Michael Sullivan papers, 1864-1950

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sullivan, Michael
Title
Michael Sullivan papers
Dates
1864-1950 (inclusive)
1975-1981 (bulk)
Quantity
3 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0055michaelsullivan (collection)
Summary
Michael Sullivan was a Whatcom County historic preservation planner who directed two very important projects: the Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey and the Vintage Bellingham Survey. The collection includes correspondence, notes, articles, surveys, audio tapes and slides produced and accumulated during his tenure. The collection also includes various research and reference materials on historical people and places of Whatcom County in Washington State.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open to the public.

Languages
English.
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Michael Sullivan was the Historic Preservation Planner for the Whatcom County Park and Recreation Board. He was instrumental in carrying out both the Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey and the Vintage Bellingham Survey. Both projects were aimed at identifying sites in Whatcom County that could be designated for historical preservation status on the county register.

During his career, Mr. Sullivan also produced a large collection of research and reference notes on the history of Whatcom County places and pioneers, much of which was donated with the other materials in this collection. His research records include historic manuscript material including Henry Roeder diaries, 1850-1878; Fairhaven folktales of Dirty Dan Harris; early histories of Mt. Baker National Forest, Point Roberts, Ferndale and Bellingham.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Michael Sullivan papers document two important historical preservation projects in the Bellingham and Whatcom County area, both conducted during Michael Sullivan’s tenure as Historic Preservation Planner for the Whatcom County Park and Recreation Board. The collection also contains various research and reference materials on Whatcom County pioneers and places gathered by Mr. Sullivan during his career. .

Sullivan's papers include personal and official records generated during the Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey. The project was planned and carried out during the years 1978-1980, and aimed at identifying sites in Whatcom County with historic significance to be considered for placement on the county register of historic places. Materials include the administrative records of the project’s advisory board, personal papers and notes of Michael Sullivan who directed the project, forms generated during the actual carrying out of the project, and various photographs and slides depicting buildings that were considered for historical designation in the Whatcom County area.

The collection also includes documentation of the Vintage Bellingham Survey organized by the Whatcom County Arts Commission and led by Michael Sullivan. These records contain informational materials distributed to participants of the survey as well as the completed forms from the following Bellingham neighborhoods: Lettered Streets, Sehome, South Hill, and the York District.

In the course of his work, Sullivan collected research and reference materials regarding Whatcom County and Whatcom County pioneers. These materials comprise newspaper clippings and biographies of important Bellingham and Whatcom County characters, Sullivan's personal research notes, diaries and notes of Henry Roeder and extensive information on "Dirty" Dan Harris. Reference materials regarding Whatcom County history includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, personal notes, photographs, and negatives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Michael Sullivan Papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is organized in accordance with the following series and subseries arrangement:

  • Series I: Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey, 1978-1985 (bulk 1978-1981)
    • Subseries One: Survey Board Advisory Materials, 1978-1985
    • Subseries Two: Survey Inventory Forms, 1979
    • Subseries Three: Historical Preservation Survey Slides, 1978
  • Series II: Whatcom County Arts Commission Survey - "Vintage Bellingham," 1977-1979
    • Subseries One: General Survey Information, 1977
    • Subseries Two: Completed Survey Forms, 1979
  • Series III: Research and Reference Materials on Whatcom County pioneers, 1864-1981
  • Series IV: Regional Research and Reference Materials, 1880-1975

Acquisition Information

Michael Sullivan donated his papers to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in 2006.

Bibliography

Sullivan, Michael. The Fairhaven Folktales of Dirty Dan Harris. Ink Slinger Publication Company, 1981.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I:  Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey, 1978-1985 ,   (bulk 1978-1981 ) Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1 : Survey Advisory Board Administrative Materials
1978-1985
Box/Folder
1/1
Correspondence
 1978-1980
1/2
Letters and Certificates of Appreciation
 1979-1985
1/3
Meeting agendas and minutes
1979
1/4
Notes
 undated
1/5
Publications
 1979
1/6
Information re: Historical Sites and Historic Register
 undated
1/7
Information re: Oral History and Cultural Resource Survey
circa 1979
1/8 - 1/9
Audio Cassette Tapes (Whatcom County Advisory Board on Historical Preservation),
1979
2/1
Audio Cassette Tapes (Whatcom County Advisory Board on Historical Preservation)
 1979
Subseries 2 : Survey Inventory Forms
1979
Box/Folder
2/2
Information and blank forms
 Undated
2/3
Acme
 1979
2/4
Bellingham
 1979
2/5
Barron, Chancellor and Ruby City
 1979
2/6
Birch Bay
 1979
2/7
Blaine
 1979
2/8
Blaine Depot
 1979
2/9
Custer
 1979
2/10
Deming
 1979
2/11
Everson
 1979
3/1
Ferndale
 1979
3/2
Glacier
 1979
3/3
Glacier Ranger Station
 1979
3/4
Lawrence
 1979
3/5
Loggie House
 1979
3/6
Lone Jack Mine
 1979
3/7
Laurel
 1979
3/8
Lummi Island
 1979
3/9
Lynden
 1979
3/10
Maple Falls
 1979
3/11
Marietta
 1979
3/12
Nooksack
 1979
3/13
Pickett House
 1979
3/14
Post Offices, historic
 1979
3/15
Saxon
 1979
3/16
Skagit River Area, upper
 1979
3/17
Sumas
 1979
3/18
Van Wyck-Rome
 1979
3/19
Van Zandt
 1979
3/20
Wickersham
 1979
Subseries 3 : Historical Preservation Survey Slides
circa 1978
box-row
4/A1
Bellingham and vicinity
 circa 1978
4/A2
Lone Jack - Twin Lakes, Deming, Van Zandt, Lawrence
 circa 1978
4/A3
Acme, Saxon, Wiker, Park
 circa 1978
4/A4
Glacier, Shuksan, Excelsior, Maple Falls, Silver Lake
 circa 1978
4/A5
Barns, vintage photos
 circa 1978
4/A6
Cabins
 circa 1978
4/B1
Lummi Island, Reservation, Marietta
 circa 1978
4/B2
Lynden, Everson, Nooksack
 circa 1978
4/B3
Ferndale
 circa 1978
4/B4
Laurel - Wiser Lake, Ten Mile, Sumas
 circa 1978
4/B5
Custer, Blaine
 circa 1978
4/B6
Unidentified
 Undated

