Potlatch Lumber Company Records, 1901-1979

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Potlatch Lumber Company
Title
Potlatch Lumber Company Records
Dates
1901-1979 (inclusive)
Quantity
111 Cubic Feet
Collection Number
MG135 (collection)
Summary
Correspondence, financial records, contracts and specifications, maps, blueprints, photographs and other records of a sawmill, logging and lumbering company; also included are records ofsubsidiaries and affiliates such as Potlatch Mercantile Company, Potlatch Townsite Department, and the company town of Potlatch; also the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Company.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Potlatch Lumber Company, Potlatch, Idaho, was incorporated in 1903 under the laws of the state of Maine, with Charles Weyerhaeuser named as its first president. For timber the company relied on the holdings of the Northland Pine and the Wisconsin Log and Lumber Companies. Soon it acquired mills and timber of Codd Lumber Company of Colfax, Washington, and Palouse River Lumber Company of Palouse, Washington. The Codd mill did not operate and the Palouse mill served only to cut lumber to build the Potlatch town and plant.

In 1904 the building of the largest white pine mill in the world began. It was steam powered and driven by belts and shafts. W. A. Wilkinson of Minnesota was in charge of the design, plans, and construction. The company believed a company town was a necessary investment and a proper step in labor relations and community improvement. When the mill began operating in the fall of 1906 the company had finished 128 houses, 2 boarding houses, 2 schools, a hotel, 2 churches, a store, bank, post office, and an opera house. Saloons were barred and gambling was not allowed in the bunkhouses. In 1952 the town of Potlatch was incorporated and houses were sold to those who wanted to purchase them; the last property was sold in 1982.

Under the general managership of William Deary the mill began operation on September 11, 1906. Assisting him in the management of the mill were Allison W. Laird, assistant manager, and timber cruiser, William Helmer. According to the Palouse Republic, September 14, 1906, "The first log cut will be white pine and the lumber will be fashioned into a desk for assistant manager A. W. Laird."

In 1910 the company built a mill in Elk River which operated until 1930. They also supported their operations through the creation of other companies. In order to haul logs to the mill and lumber from the mill to an existing railroad at Palouse, the company built a 50 mile long railway, the Washington, Idaho, and Montana, which ran from Palouse to Purdue, Idaho. The Townsite Company and its commercial center, the Potlatch Mercantile Company, as well as Potlatch Brick Company, were located at Potlatch, Idaho. They also operated the Palouse Flour Mill in Palouse, Washington.

In 1930 the Weyerhaeuser conglomerate faced the possibility that, due to heavy taxation of privately owned timber land by the state, all of its North Idaho mills would go bankrupt. So, in 1931, they merged Potlatch Lumber Company, Edward Rutledge Timber Company, and Clearwater Timber Company to form Potlatch Forests, Inc., with headquarters in Lewiston. The mills were modernized, managerial talents pooled, and by the early 1940's the business was making a profit. The Potlatch mill was again modernized in 1962 and a new office building was completed in 1964.

The mill continued to operated until August 14, 1981 when, due to a depressed lumber market, it closed. It was thought that this closure, like several before it, was temporary, but on March 16, 1983, announcement of a permanent closure effective April 1 was announced. Shortly thereafter dismantling of the mill began.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The records of the Potlatch Lumber Company, Potlatch, Idaho, span the years 1901 to 1979, with the bulk of the material dated 1906-1950. Prior to receipt by the library, the Potlatch office manager removed all personnel records and other sensitive items. The remainder includes 41 c.f. of correspondence, alphabetical files containing both employee and company related materials, contracts and agreements for work to be done or equipment purchases, specifications and blueprints for plant machinery, annual and monthly financial reports, and property tax lists and receipts. In addition, there are 128 ledgers and journals, 24 maps of timber holdings, 285 blueprints of buildings and 355 photographs.

Due to the inter-relationship of the Potlatch organization there are also some records for the company mills at Palouse, Washington, and Elk River, Idaho, and the Washington, Idaho, and Montana Railway Company, the Potlatch Brick Company, and the Palouse Flour Mill. Since the town of Potlatch was a company town there are also records for the Townsite Company, the Potlatch Mercantile Company, and the company ranch.

As part of the Weyerhaeuser conglomerate the lumber company received annual reports for the Humbird and Standard Lumber Companies, and various circular letters and reports from the Weyerhaeuser Sales Company.

Other records include material from the Columbia/Appledale Land Company, 1910-1912, and the Northland Pine Company, 1901-1905, companies in which William Deary, the first general manager of the Potlatch Lumber Company, had ,an interest.

The University of Idaho Library also has other material relating to Potlatch Forests, Inc., which complements these records: George Frederick Jewett Papers (MG 43); Potlatch Forests, Inc., (Coeur d'Alene & Bonners Ferry operations) (MG 96); Potlatch Forests, Inc., Camp 6, Bovill (MG 52); and the records of the Washington, Idaho, and Montana Railway Company (MG 139).

In addition, the archives of the Laird Norton Company in Seattle, Washington, contains 16 cubic feet of Potlatch-related material from the years 1903-1955.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records of the Potlatch Lumber Company were stored in the basement of the office building in Potlatch and had suffered various shifts over time. When they were collected by University of Idaho library staff and removed to the library there was no discernible arrangement to the material; therefore, the series and sub-series designations were created during processing.

The first three series consist of Potlatch Mill records; correspondence arranged alphabetically by year; alphabetical files divided into employee-related and company-related materials, and contracts, agreements, specifications, and blueprints.

The fourth series contains financial reports. The annual reports for 1909-1930 include the Elk River Mill and balance sheets for the Potlatch State Bank and Potlatch Mercantile Co. The monthly financial statements from 1905 to 1915 include Potlatch, Palouse, and Elk River Mills, Palouse Flour Mill, Potlatch Mercantile Co., and Potlatch State Bank.

Material identified as relating to the Land Department or the Logging and Woods Departments form two series; the affiliated companies, e.g., the Mercantile Company, Company Ranch, Townsite Company, etc., were all placed in one series. This is followed by material from Weyerhaeuser Sales Company, part of the parent company, and loose material related to timber and forestry organizations.

