WAUGilmanDaniel2730.xml Guide to the Daniel H. Gilman Papers 1882-1903 Gilman (Daniel H.) Papers Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2004 (Last modified: 4/13/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 2730 Gilman, Daniel H Daniel H. Gilman Papers 1882-1903 1.89 cubic ft. (5 boxes) Collection materials are in English. Early Washington publisher and promoter of railroads, mining, real estate, and utilities.

Daniel Hunt Gilman was born in Levant, Maine, in 1845. After serving in the Civil War, he worked in New York City's mercantile houses. He received a law degree from Columbia College of Law in 1877 and entered private practice in New York City. In 1883, he moved to Seattle, where he began promoting some major businesses, including railroads. Gilman helped to found the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway in 1885. Among the railroad's objectives were to cross Snoqualmie Pass and exploit the real and perceived mineral resources of the Cascade Mountains. Working with Thomas Burke, he secured capital from East Coast investors to finance the railroad's construction. The first tracks were laid in 1887. The line ran from downtown Seattle, around the northern shores of Lake Union, and to the east of Lake Washington. By 1889 the railroad reached as far as Snoqualmie Falls, where it was linked by a northern branch to the Canadian Pacific in Sumas, Washington, and track was laid in Spokane for a line heading west. However, the railroad never succeeded in crossing the Cascade Mountains. Due to the highly speculative nature of its financing and management, the venture ran into financial difficulties and the Nothern Pacific Railway assumed control in 1890.

Gilman helped to found the Seattle and Montana Railroad (part of the Great Northern system) and the West Street and North End Electric Railway in Seattle. He was also involved with various ventures, from real estate to construction to coal mining, connected with his railroad business. Gilman was among the first to recognize the potential of Snoqualmie Falls as a hydroelectric generation source, and he worked to cultivate interest in it.

Gilman was an active Democrat. He was chairman of the Democratic Party's Central Committee from 1890 to 1892. In that capacity he helped to establish the Seattle Telegraph as the newspaper of the party.

Some time following his marriage in 1888, Gilman moved to New York but returned to Seattle in 1906. He died on April 27, 1913.

Organized into 2 accessions.

Accession No. 2730-001, Daniel H. Gilman papers, 1886-1902 Accession No. 2730-002, Daniel H. Gilman papers, 1883-1890

The Daniel H. Gilman Papers document his career from 1886 to 1903 but concentrate on the period 1890 to 1894.

Accession 2730-1, which includes corresondence, agreements, writings, and financial records, documents Gilman's activities as a business promoter and Democratic Party stalwart. The heart of the accession is the incoming letters. They date from 1889 to 1894 and discuss Gilman's various activities. Discussions of Gilman's railroad ventures can be found in letters from Franklin M. Jones, James Dickinson Smith, James B. Witherow, and Jacob F. Wyckoff. The Lake Washington Ship Canal is documented in letters from Watson C. Squire. Letters from George Hazzard, George W. Van Fossen, and Chester H. Warner concern Democratic Party politics. This accession includes only a small quantity of outgoing letters. The remainder of the accession includes miscellaneous financial and legal documents.

Accession 2730-2 consists mainly of letters from Gilman to Franklin M. Jones of the New York bankers Jameson, Smith and Cotting dating from 1883 to 1890. The letters concern Gilman's attempts to promote the development of coal mining in the Black Diamond and Newcastle areas of King County. In association with this enterprise was the attempt to find iron ore in Snoqualmie Pass. The accession also includes proposals for railroads, drafts of promotional statements, financial records, and clippings related to his railroad ventures.

The collection is open to all users.

Request at UW

The creator's literary rights were not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Accession 2730-1 was acquired from the Thomas Burke Estate in 1935. Accession 2730-2 was a gift from F.S. Bayley in 1977.

The Gilman Papers were part of an gift from the Thomas Burke Estate that also included the Thomas Burke Papers and John J. McGilvra Papers. The Gilman Papers and the McGilvra Papers were grouped into separate accessions.

