Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Cage 594
Victor, Arthur Earl
Arthur Earl Victor Papers
1882-1986
5 Linear feet of shelf space
10 Boxes
Correspondence, subject files and
reports relative to Victor's work as the Spokane area housing expeditor for the
National Housing Agency, 1942-1949. Other materials concern historical research
on Mayview, Wash., and Idaho lumber manufacturer Fred Herrick, and volunteer
work with the Service Corps of Retired Executives.
Collection materials are in English
Arthur Earl Victor was born March 30, 1900 near Mayview, Washington.
His family began homesteading in 1877 near Mayview, a town named for Victor's
aunt. Victor spent his early years on his parent's wheat ranch in Garfield
County; he went to high school in both Hillsboro, Oregon and Pullman,
Washington and then joined the Navy in 1918. In 1921 Victor married Lila Mae
Miller whom he met while attending Oregon State College after WWI. Together
they worked the farm in Garfield County and Victor made an income as a
carpenter and mechanic. In the mid 1920s, he went to North Idaho to work for
lumber baron Fred Herrick. When Herrick's business collapsed in 1928, Victor
turned to carpentry and construction to make ends meet. He and Lila also ran a
flower business for a time.
During the mid 1930s, Victor began employment with the United States
Soil Conservation Service. From 1935 to 1942 he managed 18 Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) camps in the Northwest. After his work with the CCC,
Victor worked as a housing expeditor for the National Housing Agency (NHA).
Much of his work for NHA included the operation of War Housing Centers in many
Northwest cities to secure housing for WWII veterans. After the NHA housing
expeditor's office in Spokane closed in the late 1940s, Victor obtained a
position as executive secretary of the Home Builders Association of Spokane. He
also worked for Mobile Homes Corp. and built 300 homes in the mid 1950s. Lila
and Arthur Victor opened a home-based lapidary supply business in 1955 and ran
this successfully for ten years before their retirement in 1965. In the years
between his retirement and his death in 1987, Victor worked with Lila on their
lapidary publishing business. He helped establish the first federal employees
credit union in Spokane, served on the Mayor's committee to advise small
businesses and was active in SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired
Executives.
The papers of Arthur Earl Victor consist chiefly of correspondence, enclosures and
reports regarding Victor's involvement with housing agencies and programs, and
correspondence, research notes and drafts concerned with historical projects and
writings undertaken by Victor. Also included are a variety of documents concerning
personal business, volunteer activities, and his earlier federal employment with the
Soil Conservation Service.
The first series contains correspondence pertaining to Victor's work with the CCC and
the NHA as well as some letters pertaining to his research on the Mayview Tramway
and the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The latter are good primary sources as they were
written by people who operated and used the Mayview Tramway and who were related to
victims of the massacre.
The second series contains personal and business files arranged categorically
beginning with the most personal records and ending with business records for the
lapidary shop. Also included is a folder on the Victor family genealogy and pioneer
history written by his aunt in 1936.
The third series is arranged categorically into manuscripts, typescripts and
research. Included are Victor's published stories about pioneer life and work in the
logging camps.
The forth series contains records of land surveys, and sale records of property in
Benton and Franklin counties (Washington) during the 1970s.
The fifth series contains the remnants of Victor's files on two Spokane
organizations, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Home
Builder's Association.
Series six, Federal Agencies, begins with Civilian Conservation Corps records and a
file on the Soil Conservation Service. The National Housing Agency decimal file
begins with file number 43 in box five. This series does not contain the complete
NHA decimal file, but rather a selection kept by Victor in his capacity as Housing
Expeditor and removed in 1947 when his office closed. Some interesting items
include: FHA article, "Relationship Between Condition of Dwellings and Rentals by
Race", (1946), and 1940s housing project records for Lewiston, Pullman, Orofino,
Spokane, Grand Coulee and Yakima.
Series seven contains Victor's pocket notebooks, a day diary, business cards, some
piano music and one published volume, "The Finger Post to Public Business," (1864).
The oversize folder contains an assortment of Newspapers saved from the 1940s and
1950s, FHA and NHA Veteran's Housing posters, maps, building blueprints, and a 1904
Washington General Election Ballot.
The first series is arranged alphabetically by folder subject title.
The second series is divided by category, personal files and business files.
The third series is arranged into three categories, manuscripts, typescripts and
research, and thereunder alphabetically by folder title.
The forth series is arranged alphabetically by county and thereunder chronologically.
The fifth series is arranged chronologically within each file.
Series six is arranged chronologically within each file. The National Housing Agency
decimal file begins with file number 43 in box five; thereafter the files are
arranged according to this decimal system, a copy of which can be found in file 43.
