Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Cage 236
Wicks, Joseph, 1896-1984
Joseph Wicks Papers
1930-1974
29.5 Linear feet of shelf space
59 Boxes
The papers of Joseph Wicks include case files, legal
documents, correspondence, notes and printed materials related to the operation of
the Superior Court of Okanogan and Ferry Counties and his own private practice as an
attorney.
Collection materials are in English
Joseph Wicks was born in 1896 in Braggs, Oklahoma. Because he was one-quarter
Cherokee he was an enrollee in the Cherokee Nation. This lineage has had much to do
with Wicks' private and professional life over the course of his career, including a
proposed appointment as Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
Wicks graduated from high school at Bacone College, a Baptist Mission school in 1917.
He then went into the army, serving overseas from 1917 to 1919. Upon his return to
the states he attended the University of Oklahoma during 1919 and 1920. He then left
school and took a job as Deputy U.S. Marshal in Muskogee, Oklahoma from 1921 to
1923. While attending George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.,
from 1923 to 1926, he worked as a clerk in the Justice Department. Although admitted
to practice law in Oklahoma, Wicks worked for the U.S. Treasury Department for a
year and then as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation until 1928. Wicks
began his private practice in 1928 in Alaska but soon came to Washington State where
he settled permanently. Between 1929 and 1946, Wicks practiced law in Seattle, Grand
Coulee, and Okanogan. He was elected to the office of Superior Court Judge in 1946,
and served in this capacity for Okanogan and Ferry Counties from 1947 through 1960.
After his retirement from the bench, Judge Wicks returned to private practice,
setting up the law firm of Wicks Thomas in Okanogan, Washington. In 1963 and 1964
Wicks served as one of the defense attorneys in the John and Sally Goldmark vs.
Albert F. Canwell, et ux, et al. Case. Throughout his career Wicks had been
interested in Indian Affairs, and in 1965 he agreed to represent the Colville
Confederated Tribes as tribal attorney. He remained in this capacity until his
resignation in 1970. In 1973 the Judge was again called to the Bench to serve on a
pro tempore Supreme Court dealing with the constitutional questions of the Yelle vs.
Kramer Case.
The papers of Joseph Wicks include case files, legal documents, correspondence, notes
and printed materials related to the operation of the Superior Court of Okanogan and
Ferry Counties and his own private practice as an attorney. The case files from the
period 1947 to 1960 are of those cases brought before Wicks while Superior Court
Judge. The case files from his private practice cover the period from 1930 to 1947
and the period from 1961 to 1972. The private practice case files are more extensive
in that they also include trial speeches, witness and juror related materials,
exhibits and evidence, and legal documents relating to business transactions such as
contracts and articles of incorporation. The second period of the Judge's private
practice, from 1961 to 1972, was dominated by the John and Sally Goldmark vs. Albert
F. Canwell, et ux, et al. libel case, 1963-1964, and his attorneyship for the
Colville Indian Tribe. The Goldmark case records contain extensive documentation of
trial proceedings, witness materials, and clippings. Wicks' Colville Indian
materials contain correspondence, case files, memoranda, legal documents and minutes
from business council meetings, government documents relating to Indian legislation,
and financial records. A small portion of the papers deal with Wicks' involvement
with various Republican party committees. These papers include speeches, minutes,
printed materials and election tally sheets for various precincts. Also included in
his personal papers are correspondence and legal documents relating to civic
committees such as the Okanogan Civilian Defense Council and the Okanogan County
Taxpayers Association.
The papers are arranged in three series, which are further divided into subject
subseries. All case files are arranged chronologically within an alphabetical
sequence, except for the files pertaining to Wicks' role as Tribal Attorney for the
Colvilles, which are arranged alphabetically. The remaining subseries and their
further divisions are each arranged chronologically.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Joseph Wicks Papers, 1930-1974 (Cage 236)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The papers of Joseph Wicks, b. 1896, attorney and Superior Court Judge for Okanogan
and Ferry Counties from 1947 to 1960, were donated to the Washington State
University Library by Judge Wicks in 1968 and 1976.
Goldmark Trial Papers, 1963-1964 (Cage 289)
John Goldmark Papers, 1963-1964 (Cage 436)
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.
Wicks, Joseph, 1896-1984 -- Archives
Canwell, Albert, 1907-2002 -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Goldmark, John, 1917-1979 -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Goldmark, Sally -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Washington (State). Superior Court (Okanogan and Ferry Counties)
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation -- Officials and employees -- Records and correspondence
Indians of North America -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Washington (State)
Colville Indians -- Legal status, laws, etc.
