Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Fred C. Ashley Papers, 1941-1970
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ashley, Fred C., 1899-
- Title
- Fred C. Ashley Papers
- Dates
- 1941-1970 (inclusive)19411970
- Quantity
- 10.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (21 Boxes)
- Collection Number
- Cage 294 (collection)
- Summary
- Correspondence, clippings, notes, reports and other papers of Washington State Representative, and Spokane based real estate appraiser, Fred C. Ashley. Subjects include real estate and appraisals, professional organizations, politics and government. Included are some papers of his business partner, W. J. Carrothers.
- 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.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
Fred C. Ashley: a Register of His Papers, 1941-1970 in the Washington State University Library. Pullman [Wash.]: The Library, 1971.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Fred C. Ashley was born in Spokane in 1899. After his graduation from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, he was commissioned an U.S. Army balloon officer, but the war ended before he had an active assignment. After the end of World War I, he returned to Spokane and was employed by several firms in the automotive and insurance fields until 1938. In that year, he organized his own real estate business. In the 1950's he specialized in real estate appraisals and he and his associates became active in condemnation proceedings involving public works projects. Ashley ultimately became one of the leading figures in the appraisal profession and in recognition was elected to senior membership in the American Society of Appraisers, an organization of which he was regional governor from 1964 to 1968. As an adjunct to his real estate interests, he was a developer and builder of residential homes in Spokane during the early 1940's. He was also a rancher in the Colville area from 1946 to 1963.
Ashley entered politics as a Republican about 1940. He served in the Washington State Legislature as representative from Spokane County from 1942 to 1947. He sponsored the Teacher's Retirement System Law of 1947 and several pieces of aviation legislation. He also authored a wartime resolution commending the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. About 1948, Ashley became a Democrat, and from 1952 to 1958, he served as Stevens County Democratic Chairman. He was an organizer of the 1952 Adlai Stevenson campaign and a delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention. He ran unsuccessfully for the Washington State Senate in 1954 and 1958, and in 1960 was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Congressman representing the Fifth District of Washington.
Active in the public electric power movement in both Washington and Idaho, Ashley was for a time a member of the Bonneville Power Administration Advisory Committee. He received another important appointment in 1959 when he was made a member of the Washington State Advisory Board on Public Assistance, and remained a member until its dissolution in 1965. He also held appointment as Director of the Stevens County Civil Defense Unit for several years during the 1950's.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The papers of Fred C. Ashley are concerned with his various activities from 1941 to 1970. Approximately one-half relates to real estate appraisals performed by Ashley, or his associate W. J. Carrothers, during the 1950's and 1960's. Although this material contains some private appraisals, much of it is concerned with public works projects, such as the John Day Dam, the Albeni Falls Dam and various highway construction projects.
The collection also contains material related to Ashley's work as a representative of Spokane County in the state legislature; personal papers and photographs; and professional papers relevant to real estate and appraisal organizations, especially the American Society of Appraisers.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Literary rights in the unpublished writings and other properties in this collection are reserved by Washington State University Library.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Fred C. Ashley Papers, 1941-1970 (Cage 294)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is organized into seven series. The appraisal papers, as well as certain real estate transaction records, have been retained in Ashley's working arrangement. The remaining series are subdivided by subjects and arranged chronologically within.
Acquisition Information
>The Washington State University Library was gifted these papers by Fred C. Ashley in 1970.
Related Materials
Fred C. Ashley Papers, 1943-1977 (Cage 501)
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Political and Governmental Papers.Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
Correspondence.
