William Denison Lyman papers, 1884-1920

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Lyman, William Denison
Title
William Denison Lyman papers
Dates
1884-1920 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.8 linear feet, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
WCMss.102
Summary
This collection holds diaries, periodical articles, biographical information, a manuscript, and stories of Native American folklore from a longtime Whitman College professor and his father.
Repository
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William Denison Lyman was born in Portland, Oregon in 1852. His early education was received at Tualatin Academy and Pacific University, where he graduated from the scientific course in 1873. He later was awarded his A.B. from Williams College in 1877. In September of the same year he became teacher of English Literature, History, and Oratory at Pacific University, where he remained for ten years.

After spending a year at Fresno, California, endeavoring to start a raisin ranch, he subsequently teaching at the University of New Mexico in Santa Fe, he came to Whitman College in November, 1888. Here he remained continuously, except during the year 1890-91, when he was engaged in an effort to start a new college at Spokane. At Whitman he taught History regularly and served as department Head. In addition, he at various times taught English Literature, Rhetoric, Oratory, Political Economy, Political Science, Latin, Greek, Elementary Geology, Physiology, and Astronomy.

He was the author of many newspaper and magazine articles and of several books, among them The Columbia River; it's history, it's myths, it's scenery; it's commerce; Lyman's History of Old Walla Walla County: embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin counties; and Indian Myths of the Northwest

Lyman was also known as a mountain climber, having climbed most of the highest peaks of the Northwest and writing descriptions of them. He had just been awarded the title of Professor Emeritus when he died suddenly in June 1920.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The William Denison Lyman Papers consists of his diary from 1884 to 1920, a manuscript of "History of Old Walla Walla County," copies of periodicals that contain articles written by him, articles written about him by others, biographical information, and some of the writings of Horace S. Lyman, his father, about Northwest Native American folklore.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Lyman's personal diaries were donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives on November 5, 2010. The accession number is 2010-022. For the additional materials found in collection, provenance is unknown.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  William Denison Lyman Diaries, 1884-1920Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Diary
1884
1
Diary
1885
1
Diary
1889
1
Diary
1890
1
Diary
1892
1
Diary
1893
1
Diary
1895
1
Diary
1896
1
Diary
1897
1
Diary
1898
1
Diary
1900
1
Diary
1901
1
Diary
1902
1
Diary
1903
1
Diary
1904
1
Diary
1905
1
Diary
1906
1
Diary
1907
1
Diary
1908
1
Diary
1909
1
Diary
1910
1
Diary
1911
1
Diary
1912
1
Diary
1913
1
Diary
1914
1
Diary
1915
1
Diary
1916
1
Diary
1917
1
Diary
1918
1
Diary
1919
1
Diary
1920

Series 2:  Writings on Native American Folklore, 1951Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Investigators and Writers and Origin of Indian Mythologyby W.D. Lyman
2 2
On Indian Names, author unknown
2 3
Stories of Tallapus, by H.S. Lyman
2 4
Indian Names and their Meanings [letter to H.S. Lyman from an Indian friend]
2 5
Indian Stories by H.S. Lyman
2 6
Number One and Number Other, by H.S. Lyman
2 7
Indian Legends (author unknown)
2 8
Hans and the King (and other stories) by H.S. Lyman
2 9
Newspaper clippings on Indian matters
2 10
"They Hewed a House of Prayer" The Sunday Oregonian Magazine
Article on Portland First Congregational Church, founded and first pastored by Dr. Horace Lyman
June 10, 1951

Series 3:  Whitman College file on W.D. Lyman, 1894-1920Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 11
Manuscript, History of Old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties
1917
2 12
General Plan of History of Old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin Counties containing outline of book and selection of photographs
1917
2 13
Obituary file on W.D. Lyman
1920
2 14
New Year card to Lyman from his Civil Government class
1894
2 15
Gibson Tourist Co. brochure
Advertises that "Tour No. 2 will be accompanied by Prof. W.D. Lyman of Whitman College"
1907
2 16
"The Mountains of Washington," W.D. Lyman in The Mountaineer, vol.1, no.1 (2 copies)
March 1907
2 17
"Legends of the Cascades" and "Mt. Adams", by W.D. Lyman in The Mountaineer, vol.III
November 1910
2 18
The Congressional Home Missionary Associations of the Northwest, address delivered by Professor W.D. Lyman, Pasco, Washington
October 3, 1916
2 19
Newspaper articles about W.D. Lyman
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Lyman, Horace S.

Corporate Names

  • Whitman College

Geographical Names

  • Walla Walla (Wash.)