The series seven items in the oversize folder are arranged according to size.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Arthur Earl Victor Papers, 1882-1986 (Cage 594)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
These papers were donated by Lila Mae Victor in 1989 (MS89-11), two years after the
death of Arthur Earl Victor, her husband. Many of the files contained in this
collection come from the Decimal File Victor kept while employed by the National
Housing Agency.
Arthur Earl Victor Papers, 1927-1944 (Cage 376)
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.
Victor, Arthur Earl -- Archives.
Victor, Lila Mae -- Archives.
Herrick, Fred, b. 1853-
United States. National Housing Agency.
Columbia Basin Project (U.S.) -- Maps.
SCORE (Organization) -- History.
Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)
Mayview (Wash.) -- History.
Benton County (Wash.) -- History.
Vancouver (Wash.) -- Maps.
Spokane County (Wash.) -- Maps.
Walla Walla (Wash.) -- Maps.
Enterprize Ranger District -- Maps.
Washington (State)
Business, Industry, and Labor
Maps
Series One:
Correspondence
1
1
General
Correspondence
1949, 1967, 1985
1
2
Correspondence: USDA Soil
Conservation Service CCC Camps
1949
1
3
Letters re: Research on Mayview
Tramway and Quarter Section articles.
undated
1
4
Letters, Mountain Meadows
Massacre
undated
1
5
Local Agencies: FHA
1946-1947
1
5a
NHA
1943-1946
1
6
NHA:Housing Expeditor's
Office
1943-1947
1
6a
NHA:Reports
1947
1
7
Personal
Correspondence
1948
1
8
Bertha Alexander
1943, 1974, 1978
Series Two: Personal and Business
Records
2
9
Arthur Earl Victor Chronological
History
circa 1966
2
10
Victor Family Genealogy and
Pioneer History
circa 1936
2
11
Writings of Lila Mae
Victor
undated
2
12
Trip to Arizona
1968
2
13
Letter to Africa, draft
(biographical data)
undated
2
14
Old National Bank of Washington
Receipts
1972-1976
2
15
Agate Shop
2
16
business records
1973
2
17
Lapidary Equipment
Catalogs
undated
2
18
Home Laundry
Bulletins
1922-1950
Series Three: Manuscripts,
Typescripts and Research
3
19
Bibliography of U.S. Campaigns
Against American Indians
undated
3
20
Indian Wars of the Inland Empire,
Garrett B. Hunt
1908
3
21
Indian Battles of the Inland
Empire, Eliz. Tannatt
1914
3
22
Outline of Relations Between the
U.S. and American Indians
undated
3
23
Logging Camp Stories, A.E.
Victor
undated
3
24
An Old fashioned Election, A.E.
Victor
undated
3
25
Pomeroy Public School
Record,
1882
3
26
Spokane History: "History of the
City of Spokane," booklet
1968
3
27
The Story of a Quarter Section,
Arthur Earl Victor
undated
3
28
The Ubiquitous Bull Dozer, Arthur Earl
Victor
undated
4
30
Mayview Tramway Article, Research
and Photos
undated
4
31
Herrick File: Fredrick Herrick,
Herrick Timber Research, Photos
undated
Series Four: Victor Property
Records
4
32
Survey: Benton County Land (
related map, folder 95)
1975
4
33
Title History: Benton
County
1975-1977
4
34
Land Sale: Benton
County
1977-1979
4
35
Property Sale: Franklin
County
1973-1976
Series Five: Organization
Records
4
36
Small Business Administration and
S.C.O.R.E.
1968
4
37
Spokane Cooperative
1947
4
38
S.C.O.R.E. newsclippings and
photos
undated
4
39
S.C.O.R.E. Spokane
Membership
undated
4
39a
Home Builders
Association
undated
Series Six: Federal Agency Reports
and Administrative Records
5
40
CCC Carpenters, "Specifications
for the Selection, Training and Testing of CCC Carpenters
undated
5
41
CCC Pictorial Review
1933
5
42
Soil Conservation
Service
1939
5
43
National Housing Agency:
Miscellaneous
1946-1947
5
43a
NHA: Chronological Correspondence
Between George Conger and Arthur Victor
1945-1946
5
44
FHA: Minimum Property
Requirements
c 1935
5
45
FHA: Confidential Report
"Memorandum on the Current Housing Situation in Spokane, WA
1942
5
45a
Veteran's Housing
1945-1947
5
46
004c Reports: Field Survey for
Land and Public Service Branch.
