Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
PC 120
Walter, Bill.
Bill Walter Studio Photographs
circa 1890-1978
39 Linear feet of shelf space
39 Boxes
Collection of photographs from the Bill Walter Studio,
Colfax, Washington. The bulk of the collection is safety film negatives, but it also
contains many photographs, some oversize and panoramic.
Collection materials are in English
Bill Walter was born on November 4, 1915 in Pullman, WA. He lived in a number of
locations in Washington State, graduating from Ballard High School in Seattle. He
attended the State College of Washington shortly before World War II, where he met
and married Mary Sands. Mr. Walter joined the National Guard in 1940, and was
assigned to one of the first units to be nationalized.
In the National Guard, he served in the medical core, rising to the rank of Colonel
by the time the war ended. After the war, he located his family in Colfax,
Washington and started a sporting goods and photography business. As the years went
by, he shifted more and more toward photography. On several occasions, he attended
photography school in Winona, Indiana.
Mr. Walter advertised himself as the "Photography on the Palouse". Many of his
photographs appeared in the local newspaper, the Colfax Gazette, and at one time a
large display of his work was exhibited in Colfax City Hall. Mr. Walter retired in
1979 but continued his photography until the early 1990's. He passed away on
November 15, 1999.
Collection of photographs from the Bill Walter Studio, Colfax, Washington. The bulk
of the collection is safety film negatives, but it also contains many photographs,
some oversize and panoramic.
Highlights of the collection include a glass plate negative of the former Colfax
Courthouse (torn down in the 1950's), a plethora of images depicting Palouse
agriculture, both early and early modern farm machinery, local businesses, and
calamities such as the Oakesdale Grain Growers Elevator Fire in 1970 and the Colfax
Floods of 1910 and 1948. Of a more regional interest are the Construction of the
Boundary Dam for Seattle City Light Company in 1967 and the 12th World Jamboree of
the Boy Scouts of America held in Farragut State Park in 1967.
The collection is arranged in 4 series, primarily by format. Where possible, the
original order used by Mr. Walter is preserved. The major exceptions to this are
Series 1, Photograph Subject Files and Series 2, Photograph Negative Subject Files.
These two series reflect a subject arrangement designed to make the collection more
easily accessible.
Series 1 contains photographs, mostly 8x10, depicting various scenes and subjects,
mostly of regional interest.
Series 2 is also a series of subject files, black and white, most of which are of a
local history nature.
Series 3, almost entirely portraits of individuals, families, weddings, etc., forms
the bulk of the collection.
Series 4 contains oversize photographs, panoramic photographs and some photographs
that could not be identified by subject or place. Many of these photographs are
copies made by Walter from other photographers.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions apply.
[Item description]
Bill Walter Studio Photographs, circa 1890-1978 (PC 120)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections,
Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
B. Oliver Walter donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries
in 2000 (UPC-0014) and in 2020 (MS.2020.07). On Feb. 12, 2021, 15 photographs were
gifted to MASC by the Whitman County Library, which had received them one month
prior from Oliver Walter of Laramie, WY (who had acquired them while living in
Colfax), and these were interfiled as folder 8 in box 1. The former folders 8 to 13
in that box were renumbered 9 to 14 at that time.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Boundary Hydroelectric Project -- History -- Photographs.
St. Ignatius Hospital (Colfax, Wash.) -- History -- Photographs.
Colfax (Wash.) -- History -- Photographs.
Whitman County (Wash.) -- History -- Photographs.
Wheat -- Harvesting -- History -- Photographs.
Steamboats -- History -- Photographs.
Floods -- Washington (State) -- Whitman County -- History -- Photographs.
Ranches -- Washington (State) -- Whitman County -- Photographs.
