University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
4284
Washington Territory
Washington Territory records
1853-1890
2.88 cubic feet (6 boxes plus 5 oversize items)
3 reels of microfilm
Collection
materials are in
English.
Records of
government of Washington prior to statehood
The area of the present day state of Washington was originally part of
the Oregon Territory, created by the Federal Government on August 14, 1848. On
August 29, 1851, a group of settlers met at Cowlitz Landing (south of
present-day Olympia) to petition Congress for a separate “Columbia Territory”
covering the area between the Columbia River and 49th parallel. Congress
approved the new territory in February 1853, though a change of name, in honor
of George Washington, was proposed by Congressman Richard H. Stanton of
Kentucky. Olympia became the capital of the new Washington Territory, and Isaac
Stevens its first governor. The territory included northern Idaho and western
Montana until President Lincoln established the Idaho Territory on March 4,
1863, leaving the boundaries as those of the current state of Washington. The
residents of Washington Territory began petitioning for statehood in 1881, and
Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889 as the 42nd
state.
Arranged in 3 accessions:
- Accession No. 4284-001, Washington Territory records,
1853-1890
- Accession No. 4284-002, Washington Territory list of public
lands for sale, 1854, 1863
- Accession No. 4284-003, Council of Washington Territory
records, 1857
Correspondence, legislative journals, financial records, and list of
public lands for sale; 1856-1889.
Public Records (public disclosure laws may restrict access to some
files).
Request at UW
Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Washington Territory--Archives
Washington Territory--Politics and government--History--Sources
Public land sales--Washington Territory--Sources
Legislative materials
Records (Documents)
Business correspondence
Account books
Albums (Books)
Government records
Legislative journals
Bagley, Clarence, 1843-1932
Washington Territory--Archives
Washington (State)--History--To 1889
Territorial Government
Washington (State)
Accession No. 4284-001: Washington Territory records, 1853-1890
2.52 cubic feet (6 boxes)
3 reels microfilm
Scope and Content:
Correspondence, Journals of Proceedings, financial records,
1853-1890.
Correspondence, mainly incoming, of Governor and Secretary's
office, 1853-1890; Secretary's letterpress copy books and original letterbook,
1853-1874. Other records include journals of Legislative Council and House;
acts and bills of Council and House; memorials; miscellaneous financial records
of legislature and treasury; list of donation land claimants; petition for
statehood; and constitutional convention proceedings.
Digital Content/Other Formats:
View selections from this
collection in digital format.
Restrictions on Access:
Public Records (public disclosure laws may restrict access to some
files).
Restrictions on Use:
Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)
Acquisition Info:
These papers were bequested to the University of Washington by
Manson Franklin Backus, December 1935.
Processing Info:
Microfilm filmed under the National Historical Publications
Commission Grant. 1 reel negative, 1 reel positive, and loan copy filmed in
August 1965 from originals at University of Washington Libraries.
1/1
4284-001
Miscellaneous
documents
1856
1/2-11
4284-001
Council journal
1856-1864
1/12-23
4284-001
House journal
1863-1867
2/1-9
4284-001
Council journal
1865-1866, 1887-1888
2/10-16, 3/1-2
4284-001
House Journal
1866, 1887
3/3-4
4284-001
Bills
1864-1867
3/5
4284-001
Memorials
1865-1866
3/6
4284-001
Expenses
1875
3/7
4284-001
Petition to Congress regarding
Statehood
undated
3/8
4284-001
Claims data
1878-1879
3
4284-001
Convention
proceedings
1878
3
4284-001
Autograph book
1889
1 volume
General
correspondence
4/1
4284-001
Miscellaneous
undated
4/2-60, 5/1-17
4284-001
Governor and Secretary's
Office
1853-1890
5/18-25
4284-001
Treasurer's Office
undated
6
4284-001
Secretary's letterpress
books
1853-1874
3 volumes
6
4284-001
Legislative expense
book
1883-1884
Accession No. 4284-002: Washington Territory list of public lands for sale, 1854,
1863
4 items (oversize)
Scope and Content:
Contains lists of public lands for sale; 1854, 1863. Lands most
likely belonged to the University of Washington Territory. The documents show
that the sales were negotiated by Clarence Bagley, who helped clear lands for
the new school.
Restrictions on Access:
Public Records (public disclosure laws may restrict access to some
files).
Restrictions on Use:
Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted).
Acquisition Info:
No source given. No date given
Accession No. 4284-003: Council of Washington Territory records, 1857
1 oversize folder
Scope and Content:
Single page document from the Council of Washington Territory, 5th
Session, written by Mr. Maxon, clerk of Clarke County. It is titled Council J.
R. No. 3, meaning the joint resolution regarding the council's issue with the
condemnation of Isaac I. Stevens, governor of the Washington Territory, for
proclaiming and enforcing Martial Law in Pierce and Thurston counties during
the Indian War. The resolution discussed in the document was passed by the
legislative assembly on January 16, 1857. It notes that the resolution did not
express the opinion of a majority of the citizens of Washington Territory.
Restrictions on Access:
No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use:
Public Records—not subject to copyright. Copying, quotation,
publication and other uses are unrestricted if records are open for public
release.