Native Americans
Civil Procedure and Courts
Laws and Legislation
Washington (State)
Series 1: Personal
Papers
Subseries 1.1: Political.
1932-1966
National, state, local and personal election materials.
1
Political
1938
50
1
Political
1940
60
1
Republican State Central
Committee
1940-1946
200
2
Political File
1944
100
2
Republican National
Convention
1944
40
2
Statement of Election
Expenses
1948, 1952, 1956
10
2
Judges personal election file
for Superior Court race.
1946
90
2
Political and Election
Data
1947-1948
15
3
Papers re: 1952 Election of
County Commissioners, the Election Canvassing Board, and the Subsequent
Events
1952
40
3
Judge Wicks,
election
196
36
3
National Election
1964
3
3
Copies of Speeches and
Data
1946-1967
20
3
Speeches and
Arguments
1937-1963
38
4
Political Precincts
1930, 1932, 1934
4
Abstracts of Votes
1946
12
4
Precinct Elections
1962, 1964, 1966
200
4
Precinct Elections
1966
216
4
Subseries 1.2: Civil Defense and
Selective Service.
1940-1946
Correspondence and printed materials relative to Wicks' position
as Civilian Defense Chairman, Okanogan County Defense Council, 1941-1942, and
his work as Government Appeal Agent on the Okanogan County Local Draft
Board
4
National Defense
1941
25
4
Civilian Defense
1941-1942
20
4
Selective Service
Correspondence
1942-1946
70
4
Selective Service Affidavits
Requesting Release
1943
3
4
V.F.W. (Veterans of Foreign
Wars). Correspondence, printed materials, relating to V.F.W.
Affairs
1940-1941
30
Subseries 1.3: Public Service .
1939-1971
Correspondence, minutes, reports, legal documents, printed
materials, concerning Okanogan Tax Payers Association, Public Utility District,
Advisory Committee for Okanogan National Forest and Fort Okanogan Museum
5
Okanogan County Tax Payers
Association Papers
1939
55
5
Minutes of P.U.D. (Special
Meetings)
1943-1944
11
5
Minutes of P.U.D.
1944-1945
25
5
Fort Okanogan Museum
Material
1959
24
5
Advisory Committee for the
Okanogan National Forest
1969-1971
30
Series 2: Judicial
Papers
5
Subseries 2.1: Case
files.
Court notes, jury instructions, venire lists, lists of
witnesses, orders appointing attorneys, verdicts, information forms, memoranda,
juror records, stipulations, printed materials, and correspondence pertaining
to each specific case. The civil and criminal files cover the period from
1947-1960 when Wicks was Superior Court Judge for Okanogan and Ferry Counties,
and the Yelle case from 1973-1974.
Subseries 2.1.1: Criminal.
Alphabetical arrangement of cases within alphabetized
categories of crimes.
6
Arson and Assault
B-S
570
7
Assault S-W, Burglary, Carnal
Knowledge
480
8
Contributing to Delinquency
of a Minor, Extradition Proceedings, Forgery, Indecent Liberties
270
9
Grand Larceny A-H
520
10
Grand Larceny J-Y
315
11
Miscellaneous, Murder
A-J
300
12
Murder M-T, Negligent
Homicide, Robbery
300
13
Selling Intoxicating Liquor
to Minor, Sodomy, Taking a Motor Vehicle without Permission
300
Subseries 2.1.2: Civil.
Arranged chronologically within each alphabetical heading.
14
A-B
1948
365
15
B
1949-1953
455
16
B
1959-1961
110
16
C
1948-1953
110
17
C
1953-1961
190
17
D
1948-1956
190
18
D
1957
200
18
F
1954
200
19
F
1956
225
19
H
1951
225
20
H
1951
115
20
J
1954
115
21
K-M
1949
280
22
M
1949
140
22
N
1960
140
23
0-P
1949-1961
236
24
R
1949-1959
320
25
S
1948-1955
450
26
S
1956-1961
310
27
T
1947-1961
300
28
U-W
1947-1960
410
Subseries 2.1.3: Yelle vs.
Kramer
29
Wicks served on a pro tempore
Supereme Court in a special case involving state legislators' and judicial
officers' salaries, (citation: 520 P2d 927)
1973-1974
200
Subseries 2.2: Court's Notes
.
30
Judge's notes on cases on which
his office had no file, also Law Day Notes
1947-1960
330
Subseries 2.3: Jury Duty Lists
1947-1960
Lists of persons subject to jury duty, voter registration lists,
orders, claims of exemption, correspondence, venire for jury and other legal
forms pertaining to jury selection and terms.
31
Ferry County
1947-1960
195
Okanogan County
31
1946-1949
110
32
1947-1949
540
33
1950-1953
520
34
1953-1955
780
35
1955-1964
135
Subseries 2.4: Court Calendars.