Washington (State)
Agriculture
City and Town Life
Photographs
Series 1: Photographs Subject Files, circa
1920-1978
1
1
Early Colfax, circa 1900-1922
Palouse Region Small Towns
1
2
Early Elberton, Washington,
undated
1
2
St. John, Washington,
undated
1
2
Winona, Washington,
undated
1
2
Oakesdale, Washington,
undated
1
2
Moscow, Idaho, undated
1
2
Potlatch, Idaho, undated
1
2
Thornton, Washington,
undated
1
3
28 photos and negatives
Boundary Dam Construction,
1967
1
4
44 photos, some duplicates
Boundary Dam Construction,
1967
1
5
12th Boy Scout World Jamboree,
Farragut State Park, Idaho
1
6
Palouse Empire Fair: Exhibits,
1966
1
7
Palouse Empire Fair: Rodeo,
undated
1
8
Protests in Colfax, likely Feb. 28, 1969
1
9
12 photos, includes negatives
Fire, Oakesdale Grain Growers
Elevator, 1970
1
10
Palouse Highway (US 195) Aerial Views,
undated
1
11
Tanker Truck Accident on the Palouse,
undated
1
12
Rock Creek Park (color photographs and
negatives), 1976
1
13
Central Ferry Barge Loading, circa
1973-1978
1
14
Central Ferry Barge Loading, circa
1973-1978
Series 2: Photograph Negatives Subject Files,
1948-1988
Agriculture
2
1
Steiger Farm Cattle,
undated
2
2
Ensley Children and Cattle,
undated
2
3
Ensley Bull, 1952
2
4
Immler (sp?), G., Cattle,
undated
2
5
5 color negatives
Sauer, Horse Ranches and Harvest,
1961
2
6
McGregor Ranch, 1958
2
7
Harry Sandeen Farm, Harvest,
1953
2
8
22 photos (6 from 1955, 16 from 1954)
Mykelbust Ranch, Harvest, 1954 and
1955
2
9
Oscar Steiger Farm, 1954
2
10
11 photos (1954)
Marlo Ochs Ranch, Harvest,
1954
2
11
Dave White Ranch, 1955
2
12
Townsend Harvest, 1954
2
13
Heusle Ranch, Harvest,
1951
2
14
R. Farr Ranch, 1959
2
15
John Divine Ranch, 1953
2
16
Russell Looney Ranch, 1953
2
17
Colyar Ranch, 1969
2
18
Jeffries Farm Harvest (Dean Upshaw),
1953
2
19
Koenig Harvest, 1960
2
20
12 photographs (7 from 1953, 5 from 1957)
Otto Camp Harvest, 1953,
1957
2
21
Del Flewring(sp?) Ranch, Harvest (Case
farm machinery), undated
2
22
Moore Farm, 1962
2
23
Hensle Farm, Harvest, 1951
2
24
Lloyd Och Ranch, 1952
2
25
Other Miscellaneous Harvest
Negatives
2
26
Harvest and Harvest Machines (slides),
circa 1920
Palouse Region Events
3
1
Colfax (Whitman County) Courthouse
(glass plate), undated
3
2
City view of Colfax, circa
1952
3
3
40 photographs; roll film negatives
Colfax Flood, 1948
3
4
Elberton Flood, 1963">1963
3
5
"Mud in Front of Studio",
1969
3
6
"Negro Demonstration",
1965
3
7
Palouse Empire Fair,
1951-1952
3
8
Bill Walter Studio, fish and game
catches, 1950-1951
3
9
"Planting" fish (Palouse River?),
1951
3
10
Fire, Endsley Flowers and Gifts,
1967
3
11
Fire, Henry Building (Colfax?),
1958
3
12
87 photographs (64 Palouse, 23 Meyers), 7 color negatives (Macguire)
Palouse Countryside, Aerial and Ground
Views, 1968; Macguire, 1968; Meyers, 1970
3
13
Colfax Aerial Views, 1968
3
14
Palouse Region Aviation,
undated
