Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Washington Land Title Association records, 1869-2006
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Mjelde, Michael Jay
- Title
- Washington Land Title Association records
- Dates
- 1869-200618752006
- Quantity
- 8.8 cubic feet (10 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 5592 (Accession No. 5592-001)
- Summary
- Records of the Washington Land Title Association (WLTA), a non-profit corporation founded in 1905 as an association, composed of trade professionals that promote high quality land title evidencing and title insurance services in the State of Washington.
- 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
-
Open to all users.
Material stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Michael Jay Mjelde is an author, maritime historian, and a member of the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society. In addition to writing on maritime history, he also researched title insurance in Washington.
Historical BackgroundReturn to Top
The Washington Land Title Association (WLTA) formed as a non-profit association in 1905. In 1975, it was incorporated as a non-profit Washington corporation. The association is composed of trade professionals that promote high quality land title evidencing and title insurance services in the State of Washington. The organization promotes sound and ethical business practices; provides educational opportunities for members and facilitates effective communication within the Land Title Insurance industry. The WLTA is governed by an Executive Committee from its membership, including the elected positions of President and Vice President and the Immediate Past President and Chair of the Agents’ Committee.
A title insurance company is considered an underwriter; whereas, a title company is a title insurance agent or broker which issues policies for a certain underwriter, utilizing the approved forms supplied by that underwriter. The American Land Title Association (formerly American Title Association) has enabled the title industry.
In the 1920s there were four major title insurance companies in Western Washington: Washington Title Insurance (King County), Lawyers Title Insurance (King County), Puget Sound Title Insurance (King County) and Commonwealth Title Insurance (Pierce County). Also, in the 1920s there was one major underwriter in Eastern Washington, better known as Northwestern Title Insurance Company. In all of the smaller counties were title agents which issued policies as brokers for a major underwriter.
Title agents such as Bremerton Title Company and Thomas Ross Abstract Company in Kitsap County were underwritten by Washington Title. Land Title Company of Kitsap County, formed in 1968, was initially underwritten by Security Title (later renamed Safeco Title in 1973) as a policy-issuing agent. Kitsap County Title Company (now absorbed into Fidelity National Title) was formerly named Kitsap County Abstract Company and was formerly a policy-issuing agent for Puget Sound Title Company which was formed in 1926 at Seattle. There were similar arrangements in other counties in Western Washington where either branch offices of the major insurers or title agents operated, most of which have changed hands multiple times, or been absorbed by the major insurers.
Financial ‘meltdowns’ over the decades have caused major mergers and liquidations. Fidelity National Title as has now absorbed Washington Title, Chicago Title, Transamerica Title, Commonwealth Title, and Safeco Title. The major meltdowns occurred in 1991 when Ticor was purchased by Chicago and in 2008 when Transnation was acquired by Fidelity. The remaining major title insurance underwriters in the State of Washington are Fidelity National Title, First American Title, Old Republic National Title, and Stewart Guaranty.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Materials collected and researched by Michael Jay Mjelde related to the Washington Land Title Association (WLTA) as well as various title insurance companies and title companies throughout Washington State. These include Bremerton Title Company, Osborne Temper and Company Inc, Puget Sound Title Company, Safeco Title Insurance Company, Seattle Title Trust Company, Security Title Insurance Company, Thomas Ross Abstract Company, Ticor Title Insurance Company, and Washington Title Insurance Company.
Documents include scrapbooks, clippings, brochures, abstracts of title, photographs, title insurance policies, correspondence, WLTA Bylaws and Code of Ethics, meeting minutes from annual conventions and executive committees, treasurer's reports, examiner's manual, membership dues, membership rosters, committee member lists, newsletters from WLTA and other land title insurance groups, annual convention invitations and programs, correspondence, news clippings, publications by WLTA and other land title insurance groups, historical documents, and ephemera.
