Warren W. Tolman was born 8 December 1861 in Illinois. He graduated with a law degree from Northwestern University in 1888 and practiced law in Chicago until 1892, when he moved to Spokane for reasons relating to his wife's health. Tolman served in the state senate from 1901 to 1905. He campaigned unsuccessfully for the state supreme court in 1906 and 1910. He practiced law from 1905 until 1918 when he was appointed to the state supreme court by Governor Ernest Lister. Tolman served on the court until his retirement in 1937 and was twice Chief Justice, from 1925 to 1926 and from 1931 to 1932. He died on 15 May 1940.
Tolman, known as a progressive democrat and able parliamentarian, was notable for his efforts to establish a railroad commission. In addition to his state service, he also served on the Spokane school board from 1903 to 1906 and as a member of the Washington State Commission to the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1904.
Correspondence, writings, newspaper clippings, certificates, genealogies, and other papers of Warren W. Tolman. The Correspondence is incoming correspondence which Tolman received during his tenure as judge. The bulk relates to his reelection in 1932 and his retirement in 1937. The Genealogical Information is correspondence relating to the Tolman family genealogy; reminescences; and commercial and family-written genealogies. The Lewis and Clark Exposition material is correspondence and writings relating to the industrial exposition in Portland, Oregon for which Tolman served on the Board of Commissioners. The Miscellanea series contains Tolman's certificate of election, a chronology of Tolman's life, a brochure, a receipt, etc. The bulk of the Writings relates to Tolman's election and retirement, including radio spot transcripts, testimonials, a vote count, campaign brochures, and Tolman's retirement notice. Newspaper clippings in the series include campaign advertisements, endorsements, and articles about Tolman's activities and retirement.
The papers are divided into five series.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Warren W. Tolman Papers, 1898-1938 (Cage 4619)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The papers of Warren W. Tolman (1861-1940) of Spokane, Washington were donated to the Washington State University Libraries in May 1981 (MS 81-21) by Warren T. Raymond of Mercer Island, Washington.
In 2021 Judge John Hagensen donated Washington Reports, Volume 102 to MASC after he was unable to locate descendants of Warren W. Tolman. This volume contains cases determined in the Supreme Court of Washington between April 30, 1918 and June 24, 1918, including opinions authored by Warren W. Tolman. There is a personal note from Judge Tolman on the inside front cover. This volume was cataloged seperately and is available to researchers in MASC.
Additional Washington State Supreme Court Justices papers held by Washington State University MASC:
Orris Lee Hamilton Papers, 1953-1978
Robert Thomas Hunter, 1959-1976
Joseph A. Mallery Papers, 1924-1960
John Stanley Webster Papers, 1901-1963
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.