Virgil McCroskey Papers, 1879-1974
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- McCroskey, Virgil, 1876-1970
- Title
- Virgil McCroskey Papers
- Dates
- 1879-1974 (inclusive)18791974
- Quantity
- 2 ft.
- Collection Number
- MsSC 146
- Summary
- Pharmacist and conservationist, of Colfax, Steptoe, and Oakesdale, Wash. Correspondence, historical summaries, clippings, and title transfer documents, relating to McCroskey's creation and development of Mary Minerva McCroskey Memorial Park (Idaho), honoring his mother, Mary Minerva McCroskey, early pioneer in Whitman County, Wash.; records (1905-1918) of Elk Drug Store, Colfax, Wash., owned and operated by McCroskey; ms. history of Colfax, Wash.; photos of trips to the South Seas (Oceania); ephemera from his college years at Washington Agricultural College, Pullman, Wash.; and biographical clippings and other papers of the McCroskey family.
- 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
Biographical Note
Virgil McCroskey came to Whitman County with his parents. He graduated as a pharmacist from the Washington Agricultural College (now Washington State University) in 1898, moved to Colfax and operated the Elk Drug Store from 1905 to 1918. He then moved to his parents’ homestead near Steptoe and developed the land as the Mary Minerva McCroskey State Park in honor of his mother. He later moved to Oakesdale where he resided until his death. McCroskey maintained a lifelong interest in conservation issues.
Content Description
The collection consists of McCroskey family documents and records, biographical clippings and photographs. Of particular importance are the materials relating to the creation and development of McCroskey State Park, 1945-1946, which includes clippings, letters, historical summaries, maps, and title transfer documents. There are some records of McCroskey’s drug store in Colfax, 1905-1918; a brief manuscript history of Colfax; photographs from McCroskey’s trips to the South Seas; and ephemeral items from his college years.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Publication RightsCopyright 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
Virgil McCroskey Papers (MsSC 146), Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.
Administrative Information
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Agricultural colleges--Washington (State)
- College students--Washington (State)
- Drugstores--Washington (State)
- Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)
- Parks--Idaho
- Pioneers--Washington (State)
- State universities and colleges--Washington (State)
- Universities and colleges--Washington (State)
- Voyages and travels
- Women pioneers--Washington (State)
Personal Names
- McCroskey, Mary Minerva
- McCroskey, Virgil, 1876-1970--Archives
Corporate Names
- Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science of the State of Washington--Students
- State College of Washington
Family Names
- McCroskey family
Geographical Names
- Colfax (Wash.)--History
- Colfax (Wash.)--Business, industries, and trades--Drugstores
- Idaho--Memorials and monuments
- Idaho--Parks
- Mary Minerva McCroskey Memorial Park (Idaho)
- Oakesdale (Wash.)
- Oceania--Description and travel
- Pullman (Wash.)--Education--Universities and colleges
- Steptoe (Wash.)
- Washington (State)--Education--Universities and colleges
- Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades--Drugstores
- Washington (State)--Family and personal papers--19th-20th centuries
- Washington (State)--Frontier and pioneer life
- Washington (State)--History, Local
- Whitman County (Wash.)--Frontier and pioneer life
Form or Genre Terms
- Biographies
- Histories
Occupations
- Conservationists--Washington (State)
- Pharmacists--Washington (State)
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Elk Drug Store (Colfax, Wash.) (creator)
