town. One of the main roads, Aurora, was named for Kilbourne’s hometown in Illinois.

Travel to Fremont from Seattle was difficult, however, as the only road was un-graveled and on a steep hill. Kilbourne and Griffith—joined by Frank H. Osgood—therefore constructed what would become Seattle’s first electric railroad in 1887. The railroad was an immediate success, and in 1891 was expanded to include a line to Green Lake, where Kilbourne had moved in 1890.

Kilbourne was also granted an electric light franchise and ultimately incorporated the Union Electric Company on February 23, 1892. His electricity career was prolific: in addition to his work in Seattle he also constructed more than forty irrigation pumping plants along the Columbia River, installed light and telephone systems for the city of Waterville, and more.

Kilbourne retired from business in 1911, but remained active in many other ways. He was greatly involved with the Plymouth Congregational Church, which he joined soon after his arrival in Seattle. He taught Sunday School for sixty-seven years, served as the Senior Deacon, was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and supervised the construction of a new church building. Furthermore, he was also a leading member of the YMCA and served on its board of directors and as president from 1860 to 1865. He was also very devoted to the public park system and helped with the establishment of Woodland Park, Ravenna Park, and others. Kilbourne was also a member of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Municipal League, the Nassack Club, Electric Club, West Coast Mineral Association, and the Plymouth Rocks. He died on August 15, 1959, and the age of 103.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Autobiographical and biographical accounts of Kilbourne's personal and professional life, as well as correspondence, writings (including articles that were printed in local newspapers), newsletters and publications mentioning Kilbourne's involvement in local organizations, and newspaper clippings pertaining to Kilbourne and other local issues.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's copyrights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into series.

Series 1, Biographical Materials

Series 2, Certificates

Series 3, Correspondence

Series 4, Writings

Series 5, Newsletters and Publications

Series 6, Clippings

Series 7, Miscellaneous

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Biographical Materials Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Autobiographical and Biographical Writings
undated

Certificates Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/2
Dental Examiner certificates
1888

Correspondence Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Incoming Correspondence
Box/Folder
1/3
Elizabeth
14 November 1954
1/3
Phinney, T. C.
5 August 1957
1/3
Poultry Tribune
December 1954
1/3
Tibbets, Marie
4 October 1936
1/3
Young Men's Christian Association
1943-1953
Outgoing Correspondence
Box/Folder
1/3
Editor, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
1931-1952
1/3
Editor, Saturday Evening Post
1 December 1949
1/3
Editor, Seattle Times
12 February 1954
1/3
Krogstad, Karl (Seattle Chamber of Commerce)
8 April 1949
1/3
McKee, Mary (Fauntleroy Congregational Church)
14 May 1948
1/3
Norman, Charles (Seattle YMCA)
3 June 1954
1/3
Scully
2 July 1943
1/3
Smith, Harold V., Frederick A. Burwell, and Henry W. Yulle
3 June 1954

Writings Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/4
"A Monkey Named Napa"
undated
1/4
"Columbia River Floods"
4 July 1948
1/4
"Electric Power Shortages"
Two copies. Printed as an editorial in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on March 9, 1949.
5 March 1949
1/4
"Green Lake Park"
1934
1/4
"How 5 Boys Learned Not to Smoke"
undated
1/4
"Kinnear Park"
Published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in the summer of 1888.
1888
1/4
"Longfellow Creek"
21 March 1949
1/4
"Parks"
undated
1/4
"Seattle's Seasonal Unemployment Problem and Its Solution"
21 June 1932
1/4
"Shep the Dog"
undated
1/4
"The Story of the George Coleman Boy's Club"
undated
1/4
Untitled anecdote
undated

Newsletters and Publications Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/5
Municipal News (Municipal League of Seattle and King County)
1921, 1932, 1954
1/5
"Plymouth Congregational Church" and The Plymouth News
1933-1949
1/5
Seattle Business
5 May 1954
1/5
"The Seattle Water System" by John Lamb
1 December 1928
1/5
The Y in Seattle (Seattle YMCA)
1944-1945, undated

Clippings Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/6
Clippings
1889-1958

Miscellaneous Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/7
Notes on the Denny party and autobiographical notes
undated
1/7
Photocopies of photographs
undated
1/7
"Memorial to the Green Lake Line"
26 January 1940

Scrapbook Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2
Scrapbook
c. 1903-1953

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Kilbourne, Edward Corliss, b. 1865--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Seattle (Wash.). Dept. of Lighting

Titles within the Collection

  • Poultry Tribune

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Phinney, T. C (creator)
    • Tibbetts, Marie (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Young Men's Christian Association (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)