The financial ledgers and journals are arranged by department or organization. The forestry maps and building blueprints were collected into one oversize series. The photographs have been separated into three groups: the illustration printing blocks, the mounted photographs, and the oversize photographs.

Where ledgers and journals contained the same information, the journals were removed. Also removed were minor accounting records, such as lath books, invoice record books, order books, transfer binders, and vouchers. In all, the records were reduced by approximately 53.5 c.f.

The finding aid was revised in 2014 to improve retrieval of materials.

Location of Collection

Special Collections and Archives of the University of Idaho Library. Except otherwise noted, all materials are shelved in the cage area, at ranges 74 and 75.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Potlatch Lumber Company were donated to the University of Idaho by the Potlatch Corporation in November, 1983.

Bibliography

"End of an Era: Potlatch Unit Closes." Potlatch Times (Lewiston), March/April 1983, pp. 4-5.

Hidy, Ralph W., Frank Hill, and Allen Nevins. Timber and Men: The Weyerhaeuser Story. New York: Macmillan, 1963.

Petersen, Keith. "Life in a Company town, Potlatch, Idaho." Latah Legacy, Spring 1981, pp. 1-11.

Petersen, Keith. "Farewell to the Potlatch Mill." Latah Legacy, Fall 1983, pp. 16-25.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Mill Correspondence and Other Papers , 1906-1979Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Letterbooks
1903-1907
Box Folder
1 1
Orders
1 item
1904-1905
1-4 2-30
Letterbooks
29 items
1903-1907
B. Correspondence
1902-1979
Box Folder
5 31
William Deary
74 items
1902-1903
5 32
7 items
1903-1904
5 33-47
2173 items
1905
5 48-50
A-C
486 items
1906
6 51-61
D-Z
2047 items
1906
6 62-67
821 items
1907-1908
7 68-79
1695 items
1909-1911
7 80-90
601 items
1912-1923
8 91-94
50 items
1924-1940
8 95-119
1897 items
1941-1949
9 120-152
1465 items
1950-1979
C. Other Papers
Box Folder
9 153-167
Speeches and Reports
27 items
1917-1961
10 168-181
Circular Letters Sent to Employees
438 items
1944-1957
10 182
Railway and Meal Tickets and other papers
19 items
1907-1939
10 183-185
The Family Tree, Correspondence and typescripts
97 items
1935-1956
10 186
The Potlatch Pine Cone
10 items
January-October 1955
10 187-188
Brochures, articles, newspaper clippings
18 items
1942-1963
10 189-191
Laird Park
72 items
1932-1938

Series II. Alphabetical Files , 1905-1962Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Employee Related Material
1910-1959
Box Folder
10 192-196
Accidents and Illness
132 items
1947-1962
10 197-199
Employees Information
11 items
1953-1956
10 200-206
Insurance Plans
107 items
1930-1957
10 207-209
Job Descriptions and Instruction pamphlets
65 items
1940-1958
10 210-214
Labor Force Reports
94 items
1944-1948
10 215
Management Meetings
22 items
1955-1958
10 216
Organizational Charts
8 items
1951
11 217-226
Personnel policies and reports
17 items
1943-1958
11 227-228
Safety and first aid meetings & programs
21 items
1952-1959
11 229-230
Sales Trainee Program
17 items
1953-1958
11 231-237
Security
324 items
1941-1943
11 238
Suggestions
31 items
1949-1959
11 239
Training Institute Program and Reports
19 items
1958
11
Unions
Folder
11 240-248
4L
127 items
1933-1936
11 249-257
AFL & IEU
233 items
1937-1940
11 258-260
AFL
159 items
1941-1942
12 261-265
AFL
214 items
1943
12 266-269
AFL & CIO
119 items
1944
12 270-288
CIO
644 items
1945-1956
12 289-291
AFL-CIO
61 items
1957-1959
12
Wages
Folder
12 292-293
21 items
1910
12 294
5 items
1916-1918
13 295-303
347 items
1933-1959
B. Company Related Material
Box Folder
13 304
Airplane Stock Statements
16 items
1918
13 305
Airstrip
2 items
1959
13 306
Arkansas Mills
10 items
1960
13 307
Army-YMCA Fund
22 items
1917
13 308
Automatic Trimmers
1 item
1955
13 309
Automobile License Applications
244 items
1923-1931
13 310-313
Bond Drives
76 items
1940-1945
13 314
Boy Scouts
7 items
1947-1957
13 315
By-Laws, Potlatch Forests, Inc.
1 item
undated
13 316
Car Loading
13 items
1955-1958
13 317-319
Claims
178 items
1952-1962
13 320
Company History
5 items
1936-1960
13 321
Corliss Engine
4 items
1947-1959
13 322
Crane
9 items
1955-1956
13 323
Dry Kiln
31 items
1951-1958
13 324
Elk River Mill Production Statements
20 items
1915-1917
13 325
Fast-on-Lumber
1 item
undated
13
Financial Statements
Folder
13 326
Accounts receivable, Local
6 items
1953-1954
13 327
Balance Sheets
6 items
1915-1916
13 328
Budget reconcilements
11 items
1950
13 329-335
Budgets
7 items
1950-1959
13 336-338
Costs
12 items
1905-1917; 1951-1960
14 339-340
Fire Program & Survey of Equipment
33 items
1954-1960
14 341
Fuel & Power Plant Data
25 items
1952-1961
14 342
Glued Lumber
15 items
1951-1955
14 343
Grade simplification & standardization
1 item
1961
14 344
Harsh Fire
27 items
1919
14 345-346
Honor Roll: Company & Community
2 items
1946
14 347-353
Inspection reports: Fire & Safety
208 items
1934-1963
14 354-355
Insurance Coverage
219 items
1932-1959
14 356-365
Insurance Inspection Reports
222 items
1941-1963
14 366
Jamboree Programs
6 items
1937-1949
14 367
Knot slices used as badges
12 items
1951-1954
14 368-371
Logs
63 items
1952-1960
14 372
Logging Department Horses
95 items
1927-1941
14 373
Lubrication Requirements
7 items
1954-1958
14 374
Lumber Purchased Reports
15 items
1953
14 375-376
Maintenance & Modernization
59 items
1946-1961
14 377
Moulding
4 items
1951
14 378
Noise Survey
1 item
1962
14 379
Office Equipment
124 items
1928-1943
14 380
Paneling
8 items
1954-1956
14 381
Particle Board
2 items
1956
14 382
Patty-o-Panel
5 items
1955-1957
14 383
Planer
9 items
1956-1957
14 384
Plant Operations
2 items
1954, 1957
14 385
Pres-to-Logs
7 items
1952
14 386
Price Lists/Tables of comparative value
45 items
1948-1953
14
Production Reports
Folder
15 387
10/4 Match Data
18 items
1951
15 388-389
Arches, Glued & Laminated
23 items
1946-1948
15 390
Briquette Statements
35 items
1938-1940
15 391
Comparative Logging
15 items
1915
15 392
Cup Split Grade & Unstacker Grade
24 items
1957-1959
15 393
Custom Milling
15 items
1947-1948
15 394
Cut-up operations
31 items
1946-1948
15 395-396
Dry Kiln
114 items
1953-1963
15 397
Elk River Mill Cut
21 items
1923-1930
15 398
Glue Dept.
6 items
1948
15 399
Green Chain Scale Check
20 items
1951-1953
15 400-401
Green Lumber Check
52 items
1957-1962
15 402
Knot Seal Dept.
16 items
1947-1948
15 403
Lath & Lumber Shop
5 items
1913-1914
15 404
Lath Inventory
33 items
1946-1948
15 405
Loading Report
24 items
1960-1962
15 406
Log Lengths
4 items
1960-1961
15 407
Log Scale Sawed
2 items
1914-1935
15 408-410
Lumber Movement
38 items
1946-1948
15 411-413
Monthly Production Reports
36 items
1946-1948
15 414
Moulding Dept.
70 items
1946-1957
15 415-416
Overrun
71 items
1960-1963
15 417-418
Planer production
131 items
1953-1963
15 419
Pond Inventory
49 items
1957-1963
15 420
Power plant distribution
55 items
1947-1960
15 421-423
Pres-to-Logs
223 items
1940-1958
16 424
Production Comparisons, 3 units
6 items
1952-1953
16 425
Rafter Dept.
2 items
1947
16 426
Report of Grade from Unstacker
18 items
1957-1958
16 427
Report of Production
2 items
1915, 1925
16 428-430
Sawmill
154 items
1947-1958
16 431
Shipments, Production & Purchases
28 items
1955-1957
16 432
Trim & Edging
41 items
1947-1948
16 433
Progress Reports
7 items
May & June 1956
16 434
Quality control
3 items
1959
16 435
Releases & permits to cross company property or graze cattle on company land
26 items
1936-1939
16 436
Robinson Post-American Legion
21 items
1927-1943
16 437
Sales Analysis
56 items
Oct. 1959-May 1962
16 438
Sel-Set Information
52 items
1956-1958
16 439
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area
7 items
1961
16 440
Shipping Office
18 items
1951-1956
16 441
Taxation of Mineral Reservation
80 items
1918-1920
16 442
Teletype
1 item
1955
16 443
Tree Farms
13 items
1955-1956