 Gilman, Daniel H.--Archives De Wolfe, George Drew, Thomas F Earle, Thomas Goode, H. W Haskell, Charles Frederick Beals, 1856-1895 Hazzard, George, 1845- Jones, F. M. (Franklin M.) Kirk, Peter Kimball, James P. (James Putnam), 1836-1913 Rockwood, George Gardner, 1832-1911 Smith, James Dickinson, 1832-1909 Squire, Watson C. (Watson Carvosso), 1838-1926 Thornell, William R Weed, Smith Mead, 1833-1920 Wyckoff, Jacob F Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Company Democratic Party (Wash.). Central Committee Lake Washington Ship Canal (Seattle, Wash.) Promoters--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Businessmen--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives Railroads--Washington (State) Railroad companies--Washington (State) Politicians--Washington (State)--Seattle Coal mines and mining--Washington (State)--King County Seattle telegraph Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Seattle Washington (State) Business, Industry, and Labor Transportation Government and Politics Mines and Mineral Resources Railroads

 

Accession No. 2730-001: Daniel H. Gilman papers, 1886-1902 1.68 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Papers, 1886-1902. Correspondence, agreements, proposals, writings, financial records, and clippings concerning Gilman's activities as a promoter of railroads, mines, real estate, and utilities, and as president of the Seattle Montana Railroad, the West Street and North End Electric Railway, and the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, and as editor of Seattle Telegraph, a Democratic newspaper, and chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, 1890-92.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

