Cage 219 Guide to the William O. Druffel Papers 1920-1962 Druffel (William O.) Papers Finding aid prepared by Torchie Corey and Terry Abraham Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2012
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc/ mascref@wsu.edu
Finding aid encoded by Mark O'English 2003 Finding aid written in English. 1974 This material was temporarily processed in 1964 and was reprocessed and described in May, 1974, by Torchie Corey and Terry Abraham. Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA (509) 335-6691 http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc/ mascref@wsu.edu
Cage 219 William O. Druffel William O. Druffel Papers 1920-1962 5 containers. 2.5 linear feet of shelf space. 1200 items. Correspondence, notes, clippings, scrapbooks and other papers concerning the Washington State Guard, the history of Colton, and Druffel's activities as a county official. Collection materials are in English

William O. (Bill) Druffel was born in Spokane, Washington, September 7, 1894, the son of Joseph and Adelaide Druffel. At the age of six years, the Druffels moved to a farm near Pine City, then to Colton, Washington, where Bill grew up. He capped his education at St. Martins College in Olympia, receiving an M.A. in 1911. In 1916 he was employed as a printer's apprentice, then as a bookkeeper for a grain firm. This was followed by a position with the First National Bank of Pullman. In 1920 he became Cashier of the Farmer's State Bank of Johnson, while the same year he was married to Miss Charlotte Hicks of Pullman, Washington. In 1925, he became cashier of the Security State Bank of Colton, holding that position for over twentyfive years. Between 1933 and 1940 he also managed the Highway Garage Hardware.

His civic activities included several terms as Mayor of Colton, member of the school board, Whitman County Commissioner, President of the Washington State Association of County Commissioners, and Vice-President of the National Association of County Officials.

He was a veteran of a World War I Balloon Company, and active as Company Commander in the National Guard during and after World War II. He was also a member of the Pullman Ration Board during that period.

From 1958 until his death Bill Druffel was President of the WSU Friends of the Library in which he played an active supporting role. Much of his FOL-related activities are documented in the records of that organization.

He died on December 12, 1962, in Colton, Washington.

The papers of William O. Druffel consist of correspondence, clippings, notes, publications, photographs, scrapbooks and other material arranged in four categories documenting his Washington State Guard activities, his interest and support of local government, material collected and written about the history of Colton, Washington, followed by a small group of miscellaneous personal material, including the accession file and a large scrapbook of clippings.

This collection is open for research use.

[Item Description]. Cage 219, William O. Druffel Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

The papers of William O. Druffel were a gift to Washington State University Library by Mrs. Charlotte Hicks Druffel in November 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.

Druffel, William O., 1894-1962 --Archives Druffel, Charlotte Hicks. waps Washington (State). National Guard Company C (Pullman, Wash.) Military Pacific Northwest History Government and Politics Washington (State) Colton (Wash.)--History--Sources County officials and employees--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Records and correspondence

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

Series 1: Washington State Guard 1 1 Scrapbook. Clippings concerning World War II, the Washington State Guard activities in the state and Whitman County. 1942-1945 58 leaves. 1 2 Scrapbook. Several hundred unmounted clippings concerning WW II, and Washington State Guard activities. 1943-1946 26 leaves. 1 3 Company "C". Clippings, membership lists, financial records, The "C" Breeze, drafts of speeches and articles, rosters, membership cards, and other records, correspondence and memoranda concerning Company "C", Washington State Guard and its reunions. 1948-1962 100 items. 1 4 Photographs. Snapshots of military encampment. 1943 170 items. Series 2: County Government 2 5 Government. Correspondence, clippings and speeches concerning local government. 1952-1961 19 items. 2 6 Gas Tax Funds. Correspondence, memoranda, notes, news bulletins, and other papers concerning allocation formula, and other highway matters. 1952-1954 18 items. 2 7-8 Washington State Association of County Commissioners. Correspondence, reports, speeches, memoranda, minutes, programs, certificates and other papers. 1951-1960 140 items. 2 9 Idaho Association of County Commissioners and Clerks. Correspondence, programs, speeches and other papers. 1954-1959 34 items. 2 10 Intergovernmental Relations Committee. Correspondence, minutes, transcripts of testimony before the Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Committee on Government Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives. 1957-1958 29 items. 2 11-12 National Association of County Officials. Correspondence, memoranda, notes, speeches and other papers. 1949-1961 100 items. Series 3: History 3 13 Schools. Clippings on the Colton schools. 1935-1962 100 items. 3 14 Notes on the history of Colton 1936-1950 25 items. 3 15 Notes on pioneers (primarily on cards) undated 115 items. 3 16 Notes on the history of Colton. Includes deeds, notes, lists, title abstracts, announcements and other papers. 1920-1956 20 items. 3 17 Register of pioneers of Colton. Pages in a fragment of a Johnson bank ledger. May 23, 1943 3 3 18 Colton pioneer picnic. Scrapbook of photographs. May 29, 1960 1 volume. 3 19 Colton community center. Scrapbook of photographs. July, 1949 1 volume. 3 20 Photographs: Colton, Uniontown, pioneers, Whitman County scenes 1900-1961 100 items. 4 21 Johnson history, particularly Jonathan Johnson 1957-1959 8 items. 4 22 NPRR action to discontinue station at Johnson 1927 10 items. 4 23 Precinct #24, Johnson, Washington, Registration Officer (W.O. Druffel) Papers 1924 20 items. 4 24 Steptoe Butte, by B. F. Manring and Troy Lindley undated 2 items. 4 25 Whitman County, by James Short 1960 2 volumes. Series 4: Personal 4 26 Election scrapbook 1956 108 items. 4 27 Druffel Family [i.e. Miscellaneous] undated 10 items. 4 28 Stewart Holbrook correspondence 1960-1961 14 items. 4 29 American Balloon Corps Veterans, correspondence 1962 5 items. 4 30 Mrs. Druffel's correspondence with WSU 1962-1966 28 items. 5 31 Scrapbook Sept. 1938-Jan. 1940 1 volume.