1947-1961
Calendars for Okanogan, Ferry, Spokane and Miscellaneous
Counties. Some folders also contain correspondence, various forms and court's
notes attached to the calendars.
36
Ferry County
1947-1960
200
36
Miscellaneous
1947, 1951
60
Okanogan County.
36
1947-1949
110
37
1950-1964
165
Subseries 2.5: Marriage Licenses
and Waivers.
38
Orders authorizing County
Auditor to deliver marriage license, indexes to waivers and marriage
licenses
1947-1958
445
Subseries 2.6: Correspondence.
1946-1961
General correspondence, and with the Court Reporter 1947-1948
and Court Administrator 1959-1961.
38
General (arranged
alphabetically)
39
1946-1948
570
40
1949
150
40
1950
180
41
1951-1952
190
41
1953-1954
230
42
1955-1957
210
42
1958-1959
250
42
1961
120
Court Administrator and Court
Reporter
43
Correspondence with Court
Administrator
1960-1964
10
43
Administrator for the
Courts--correspondence and memoranda
1959-1961
55
43
Court Reporter,
Correspondence re
1947-1948
40
Subseries 2.7: Procedural Orders
and Reports.
1947-1961
Reports to the Judge from county officials and institutions, and
reports made by the Judge on judicial business done, orders, definitions,
rules, and information related to the orderly functioning of the judiciary,
also material relating to Juvenile Courts
43
Report for Judge Wicks on
Judicial Business done.
1948
13
43
Judicial Business
Done
1949-1957
43
Juvenile Officers
Reports
1951
11
43
Adoptions
1958
43
Reports of
Next-of-friend.
8
43
Eastern State Hospital
Reports--Judge's file
1958-1960
15
43
Ferry County Pre-Sentence
Reports
1961
9
43
Pre-Sentence
Reports
1963
10
44
Temporary File of Orders
Appointing Attorney in Criminal Cases
1947-1954
150
44
Orders Appointing Attorneys,
Criminal Cases
1955-1957
30
44
Immigration and Naturalization
Service
1947-1949
27
44
Order Fixing Rules for County
Jail
1949-1950
6
44
Nervous & Mental
Diseases--Definition of terms used, etc
15
44
Pertaining to Rules, Practice
& Procedure—Effective
Jan. 1 1960
4
44
Impeachment
Information.
4
44
Matters Pending for Judge's
Signature, etc.
1950
4
44
Proposed
Legislature
1947-1948
9
44
Juvenile
Matters--Inter-office
1947-1960
50
Subseries 2.8: Financial
Records.
1947-1952
Okanogan and Ferry County Budgets, and the Judge's personal
expense, travel and salary vouchers.
45
Budget--Okanogan & Ferry
Counties
1947-1952
35
45
Ferry County Budget 1949,
Revenue for 1948.
1949
2
45
Travel and Salary
Vouchers
1947-1948
75
45
Salary and Expense
Vouchers
1949
35
Subseries 2.9: Committees.
1948-1961
Concerning Judge Wicks' involvement with juvenile matters,
various public committees, committees related to judicial and state
administration, and committee for the mentally ill.
45
State School for
Girls
1948
3
45
Committee on Institutions &
Juvenile Delinquency
1958
45
Committee on Institutions &
Juvenile Delinquency
1957-1959
60
45
Committee on Public
Institutions and Juvenile Delinquency--Judge Wicks, Chairman
1954-1955
200
45
Okanogan County Youth Council
and Rando Manor matters
1953
3
45
Okanogan Valley Child
Guidance
1957, 1961
5
45
Private Schools State of
Washington, List
1952
3
45
Correspondence etc. In Re.
Committee for Mentally Ill
1961
45
1960-1961
15
45
Committee for Good Government
and Grand Jury
1949
18
45
Committee on Improvement of the
Administration of Justice
1960-1961
17
Subseries 2.10: Washington State
Superior Court Judges Association
46
Minutes, correspondence,
financial reports, lists of members, and printed materials connected with the
association
1948-1950, 1954-1962
225
Series 3: Private
Practice.
46
Subseries 3.1: General
Practice.
1963-1964
Correspondence, exhibits, evidence, contracts, articles of
incorporation, application forms, minutes, juror materials, orders, petitions,
complaints, notices, memoranda, clippings, summons, notes, photographs, trial
speeches, printed materials and other papers relating to criminal and civil
cases, including defense materials for the Goldmark case.
