University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Bessie Olmstead Storms collection
Storms (Olmstead), Bessie Pauline, 1912-2006
MG 515
7 cubic feet
1912-2008
4-H materials, correspondence, family genealogy information, photographs, and other items.
English
.
This collections contains personal papers and keepsakes gathered throughout the life of Bessie Olmstead Storms. Storms graduated from high school in Plummer, Idaho, attended the University of Idaho and returned to Plummer to teach. Items in this collection include photos of Bessie Storms, a collection of genealogical information and historical family photos for the Olmstead family, Plummer High School Yearbooks, report cards, fair ribbons, professional papers relating to her career as a teacher, some materials pertaining to her involvement with 4-H and the local Grange, correspondence from her son Jim and diaries kept by Bessie from 1985 to 2002. There are letters and cards from family or former students in the collections as well as personal items including her will, death certificate and the guest book from her husband's funeral service.There are also cards sent to her son Jim or his family and papers from the planning of reunion for his 1957 graduating class from Plummer High School.
Bessie Pauline Olmstead was born October 22, 1912 in Meade County, South Dakota to Lora Lee and Edith Olmstead. She moved with her family to Idaho, eventually settling in Plummer, Idaho in 1918. As a youth she participated in 4-H conferences and programs. After graduating from Plummer High School, she attended the University of Idaho from 1931 to 1932. Here she was a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, and when she finished school she had received her teaching certificate.
She taught in Plummer and in 1936 married William E. Storms. Bessie had taught in the Plummer School District for more than twenty years. In 1960, Bessie earned her BA in Education from University of Idaho. She was an active member in many civic and education organizations, serving as a member of the Grange for seventy-six years and a 4-H leader for twenty years. Bessie died on December 1, 2006 in Saint Maries, Idaho.
This collection had no known order. Items were arranged into subjects and then placed in alphabetical order.
Collection is open for research.
Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
Photographer, "Title," date. Collection name, object ID. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.
In 2007, James Storms, son of Bessie Olstead Storms, donated materials (accession MA 2007-15). More materials were donated by him in 2018 (accession MA 2018-22).
During the processing stage, it was decided that the accessions MA 2007-15 and MA 2018-22 should be combined to create one comprehsenive collection for Bessie Olmstead Storms.
4-H clubs
Travel
Correspondence
University of Idaho
Genealogy
Awards
Fairs
Idaho
Photographs
Scrapbooks
4-H
I
1928
Chicago Trip
Eleventh Annual "Thos. E. Wilson Day"
03 December 1928
1
1
"Idaho" sign
undated
Includes announcement, souvenir program, banquet information, and two 4-H ribbons belonging to Bessie Olmstead.
1
2
Keepsake Box
1928
Cardboard sign with "Idaho" printed on it. Handwritten names featured on back, including Bessie Olmstead.
1
3
Miscellaneous
1928
1
4
National Live Stock Producers Association
04 December 1928
Banquet brochure for the International Live Stock Exposition and three pins.
1
5
Ninth Annual Visit to International Harvester Company
1928
Includes announcement, program brochure, and pen.
1
6
Seventh National Boys and Girls 4-H Club Congress
04 December 1928 - 07 December 1928
1
7
Awards and Certificates
Silver Clover Award
04 March 1959
1
8
Certificate of Recognition
undated
Miscellaneous
Glen Olmstead materials
Includes a certificate and a newspaper clipping on his FFA award.
1
10
Hand Book
undated
1
11
Photographs
1927
Includes a photograph of Norma Howe and Doris Griffith. Also includes a postcard of this image.
1
12
Textiles
National 4-H Congress cap
1934
1
13
National 4-H Congress cap
1935
1
14
4-H sash with pins
undated
1
15
Correspondence
II
Catherine L. Owens correspondence
1980-1990
1
16
Early correspondence
1926-1932
1
17
Jim Storms correspondence
Graduation cards from Jim Storms
1957
1
18
Jim Storms ticket and greeting cards
1997
Includes a Madrigal Club dinner ticket and a California Highway Patrol ticket.
