William Compton Brown Papers

William Compton Brown Papers, 1830-1963

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Brown, William Compton, 1869-1963.
Title: William Compton Brown Papers
Dates: 1830-1963 (inclusive)
18301963
Quantity: 10.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (22 Boxes)
Collection Number: Cage 196 (collection)
Summary: Papers of Judge William Compton Brown, cheifly concerning the annual Okanogan rodeo, Brown's historical research and the publication of his writings about the pioneer Pacific Northwest, and the Indian wars of eastern Washington.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open and available for research use.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William Compton Brown was born and raised in Minnesota. He received a law degree in 1891 from the University of Minnesota. His law practice began in Minnesota. Through a "freak fusion" of the local government, Brown was elected county attorney of Marshall County in 1893. He was 22 years old at the time of this appointment. Mr. Brown came out to the Pacific Coast in 1897, traveled extensively in the area, and after being granted the right to practice law in Washington he set up a practice in Republic, Washington. While in Republic he went on several mining excursions. In 1901 he married Caroline Sidney Burleigh. After his marriage, Brown moved to Okanogan County. He became the County Attorney in Ferry County, Washington in 1903. This was followed with the position of a Judge of the Superior Court of Ferry County in 1904. Nearly 26 years later he became a Judge of the Superior Court of Okanogan County. He retired in 1946, and passed away in 1963 at the age of 94.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, diaries, notebooks, certificates, photographs, pictures, clippings, memoranda, printed matter, manuscripts of Judge William Compton Brown's writings for newspapers, books and pamphlets, and other papers. Correspondence chiefly concerns the annual Okanogan rodeo, Brown's historical research and the publication of his writings about the pioneer Pacific Northwest and the Indian wars of eastern Washington.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Some of the maps in this collection have been digitized as part of the Washington State University and University of Washington Early Washington Maps Digital Collection

Restrictions on Use

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

William Compton Brown Papers, 1830-1963 (Cage 196)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection has been divided into 11 series: Diaries and Notebooks; General Correspondence; Historical Information; Manuscripts; Miscellaneous; Newspapers; Notes; Papers; Photographs; Scrapbooks; and Oversize. The Diaries and Notebooks are arranged chronologically, while the rest of the series are alphabetically arranged. The photos labeled "Portraits" are not in any specific order.

Acquisition Information

The papers were gifted to WSU Libraries by William Compton Brown in various accessions between 1960-1963.

Processing Note

This collection was reprocessed by Lisa W. Bassett in 1988.

Separated Materials

A collection of photographs by Frank S. Matsura were seperated from the papers and processed as the Frank S. Matsura Photographs, 1907-1913 (PC 35)

Related Materials

Nez Perce Photographs, circa 1877-1905 (PC 83)

Lucullus Virgil McWhorter Photographs, circa 1868-1950 (PC 85)

Cull A. White Photographs and Negatives, 1861-1950 (PC 86)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Diaries and NotebooksReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
1	1	1897
1	2	1906-1907, 1917
1	3	1912
1	4	1918
1	5	1920
1	6	1928
1	7	1930-1931
1	8	1931-1937
2	9	1932-1935
2	10	1933
2	11	1936-1937
2	12	1938
3	13	1939
3	14	1940
3	15	1940-1941
3	16	1942
3	17	1943
4	18	1944
4	19	1945
4	20	1945-1946
4	21	1947-1948
5	22	1948-1949
5	23	1950-1951, 1952
6	24	1952-1954
6	25	1954-1955
6	26	1955-1958
7	27	1955-1956
7	28	1957-1958
7	29	1959-1962
7	30	1963-1964

