Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
George A. Savage and Catherine Savage Pulsipher papers, 1916-1963
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Savage, George A., 1844-1920
- Title
- George A. Savage and Catherine Savage Pulsipher papers
- Dates
- 1916-1963 (inclusive)19161963
- Quantity
- .21 cubic feet (1 box)
- Collection Number
- 5405 (Accession No. 5405-001)
- Summary
- Papers of an early settler in Skagit Valley, Washington, and of his daughter.
- 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
-
The papers are open to all users.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Early Skagit Valley Settler. George A. Savage was born in Iowa in 1844. He was the son of Jehiel Savage and Catherine Cooper Savage. He married Etta Torrey in 1865. He attempted and failed to establish several small lumber mills in Iowa. During year 1873/1874 he and his wife and four sons travelled to the Pacific Northwest. He first worked in a sawmill on Camano Island. Ca. 1879 the family established a homestead at Birdsview (near Concrete). Savage was elected the first County Surveyor of Skagit County at the time County was established, 1883-1885. Feb.- Sept. 1898 Savage's family travelled with him when he set up a portable mill at Equality Colony. He and Georgetta divorced ca. 1900. Savage married Loretta Todd ca. 1904. He established a mercantile business in Bellingham ca. 1914. Between about 1916 and 1920, he set down these reminiscences. Catherine Savage Pulsipher was his youngest daughter.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The papers include writings by George A. Savage and his daughter Catherine Savage Pulsipher about life and work in Washington's Skagit Valley.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The creators' literary rights have not been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in two series:
- George A. Savage writings, circa 1916-1920
- Catherine Savage Pulsipher papers, 1960-1963
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
George A. Savage writingsReturn to Top
George A. Savage was an early settler in Skagit Valley, Washington. He was born in Michigan in 1844. While in Iowa, Savage married Georgetta (Etta) Torrey and attempted unsuccessfully to establish several small lumber mills. He operated a shingle mill until he left for the Pacific Northwest in 1877 with his wife and four sons. Upon arriving, he began working at a sawmill on Camano Island, and in about 1879, the family established a homestead at Birdview, near Concrete in the Skagit Valley. Savage was elected the first county surveyor of Skagit County when the county was established in 1883. Between 1874 and 1892, George and Georgetta had seven more children, and in 1898, Savage's family traveled with him to Equality Colony, where he built a portable mill. George and Georgetta divorced in 1900, and by 1904 he had married Loretta Todd, a widow. Savage established a mercantile business in Bellingham, Washington, circa 1914.
George Savage's written reminiscences cover approximately the years 1880-1900 and were written between 1916 and 1920, when Mr. Savage was in his 70s. The detailed narrative includes a considerable amount of ethnographic information, primarily about the Sauk River area in Washington.
The George A. Savage papers were donated by G. M. Savage, Jr., October 22, 1945, and by Catherine S. Pulsipher, October 26, 1960.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1-4 | Reminiscences
Includes writing entitled "The Making of the West, Part 2."
|
circa 1916-1920 |
| 1/5 | "The Fatal Mine" |
undated |
Catherine Savage Pulsipher papersReturn to Top
Catherine Savage Pulsipher was the youngest daughter of George A. Savage, and was born on February 18, 1892. She was married to Henry (Happy) Pulsipher on July 5, 1892.
Catherine Savage Pulsipher's papers consist of letters and poems reminiscing about pioneer days along the Skagit River.
Catherine Savage Pulsipher's papers were donated by Mrs. Pulsipher and Zola C. Casbear in 1964.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/6 | Outgoing letters
Includes accounts of George A. Savage's logging activity.
|
1960 |
| 1/7 | Poetry: "Childhood on the Skagit River" |
1963 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Businessmen--Washington (State)--Archives
- Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Skagit County
- Lumbering--Washington (State)
- Lumbermen--Washington (State)
- Pioneers--Washington (State)--Skagit County--Archives
- Sawmill workers--Washington (State)--Archives
Personal Names
- Pulsipher, Catherine Savage--Archives
- Pulsipher, Catherine Savage--Poetry
- Savage, George A., 1844-1920--Archives
- Savage, George A., 1844-1920--Notebooks, sketchbooks, etc
Geographical Names
- Sauk River Valley (Wash.)
- Skagit County (Wash.)
- Skagit River Valley (B.C. and Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Notebooks
- correspondence
- poems
- reminiscences
- writings
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Pulsipher, Catherine Savage (creator)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