Series III. Contracts and Specifications , 1905-1953Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Contracts and Agreements
Box Folder
16 444
Allington & Curtis Manufacturing Co.
27 items
1911
16 445-452
American Car & Foundry
194 items
1905-1910
16 453-454
American Hoist & Derrick Co.
99 items
1916-1923
16 455-456
American Locomotive Co.
105 items
1905-1910
16 457
American Steel & Wire Co.
4 items
1909-1910
16 458
American Steel Co.
1 item
1926
16 459
American Woodworking Machinery Co.
27 items
1905-1909
16 460
Anderson, Axel
23 items
1935
16 461
Armstrong Machinery Co.
2 items
1920
16 462
Bean Brothers Lumber Company
41 items
1939-1940
16 463
Benewah County
7 items
1938
16 464
Bloyed, Robert
2 items
1948
16 465
Bradstreet Company
8 items
1914-1917
16 466
Breckner Trespass
7 items
1948
16 467
Browning Engineering Company
20 items
1907
16 468
Burns (H.J.) Co.
15 items
1909, 1921, 1935
16 469
Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
8 items
1919-1932
17 470
Carnegie Steel Co.
1 item
1906
17 471-476
Chapin (E.T.) Co.
239 items
1912-1924
17 477-478
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co.
52 items
1906-1949
17 479
Clark, Arthur B.
6 items
1906
17 480
Clarkia Highway District
9 items
1927
17 481
Clyde Iron Works
21 items
1905-1925
17 482
Colby Engineering Co.
20 items
1917-1919
17 483
Colorado Fuel & Iron Co.
40 items
1910
17 484
Columbia Lamp Division
14 items
1921-1924
17 485
Commercial Boiler Works
2 items
1911
17 486
Commonwealth Toy Corp.
2 items
1917
17 487-488
Continental Oil Co.
64 items
1912-1924
17 489
Continental Telegraph Co.
1 item
1911
17 490
Diamond Boiler Works.
1 item
1905
17 491
Diamond Match Co.
2 items
1908-1910
17 492
Dion & Horstkotte
3 items
1915
17 493
Ditto, Inc.
4 items
1939-1940
17 494
Dwyer, E.C.
1 item
1907
17 495
Edison Lamp Works
21 items
1918-1928
17 496
Eggers Pole and Supply Co.
1 item
1922
17 497
Electric Storage Battery Supply Co.
2 items
1906
17 498-499
Elk River, City of
42 items
1927-1937
17 500
Eslick & Hartnett
9 items
1926
17 501
Fairbanks-Morse
14 items
1924
17 502
Fisher, Clyde
1 item
1924
17 503
Ford Motor Company
7 items
1929-1936
17 504
Garlock Packing Co.
4 items
1921-1922
17 505
General Appraisal Co.
25 items
1910-1929
17 506
General Electric Co.
35 items
1908-1926
17 507
General Motors Corp.
4 items
1936-1940
17 508
General Timber Service
3 items
1932
17 509
Goodyear Lumber Co.
17 items
1911
17 510
Granger & Davidson
2 items
1907
17 511
Grinnel Co.
44 items
1925
17 512
Hadden, Lynn
3 items
1937
17 513
Hallidie Machinery Co.
1 item
1909
17 514
Hayes (P.J.) Sheet Metal Works.
6 items
1920-1935
17 515
Hein, Ernst T.
3 items
1905
17 516
Holley Mason Hardware Co.
5 items
1917
17 517
Holt Manufacturing Co.
11 items
1920
17 518
Illinois Steel Co.
9 items
1910
17 519
Inland Forest Products
1 item
1930
17 520
International Endless Chain Saw Co.
12 items
1911
17 521
Interstate Utilities Co.
8 items
1923-1924
17 522
Jeffrey Manufacturing Co.
95 items
1906-1920
17 523
Johnson, Art
1 item
1936
17 524
Kessler, Otto
1 item
1948
17 525
King & Milbert
1 item
1944-1945
17 526
Kirkpatrick, L.E.
10 items
1927-1928
17 527
Knight Brothers
17 items
1936-1938
17 528
Kutulas, Gust
19 items
1934-1935
17 529
Latah Realty
3 items
1910
17 530
Lima Locomotives
47 items
1906-1922
17 531
Lind Air Products
14 items
1916-1923
17 532
Lomax, M.
3 items
1939-1941
17 533
Lovsted (C.M.) & Co.
84 items
1922-1929
17 534
McDonald, R.C.
2 items
1936
17 535
Mann, William J.
36 items
1936-1945
17 536
Mill Machinery
5 items
1905
17 537
Minneapolis Steel & Machine Co.
16 items
1905-1936
17 538
Morgan Engineering Co.
25 items
1910
17 539
Morrison-Knutsen Co.
12 items
1927-1934
17 540
Moscow Telephone & Telegraph Co.
1 item
1920
17 541
Munro, Donald
6 items
1939
18 542
National Lumber Manufacturers Assoc.
22 items
1930-1931
18 543
Nelson, Ralph S.
10 items
1918-1920
18 544
Norris Safe & Lock Co.
20 items
1910
18 545
North Coast Dry Kiln Co.
15 items
1906-1910
18 546
Northern Pacific Railway Co.
1 item
1906
18 547
Northwest Blower Kiln Co.
70 items
1911-1924
18 548
Pacific Car & Foundry
27 items
1919-1920
18 549
Pacific Fire Extinguisher Co.
1 item
1906
18 550
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.
4 items
1934
18 551
Pawling & Harnischfeger Co.
6 items
1924
18 552
Phillips, L.H.
1 item
1906
18 553
Phoenix Manufacturing Co.
1 item
1910
18 554
Potlatch Highway District
4 items
1937
18 555
Prest-O-Lite Co.
22 items
1918-1928
18 556
Renfro Lumber Company
51 items
1923-1931
18 557
Roberts, M.A.
5 items
1921
18 558
Roberts, Robert
4 items
1906
18 559
Shell Oil Co.
41 items
1918-1931
18 560
Smith, Homer R.
1 item
undated
18 561
Sodahl, John
2 items
1939
18 562
Spokane Oxy-Acetylene Co.
5 items
1926-1928
18 563-564
Standard Oil Co.
81 items
1911-1953
18 565
Standard Steel Works
81 items
1913-1928
18 566
Thompson, George P.
5 items
1918-1924
18 567
Union Carbide Sales Co.
14 items
1924-1927
18 568
Union Iron Works
5 items
1912
18 569
U.S. Government
37 items
1918-1936
18 570
U.S. Steel Products Co.
108 items
1913-1920
18 571
Wagner Electric
41 items
1909-1911
18 572
Ward, W.D.
7 items
1938
18 573
Washington Machinery & Supply
5 items
1910
18 574
Wells Fargo
11 items
1911
18 575
Westinghouse Air Brake Co.
29 items
1915-1925
18 576
Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Co.
5 items
1912
18 577
Witt, John G.
1 item
1909
18 578
Woods (S.A.) Machine Company
54 items
1906-1924
18 579
Woods, W.A.
14 items
1937
18 580
Workmen's Compensation Commission
41 items
1913
18 581
Workmen's Compensation Exchange
39 items
1921-1939
18 582
WIM Railway leases
34 items
1913-1945
18 583
Legal Retainer contracts
14 items
1903-1932
18 584-589
Logging Contracts, A-M
191 items
1910-1915
19 590-593
Logging Contracts, N-Z
100 items
1910-1915
19 594
Logging Contract cancellations
48 items
1915
19 595-598
Lumber purchase agreements
98 items
1934-1950
B. Specifications and Blueprints
1906-1946
Box Folder
19 599
Battery Charging Equipment
9 items
1924
19 600-604
Boiler House and Equipment
55 items
1923-1931
19 605
Box Factory Addition
13 items
1925
19 606
Crane Rail Support
1 item
1924
19 607
Cut up Plant and Dry Shed
5 items
1923
19 608
Draw Bridges
10 items
1924
19 609
Dry Kilns
48 items
1924-1925
19 610
Dry Sorter
6 items
1924
19 611
Electrical Installation
18 items
1906
19 612
Fire Dept. Equipment
33 items
1925-1928
19 613
Gravity Conveyor
6 items
1926
19 614
Jet Condenser Turbine
9 items
1923
19 615
Laboratory Kiln & Scales
9 items
1923
19 616
Loaders
2 items
undated
19 617
Locomotives
7 items
1920-1927
19 618
Log haul-up chain
2 items
1918-1925
19 619
Low Pressure Receiver
2 items
undated
19 620
Lumber Carrier
7 items
1928
19 621
Monorail
11 items
1923-1924
19 622
Motors & transformers
48 items
1924-1925
19 623
Office heating & plumbing
3 items
undated
19 624
Planing Mill
19 items
1923-1929
19 625
Power plant - feed water heater
8 items
1923
19 626
Reduction Gears
9 items
1924
19 627
Rock Garden
34 items
1935-1939
19 628-629
Sawmill Equipment
11 items
1925
20 630-631
Steam Turbines
136 items
1910-1946
20 632
Steel Dipping Tank
11 items
1924
20 633
Steel Rails
24 items
1925
20 634
Switch Board
15 items
1924
20 635
Tractors
40 items
1923-1925
20 636
Truck
2 items
1929
20 637
Unstacker
8 items
1924
20 638
Woods Dept. Equipment
6 items
1925