Series 2: General CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
8	31	(A) To Judge Brown	1925
8	32	Captain J.C. Ainsworth	1883?
8	33	Mrs. Emmett Avery-Archivist WSU Libraries	1945-1962
8	34	(B) To Judge Brown	1925
8	35	To Judge Brown	1912, 1922, 1933-1944
8	36	From Judge Brown's Father	1906
8	37	(C) To Judge Brown	1925
8	38	(D) To Judge Brown	1924-1925
8	39	(E-F) To Judge Brown	1925
8	40	(G) To Judge Brown	1925
8	41	(H-J) To Judge Brown	1923-1925
8	42	(K-L) To Judge Brown	1924-1925
9	43	(M) To Judge Brown	1924-1925
9	44	McBean Information	undated
9	45	Archibald McDonald (Cyanotype)	1830-1880
9	46	From J.C. Murphy	1962-1963
9	47	(N-Q) To Judge Brown	1925
9	48	(P-Q) To Judge Brown	1925
9	49	PNW HISTORY: To Judge Brown	1925
9	50	PNW Affairs	1932
9	51	Publication of Judge Brown's Book "The Indian Side of the Story"	1960-1961
9	52	(R) To Judge Brown	1925
9	53	(S) To Judge Brown	1924-1925
9	54	Steptoe Butte	undated
9	55	(T,U,V) To Judge Brown	1924-1925
9	56	(W) To Judge Brown	1924-1925
9	57	RE: Changing the Name of the State of Washington	1955-1956
9	58	(Y,Z) To Judge Brown	1925

Series 3: Historical InformationReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
10	59	Colville Indians - General Information	1947
10	60	Old Fort Okanogan - General Information	1900s
10	61	Fort Okanogan	1930-1940
10	62	Osoyoos Lake Region	undated
10	63	Pacific Northwest History - Notes from readings	1914
10	64	Pacific Northwest - Biographical Sketches	1890-1960
10	65	Pacific Northwest - Notes	1911
10	66	Riverside - Early History	undated
10	67	Stevens County, Washington - History	1904
10	68	Walla Walla Indian Expedition to Sacramento Valley	undated
10	69	Willamette Valley	undated

Series 4: Manuscript-"The Indian Side of the Story"Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
11	70	Chapter 1 - Introductory	undated
11	71	Chapter 2 - Period of Joint Occupation in Oregon	undated
11	72	Chapter 3 - Basic Advances Coming On	undated
11	73	Chapter 4 - Immigration of 1843, Dr. Whitman's Ride, Fremont Presidential Election of 1844, Treaty of 1846	undated
11	74	Chapter 5 - Further Revenues of Basic Developments	undated
11	75	Chapter 6 - Whitman Massacre and Cayuse War	undated
11	76	Chapter 7 - Washington Territory and Governor Stevens Enter the Scene	undated
11	77	Chapter 8 - Family Line of Ka-mi-ah-kin Introduced	undated
11	78	Chapter 9 - Early Life of Ka-mi-ah-kin Prior to 1855	undated
11	79	Chapter 10 - The Year 1855 up to Signing of Treaties	undated
11	80	Chapter 11 - As to Why the Indians Signed the Yakima Treaty Proposals	undated
11	81	Chapter 12 - As to the Year 1855	undated
11	82	Chapter 13 - The Year 1856	undated
11	83	Chapter 14 - Second Walla Walla Council and Connected Events	undated
11	84	Chapter 15 - The Year 1857	undated
11	85	Chapter 16 - The Crucial Year of 1858	undated
11	86	Chapter 17 - The Year 1858 Between Steptoe's Defeat and the Start of Wright's Advance	undated
11	87	Chapter 18 - Summer 1858, Garnett's Raid	undated
11	88	Earlier Version of Chapter 18 - A General and Interim Discussion of 1858	undated
11	89	Chapter 19 - Wright's Expedition: Its Organization and Advance from Ft. Walla Walla to Spokane Falls	undated
11	90	Chapter 20 - Wright's Expedition from Spokane Falls to Coeur d' Alene Mission and thence to Spokane Council	undated
11	91	Chapter 21 - The Spokane Council and Attendant Features	undated
11	92	Chapter 22 - The Hanging of Qualchen and Connected Matters	undated
11	93	Chapter 23 - Closing Events of Wright's Expedition	undated
11	94	Chapter 24 - Dept. is Divided and General Wm. S. Harney is put in Command of Oregon and Washington Territory	undated
11	95	Chapter 25 - For the Indians of Eastern Washington A hard period of Existence came in 1859	undated
12	96	Chapter 26 - The Moses Agreement and Other Developments Bring on Changing Conditions	undated
12	97	Chapter 27 - Family History	undated
12	98	Chapter 28 - Escape of Steptoe's Command Further Mentioned	undated
12	99	Chapter 29 - No title	undated
12	100	Chapter 30 - Important Narratives and Reports	undated
12	101	"The Indian Side of the Story" - Miscellaneous Material and Information	undated
12	102	Journal Entries	1948, 1959-1960
12	103	Journeys of Father Davis - PNW History	undated
12	104	Ka-mi-ah-kin - General Information	undated
12	105	Killing of Kee-low-pack-kin	1959
12	106	Oregon History - Provisional Government of Old Oregon, Chapter 3	undated
12	107	Oregon History - Beginnings of Indian Trouble in Old Oregon Grey's Expedition, Chapter 4	undated
12	108	Oregon History - Developments in Old Oregon further discussed Gray's Expedition, Chapter 5	undated
12	109	Oregon History - Gray's Expedition to Ash Hollow, 1837, Appendix 1	undated
12	110	RE: Okanogan and Ferry Counties	1950
12	111	Yakima Indians	undated
12	112	Unknown Source - Chapter 3, The Year 1853 and 1854	undated

