Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Agnes L. Colton papers, 1862-1964
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Agnes L. Colton papers
- Dates
- 1862-1964 (inclusive)18621964
- Quantity
- 1.15 linear feet
- Collection Number
- SPC 005-0595
- Summary
- The Agnes L. Colton papers consist of photographs, diaries, and research notes pertaining to the extended Colton family. Much of these materials relate to the families ties to Colton, South Dakota and the frontier of western expansion in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
- Repository
-
Eastern Washington University
Archives & Special Collections
Eastern Washington University Libraries
320 Media Lane - 100 LIB
Cheney, WA
99004-2453
Telephone: 5093592475
archives@ewu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Agnes Colton papers consist of research materials pertaining to the Colton family. Topics include frontier life in the late 1900's to early 20th century, farming, family narratives, education, and travel. The collection contains typed diary transcripts, the diaries themselves, genealogy notes, letters, photographs, and postcards from various members of the Colton family. This also includes rejected manuscripts submitted to publishers and associated correspondence.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Agnes Louise Colton was born on November 5th, 1905 in Colton, South Dakota to parents William Oscar Colton and Nina L. Smead Colton. She grew up during the latter part of the western frontier, and spent some of her childhood in Spokane, Washington. Her mother, Nina L. Smead Colton was her father's second wife. William's first wife, Ellen Sylvester Colton died in 1903, at the age of 45 after 23 years of marriage. Agnes attended Lewis and Clark high school in her teens, and got her bachelor's degree from Whitman College. In 1939 she graduated from the University of Washington with a PhD in History. In 1954 she was hired by Eastern Washington University. She taught in both the English and History departments for 18 years until her retirement in 1972. In addition to teaching, Colton conducted her own research. She died in 1992 at the age of 86.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Use of this collection is subject to the rules concerning access to archival and manuscript collections at Eastern Washington University. For more information, see: https://www.ewu.edu/library/ewu-archives-special-collections/ Copyright restrictions may apply. For more information or permission to publish, contact Eastern Washington Universitiy Libraries, Archives and Special Collections at (509) 359-2475 or archives@ewu.edu.
Preferred Citation
Agnes Colton papers; Spc 005-0595; box number; folder number; Archives and Special Collections, Eastern Washington University
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Agnes L. Colton Papers are arranged into two series: Series 1: Diaries and Genealogical Research, 1862-1952 (0.65 linear feet) Series 2: Photographs, 1867-1962 (0.5 linear feet)
Acquisition Information
Provenance of collection is unknown. Aquired by Eastern Washington University in 2005.
Related Materials
Honoring the female pioneering spirit: a look at the lives of Agnes Colton and Cecil Dryden, by Joneel R. Roley. Published in 1994
The Miles Edwin Traver Papers, 1859-1965, Cage 190, Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Diaries and genealogical notes, 1862-1962Return to Top
The Diaries and genealogical notes series consists of the diary manuscript of Melzar Colton and physical diaries of Stella Wheeler and William Oscar Colton. Additionally there is a detailed family history of the extended Colton family, publishing correspondence, family correspondence, and genealogical research notes.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Family journals |
|
| 1 | 2 | Melzar Colton diary typed |
1863, 1952 |
| 1 | 3 | Stella Wheeler diary |
1863 |
| 1 | 4 | William Oscar Colton diary |
1916 |
| 1 | 5 | Genealogy notes |
1952 |
| 4 | 1-11 | Stella Wheeler diary notes |
undated |
| 4 | 12 | Notes from books and other publications |
undated |
| 4 | 13-15 | Stella Wheeler diary notes |
undated |
| 3 | 5 | Loose notes |
undated |
| object | |||
| OS | Marriage certificate of William Oscar Colton and Nina L. Smead |
1904 | |
Series 2: Photographs, 1867-1962Return to Top
The Photographs series includes photographs of the extended Colton family, friends of the family, and family homes.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 6 | Dr. Dodge |
undated |
| 1 | 6 | Frances Abbot |
1871 |
| 1 | 6 | Ellen and Paul Tobie |
undated |
| 1 | 6 | Mina Colton Tobie |
undated |
| 1 | 6 | J. Edmund Colton and wife |
undated |
| 1 | 6 | Susie Porter |
undated |
| 1 | 6 | Mother Slacks |
undated |
| 1 | 6 | A valentine for Ellen Tobie |
1909 |
| 1 | 6 | A valentine for Grandma |
1909 |
| 1 | 6 | Miss Smead graduation card |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta |
circa 1960 |
| 2 | 1 | Three people posing at the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta |
circa 1960 |
| 2 | 1 | J. Edmund Colton and family |
1908 |
| 2 | 1 | William Oscar Colton and Dennis Piper |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | Beth and Esther |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | Paul and Ellen |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | Agnes Colton graduation headshot |
1925 |
| 2 | 1 | Greetings from Weasro |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | School house, Crary Mills, New York |
1911 |
| 2 | 1 | Unidentified woman |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Woman and cat |
1962 |
| 2 | 2 | Mape Church |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Crary Mills from the east |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Agnes Colton portrait |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Greenacres school |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Crary Mills, New York |
1909 |
| 2 | 2 | Agnes and William |
1908 |
| 2 | 2 | William Oscar Colton home |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Crary Mills bridge |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Granis Brook |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Woman and cat |
1962 |
| 2 | 3 | Unknown woman |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Woman in flower print dress |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Mother Flint |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Nina Lila Smead |