Series IV. Financial Reports , 1905-1950Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Annual & Monthly Reports
Box Folder
20 639-661
Potlatch Lumber Company Annual Report
67 items
1909-1931
21 662-676
PFI. Annual Statement
15 items
1932-1950
21 677-678
Potlatch Lumber Company. Summary of Annual Report as submitted to stockholders & Board of Directors
2 items
1925, 1928
21 679-681
PFI. Annual Report to Directors
3 items
1933-1936
21 682-689
PFI. Annual Report to Stockholders
8 items
1932-1950
21 690-700
PFI. General Manager's Production Recommendations to Board of Directors, with budget
11 items
1939-1949
21 701-705
PFI. General Manager's monthly reports to Board of Directors
61 items
1940-1944
22 706-708
PFI. General Manager's monthly reports to Board of Directors
37 items
1945-1947
22 709-722
Potlatch Lumber Company. Yard Department. Annual Reports
14 items
1906-1923
22 723-731
Potlatch Lumber Company. Monthly Financial Statements
102 items
1905-1915
22 732
Forest Development Company. Annual Report to Board of Directors
1 item
1935
22 733-734
Humbird Lumber Company. Annual Reports
7 items
1910-1914
22 735
Potlatch State Bank. Cashier's Annual Report
1 item
1935
22 736
Standard Lumber Company. Annual Reports
2 items
1915-1916
22 737
Wood Briquettes, Inc. Annual Reports
3 items
1940-1946
22 738-739
Potlatch Lumber Company. Auditor's Report
19 items
1907-1930
22 740
Potlatch Lumber Company. Yard Dept. Auditor's Reports
15 items
1911-1930
22 741
Elk River State Bank. Auditor's Reports
17 items
1911-1931
22 742
Potlatch Investment Co. Auditor's Reports
7 items
1923-1931
22 743
Potlatch State Bank. Auditor's Reports
15 items
1911-1930
22 744
Standard Lumber Company. Auditor's Reports
12 items
1911-1924
22 745
Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Co. Auditor's Reports
6 items
1911-1917
B. Property Taxes
Box Folder
23 746-753
Benewah County
72 items
1927-1934
23 754-759
Boundary County
75 items
1927-1932
23 760-764
Clearwater County
98 items
1920-1934
23 765-773
Latah County
989 items
1921-1934
23 774-779
Shoshone County
37 items
1927-1932
23 780-785
Whitman County
76 items
1927-1932
24 786-791
Clearwater County Tax List
6 items
1927-1932
24 792-798
Latah County Tax List
7 items
1927-1934
C. Other Financial Material
Box Folder
25 799-815
Income Tax Working Papers
214 items
1909-1924
25 816
Withholding Tax Information
7 items
1943-1945
25 817
War Tax, 1914; Tobacco Dealers Tax, 1916
4 items
25 818-823
Office Payroll
70 items
1926-1931
25 824
Account with R.E. Irwin
7 items
1924-1930
25 825
Account with Mark L. Seymour
10 items
1909-1925
25 826
Anticipated Revenue & Expenses
2 items
1942-1948
25 827
Bills Receivable
2 items
1914-1929
25 828-830
Board Accounts
50 items
1906
25 831
Capital Investments
1 item
1903-1921
25 832
Census of Manufactures Returns
52 items
1910-1932
25 833-836
Comparative Costs, Potlatch and other mills
24 items
1909-1930
25 837
Expense Book
1 item
1906-1907
25 838
Freight and Demurrage
69 items
1931-1947
25 839
Government Bonds
79 items
1921-1929
25 840
Indemnity Bonds
23 items
1906-1925
26 841
Inventories of supplies
3 items
1908
26 842
Inventories, Electrical Dept.
2 items
1919-1920
26 843
Inventories of Lumber in Transit
20 items
1928-1939
26 844
Stock held in other companies
48 items
1915-1928
26 845
Stockholders, List of
1 item
1916
26 846
New Mill Dept. Accounts
44 items
1906
26 847
Profit & Loss by Species
4 items
1918-1929
26 848
Promissory Notes
51 items
1909-1930
26 849
Sale contracts (livestock, land)
4 items
1905-1912
26 850
Student Loan Contracts
29 items
1936-1942
26 851-852
Writs of Attachment
182 items
1921-1925
26 853
Year ending cash reports
9 items
1940-1942
26 854-856
General Appraisal Company Reports
11 items
1916-1926