This sub-series contains personal political correspondence relative to
the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Democratic Party,
the National Democratic Convention of 1956, political appointments and
expressions of opinion. Included is correspondence with Mon Walgren,
Arthur B. Langlie, Albert Rosellini, Lon Johnson, Daniel Evans, Warren
Magnuson, Henry Jackson, Tom Foley, Don Magnuson, Luke Wright, Adlai
Stevenson, Averell Harriman, Stuart Symington, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon
B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey, and others.
|
1942-1970 | ||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1942-1944 |
|
| 1 | 2 | 1946-1951 |
|
| 1 | 3 | 1953-1957 |
|
| 1 | 4 | 1958 |
|
| 1 | 5 | 1959-1970 |
|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 6 | The "Palestine Resolution". Copies of
House Joint Memorial No. 1, 1944 Session, letters of support for the
resolution and printed material relative to the Palestine situation. |
1944 |
| 2 | 7 | 1947 Legislature Session Bills, with
changes and revisions noted. |
1947 |
| 3 | 8 | Stevens County Democratic
Party |
1954-1962 |
| 3 | 9 | Election returns and maps |
1950-1962 |
| 3 | 10 | Democratic National Convention |
1956 |
| 3 | 11 | Clippings and Pamphlets |
1954-1960 |
| 3 | 12 | State Senate Campaigns |
1954, 1958 |
| 3 | 13 | Campaign for United States
Congress |
1960 |
| 3 | 14 | Political Miscellaneous |
|
State Advisory Board on Public Assistance.
This sub-series contains correspondence with members of the Board and
with officials of the Department of Public Assistance, reports of the
Board, minutes of meetings and supplementary information collected for
the Board's consideration.
|
|||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 4 | 15 | 1959-1960 |
|
| 4 | 16 | 1960 |
|
| 4 | 17 | 1961-1962 |
|
| 5 | 18 | 1963-1965 |
|
| 5 | 19 | Reports |
undated |
Series 2: Professional Papers.Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
American Society of Appraisers.
Letters, printed materials, circulars and reports of the American Society
of Appraiser's Northwest Regional Office, both before and during
Ashley's tenure as Regional Governor. Also included is correspondence of
the various local chapters that made up the regional unit.
|
1958-1969 | ||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 6 | 20 | Regional Office |
1958-1961 |
| 6 | 21 | Regional Office |
1962 |
| 6 | 22 | Regional Office |
1963 |
| 7 | 23 | Regional Office |
1964 |
| 7 | 24 | Regional Office |
1965-1966 |
| 7 | 25 | Regional Office |
1967-1969 |
| 7 | 26 | Billings Chapter |
1961-1964 |
| 7 | 27 | Vancouver, B.C. Chapter |
1962-1964 |
| 7 | 28 | Portland Chapter |
1962-1964 |
| 7 | 29 | Seattle Chapter |
1961-1964 |
| 7 | 30 | Spokane Chapter |
1963-1964 |
| Box | Folder | ||
| 8 | 31 | Real Estate Organizations. This group
contains papers relative to the Spokane Realty Board, National
Association of Realty Boards, Idaho Realty Board, National Association
of Farm and Land Brokers, and the Spokane Real Estate Trader's
Club |
1943-1967 |
| 8 | 32 | American Right-of-Way
Association |
1959-1967 |
Series 3: Personal Papers and PhotographsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 8 | 33 | Personal papers.
This group contains some "random" papers relative to Ashley's insurance
policies, charities, book clubs and activities. Included is material
from the American Platform Association, a public speaking group, and the
text of a speech on the mental health of financial executives. Also
included are Ashley resumes and a short biographical sketch.
|
1945-1965 |
| 8 | 34 | Photographs.
Portrait and photograph of Ashley, his family, and professional and
political associates. Some identified. Included is a presentation
portrait of Warren Magnuson.