 Incoming Letters 1/1 2730-001 Albertson, Robert B. 1891-1892 1/2 2730-001 Allen, F.E. 1891 1/3 2730-001 Allen, John Beard 1892 1/4 2730-001 "A" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 1/5 2730-001 Baker, Charles Hinkley 1891, 1894 1/6 2730-001 Ballard, William Rankin 1891 1/7 2730-001 State Bank of New York 1890-1893 1/8 2730-001 Begg, Alexander 1891 1/9 2730-001 Black, Chauncey F. 1890, 1892 1/10 2730-001 Boston National Bank of Seattle 1891-1892 1/11 2730-001 Boyle, R.H. 1890 1/12 2730-001 Brainerd, Erastus 1892-1894 1/13 2730-001 Brouwer & McGown, Brokers, New York 1890 1/14 2730-001 Bryan, S.H. 1891-1892 1/15 2730-001 Bryant, John H. 1892 1/16 2730-001 Burke, Thomas 1892 1/17 2730-001 Byllesby, Henry M. (1859-1924) 1892 1/18-19 2730-001 "B" Miscellaneous 1890-1894, n.d. 1/20 2730-001 Cassil, W.B. 1892 1/21-22 2730-001 Chace & Butts 1890-1894 1/23 2730-001 Chrystie & Janney 1892 1/24 2730-001 Clothier, Harrison 1890 1/25 2730-001 Conover, Charles T. 1892 1/16 2730-001 "C" Miscellaneous 1890-1893 1/27 2730-001 Daft, Leo 1894 1/28 2730-001 Davidge, F.C. 1893 1/29 2730-001 Davies, Griffith 1894 1/30 2730-001 De Garis, F. 1894 1/31 2730-001 Democratic Party, Washington State, Pierce County Central Democratic Club 1890-1891 1/32 2730-001 Democratic Party, Democratic Society of Washington, George Hazzard, Secretary 1890-1893 1/33-36 2730-001 Democratic Party, Washington State, Central Committee 1892 1/37 2730-001 Democratic Party Miscellaneous 1890-1894 1/38 2730-001 Democratic Party 1890-1894 1/39 2730-001 De Wolf, George 1894 1/40 2730-001 Dorffel, George 1890 1/41 2730-001 Drew, Thomas F. 1892-1894 1/42 2730-001 Dudley, Augustus Palmer 1890-1891 1/43 2730-001 Durie, David E. 1890-1891 1/44 2730-001 "D" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 1/45 2730-001 Earle, Thomas 1891-1894 1/46 2730-001 Eastwick, Philip G. 1892-1893 1/47 2730-001 Edmiston, J.K. 1891-1892 1/48 2730-001 Eshelman (J.F.) Lewellyn & Company 1890-1894 1/49 2730-001 Estee, Morris M. 1890 1/50 2730-001 Ewing, Thomas 1893-1894 1/51 2730-001 "E" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 1/52 2730-001 Fahestock & Company 1890-1893 1/53 2730-001 Fairhaven Land Company 1893-1894 1/54 2730-001 Falls, Thomas J. 1890-1894 1/55 2730-001 Ferry, Elisha P. 1891-1892 1/56 2730-001 Forbes, A.B. (and agent) 1893-1894 1/57 2730-001 Ford, A. 1890 1/58 2730-001 "F" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 1/59 2730-001 General Electric Company 1893-1894 1/60 2730-001 Gilman, Luthene Clairmont 1890-1893 1/61 2730-001 Glen Iron Mining Company 1894 1/62 2730-001 Goode, H.W. 1891-1892 1/63 2730-001 Gray, Charles C. 1891-1893 1/64 2730-001 Great Northern Railway Line 1890-1894 1/65 2730-001 Green, Joshua 1892 1/66 2730-001 Griggs, Chauncey Wright 1892 1/68 2730-001 Guilfoil, O.D. 1890-1894 1/67 2730-001 "G" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 2/1 2730-001 Halsey, N. Wetmore 1890 2/2 2730-001 Hardin, Thomas B. 1892 2/3 2730-001 Harris (E.W. and T.H.), law firm 1892-1893 2/4 2730-001 Haskell, C.F.B. 1893-1894 2/5 2730-001 Hazzard, George 1890-1893 2/6 2730-001 Hewitt-Lombard Bank 1892 2/7 2730-001 Hills, James Jerome 1891-1893 2/8 2730-001 Hoadly, Lauterback & Johnson 1891 2/9 2730-001 Hoit, Homer A. 1890-1891 2/10 2730-001 Horner, A.L. 1892 2/11 2730-001 Hosmer, Charles R. 1891 2/12 2730-001 Hutchings, George L. 1891 2/13 2730-001 "H" Miscellaneous 1889-1894 2/14 2730-001 Illinois Steel Company 1890 2/15 2730-001 "I" Miscellaneous 1890-1891 2/16 2730-001 Jameson, Smith & Company 1890 2/17 2730-001 Jenner, Charles J. 1892 1/18 2730-001 Jesup, Charles M. 1891 1/19 2730-001 Jones, F.M. (Franklin M.) 1890-1894 1/20 2730-001 "J" Miscellaneous 1890-1893 2/21 2730-001 Kimball, James P. 1894, n.d. 1/22 2730-001 King, Charles 1893-1894 2/23 2730-001 Kittinger, C.H. 1894 2/24 2730-001 "K" Miscellaneous 1890-1893 2/25 2730-001 Leary, John 1890-1891 2/26 2730-001 Lewis, James Hamilton 1892-1893 2/28 2730-001 McDonald, J.R. 1891, 1894 2/29 2730-001 McNaught, James 1892-1894 2/30 2730-001 Martin, Alfred 1890-1893 1/31 2730-001 Merchant's National Bank, Seattle 1890-1894 1/32 2730-001 Metropolitan Trust Company 1891-1893 2/33 2730-001 Midland Pacific Railroad 1892 2/34 2730-001 Moran Brothers 1890 2/35-36 2730-001 "M" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 2/37 2730-001 Nelson, J.T. 1894 2/38 2730-001 New York Bank Note Company 1890-1891 2/39 2730-001 New York Engraving & Printing Company 1892 2/40 2730-001 Northern Pacific Railroad 1888-1893 1/41 2730-001 Northern Pacific Roadroad, Attorney's Office 1892-1893 1/42 2730-001 Northwest General Electric Company 1892-1893 2/43 2730-001 Northwest Thomson-Houston Electric Company 1891-1892 2/44 2730-001 "N" Miscellaneous 1890-1892 2/45 2730-001 