Series V. Land Department , 1903-1942Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Correspondence
Box Folder
27 857-859
Letterbooks
3 items
1903-1908
27
Letters
Folder
27 860-863
A-I
755 items
1911
28 864-870
J-Z, Intercompany
1162 items
1911
28 871-879
A-Z
1766 items
1913
29 880-881
Intercompany
284 items
1913
29 882-888
956 items
1918
29 889-897
1122 items
1919
29 898-902
A-Z
508 items
1927
30 903-904
Intercompany
136 items
1927
30 905-914
925 items
1928
30 915-919
403 items
1935
30 920-924
352 items
1936
30 925-929
364 items
1937
30 930-934
315 items
1938
30 935-939
299 items
1939
B. Other Material
Box Folder
30 940
Land Dept. Booklets
2 items
30
State Land Deal
31 941-943
192 items
1910-1911
31 944
2 items
1914
31 945
64 items
1919
31 946
1 item
1920
31 947
20 items
1925
31 948
9 items
1941-1942
31 949-950
Timber Holdings: Lists & Maps
64 items
1907-1916
31 951-952
Mason & Stevens Report to Potlatch Lumber Company
70 items
1927
31 953
Western Forestry Association Report to Potlatch Lumber Company
9 items
1927

Series VI. Logging and Woods Departments , 1906-1919Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
31 954-955
Camp Financial Records
246 items
1907-1908
31 956
W.I. & M. Ry. Co. Invoices
91 items
1907-1908
31 957
James Lusk Benefit Fund
9 items
1907
31 958
Bovill & Elk River Logging Statements
24 items
1914-1918
31 959
Field Book Instructions
1 item
undated
32 960
Logging Contractors Time Checks
1 item
1916-1919
32 961-986
Lumberman's Log Scale Records
26 items
1906-1909
32 987-988
Cruise Books of Frank G. Prain
2 items
1907
32 989-1006
Cruise Books of William Helmer
18 items
1906-1913