1867 |
| 2 | 3 | Unknown woman |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Farm home of William Oscar Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Love - Margaret |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | William Oscar Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Ethel Agnes Louise Colton |
1906 |
| 2 | 4 | Nina Lila Smead |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Nina Smead, teacher |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | West of Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | William Oscar Colton team |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Nina Smead and Jessie Blunt |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Uncle Amos Sylvester |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Melzar Colton and wife |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Willie and Agnes Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Agnes Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Portrait of young man |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Paul and Ellen Tobie |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Father Colton? |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Unknown woman |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Mina Colton Tobie |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Harold T. and Edna |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Grandmother Blount and her house |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Agnes Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | William Oscar Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | F.W. Sylvester |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Unknown couple |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Ellen Sylvester Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Crary Mills looking west |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Grannis Brook Crary Mills |
1913 |
| 2 | 6 | Unknown woman |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Sheep west of Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Tobie children |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Unknown Coeur D'alene family |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Hattie Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Hattie Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Willie and Agnes Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Melzar Colton, Harold and Addie Tobie |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Agnes Louise Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Margaret L Smead |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Agnes Louise Colton and William Edmund Colton |
1908 |
| 2 | 7 | Agnes Louise Colton |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Frank Tobie, Mina Tobie, and children |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Melzar Colton portrait |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Mother Colton portrait |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Justin, Grace, and Timothy Wheeler |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Agnes Colton and William Colton |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Home place Crary Mills |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | William Oscar Colton and wife |
1904 |
| 3 | 1 | William Oscar Colton and Esther Colton |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Baby portrait |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Portrait of a young man |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Edith G. Traver |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Harold Tobie |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Agnes Colton portrait |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Willie and Agnes colton |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Paul Tobie |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Portrait of a young man |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Harry Tobie and wife |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Frank E. Tobie |
1937 |
| 3 | 2 | Matie Colton |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | William Oscar Colton home |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Smead and Stacks home |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Portrait of unknown man |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Doily photograph |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Portrait of Spokane couple |
undated |
| 3 | 2 | Mrs and Miss Ward Teddy |
1921 |
| 3 | 3 | Grandma Slacks |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | Unmarked greeting card |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | Photograph of the Pisa Cathederal |
circa 1960 |
| 3 | 3 | Photograph of unknown couple and white cat |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | William Oscar Colton |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | J.E. Colton home |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | Colton and Tobie families |
1900 |
| 3 | 3 | William Oscar Colton and family |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | Nina Lila Colton |
undated |
| 3 | 3 | William Oscar Colton house |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | William Oscar Colton home |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Photograph of unknown man |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Photograph of unknown man |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Photograph of unknown man |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Negative of unknown man |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Photograph of unknown man |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | School Sylvesters |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Portait of unknown woman |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Notes on water bottle envelope |
undated |
| 3 | 4 | Fred T. Huston, Frances B. Huston. Gertrude Huston, me |
1910 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Greenacres (Spokane Valley, Wash.)--History
- New York (State)--History
- South Dakota--History
- Spokane (Wash.)--History--20th century
Blake Yacker
2025
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