Series 5: MiscellaneousReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
13	113	Problems of Archeology in Central Washington	undated
13	114	Excavations of Two Fort Okanogan Sites	1952
13	115	Executive Document - Judson's Check List Numbers 894, 906, 1099	undated
13	116	Miscellaneous Information	undated
13	117	Notes from Course - History and Government of the State of Washington	1948

Series 6: NewspapersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
13	118	The Columbian	1852
13	118	The Methow Valley News	1913
13	119	Newspapers Clippings	1930-1960
13	120	Newspaper Scrapbook	1930-1940

Series 7: NotesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
13	121	Abstracts concerning Ranald McDonald	undated
13	122	Information on Judge Brown's Parents	1900-1940
13	123	Information on Income Tax	1940
13	124	Pay receipts and licenses for Town of Ruby	1891
13	125	Personal Information	undated
13	126	Political Information	1940
13	127	Travel Log - Okanogan	1926
13	128	Travel by Judge Wm. C. Brown	1899

Series 8: PapersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	129	Agreement for Building Wharf and Company	1908
14	130	Articles of Association	1903
14	131	Articles of Incorporation	1909
14	132	W.T. Beck - vs - Defendents	1909
14	133	Bill of Sale - W.C. Wilson	1924
14	134	By-laws, etc.	undated
14	135	Criminal Cases - Brief	undated
14	136	Dedication - Crisalice Addition to North Alma	1908
14	137	Deed Contract	1900
14	138	Denny Contract	1910
14	139	Divorce Agreement, Frank and Mahala Read	undated
14	140	Ferry Court Briefs	undated
14	141	Ferry - vs - Cleck	undated
14	142	Flaherty, William and Rose - Annexation of Said Lands	1909
14	143	Green, J.H. - vs - Okanogan County	1908
14	144	Historical Abstracts - G.B. Dandy, James Doty, General Harney, E.D. Keyes	1858-1859, 1923
14	145	Lamotte's - vs - McKissick's	1906
14	146	Land Agreements	1908
14	147	Legislature to create new Judgeship	1900
14	148	Little-Wetsel Company	1920?
15	149	Mague - vs - Defendants	1910?
15	150	Introduction to Archibald McDonald	1917?
15	151	Miscellaneous Writings	1904
15	152	Mortgages	1900, 1907-1908
15	153	Chief Moses - Biographical Sketch	undated
15	154	Pace - vs - Ployart	1908
15	155	Plumb - vs - Proctor	undated
15	156	Political speeches and information	undated
15	157	Rights of lode claims	1903
15	158	Seymour, Paul - vs - Superintendent of Washington State Penitentiary	1961
15	159	Sheep Licensing regulations	1903
15	160	Smith, Harry and Morris, Bob - vs - Hanson, Thomas	undated
15	161	Stack Supply Company	undated
15	162	Starr - vs - Stutsman	1906
15	163	Steamer, Frances	1870-1890
15	164	Water Agreements	undated
15	165	Water Rights	1908
15	166	Wills	1917-1918