1
19
Letters from Jim Storms to Bill and Bessie Storms
1956-1999
1
20
Letters from Jim Storms while living in Le Sueur, MN
1961-1967
1
21
Letters to Bill and Bessie Olmstead
1943-1994
2
22
Olmstead Family correspondence
1957; undated
2
23
Sympathy cards
2006
For the passing of Bessie Olmstead Storms.
2
24-25
Genealogy and Research
III
Olmstead Family
Olmstead Family Genealogy
2
26-28
Olmstead Family History
2
29-36
Olmstead Family History
3
37
Olmstead Family Journal
3
38
Olmstead Family Photographs
3
39
Olmstead Parks
3
40
Sagacity newsletters
June/July 1991
3
41
Storms Family
Storms Family History
3
42
Swinehart Family
Swinehart Family History
3
43
Personal Papers
IV
Bessie Olmstead "Lincoln" essay and 2nd place award
undated
3
44
Bill Storms materials
Includes funeral service book and newspaper clippings.
3
45
Career materials
1933-1998
Restriction on use.
3
46
Day book and notebook
1957; undated
3
47
Deeds and Claims
1916; 1951; 1953; 1969
3
48
Diaries
1964-2001
3
49-51
Education
1920-1968
Restriction on use.
3
52
Glen and Virginia Olmstead materials
1945-2002
Includes photographs and a funeral service booklet for Glen Olmstead.
3
53
Idaho State Historical Society materials
2001-2003
4
54
Keepsakes
Includes photographs of Fred Sego, Denise Scott, Lee Olmstead, Beverly Frost, George Olmstead, Charles Beaudveau (?), Cynthia Owens, Tracy Ludlow, Rebecca, and Kerry Owens,
4
55
Land Title Documents
1930; 1947; 1951
4
56
Ledgers
1942-1998
5 financial ledgers and cash record books.
4
57-59
Legal papers
Restriction on use.
4
60
Memorial book
2006
For the passing of Bessie Olmstead Storms.
4
61
Memory book
1972
For the Class of 1972.
4
62
Miscellaneous
4
63
Newspaper clippings
4
64
Obituary for Bessie Olmstead
2006
Includes Bessie Olmstead's obituary and various newspaper clippings.
4
65
Palouse Magazine
4
66
Patrons of Husbandry Grange certificate
29 March 2005
4
67
Plays and pageants
1934; 1960
4
68
Plummer, Idaho materials
Brochures and Pamphlets
1916-1990
4
69
Miscellaneous
5
70
Plummer Grange 273 scrapbook
1953
5
71
Plummer High School Class of 1957 Reunion
2007-2008
Materials belonging to Jim Storms.
5
72
Plummer High School papers
1920-1950
5
73
The Elsquitut yearbook
1922-1968
Plummer High School yearbooks.
5
74-75
University of Idaho materials
1926-1931; 1999
Includes 1999 football game ticket and pins on a black velvet sash.
5
76
World War II related materials
Includes war ration books.
5
77
Travel
Grand Coulee Dam trip
5
78
Postcards
5
79
Tour to North Carolina
5
80
Travel Photographs
5
81
Pins and Ribbons
V
Benewah County Fair ribbons
5
82
Boy and Girls Club Fair ribbons
5
82
Buttons and pins
5
82
Idaho Junior Short Course button
1929
5
82
Name tag
5
82
Palouse Empire Fair ribbons
5
82
State and Canadian pins
5
82
Washington State Grange visitor pins
June 1949
5
82
Printed Photographs and Negatives
VI
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Family photos
6
83
Olmstead Family
Olmstead Family negatives
Includes image descriptions and contains the names of various family members.
6
84-85
Olmstead Family photographs
Includes the names of various family members.
6
86
Plummer High School
Plummer class photos
1930
6
87
Plummer High School yearbook pictures
6
88
Storms Family
Storms Family photos
6
89
Scrapbooks
VII
1971-1998
Scrapbook
undated
6
90
Scrapbook
1971
6
91
Scrapbook
1972
6
92
Scrapbook
1973
7
93
Scrapbook
1974
7
94
Scrapbook
1977
7
95
Scrapbook
1978
7
96
Scrapbook
1979
7
97-99
Scrapbook
1982
7
100
Scrapbook
1983
7
101
Scrapbook
1985
7
102
Scrapbook
1998
7
103