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Wirth Family papers, 1892-1970

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Wirth Family
Title
Wirth Family papers
Dates
1892-1970 (inclusive)
1994-1995 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0309wirthfamilypapers (collection)
Summary
The Wirth Family papers contain original manuscript material, correspondence, slides, photograph albums, loose photographs, negatives and yearbooks belonging to a family that once resided in Bellingham, Washington.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Henry Wirth was born in Iowa (date unknown) and then moved to Bellingham. In 1892 he went on an exploration in Alaska with J.W. Black and N.V. Hendricks, and later worked as a teller in a bank. Wirth married Viola Doty and had one child, Henry Edgar Wirth. Henry E. Wirth was born in Bellingham, Washington and attended the University of Washington where he received a Bachelor's degree and a PhD. He (taught?) at numerous institutions, including North Dakota State in Fargo, North Dakota, Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, and Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Henry E. Wirth married Naomi Thomas and the couple had three children. They moved back to Bellingham upon retirement, and after Naomi's death Henry relocated to Iowa City, Iowa where he died in 2006.

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Content Description

The Wirth Family papers contain original manuscript material, correspondence, slides, photograph albums, loose photographs, negatives, and yearbooks belonging to a family that once resided in Bellingham, Washington. The majority of the collection documents various family members' travels through Alaska. There are also records documenting locales throughout Whatcom County and the Mt. Baker wilderness, as well as yearbooks from various Bellingham-area schools.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Wirth Family papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

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Administrative Information

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Acquisition Information

Donated by Katy Hansen on December 5, 2011.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Description: Wirth, Henry - original manuscript from Alaska trip
    Dates: 1892
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1-1/2
  • Description: Wirth, Henry - "A Trip to Alaska in 1892" (typed copy of manuscript including newspaper clippings, correspondence and mementos)
    Dates: circa 1892
    Container: Box/Folder 1/3
  • Description: Invitation to Farewell Dinner for J.W. Black Henry Wirth and N.V. Hendricks at "Hotel de Baldi" (home of J.B. Baldy in Fairhaven, WA)
    Dates: 1892 March 10
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4
  • Description: Evans, R.D. (Captain, U.S. Navy, Commanding) - letter to Henry Wirth
    Dates: 1898 April 1
    Container: Box/Folder 1/5
  • Description: Higginson, Ella - letter to Henry Wirth
    Dates: 1917 March 15
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6
  • Description: Postcard (unknown sender) from Alaska to Mr. and Mrs. (Henry and Viola) Wirth
    Dates: 1928 August 8
    Container: Box/Folder 1/7
  • Description: Correspondence with Mrs. (Viola) Wirth
    Dates: circa 1954-1965
    Container: Box/Folder 1/8
  • Description: Annual reports - Aftermath Club and American Association of University Women-Bellingham chapter
    Dates: 1994-1995
    Container: Box/Folder 1/9
  • Description: New Whatcom Blade excerpts including accounts of Van Hendricks' whom Henry Wirth and J.W. Black left in Alaska in 1892
    Dates: 1895 November
    Container: Box/Folder 1/10
  • Description: Newspaper clippings on Fairhaven and Klondike Gold Rush/mining history
    Dates: circa 1892-1950
    Container: Box/Folder 1/11
  • Description: Landahl's Emporium (Dawson, Yukon Territory, Canada) - "Scenes from the Land of the Midnight Sun"
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/12
  • Description: Map of Puget Sound
    Dates: 1903
    Container: Box/Folder 1/13
  • Description: Map of Alaska
    Dates: 1890
    Container: Box/Folder 1/14
  • Description: Brochure - "Alaska by Ferry"
    Dates: circa 1966
    Container: Box/Folder 1/15
  • Description: Logbook identifying slide from Henry E. Wirth trip to Alaska
    Dates: circa 1966
    Container: Box/Folder 1/16
  • Description: Slides from Henry E. Wirth trip to Alaska
    Dates: circa 1966
    Container: Box/Folder 1/17-1/21
  • Description: Photograph albums - "Views from Alaska"
    Dates: circa 1892
    Container: Box/Folder 1/22-1/23
  • Description: Photograph album - Whatcom County and other Washington locales (includes some loose negatives and newspaper clippings, circa 1920s-1940s)
    Dates: circa 1910s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/1
  • Description: Photograph album - WWI overseas (?) and Washington locales (includes some loose photographs)
    Dates: circa 1910s-1920s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/2
  • Description: Photograph album - Seabeck (YWCA Girl Reserves Conference), Whatcom County and Mt. Baker wilderness (includes some negatives and one loose photograph)
    Dates: circa 1920s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/3
  • Description: Photograph album - Mt. Baker wilderness, Whatcom County, San Juans and onboard the UW Oceanographic Laboratories Research Vessel Catalyst (includes a photograph of Thomas Gordon Thompson and one loose photograph)
    Dates: circa 1930s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/4
  • Description: Photograph album - Oklahoma and Seattle (Wash.)
    Dates: circa 1938
    Container: Box/Folder 2/5
  • Description: Photographs - Alaska
    Dates: circa 1890s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/6
  • Description: Photographs - Bellingham and Mt. Baker wilderness
    Dates: circa 1920s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/7
  • Description: Negatives - Alaska
    Dates: circa 1890s
    Container: Box/Folder 2/8-2/9
  • Description: Yearbooks - Kulshan
    Dates: 1922-1925
    Container: Box/Folder 2/10-2/11
  • Description: Yearbook - Klahowya
    Dates: 1944
    Container: Box/Folder 2/12
  • Description: Yearbooks - Shuksan
    Dates: 1939; 1943-1944
    Container: Box/Folder 2/13-2/14

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Mining--Alaska--History--Sources.

Family Names

  • Wirth Family--Archives. (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Alaska--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Alaska--History--Sources.
  • Bellingham (Wash.)--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Bellingham (Wash.)--History--Sources.
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