Series 9: PhotographsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
16	167	Brown Family
16	168	Brown Family
16	169	Brown Family Houses
16	170	Brown Family Pet's
16	171	Wm. C. Brown's Parents
16	172	Ruth and Horace Brown
16	173	Sidney Brown
16	174	Brown Family Cemetery Plots
		Photographs- Individual Indians
Box	Folder
17	175	Chief Awhi (Owhi)
17	176	Chiliwhist, Jim and Family
17	177	Felix, Margaret
17	178	Fisher, Sam
17	179	George, Annie
17	180	George, Sam and Family
17	181	Homas, Jim and Wife
17	182	Ina and Wife
17	183	James, Chief and Wife
17	184	Johnston, Robert
17	185	Joseph, Chief
17	186	Kamiakin, Chief Cleveland
17	187	(Fried) Lander, Sam and George
17	188	Loquat and Indian Police
17	189	Moses, Chief
17	190	Moses, Mary
17	191	Nespelem, George
17	192	Nespelem, Wolf
17	193	Ollicot
17	194	Pah-ween, Tom (Tom Powell)
17	195	Penah Medicine Man
17	196	Peo Peo Tho-lekt
17	197	Peter, Wolf
17	198	Red, Star
17	199	Red Thunder, Joseph
17	200	Sholaskin, Chief
17	201	Simpsom, Billy
17	202	Tomeo and Wife
17	203	Tonasket, Chief
17	204	Waters, Tom
17	205	We-Yallup-Wa-Ya-Chika
17	206	Wilpocken, Chief
17	207	Wilpocken, Emma
17	208	Williams, David
17	209	Yellow Bull
17	210	Yellow Wolf
		Photographs - Indian Miscellaneous
Box	Folder
17	211	Blackfoot Bonnet of Chief Moses
17	212	Blackfoot Indians
17	213	Indian Encampments
17	214	Indian Graves and Monuments
17	215	Indian Group Pictures
17	216	Miscellaneous Indian Photos
17	217	Miscellaneous Indian Photos
		Photographs - Miscellaneous
Box	Folder
18	218	Blacksmith and Tack Shop
18	219	Calgary Stampede
18	220	Caribou Road, British Columbia
18	221	Chesaw, Washington
18	222	Columbia River and Grand Coulee Dam
18	223	Conconully, Washington
18	224	Fort Colville
18	225	Fort George
18	226	Fort Taylor
18	227	Hunting and Fishing
18	228	Miscellaneous
18	229	Miscellaneous Travel Photos of Montana
18	230	Nespelem River
18	231	Nespelem, Washington
18	232	Fort Okanogan
18	233	Okanogan Area Sites
18	234	Okanogan City
18	235	Okanogan High Bridge
18	236	Okanogan Irrigation Project
18	237	Okanogan River
18	238	Okanogan Rodeo
18	239	Omak, Washington
18	240	Pendleton Round-Up
18	241	Prince Rupert, British Columbia
18	242	Republic, Washington
18	243	Riverside, Washington
19	244	Ruby City, Washington
19	245	Stage Coaches
19	246	Steamboats
19	247	Steptoe Battle Site
19	248	Tonasket, Washington
19	249	Toppenish Mountain Battle Site
19	250	Wapato Port Mission
19	251	Site of Casey, Washington
19	252	Waterville, Washington
		Photographs - Portraits
Box	Folder
19	253	Portraits - Women
19	254	Group Portraits
19	255	Portraits - Men
19	256	Couples
19	257	Family Portraits - Unidentified
19	258	Horsemen and Women
19	259	Portraits
19	260	Famous Individuals
19	261-263	Brown Family and Friends
		States
Box	Folder
20	264	Alaska
20	265	California
20	266	Mexico
21	267	Minnesota - Part I
21	268	Minnesota - Part II - Cyanotypes
21	269	Montana - Hungry Horse Dam
21	270	Northwest Sites
21	271	Postcards - Pacific Northwest
21	272	Postcards - States, Miscellaneous
21	273	Puget Sound
21	274	Spokane - Chinese Photographs
21	275	States - Miscellaneous
21	276	States - Miscellaneous - Cyanotypes
22	277	Vieh, Edna - Photo Collection