Series VII. Affiliated Companies , 1901-1963Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Potlatch Mercantile Company
Box Folder
33 1007
Accounts
20 items
1906
33 1008-1012
Monthly Reports
44 items
1907-1911
33 1013
Balance Sheets and Inventories
14 items
1918-1929
33 1014-1018
Profit & Loss Statements
63 items
1936-1959
33 1019-1032
Accounts Receivable
246 items
1957-1963
33 1033-1046
Yearly Reports
21 items
1907-1923
34 1047-1060
Annual Reports
14 items
1924-1941
34 1061
Auditor's Reports
19 items
1912-1931
34 1062
Summary of Depreciation
1 item
1923
34 1063
Year End Inventories
8 items
1922-1938
34 1064-1065
Budgets and other financial material
8 items
1935-1963
34 1066-1069
Correspondence
65 items
1907-1964
34 1070
Rules for employees
1 item
1907
34 1071
Merle C. Fisher File
22 items
1959-1961
34 1072
Sale of Mercantile Company
9 items
1955-1960
B. Potlatch Lumber Company Ranch
Box Folder
34 1073-1085
Livestock and Machinery inventories; operating expenses
352 items
1916-1937
34 1086
Corn-Hog Reduction Contracts
48 items
1934-1935
C. Palouse Flour Mill
Box Folder
34 1087-1095
Correspondence
308 items
1909-1918
D. Potlatch Brick Company
Box Folder
35 1096-1098
Correspondence
377 items
1910-1911
35 1099-1111
Correspondence
624 items
1911-1917
35 1112
Sales Reports
16 items
1913-1914
35 1113
Trial Balance Sheets
19 items
1913-1914
35 1114
Accounting Book
1 item
1908-1909
35 1115
Potlatch Clay Products. Correspondence re: Boss Dryer
46 items
1925-1927
E. Potlatch Townsite Department
Box
35
Correspondence
Folder
35 1116-1117
192 items
1906
35 1118
50 items
1907
35 1119
143 items
1908
35 1120
29 items
1909
35 1121
156 items
1933-1939
35 1122
21 items
1940-1943
35 1123
11 items
1951-1956
35 1124-1125
Circular letters to residents
46 items
1930-1949
35 1126
Budgets
21 items
1934-1950
35 1127
Townsite Accounts (including Elk River)
50 items
1932-1941
35 1128
Rents collected
2 items
1906
35 1129
Miscellaneous Accounts
16 items
1906-1950
35 1130-1132
Construction requirements and costs
34 items
1905-1954
35
Building construction, remodeling, inventories and leases
35 1133
Apartments
9 items
1935-1940
35 1134
Bank
4 items
1937-1955
35 1135
Boarding Houses
18 items
1912-1944
35 1136
Churches & Parsonages
16 items
1928-1949
35 1137
Confectionery
3 items
1939-1953
35 1138
Faculty House, 565 Sixth St.
3 items
1932-1939
35 1139
Federal Building
8 items
1940-1950
35 1140
Fire House
2 items
1937
35 1141
Hospital
5 items
1923-1956
35 1142-1143
Hotel
96 items
1912-1957
35 1144
Houses
66 items
1916-1939
35 1145
Implement
1 36
1932
36 1146
Jail
3 items
1936-1937
36 1147
Laundry
2 items
1936, 1945
36 1148
Lodge Hall Rentals
36 items
1932-1955
36 1149
Post Office
28 items
1914-1955
36 1150
Schools
59 items
1934-1954
36 1151
Service Station
1 item
1925
36 1152
Teachers' Dormitory, 545 Oak
10 items
1921-1939
36 1153
Theatre
2 items
1916-1955
36 1154
Carpenter Work, Specifications for
5 items
1924-1933
36 1155
Cemetery
1 item
1914
36 1156
Heating
23 items
1932-1952
36 1157-1159
Improvements, Street, Sewer & Other
50 items
1925-1960
36 1160
Summary of work performed by Townsite Crew
8 items
1935-1942
36 1161-1165
Incorporation & Sale
229 items
1951-1959
36 1166
Safety Inspection Reports
28 items
1936-1938
36 1167
R.B. Ward Paint Co. Contracts
6 items
1906-1928
36 1168-1172
Reservoir, Sewer & Water Works construction
158 items
1906-1952
36 1173-1174
Water Analysis
173 items
1926-1956
36 1175
Water Rates
32 items
1930-1951
36 1176
Water Supply
22 items
1928-1939
36 1177
Law on Contagious Diseases
2 items
undated
36 1178-1179
House Rental Records
128 items
1908-1909
36 1180-1185
House Rental Record Books
6 items
1931-1936
37 1186-1205
House Rental Record Books
20 items
1937-1961
F. Town of Potlatch
Box Folder
38 1206
Newspaper clippings & typescripts
10 items
1951-1959
38 1207
Public School Wages
5 items
1910
38 1208
Highway District Petitions
26 items
1919-1925
38 1209
Riverside Park
38 items
1941
38 1210-1220
Potlatch Area Boosters
239 items
1953-1962
38 1221
Potlatch Election Returns and Poll Book - Republican Primary
1930
G. Washington, Idaho, and Montana Railway Company
Box Folder
38 1222
Engineer's Reports
5 items
1903-1904
38 1223
Original contract, bond, and license
3 items
1905
38 1224
School land Rights of Way
6 items
1905
38 1225
Construction costs of depots and section houses
28 items
1907-1908
38 1226
Financial Material
6 items
1915-1916
38 1227
Correspondence
9 items
1907-1952
38 1228
Correspondence in re: Tank Cars from M.K. Northam
47 items
1910
38 1229
Isaac B. Hibbard Deposition
2 items
1917
H. Elk River Townsite
Box Folder
38 1230
Construction Costs
20 items
1912-1928
38 1231
Sale of Houses & Lots
139 items
1933-1941
I. Other Lumber Companies
Box Folder
38 1232
Columbia/Appledale Land Company
87 items
1910-1912
38
Northland Pine Co.
Folder
38 1233-1234
Deeds from Wisconsin Log and Lumber Co.
67 items
1901-1903
38 1235
Trial Balance Sheets
3 items
1902
38 1236
Purchase Book
1 item
1901-1903
38 1237
Timber holdings book
1 item
1903-1905
39 1238-1241
Letterbooks
4 items
1900-1903
39 1242
Financial Records & Timber Purchases
1 item
1902-1903
39 1243-1252
Check Stub Books
10 items
1901-1905