Palouse Region Small Towns:
3
15
Eastern Wash. Natural Gas Co.-Map of
Endicott, Washington, undated
3
15
Garfield Elevator, undated
3
15
Thornton panorama, 1954
Palouse Region Churches/Church
Buildings
3
16
Colfax Lutheran Choir,
undated
3
16
St. John Lutheran Church,
undated
3
16
Endicott Adventist Church,
1959
3
16
St. John Christian Church,
1953
3
16
St. John Catholic Church,
1961
3
16
Garfield Nazarene Church,
1954
3
16
Ewan Nazarene Church,
undated
3
16
St. John Catholic Church,
1961
Palouse Region Schools
3
17
Joint Picnic, undated
3
17
8th Grade Graduation (school
unidentified), group photo, 1962
3
17
5th Grade, St. John, 1963
3
17
4th Grade, Endicott, 1956
3
17
4th Grade, St. John, 1956
3
17
3rd Grade, Palouse, 1956
3
17
4th Grade, Oakesdale, 1956
3
17
2nd Grade, Garfield, 1956
3
17
1st Grade, Garfield, 1956
3
17
2nd. Grade, Rosalia, 1956
3
17
3rd Grade Field Trip, Endicott,
1961
Palouse Region Businesses
3
18
Swanson Spray Company,
1966
3
19
Palouse Ammonia, 1952
3
20
McGregor Chemical, Steptoe Pea Plant,
1965
3
21
Rogers Bros. Seed Co, 1952
3
22
Monsanto Co, 1962
3
23
Richfield Oil Co/Brown and Holter
(Pullman?), 1963
3
24
R.A. Hanson Co., Palouse, WA,
1959
3
25
"Les" Mills Aircraft, 1970
3
26
LaCrosse Grain Growers, Dusty
Elevator, circa 1988
Colfax Businesses/Bldgs
3
27
Russell Bartlett Trucking Co,
1970
3
28
195 Café/ B.P.O.E, undated
3
29
LaVerne Bakery, 1961
3
30
Colfax Welding, 1959
3
31
Colfax City Shop, 1961
3
32
Gr. Grow Building, construction,
1959
3
33
Stueckle-Franz Bldg, 1959
3
34
Seattle 1st National Bank (includes
negatives), 1956
3
35
Brown and Holter (car dealership),
opening, 1957
3
36
Burgunder Bldg, 1953
3
37
Disposal Plant, concreting,
1953
3
38
Tom Gallagher Garage, 1958
3
39
Wheatland Marina, Grand Opening,
1975
3
40
Telephone Bldg construction,
1955
3
41
Port of Whitman, Central Ferry Barge
Loading, circa 1960s
3
42
Port of Whitman, Central Ferry
Elevator, circa 1960s
3
43
Port of Whitman, Central Ferry,
1970
3
44
Western Grain Exchange, Central Ferry,
1973
Historic Structures/Buildings
4
1
Old National Bank, Interior,
1955
4
2
Elberton Bridge, 1969
4
3
29 items; includes photographs
St. Ignatius Hospital and Catholic
Chapel, 1960-1966
4
4
4 color photos and negatives
Whitman Hotel, 1977
Community Services
Organizations
4
5
Whitman County Sheriff and Crew,
1957-1964
4
6
Colfax Police Dept, 1963,
1988
4
7
Colfax Fire Dept, 1922,
1967-1969
4
8
Pullman Fire Dept, 1967
4
9
Port of Whitman, Lower Granite Lock
and Dam Project Map, undated
4
10
Helena Duncan Crime Scene, November
1969
Miscellaneous Palouse Region
Negatives
4
11
Elks Style Show, 1974 (color
negatives)
4
12
State Class D Basketball Tournament
(St. John vs. Davenport), 1962 St. John Basketball Team,
1966-1969
4
13
Colfax Junior Miss (color photos and
negatives), undated
4
14
Whitman County Bar Assn,
1973
4
15
Jenetta Morris, Easter Seals,