Series 10: ScrapbooksReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
23	278	Scrapbook
23	279	Scrapbook

Series 11: Oversize - Map CaseReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
OS	1	Galley Proofs - The Indian Side of The Story	undated
OS	2a	Map of the State of Washington - Showing Location of the Colville Indian Reservation. Published by Nespelem Information Bureau, Inc.	1910
OS	2b	Map of tract of land in the State of Washington where the Hudson Bay Company built Fort Okanogan on the Columbia	1838
OS	3a	"Men Who Served as Volunteer U.S. Scouts and Couriers." Issued by J.W. Redington	1926
OS	3b	Plat of Lot 7 Sec. 21 Tp 30N, Rng 25 EWM, Fort Okanogan and Surrounding Area.	undated
OS	4a	Township 21N, Range 42 EWM/43 EWM, Spokane County, Washington. Copyright Chas F. Metsker	undated
OS	4b	Township 30N, Range 25 EWM, Douglas County/Okanogan County. Copyright by Chas F. Metsker	undated
OS	4c	Township 20N, Range 43 EWM, Whitman County. Copyright by Chas F. Metsker	undated
OS	4d	Fort Okanogan Overlook Proposed Parking Area and Entrance Road. State of Washington Parks and Rec. Commission, Olympia, Washington	1952
OS	5a	Map of Fort Okanogan - Prepared from Field Notes by Garth.	undated
OS	5b	The Canadian West. Compiled from the Government Maps. Revised.	1909 January
OS	5c	Fort Spokane. Compiled by U.S. Department of the Interior	undated
OS	6a	Plan of Col. Steptoe's Battlefield on the Ingossomon Creek. Prepared under the direction of Lieut. John Mullen	1853
OS	6b	Notice of Property Rights for the State of Minnesota. Crow Wing County. Photocopy	1873
OS	6c	The Okanogan - Caribou Trail. Published and printed by Edward W. Pulver	1922
OS	6c	Historical sketch of the Okanogan - Caribou Trail by Wm. C. Brown	1923-1924
OS	7a	Map of the Salmon River Mines, Washington Territory. Compiled from Official Notes filed in the Office of Charles H. Ballard, U.S. Department of Mines	1888 March
OS	7b	Washington - Railroad. Published by Rand McNally and Co.	1895
OS	8	Map of the Province of British Columbia. Published and Copyrighted by the Dominion Publishing Company, Vancouver British Columbia	1893
OS	9	Certificates of Recognition for Wm. C. Brown. These awards spanned his entire life.
OS	10	Album - Collection of Family and Friends for a total of (9) pictures. A directory is included in the front of the album.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Indians of North America -- Wars -- Northwest, Pacific.
Nez Perce Indians -- Wars, 1877.
Pacific Coast Indians, Wars with, 1847-1865.
Rodeos -- Washington (State) -- Okanogan County.

Personal Names

Brown, William Compton, 1869-1963 -- Archives.

Geographical Names

Okanogan County (Wash.) -- History -- Sources.
Washington (State) -- History -- Sources.

Archives West Finding Aid

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