Series VIII. Weyerhaeuser Sales Company , 1925-1959Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
40 1253-1261
Correspondence
140 items
1943-1959
40 1262
Library Bulletins
7 items
1945-1951
40 1263
Weyerhaeuser Log
3 items
1926
40 1264
Weyerhaeuser News
1 item
October 1955
40 1265
Weyerhaeuser News Notes
76 items
1945-1959
40 1266
Service Letter
2 items
1944
40 1267
Washington Office Memos
31 items
1944-1947
40 1268
Operations Committee Meetings
4 items
1943-1946
40 1269-1275
General Manager's Reports
7 items
1943-1949
40 1276
Budget Reports
8 items
1943-1945
40 1277-1282
Budget of Shipments with supporting statistical data
6 items
1945-1950
Oversize 1283
Modern Lumber Merchandising
1 item (not found)
1925

Series IX. Forestry Organizations and Forestry Reports , 1907-1962Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
41 1284
Forest Products Research Society Meetings
2 items
1954, 1956
41 1285
Forester's Council Meeting
2 items
April 26, 1958
41 1286
Idaho Forest Practice Committee
9 items
1955-1959
41 1287
Idaho & Montana Erosion Studies
1 item
1955
41 1288
Inland Empire Sawmill Club
2 items
1954, 1957
41 1289
Latah County Forestry and Mining Committee
4 items
1958
41 1290
North Idaho Forestry Association
13 items
1916, 1920, 1954-1959
41 1291
North Idaho - Montana Forest Pest Action Council
1 item
1957
41 1292-1293
Northwest Wood Products Clinic
17 items
1947, 1954-1959
41 1294-1295
State Cooperative Board of Forestry of Idaho
97 items
1925-1927
41 1296
Timber Products Manufacturing Association
4 items
1957-1959
41 1297-1299
Clearwater Timber Protective Association, budgets, reports, correspondence
95 items
1944-1951
41 1300-1312
Potlatch Timber Protective Association, budgets, reports, correspondence, minutes of meetings
576 items
1907-1951
41 1313-1314
White Pine Blister Rust Corp.
42 items
1922-1934
41 1315
Advertisements of PLC in American Lumberman, Retail Lumberman, Lumber World Review, The Timberman
5 items
1913
41 1316
Clearwater Log (PFI Lewiston)
3 items
1962
41 1317
Palouse Cooperative Investigation blueprints
4 items
1914
41 1318
Ground Line Donkey Sawing, time study report
12 items
1921
41 1319
Time and output studies
53 items
1921
41
Geologic Map (Plate 1a), Availability domains for metallic minerals (plate 1 c), Report and Recomendations on Minerals..., by Everett Hougland, 1962
3 items
[?]

Series X. Ledgers, Journals, etc. , 1901-1955Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Potlatch Lumber Company, Potlatch, Idaho
Box Folder
unboxed 1320-1339
Cash Journals
20 items
1906-1932
unboxed 1340-1343
Journals
4 items
1915-1932
unboxed 1344-1347
Trial Balance Books
4 items
1903-1931
unboxed 1348-1360
Ledgers
13 items
1904-1932
unboxed 1361-1378
Voucher Registers
18 items
1906-1932
unboxed 1379-1395
Sales Registers
17 items
1903-1951
unboxed 1396-1405
Payroll Records
10 items
1905-1936
unboxed 1406
Construction Ledger
1 item
1905-1907
unboxed 1407
Transfer Ledger, Manufacturing Expense, Distribution
1 item
1946-1949
unboxed 1408
Equipment & supply accounts ledger
1 item
1926-1927
B. Potlatch Lumber Company, Palouse, Washington
Box Folder
unboxed 1409
Mill Ledger
1 item
1903-1905
unboxed 1410-1411
Bank Journals
2 items
1903-1905
unboxed 1412-1414
Ledgers
3 items
1901-1907
unboxed 1415
Journal
1 item
1905-1906
unboxed 1416-1417
Voucher Registers
2 items
1903-1907
unboxed 1418
Sales Register
1 item
1907-1912
unboxed 1419
Payroll Record
1 item
1907
C. Potlatch Lumber Company, Land Dept.
Box Folder
unboxed 1420
Script record from office of McFarland & McFarland, Lewiston, Idaho
1 item
1903-1905
unboxed 1421
State Forester's Land Status Record, Shoshone, Benewah & Nez Perce Counties
1 item
1927
unboxed 1422
Land Inventory
1 item
1927
unboxed 1423
Land Classification and ownership
1 item
1926-1929
unboxed 1424
Bills Payable/Receivable
1 item
1903-1914
unboxed 1425
Ledger
1 item
1909
unboxed 1426
Current Long Scale Record
1 item
1934-1955
unboxed 1427
Land and lot contracts
1923-1935
D. Potlatch Brick Company
Box Folder
unboxed 1428
Cash Journal
1 item
1912-1913
E. Potlatch Townsite
Box Folder
unboxed 1429
Townsite Accounts
1 item
1907-1908
unboxed 1430
House Record
1 item
1912-1919
unboxed 1431-1439
Townsite Record
9 items
1916-1951
unboxed 1440
Townsite Repairs
1 item
1946
F. Elk River Townsite and Mill
Box Folder
unboxed 1441
Elk River Townsite Lots
1 item
1910-1923
unboxed 1442-1445
Elk River Mill Sales Registers
4 items
1911-1931
G. Others
Box Folder
unboxed 1446
Northland Pine Co. Ledger
1 item
1901-1903
unboxed 1447
Northland Pine Co. Script Book
1 item
1901
unboxed 1448
Potlatch Timber Protective Association. Voucher Journal
1 item
1911-1926