O'Dell, Daniel, broker 1890-1894 2/46 2730-001 Olympia Hotel 1892 2/47 2730-001 Orvis Brothers & Company 1890 2/48 2730-001 "O" Miscellaneous 1891-1893 2/49 2730-001 Page, J.A. 1890-1892 2/50 2730-001 Pettigrew, Richard 1893 2/51 2730-001 Pratt, G.E.M. 1892-1893 2/52 2730-001 Puget Sound Iron Company 1894 2/53-54 2730-001 "P" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 2/55 2730-001 Quinn, David A. 1890 3/1 2730-001 Rainier Club 1890-1893 3/2 2730-001 Rochester, Junius 1890-1891 3/3 2730-001 Rockwood, George G. 1890-1893 3/4 2730-001 "R" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 3/5 2730-001 Schulze, Paul 1894 3/6 2730-001 Seattle Chamber of Commerce 1890-1894 3/7 2730-001 Seattle National Bank of Commerce 1891-1894 3/8 2730-001 Seattle University (Baptist) 1891-1893 3/9 2730-001 Seattle & Eastern Construction Company 1890-1892 3/10 2730-001 Seattle & Montana Railraod Company 1890-1894 3/11 2730-001 Seattle Coal and Iron Company 1890-1894 3/12 2730-001 Seattle Democrat 1892 3/13 2730-001 Seattle Journal 1890, n.d. 3/14 2730-001 Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Company 1890-1892 3/45 2730-001 Seattle National Bank 1891-1893 3/16 2730-001 Seattle Safe Deposit & Trust Company 1893-1894 3/17 2730-001 Seattle Telegraph 1890-1893 3/18 2730-001 Seattle Trust Company 1890-1893 3/19 2730-001 Semple, Eugene 1891, n.d. 3/20-22 2730-001 Smith, James Dickinson 1890-1893 3/23 2730-001 Smith (James D.) & Company 1891-1894 3/24 2730-001 Smith, Stewart K. 1892-1894 3/25 2730-001 Smith Cove Land Company 1890-1892 3/26 2730-001 Spalt, (Mrs.) F.R. 1894 3/27 2730-001 Spencer, Robert T. 1892-1894 3/28-29 2730-001 Squire, Watson C. 1891-1894 3/30 2730-001 Stone, C. 1892-1894 3/31 2730-001 Street, Ogden 1893-1894 3/32 2730-001 Sullivan, John C. and wife 1892-1893 3/33 2730-001 Symons, Thomas William 1892 3/34-36 2730-001 "S" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 3/37 2730-001 Thomson, Reginald Heber 1893-1894 3/38 2730-001 Thornell, William R. 1890-1894 3/39 2730-001 Torkelson, C.S. 1893-1894 3/40 2730-001 "T" Miscellaneous 1890-1894, n.d. 3/41 2730-001 "U" Miscellaneous 1890-1894, n.d. 3/42 2730-001 Van Fossen, George W. 1891-1893 3/43 2730-001 "V" Miscellaneous 1892-1894 4/1 2730-001 Warner, Chester H. 1891-1892 4/2 2730-001 Washington State Board of Trade 1891 4/3 2730-001 Weed, Smith Mead 1894, n.d. 4/4 2730-001 Wenatchee Development Company 1894 4/5-6 2730-001 West Street & North End Electric Railway Company 1891 4/7 2730-001 Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company 1890-1892 4/8 2730-001 Wilson, John Lockwood 1892 4/9 2730-001 Winchell, Horace Vaughn 1894 4/10 2730-001 Witherow, James P. 1893-1894 4/11 2730-001 Wood, W.D. 1890 4/12-14 2730-001 Wyckoff, Jacob F. 1890-1894 4/15-16 2730-001 "W" Miscellaneous 1890-1894 4/17 2730-001 "Y" Miscellaneous 1893 4/18 2730-001 Anonymous and Unidentifiable 1891-1892, n.d. 4/19 2730-001 Correspondence Enclosures 1889-1893 4/20 2730-001 Outgoing Letters 1886-1902 4/21-22 2730-001 Financial Miscellany 1890-1894, n.d. 4/23 2730-001 Memoranda 1890, n.d. 4/24 2730-001 Printed Miscellany 1890-1894, n.d. 4/25 2730-001 Map of Skagit County 1891 4/26 2730-001 Legal Documents - Miscellany 1888-1891 4/27 2730-001 Miscellany - Large 1893, n.d. 4/28 2730-001 Subject Series - Tideland Matters 1890-1892, n.d. 4/29 2730-001 Documents - Miscellaneous 1889-1902 Accession No. 2730-002: Daniel H. Gilman papers, 1883-1890 .21 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Letters by Gilman mainly to Franklin M. Jones of Jameson, Smith and Cotting, NY bankers, plus related items; 1883-1890. Gilman was a business promoter. These are mainly letters (ALS) by Gilman to Jones regarding development of coal lands in the Black Diamond Area, King County, along with prospect for a steel industry. He was also interested in railroading, being associated with the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern Railway. These papers have been arbitrarily named the Gilman papers because of the nature of their acquisition, being divorced from their origins, and intended by donor to be considered the "Gilman papers".

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

 1/1 2730-002 Incoming Letter from Frederick H. Whitworth 1883 1/2-8 2730-002 Outgoing Letters 1883-1890 1/9 2730-002 Correspondence of Others - Letters to Franklin M. Jones 1886 1/10 2730-002 Draft of Agreement 1882 1/11 2730-002 Proposals for Railroads 1885, n.d. Drafts of Promotion Statements 1/12 2730-002 Favoring Puget Sound over Portland n.d. 1/13 2730-002 For Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway n.d. 1/14 2730-002 Financial Status Statement 1886 1/15 2730-002 Business Statements 1882-1886 1/16 2730-002 Clippings 1882, 1886, n.d.