Every title insurance company is required by the State Insurance Commissioner’s office to file title insurance rates for all products issued which have to be approved by that office. This collection contains rate schedules dating back to the 1920s which were similar to all rates for title insurance products in the state.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged into 4 series:
- Records of Washington State Title Insurance Companies
- Other Title Insurance Materials
- Research and Teaching Materials
- Records of Washington Land Title Association
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Records of Washington State Title Insurance CompaniesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Bremerton Title Company (agent of Washington Title
Company) |
1943-1959 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Correspondence |
1944-1948 |
½ | Correspondence |
1943-1959 |
1/3 | Correspondence and Memos |
1940s |
Osborne, Tremper, and Company, Inc. (agent of Washington
Title Company) |
1869-1909 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/4 | Title Abstracts |
1869-1909 |
Port Orchard Abstract Company (later Transamerica Title
Company) |
1892-1949 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/5 | Title Abstracts and Correspondence |
1892-1949 |
Puget Sound Title Insurance Company |
1926 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/6 | Title Reports and Policies |
undated |
Real Estate Title Insurance and Abstract
Company |
1872-1924 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/7 | Title Abstracts |
1872-1924 |
Safeco Title Insurance Company (formerly Security Title
Insurance Company) |
1974-1984 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/8 | Continuing Education Manuals |
1977-1980 |
1/9 | Examinations of Documents (Deeds, Mortgages,
Contracts, and Agreements) |
1977-1978 |
1/10 | Form Book Manual |
1974 |
1/11 | Introduction to Recorded Instruments
Manual |
undated |
1/12 | Newsletter - "Quality Control Bulletin" |
1984 |
Security Title Insurance Company (later Safeco Title
Insurance Company) |
1962-1969 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/13 | Newsletter - "The Layout" |
1962 |
1/14 | Premium Rating Procedures Manual |
1969 |
Tacoma Title Company |
1902-1925 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/15 | Title Abstracts |
1902-1925 |
Thomas Ross Abstract Company (later Bremerton Title
Insurance Company) |
1905-1911 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/16 | Title Abstracts |
undated |
1/17 | Volume 3 of Plats |
1905-1911 |
5/1 | Volume 1 Base Examinations |
1915-1945 |
Ticor Title Insurance Company (formerly Washington Title
Insurance Company) |
1998-1999 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/18 | Newsletter - "Pacific Northwest Region
News |
1998-1999 |
Title Insurance and Trust Company |
1967 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/19 | Newsletter |
1967 |
Washington Title Insurance Company |
1911-1992 | |
Box/Folder | ||
1/20 | Title Abstracts |
1914 |
1/21 | Mortgage Policies |
1911 |
1/22 | News clippings |
1930, 1957 |
1/23 | Correspondence and Policies (Photocopies) |
undated |
1/24 | Compilation titled "Points and Authorities on Real
Property Law of Washington" |
1934 |
2/1 | Index Code Book |
1950-1992 |
2/2 | Brochures |
undated |
2/3 | Land Measurement Manual |
1962 |
2/4 | Land Measurement Manual |
1962 |
2/5 | Form Book Manual |
1956-1959 |
2/6 | Form Book Manual |
1956-1959 |
6/1 | Scrapbook |
1919-1949 |
6/2 | Scrapbook |
1950-1957 |
Series 2: Washington Land Title Association, 1902-2006Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
7/1 | Bylaws & Code of Ethics |
1954-2005 |
7/2 | Amendments to Endorsements |
|
Meeting Minutes |
||
Box/Folder | ||
7/3 | Annual Conventions |
1905-1918 |
7/4 | Annual Conventions |
1918-1926 |
7/5 | Annual Conventions |
1931-1938 |
7/6 | Annual Conventions |
2000 |
7/7 | Executive Committee |
1951-1955 |
7/8 | Executive Committee |
1956-1959 |
7/9 | Executive Committee |
1959-1962 |
7/10 | Executive Committee |
1971-1974 |
7/11 | Executive Committee |
1975-1977 |
7/12 | Executive Committee |
1977-1979 |
7/13 | Executive Committee |
1978-1981 |
7/14 | Executive Committee |
1981-1982 |
7/15 | Executive Committee |
1983-1986 |
8/1 | Executive Committee |
1987-1988 |
8/2 | Executive Committee |
1989 |
8/3 | Executive Committee |
1990-1991 |
8/4 | Executive Committee |
1992-1994 |
8/5 | Executive Committee |
1992-1994 |
8/6 | Executive Committee |
1995-1996 |
8/7 | Executive Committee |
1997-2000 |
8/8 | Executive Committee |
2001-2003 |