47
The Gold Mountain Mining
Company Papers
1930-1933
30
47
Green Mountain Gold Mining
Company
1932
15
47
Monte Oro Mining
Company
1942-1947
6
47
Sawdust Makers
Union
1939-1951
130
47
School District #401 (Okanogan
County) vs. School District #14 (Okanogan County)
1942-1943
60
48
Public Utility
District
1936-1940
20
48
PUD #1 (Okanogan Co.) vs. WWP
and PUD #1 (Douglas) vs. WWP Exhibits
1930-1942
11
48
Public Utility Dist. vs. Wash.
Water Power
1942-1943
150
48
Washington Water Power vs.
P.U.D. #1 of Okanogan County
1945
35
49
Washington vs. Robert Neil
Murder Case
1936-1944
65
49
U.S. vs. John Paradis Murder
Trial (Indian)
1940-1941
50
49
Wash. State vs. J.F.
Thorpe
1940
90
49
General Practice
1969
10
49
LaCourse, Lee Gibson
#766
1970-1972
80
50
Goldmark, John et ux vs.
Canwell, Albert F., et al, file no. 1 Wicks 43
1963-1964
34
50
Goldmark, John, et ux vs.
Canwell, Albert F., et al., 43 no. 2
1962-1963
200
50
43 no. 3
1963
125
51
Goldmark, John et ux vs.
Canwell, Albert F., et al, 44 file no. 4
1964-1965
100
51
Wicks 44
1963
90
51
Clippings from Goldmark
Case
1963
185
52
Goldmark vs. Canwell, Wicks
papers 45
1960-1964
70
52
Wicks 45, Index to Trial
Proceedings, and Note cards on witnesses
1963-1964
2
52
Subseries 3.2: Indian
Affairs.
Materials related to Wicks' personal and professional interest
in Indian matters. The sub-series contains two sub-sub-series' which are: a
personal file, and files relating to Wicks' official representation for the
Colville Confederated Tribes.
Subseries 3.2.1: Personal.
1941-1963
Correspondence, speeches, and printed materials relating to
Indian Affairs which were of personal interest to Wicks.
53
Colville Indians
1941-1942
20
53
Commissioner of Indian
Affairs
1953
70
53
Indian Affairs
1960-1963
100
53
Subseries 3.2.2: Attorney,
Colville Confederated Tribes.
The first chronological file of minutes, government documents
and other printed material has been retained in the original order, the second
is a compilation of loose papers arranged chronologically. The third set, case
files, are arranged alphabetically.
Chronological
53
1965-1968
360
54
1969-1971
340
55
1961-1967
180
56
1967-1971
120
Case Files
57
Agreement of
Trustees
1963
2
57
Attorneys
1962-1966
40
57
Mrs. Amelia (Boswell)
Christie, Omak, Washington, Tribal Loan, Case File 497
1968
20
57
Cigarettes, Matters
Relating thereto-Permits, etc.
1969
6
57
Colville Confederated
Tribes vs. Mervel Allen and wife
1968
10
57
Confederated Tribes of the
Colville Indians vs. Wells, George
1967-1969
14
57
Contract Between Colvilles
& Wicks & Brucher
1968
8
57
Desautel, Lucetta,
Collection for Colvilles
1968
4
57
Factual Data of Use in
Matters of Impending Legislation Concerning Colvilles
1963-1965
30
57
In Re: Grazing CFR.
Trespass Cases, Pakotas, Simpson & R.W. Miller Trespass Cases
1968
15
57
Houghland vs. Houghland
(Anna Mae Pooler)
1969
50
57
Indian Matters
1965-1967
120
58
Indian Museum, Soap
Lake
1966-1967
60
58
Insurance
Matters
1966
11
58
In Re: Jurisdiction Bill
Senate Bill 399
1969
8
58
Laramie vs. Colville
Confederated Tribes, U.S. District Court
1970
15
58
[Memoranda of
Expenses]
1967-1970
60
58
Omak Lake
Leases
1968-1969
60
58
Omnibus Bill & Data on
Same & Correspondence
1966-1967
25
58
In Re: Permit for
Exploration on Indian Reservation
1968
4
58
Political-GOP Indian
Legislation
1968-1969
15
58
Brooks, G.
Ragen-Correspondence In Re: Land
1968-1969
8
58
[Reservation
Law]
1963-1971
20
58
Senatorial
Hearing
June 8 1967
25
58
Statement, [State of
Washington, vs. Kenneth Stanger]
1953, 1962
2
58
In Re: Telephone Line to
San Poil
1970
5
59
Tonasket vs. State of
Washington, et al
1969
25
59
[In Re: Wells
Hydroelectric Project]
1966
4
59
[In Re: Ziontz, Pirtle and
Morisset]
1972
15
59
Container list
1969