|
1943-1967 |
Series 4: Business Papers, Miscellaneous.Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 9 | 35 | Account books, balance sheets, and expense
and income statements |
1943-1967 |
| 9 | 36 | Taxation Reports |
1946-1959 |
| 9 | 36 | Federal income tax reports |
1946-1961 |
| 9 | 36 | Property tax reports |
1954-1964 |
| 9 | 36 | Unemployment insurance tax |
1950-1959 |
| 9 | 36 | Excise tax reports |
1954-1959 |
| 9 | 37 | Ranch. Deeds, mortgages, cattle and stock,
brand registrations, and other papers related to purchase and sale of
ranch. |
1946-1967 |
| 10 | 38 | Idaho Water Power Corporation
Charter |
1951 |
| 10 | 39 | Northwest Farmer's Supply. Profit and loss
statement, inventory, and photograph. |
1950 |
| 10 | 40 | Bill's Shell Station, Addy, WA. Bills,
receipts, and legal papers. |
1956-1957 |
| 10 | 41 | Empire Building Company. Correspondence,
legal papers, financial records and corporate minutes. |
1944-1951 |
| 10 | 42 | Security Homes, Inc.; Rental Homes, Inc.;
Hollywood Homes, Inc. Taxation records, financial records. |
1942-1947 |
| 10 | 43 | Mining Investments |
1963-1965 |
Series 5: Business Papers, Real EstateReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
Correspondence1941-1962 |
|||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 44 | 1941-1946 |
|
| 11 | 45 | 1954 |
|
| 11 | 46 | 1961-1962 |
|
Real Estate papers. Contracts, listings,
sales agreements, earnest money agreements, correspondence. |
1955-1962 | ||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 47 | Aa - Cl |
|
| 11 | 48 | Cm - Ly |
|
| 11 | 49 | McC - Wi |
|
Series 6: Business Papers, AppraisalReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 12 | 50 | Correspondence.
Letters relative to securing contracts, bills for services and
correspondence related to appraisals.
|
1963-1967 |
Appraisal Notes, papers and
reports |
1961-1968 | ||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 12 | 51 | Aa - Car |
|
| 12 | 52 | Ce - Eastern Washington State
College |
|
| 13 | 53 | Fo - General Services
Administration |
|
| 13 | 54 | General Telephone - Hop |
|
| 13 | 55 | Hoq - Libby Dam |
|
| 14 | 56 | Los A - McG |
|
| 14 | 57 | Na - Ste |
|
| 14 | 58 | Washington State Highway
Department |
|
| 15 | 59 | Washington State Highway
Department |
|
| 15 | 60 | Washington State Highway
Department |
|
| 16 | 61 | Washington State Highway Department -
Yu |
|
| 16 | 62-63 | Comparable Sales
Appraisals |
1961-1967 |
| 17 | 64-65 | Appraisals in Spokane |
1962-1965 |
| 18 | 66 | Appraisals in Spokane |
1966-1968 |
| 16 | 67 | Miscellaneous appraisal
papers |
1963-1964 |
| 18 | 68 | Tribal Lands, Colville
Reservation |
1964 |
Series 7: Papers of W. J. CarrothersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 19 | 69 | Correspondence. Letters regarding
appraisal contracts and bills for services. |
1960-1962 |
Appraisal notes, papers, and reports.
Notes, reports, and maps relative to the John Day Dam, the Ice Harbor
Dam, the Priest Rapids Dam, the Albeni Falls Dam, Bonneville Power
Administration, the Kalispell and Cut Bank Air Force Station, and
highway projects.
|
1951-1962 | ||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 19 | 70-71 | Washington State Highway
Department |
1959-1962 |
Federal Government (public works and
military agencies) |
|||
| Box | Folder | ||
| 20 | 72 | 1951-1958 |
|
| 20 | 73 | 1958 |
|
| 20 | 74 | 1959-1960 |
|
| 21 | 75 | 1960-1962 |
|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 21 | 76 | Montana Highway Department |
1960-1962 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Legislators -- Washington (State) -- Archives
- Real estate business -- Washington (State) -- Spokane -- Records and correspondence
- Real property -- Valuation -- Washington (State) -- Spokane -- Records and correspondence
Personal Names
- Ashley, Fred C., 1899- -- Archives
- Carrothers, W. J. -- Archives
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Carrothers, W. J. (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Lawrence R. Stark
2022
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