Box/Folder | ||
8/9 | Treasurer's Reports |
1964-1994 |
8/10 | Examiner's Manual (sections) |
undated |
9/1 | Membership Dues |
1949-2005 |
9/2 | Public Disclosure Forms to Washington State |
1991-2003 |
9/3 | Meeting Reports |
1992-1993 |
Newsletters |
||
Box/Folder | ||
9/4 |
Title Tales
|
1952-1954 |
9/5 |
Washington Land Title Association Newsletter
|
1955-1959 |
9/6 |
Washington Land Title Association Newsletter
|
1962-1964 |
9/7 |
Washington Land Title Association Newsletter
|
1965-1968 |
9/8 |
Washington Land Title Association Newsletter
|
1969-1972 |
9/9 |
Washington Land Title Association Newsletter
|
1973-1977 |
9/10 |
Washington Land Title Association Newsletter
|
1978-1981 |
9/11 |
For Land's Sake
|
1982 |
9/12 | Newsletters from Misc. Land Title
Companies |
1956 |
Annual Conventions |
||
Box/Folder | ||
9/13 | Notices of Annual Convention |
1947-2006 |
9/14 | Annual Convention Programs |
1964-2006 |
9/15 | Biographical Materials related to
Conventions |
|
10/1 | Annual Convention Programs |
1915-1965 |
10/2 | Annual Convention Programs |
1973-16978 |
10/3 | Annual Convention Programs |
1978-1982 |
Box/Folder | ||
10/4 | Correspondence |
1915 |
New clippings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
10/5 | Title Companies |
1951-1966 |
10/6 | Individuals |
1953-1967 |
Box/Folder | ||
10/7 | Brochure for 50th Anniversary |
1979 |
Historical Documents |
||
Box/Folder | ||
10/8 | Puget Sound Title Insurance Company |
1875-1961 |
10/9 | Land Survey |
1943 |
10/10 | Bill of Sale for Commonwealth Title and Trust Company
(photocopy) |
1902 |
Box/Folder | ||
10/11 | Commemorative Pins |
undated |
10/12 | Committee Member Lists |
1966-1973 |
10/13 | Membership Rosters titled
Who's Who Among Washington Title Men
|
1916-1982 |
Series 3: Other Title Insurance Related Materials, 1912-1966Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/7 | Misc. Title Abstracts, Policies, Legal Cases, and
Correspondence |
1912-1950 |
2/8 | Misc. Title Abstracts, Policies, Legal Cases, and
Correspondence |
1937-1948 |
2/9 | Manual belonging to A.W. Erickson |
1966 |
2/10 | Notes belonging to A.W. Erickson |
1962 |
2/11 | Ephemera |
undated |
5/2 | Records by County |
undated |
Series 3: Research and Teaching Materials, 1940s-1990sReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/12 | Land Surveying |
1970s |
2/13 | Rate Schedules |
1940-1980 |
2/14 | Plats |
1980s |
2/15 | Excise Tax |
1987-1990 |
2/16 | Minimum Standards |
1962-1990 |
2/17 | Underwriting and Resurance |
1987-1990 |
2/18 | "Title Tips" |
1960s |
3/1 | History of Title Insurance as of 1989 |
1989 |
3/2 | History of Title Insurance as of 1989 |
1989 |
3/3 | Historic Survey |
undated |
3/4 | Indian Land Titles |
undated |
3/5 | Tideland, Shoreland, and Oysterland Issues |
1944-1994 |
3/6 | Tideland Boundaries |
1983-1989 |
3/7 | Materials related to Legal Description
Course |
1990 |
3/8 | Materials related to Legal Description
Course |
1989-1992 |
3/9 | Materials related to Legal Description
Course |
undated |
3/10 | "Introduction to Searching" Manual |
1972 |
3/11 | Materials used in Washington Land Title
Seminar |
undated |
3/12 | Materials related to "Title Insurance in
Brief" |
1989 |
3/13 | Chicago Title Insurance Document Packet |
undated |
3/14 | Examples of Audits |
1983-1994 |
3/15 | Exhibits and Maps for Shotwell v.
Transamerica |
undated |
3/16 | Correspondence and Exhibits |
1989-1992 |
3/17 | Examples of Titles and Policies |
1983-1985 |
3/18 | Materials related to Short Plats |
1987-1991 |
3/19 | Hand Drawn Sketches and Maps |
undated |
3/20 | Field Inspection Manual |
1965 |
3/21 | Misc Manuals |
1965 |
3/22 | History of Surveyor Liability |
1978-1992 |
3/22 |
The Rectangular System of Survey
by P.C. Templeto |
undated |
4/1 |
Title Insurance in Washington by
George N. Peters Jr. |
1988 |
4/2 |
Washington Water Boundaries by
Jerry Broadus |
undated |
4/3 | Title Insurance, Legal Descriptions, and Real Estate
Forms |
1965 |
4/4 | Misc. Publications |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Title companies--Washington (State)
Corporate Names
- Washington Land Title Association--Archives
- Washington Land Title Association--Committees
- Washington Land Title Association--Congresses
- Washington Land Title Association--Manuals
- Washington Land Title Association--Newsletters
Form or Genre Terms
- Business correspondence
- By-laws
- Handbooks and manuals
- Newsletters
- Records (Documents)
- Scrapbooks
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Mjelde, Michael Jay, (collector,)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)