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Amasa B. Campbell Papers, 1905-1922

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Amasa B. Campbell, 1845-1912
Title
Amasa B. Campbell Papers
Dates
1905-1922 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 linear ft., (3 boxes)
Collection Number
Ms 38
Summary
Businessman of Spokane, Wash., and investor in mines in the Coeur d'Alene Region of Idaho and other enterprises. Incoming business correspondence (1905-1911); copies of outgoing correspondence in letterpress books (ca. 5000 letters); and personal check registers (1905-1922) of Campbell's wife, Grace F. Campbell.
Repository
Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture)
2316 W. First Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
archives@northwestmuseum.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is not restricted.

Additional Reference Guides

Nolan, Edward W. A Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Spokane, WA: Eastern Washington State Historical Society, 1987).

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Amasa B. Campbell left his native Ohio in 1867 to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. After its completion in 1869, he went to Utah and became involved in mining. In 1887 he came to Spokane Falls, entered into a partnership with John A. Finch, and began investing in the Coeur d'Alene mining district. Together they developed the Gem, Standard, and Hecla mines, all of which proved to be extremely profitable. Campbell and Finch opened and developed the Enterprise and Standard mines in the Slocan district of British Columbia in 1893. They were involved in nearly every successful mining venture in the Inland Empire. Campbell invested heavily in timber in the Grays Harbor district of western Washington. He was also involved in many Spokane business enterprises, including the Washington Water Power Company, Traders National Bank, Spokane and Eastern Trust Company, Spokane International Railway, and the Spokane Southern Traction Company. At the time of his death in 1912, Campbell was one of Spokane's millionaires whose wealth had resulted from wise investments in the Coeur d'Alene mining district.

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Content Description

The collection consists of incoming business correspondence, 1905, 1907-1908, 1910-1911; and copies of outgoing correspondence in letter press books, numbering nearly 5,000 letters. While there are numerous gaps, the correspondence seems to be representative. Also included are canceled checks and personal check registers for Mrs. Grace M. Campbell, 1904-1922, covering her personal and household expenses. They indicate something of the standard of living for an early twentieth century woman of considerable wealth.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Museum Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher

Preferred Citation

Amasa B. Campbell Papers (Ms 38), Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Materials were found in a closet in the basement of the Campbell House by restoration architect Albert Staehli in the course of a detailed structural evaluation of the house in 1984. The materials had apparently been in the closet since the death of Amasa B. Campbell in 1912. After the death of Campbell's wife, Grace, in 1924, their daughter donated the home to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society for use as a museum.

Processing Note

Processed to the file folder level.

Bibliography

Fahey, John. Campbell House. Spokane, Wash.: Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture/Eastern Washington State Historical Society, 2005.

Bean, Margaret. Campbell House. Spokane, Wash.: Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Campbell House Committee, 1965.

Related Materials

See also Amasa B. Campbell Estate Papers (MsSC 226), Helen Campbell Diaries (MsSC 224), Allan Campbell Powell Papers (MsSC 327), Campbell and Cambell House Slides, Campbell House Research Files, Hecla Mining Company Records (Ms 71), Iris Nilsson Letters (MsSC 309), Helen Campbell and Bill Powell Photographs, Finch Investment Company Records (Ms 52), Campbell House Architectural Drawings, and Campbell House Decorator's Plan.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Decedents' estates--Washington (State)
  • Executors and administrators--Washington (State)
  • Investments--United States
  • Mines and mineral resources--Idaho

Personal Names

  • Campbell, Amasa B., 1845-1912--Archives

Geographical Names

  • Coeur d'Alene Region (Idaho)--Mines, mining, and mineral resources
  • Idaho--Mines, mining, and mineral resources

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Campbell, Grace F. (Grace Fox), d. 1924 (creator)

    Corporate Names

    • Wakefield & Witherspoon (Spokane, Wash.) (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Hugh W. Johnston
1987

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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