Series XI. Maps and Blueprints , 1906-1979Return to Top

These oversize maps and blueprints are shelved in two boxes along the North wall (cage area), except for items 1453 and 1459, which are in box 43.
Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
os 1449
Maps of company timber holdings
24 items
1952-1979
os 1450
Potlatch townsite maps
2 items
undated
os 1451
Churches (Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Union)
19 items
undated
os 1452
Depots (Bovill & Deary)
6 items
undated
43 1453
Garage
1 item
undated
os 1454
Garbage Can
1 item
undated
os 1455
Gymnasium
9 items
undated
os 1456
Hose Cart House
6 items
undated
os 1457
Hospital Heating Plans
3 items
undated
os 1458
Hotel
17 items
undated
43 1459
Houses (19 designs)
87 items
1906-1956
os 1460
Houses, Boarding (3 designs)
14 items
os 1461
Office building
12 items
os 1462
Potlatch Mercantile (includes store and barn)
34 items
os 1463
Potlatch Theater
11 items
os 1464
Reservoir
7 items
os 1465
Schools (2 designs)
15 items
os 1466
Service Station
1 item
os 1467
Store and Lodge Building
7 items
os 1468
Telephone office buildings (Potlatch & WIM)
15 items
os 1469
Elk River Post Office & PTPA building, Elk River
3 items
os 1470
Unidentified buildings (7 designs)
14 items

Series XII. Photographs Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
A. Illustration Printing Blocks
Box Folder
42 1
Map of Elk River, Idaho
1 item
1910
42 2
White Pine King
1 item
1911
42 3
Potlatch (Steamboat)
1 item
42 4
American Legion Cabin, Potlatch, Idaho
1 item
1937
42 5
Pres-to-Logs (Advertisement)
1 item
42 6
Community Christmas Tree, Potlatch
1 item
1937
42 7
Pres-To-Logs (Advertisement)
1 item
42 8
Potlatch Amateur Athletic Club
1 item
1937
B. Mounted (shelved in photo-file with prefix A135)
Box Folder
42 9-10
Panoramic views of the mill
2 items (not found)
190-
44 11-19
Dry sheds & remanufacturing sheds
9 items
1927
44 20-22
Exterior views of buildings
3 items
1949?
44 23
Interior view of office
1 item
44 24
Lumber yard
1 item
1928
44 25
Fork-lift truck
1 item
194?
44 26-30
Lumber yard & pond
6 items
44 31
Water storage tank
1 item
44 32
Logging truck
1 item
1948
44 33
Converted garden tractor
2 items
1949
44 34-35
Landscaping of plant
2 items
1949
44 36
Dry shed
1 item
44 37
Community Christmas tree
1 item
1937
44 38
William Deary
1 item
44 39
View of Gymnasium & hotel with Deary memorial
1 item
1921
44 40-59
Office interiors
20 items
1918
44 60-61
High School auditorium construction
13 items
44 62-64
Exterior of mill
8 items
44 65-71
Individual employees
8 items
44 72-86
W.J. Gamble's winter pictures
15 items
45 87
Group of employees
45 88-89
Honor Roll Memorial
2 items
1943?
45 90
Presbyterian Church, Potlatch
1 item
45 91-96
Laird Park Dedication
6 items
1937
45 97-104
Laird Park, Views
8 items
45 105-127
Company picnics
33 items
1948-1949
45 128
Memorial Day celebration
6 items
1950
45 129-130
Sawmill overhaul
4 items
1942
45 131-134
White Pine King
4 items
1912
45 135
Mabel A. Kelley
3 items
1950
45 136
Exterior of Office Building
1 item
45 137
Washington, Idaho & Montana Mail Car
1 item
192?
45 138-164
Logs & Logging
27 items
45 165
Spokesman Review Group visit to Potlatch & Steptoe
7 items
45 166
Proposed Potlatch Runway site
1 item
45 167
Fire truck
1 item
45 168
Cedar Mountain Lookout tower
2 items
1917
45 169
Relief map of Potlatch area?
4 items
45 170
Cyclone Seed Sower
2 items
45 171
Solar eclipse
2 items
1918
45 172-178
W.I. & M. Locomotives
13 items
46 179-202
Logging & Slash Burning
28 items
1923
46 203
Prairie Music Festival Parade
5 items
1952
46 204
Memorial Day Parade
4 items
46 205-209
Potlatch Elementary School Lunch Program
5 items
46 210
Potlatch High School class of 1939
1
46 211-212
Potlatch High School girls basketball team
2 items
1939, 1942
46 213
Potlatch junior high classroom
1 item
1940
46 214
Clearing of land
2 items
1913
46 215
Home workshop
1 item
46 216
Earl and Edward T. Compton
1 item
1941
46 217
Charles A. Weyerhaeuser
1 item
46 218
Horse drawn cart
1 item
46 219
Cabin (William Deary on porch?)
1 item
46 220
Potlatch unit exhibit
2 items
46 221
Group standing by spray plane used in pest control
1 item
46 222-257
Farms & farming (including Silver Birch Farm, Newport, Wash.)
37 items
46 258
Exhibit of Potlatch Lumber Company, Hearing before the Board of Equalization, Moscow
24 items
July 28, 1913
C. Oversize
These items are on the Northeast oversize shelves, range 10a, except for one item, which is at pillar 7B (cage area).
Box
os
The New Home of White Pine. 5 color photos of Potlatch mill
1 item
Pillar 7B
os
Potlatch, Idaho (12 photographic prints)
1 item
January 17, 1913
os
Views of white pine stands
4 items
os
Laird Bell
1 item
os
J.L. Norton
1 item
os
A.W. Laird
1 item
os
Aerial view of Clearwater Plant, Lewiston, color
2 items
os
WIM train carrying 1,100,000 feet of logs
1 item

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Company stores -- Idaho -- Potlatch -- History -- Sources
  • Company towns -- Idaho -- Potlatch -- History -- Sources
  • Lumbering -- Idaho -- History -- Sources
  • Sawmills -- Idaho -- Potlatch -- History -- Sources

Geographical Names

  • Potlatch (Idaho) -- History -- Sources

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Potlatch Mercantile Company
    • Potlatch Lumber Company -- Records
    • Washington, Idaho and Montana Railroad