undated
5
47
004f4 Reports: NHA Local Weekly
to Regional Office
1946-1947
5
48
004k Reports: Building
Maintenance Reports
1946-1947
6
49
131 Personnel-Locality
Expeditor's Office
1947
6
50
NHA Personal Papers
1947
6
51
Federal Forms, Civil Service
Applications, Income Tax
1943-1948
6
52
NHA Travel Vouchers
6
53
Alabama Housing Market
Analysis
1945
6
54
Housing Demand and Supply,
Spokane & Coeur D'Alene
1946
6
55
Public Housing in King County:
Project Report
1939-1945
6
56
Spokane Experimental Housing
Market Analysis
Oct. 1 1944
6
57
Spokane Homebuilding
Issues
1946-1947
6
58
Housing Shortage: Wenatchee,
Spokane, Walla Walla
1947
6
59
Washington State Housing
Questionnaire
1947
6
60
A Long Range Plan for Salem,
Oregon
6
61
Allied Industries for
Homes
1948
6
62
Relationship Between Condition of
Dwellings and Rentals by Race, journal article
1946
6
63
FHA Insurance Mortgage
Portfolio
1948
7
64
136 Veteran Income
data
1947
7
65
141 Building
Suppliers
7
66
142 Mailing List- Construction
Suppliers
7
67
200 Legislation: Housing Bill
(W-E-T)
1947
7
67a
Housing Act
1947
7
68
305a Construction-
Non-Residential
May-Aug
1946
7
69
305a Construction-
Non-Residential
Sept-Dec 1946
7
70
305a Construction-
Non-Residential
Jan-June
1947
8
71
311
Construction/Prefabrication
1947
8
72
312 Sawmills and
Construction
c 1945
8
73
315a Construction
Materials
8
74
316a Priorities- HH Monthly
Compilation
8
74a
401b Low Cost housing, Yakima.
(Photos-Veterans Housing Project)
8
75
414 NHA Permit System
8
76
431 Program Goals and Market
Analysis
1946-1947
8
77
502 Grand Coulee Dam Housing
Project
8
78
503 Lewiston, ID Housing
Project
1946-1947
8
79
Orofino Housing
Project
8
80
506 Pullman Housing
Project
1946-1947
8
81
507 Spokane Housing
Project
8
82
531 Mayor's Committee,
Spokane
1946-1947
Series Seven: Newsclippings,
Ephemera and Oversize
619 Newsclippings
9
83
May-July
1946
9
84
August-Dec
1946
9
85
Jan.-March
1947
9
86
April-July
1947
9
87
Locality Expeditor
Clippings
9
88
Kodak Slide Descriptions-CCC (w/o
slides)
9
89
710 Materials Lists, Washington
Housing
1946-1947
9
90
Contractor's License - Oregon
Law
1945
9
91
716 Building Codes
9
92
717 Platting and
Subdivision
9
93
720 Experimental
Housing
1946
10
Victor's Note Pads, Business Card
Collection, Date Books
10
The Finger Post to Conducting
Public Business,
1864
10
Piano Music
1928
Oversize Folders
Newspaper Clippings
OS
94
Weekly Oregonian front
page
December 10 1908
OS
94
The Spokesman Review front
page
April 1 & 2
1909
OS
94
Spokesman Review "State of
Washington Was Born...25 Years Ago,
Feb. 22,1914
OS
94
Oregonian, "House Hunting-Big
Game Safari" w/photo of Victor
Jan 7 1945
OS
94
Sunday Oregonian
Magazine
Jan 5 1945
OS
94
Seattle Post Intelligencer,
front page
Aug 9-10
1945.
OS
94
War Posters: "Next!" U.S.
Treasury War Loan (28x40)
1944
OS
94
War Bonds Are Cheaper Than
Wooden Crosses (22x30)
1944
OS
94
Your War Bonds Are A Stake In
The Future (22x30)
1943
OS
94
For Liberty and Peace on Earth
(22x30)
1944
OS
94
Vacancies For Veterans First In
'46 (3 ea)
undated
OS
94
Home Coming To No
Home?
1946
OS
94
Home Builder's Association
-mounted magazine cover (11x13)
undated
Maps
OS
95
Bureau of Field Operations
Civilian Production Admin., "Regional and District Boundaries...
1946
OS
95
Map of Spokane County
Washington
1945
OS
95
Vancouver, Washington Vicinity
Map by Harold Tymer
1942
OS
95
Enterprise Ranger Dist.,
Utah
undated
OS
95
Metzger's Garfield
County
undated
OS
95
Plat Map #90 Sec.9,T8NR, 30EWM
Benton County,WN
1975
OS
95
Columbia River Basin
Comprehensive plan
1948
OS
95
Grant County
1944
OS
95
Walla Walla, WA Chamber of
Commerce Map
undated
OS
95
U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bur. of
Reclaimation, Columbia River Project, WA- Irrigation System
1943
OS
95
Enterprize Ranger
Dist.,D-1
1962
OS
95
Pomeroy Election
Ballot
1904
OS
95
U.S. Geo. Survey blueprint,
Tacoma Dist., Plans for Reinforced Concrete House and Well for Water Stage
Rec.
1931