Jerome Peltier (1911-2004) was an author, historian, and bookstore owner. Arriving in Spokane in 1925, he began studying the history of the West as a teen. The author of 15 books on Western history over thirty-five years, Peltier proved instrumental in the recording of the area's history. In 1985, the Eastern Washington Historical Society gave Peltier the Distinguished Author of History award, further solidifying Peltier's central role in the preservation of regional history. Peltier served as a charter member of the Spokane Corral of Westerners, a group of Western history buffs, as well as being a founding member of the Museum of Native American Culture and the Pacific Northwest Indian Center.
After a career at the John W. Graham paper products company, Peltier bought Clark's Old Book Store in 1950. Owning and operating the store for nearly thrity years with wife Amanda, the Peltiers sold the store in 1979 as Jerome's health began to fade. Despite his failing health Peltier remained Spokane's prime historical resource until his death at age 93.
Clippings, correspondence, maps, photographs, and interviews/personal accounts of early Spokane area history, derrived from six individual sub-collections.
Open to all users
Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries
Source: Louis Collins Books, February 14, 2013.
Processed by Alexandra Rihm, 2013
Multiple copies of Peltier's obituary from
A typewritten copy of 'Reminiscences of Frank Frazier: Indian War of 1878'.
Photographs, news articles, and correspondence surrounding Albert S. Johnson as well as manuscripts and a final copy of
Manuscript letters and signed typed manuscripts on William S. Norman, provided to Jerome Peltier. Mr. Norman arrived in the Northwest in 1884, he operated hotels in Spokane and was a founder of the Washington Water Power Company.
Collection of manuscript letters, scarce maps, a serialized story of Lewis and Clark and other printed material of the old Indian and pioneer trails of northeast Washington. This collection also includes written and typed letters from pioneers who described the old trails in Spokane County and eastern Washington.
Handwritten account of Jerome Peltier's 22 October 1967 visit with Amy and Saul Webb at their home near Cayuse, Oregon, including Amy and Saul's signatures.
Manuscript of James E. Sykes' account of the Wild Goose Bill Shooting. Mr. Sykes, as a 7 year old boy hiding under a bed, was the only eye-witness to the shoot-out between Wild Goose Bill (Samuel Condit) and Barton Park in a cabin near Wilbur, WA on 25 January 1895. Also included is a published account by C.S. Kingston, letters and notes from Mr and Mrs Sykes to Jerome Peltier, plus photographs and other research material.
Correspondence between J. Porter Graham and Jerome Peltier as well as letters written to Graham.
This Sunday supplement features a large picture of a Native American man with the headline 'Blind Indian Serves as Tribal Interpreter'