1960
4
16
Ed Curtis poster on Post Office
billboard, 1958
4
17
Carol Steuckle, lentil products,
1967
4
18
Washington Water Power-new truck with
Ed Stone, 1954
4
19
Pinski singing, 1949
4
20
Baumiter (sp?) figurines,
1955
4
21
Solar eclipse, 1960
4
22
"New Hiway", 1956
4
23
"Historical Society", 1973
4
24
Empire Title Co., Pullman - College
Hill Map, undated
Series 3: Portraits, 1950-1978
5
Miscellaneous Portraits: weddings, "photos
never picked up", portraits, 1950's-1961, C-L
6
Miscellaneous Portraits, 1950's-1961,
L-Z
7
Miscellaneous Portraits, 1958-1961; more
weddings, 1950-1961
8
Miscellaneous Portraits, 1958-1961;
servicemen's portraits
9
Portraits, 1960-1961, A-M
10
Portraits, 1962, A-R
11
Portraits, 1962, R-Z; 1963 A-E
12
Portraits, 1963, F-S
13
Portraits, 1963, S-Z; Miscellaneous
Portraits, 1960-1970
14
Portraits, 1964, A-H
15
Portraits, 1964, H-S
16
Portraits, 1964, S-Z; 1965,
A-K
17
Portraits, 1965, K-Z; 1966, A
18
Portraits, 1966, B-O
19
Portraits, 1966, P-Z; 1967,
A-H
20
Portraits, 1967, H-Z; 1968,
A-E
21
Portraits, 1968, E-M
22
Portraits, 1968, N-Z; 1969,
A-D
23
Portraits, 1969, D-W
24
Portraits, 1970, A-S
25
Portraits, 1970, S-Z; 1971,
A-L
26
Portraits, 1971, L-Z; 1972,
A-C
27
Portraits, 1972, D-M
28
Portraits, 1972, M-Z; 1973,
A-B
29
Portraits, 1973, C-O
30
Portraits, 1973, P-Z and miscellaneous
photos
31
Portraits, 1974, A-K
32
Portraits, 1974, K-Z
33
Portraits, 1975, A-U
34
Portraits, 1975, V-Z; 1976,
A-R
35
Portraits, 1976, R-Z; 1977,
A-H
36
Portraits, 1977, H-Z; 1978,
A-Z
Series 4: Oversize and Unidentified
Photographs
Miscellaneous Photographs
37
1
Early Palouse Agriculture,
undated
37
2
Early Modern Palouse Agriculture,
undated
37
3
Colfax Flood, 1910
37
4
Early Modern Colfax,
undated
37
5
Steamboats, undated
Miscellaneous Identified
37
6
Union Pacific Railroad (town unknown),
undated
37
6
Pupils of District 166,
1909
37
6
Central Ferry, Barge Loading,
undated
37
6
Whitman County Bar Association,
1973
37
6
Rev. Cushing Eels, undated
37
6
Dr. W.A. Mitchell
37
6
Spalding at Almota,
undated
37
6
Railroad being built in
Lamont
37
6
L.L. Druning and friends,
undated
37
6
Cashup Davis funeral,
undated
37
6
Deed to City of Colfax,
1874
37
6
Portraits Unidentified
37
6
Miscellaneous Unidentified
37
7
1948 Flood
Panoramic Photographs
38 o.s.
I.L. Moore Header, 1913 (Hutchison
Photo, undated)
38 o.s.
Central Ferry Bridge Celebration, 1924
(Hutchison Photo)
38 o.s.
Diamond, Washington (Allen Photo Co.,
Walla Walla), undated
38 o.s.
Diamond, Washington (Hutchison Photo,
undated), undated
38 o.s.
Steptoe, Washington,
undated
38 o.s.
Stueckle and Broekel Thresher
(Hutchison Photo), 1913
38 o.s.
Colfax, Washington,
undated
38 o.s.
Miscellaneous Unidentified Panoramic
Photographs
Miscellaneous Photographs
39
1
Palouse Agriculture
39
2
“Near Rosalia Wash”
39
3
Palouse People and
Structures
39
4
Landscape Photographs