Series II:  Whatcom County Arts Commission Survey - "Vintage Bellingham", 1977-1979Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1 : General Survey Information
1977
Box/Folder
5/1
"Manual for the Neighborhood Resources Inventory," "Sites from the County Surveys of Historical Places, and other informational materials
 1977
Subseries 2 : Completed Survey Forms
circa 1979
Box/Folder
5/2-5/3
Lettered Streets
 circa 1979
5/4-5/5
Sehome
 circa 1979
5/6-5/7
South Hill
 circa 1979
5/8
York District
 circa 1979

Series III:  Research and reference materials on Whatcom County pioneers, 1864-1980Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
5/9
Eldridge, Edward and Teresa, correspondence and newspaper clippings
 circa 1907-1918
5/10
Harris, "Dirty" Dan, newspaper clippings and Michael Sullivan personal notes
 circa 1867-1918; 1980
5/11
Harris, "Dirty" Dan, District Court records
 1864-1869
5/12
Harris, "Dirty" Dan, The Fairhaven Folktales of Dirty Dan Harris
1981
5/13
Harris, William, journal
 Undated
5/14
Roeder, Henry, diaries, certificate from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
 circa 1850s
5/15
Swan, James G., letter to Major George B. Hibbard
 1899
5/16
Tennant, John, newspaper clippings and Michael Sullivan personal notes
 1972; circa 1980
5/17
Thornton, Dr. Augustus W., biographical sketch
 undated
5/18
Thorsteinson, Dagbort and Helgi
 circa 1975

Series IV:  Regional Research and Reference Materials, circa 1872-1975Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1 : Research Papers
1880-1975
Box/Folder
5/19
Bellingham Bay history, newspaper clippings and Forty Years on Bellingham Bay 1852-92
1880
5/20
Ferndale Area history, newspaper clippings and Michael Sullivan personal notes
 circa 1900; undated
5/21
Mt. Baker and Washington National Forests histories
 circa 1930-1950
5/22
Point Roberts newspaper clippings
 circa 1950s
5/23
Whatcom County Bridge Data
 1908-1975
Subseries 2 : Photographs
circa 1872-1955
Box/Folder
6/1
Buildings and barns
undated
6/2
Buildings in Bellingham
undated
6/3
Blaine District
undated
6/4
Blaine - Great Northern Railroad Depot nomination
 undated
6/5
C.C.C., W.P.A.
1940
6/6
Chuckanut Drive Area
1920-1925
6/7
Fairhaven Hotel
1890; 1955
6/8
Forest Service, Mt. Baker Lodge and Glacier Ranger Station
1924-1927
6/9
Lummi Island nomination
undated
6/10
Portraits of John H. Fravel and Ella Higginson
1872; undated
6/11 - 6/12
Unidentified buildings and places
 undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architecture, Domestic--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History--Sources.
  • Architecture, Domestic--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Surveys--Sources.
  • Architecture, Domestic--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Sources--Photographs.
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History--Sources.
  • Historic preservation--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Sources.
  • Legends--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Area.

Personal Names

  • Harris, Daniel Jefferson--1826-1890.
  • Roeder, Henry--1824-1902.
  • Sullivan, Michael--1950- --Archives.

Corporate Names

  • Whatcom County Park Board.

Geographical Names

  • Baker, Mount, Region (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Bellingham (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Ferndale (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Point Roberts (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources--Slides.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Surveys--Buildings, structures, etc.--Sources.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Personal correspondence.
  • Photographs.
  • Records (Documents)

Finding aid prepared by Roz Koester
2006

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