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Michael Sullivan papers, 1864-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sullivan, Michael, -- 1950-
Title
Michael Sullivan papers
Dates
1864-1985 (inclusive)
1975-1981 (bulk)
Quantity
3 linear feet
Collection Number
XOE_CPNWS0055michaelsullivan
Summary
Michael Sullivan was a Whatcom County historic preservation planner who directed two very important projects: the Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey and the Vintage Bellingham Survey. The collection includes correspondence, notes, articles, surveys, audio tapes and slides produced and accumulated during his tenure. The collection also includes various research and reference materials on historical people and places of Whatcom County in Washington State.
Repository
Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

Michael Sullivan was the Historic Preservation Planner for the Whatcom County Park and Recreation Board. He was instrumental in carrying out both the Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey and the Vintage Bellingham Survey. Both projects were aimed at identifying sites in Whatcom County that could be designated for historical preservation status on the county register.

During his career, Mr. Sullivan also produced a large collection of research and reference notes on the history of Whatcom County places and pioneers, much of which was donated with the other materials in this collection. His research records include historic manuscript material including Henry Roeder diaries, 1850-1878; Fairhaven folktales of Dirty Dan Harris; early histories of Mt. Baker National Forest, Point Roberts, Ferndale and Bellingham.

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Content Description

The Michael Sullivan papers document two important historical preservation projects in the Bellingham and Whatcom County area, both conducted during Michael Sullivan's tenure as Historic Preservation Planner for the Whatcom County Park and Recreation Board. The collection also contains various research and reference materials on Whatcom County pioneers and places gathered by Mr. Sullivan during his career. .

Sullivan's papers include personal and official records generated during the Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey. The project was planned and carried out during the years 1978-1980, and aimed at identifying sites in Whatcom County with historic significance to be considered for placement on the county register of historic places. Materials include the administrative records of the project's advisory board, personal papers and notes of Michael Sullivan who directed the project, forms generated during the actual carrying out of the project, and various photographs and slides depicting buildings that were considered for historical designation in the Whatcom County area.

The collection also includes documentation of the Vintage Bellingham Survey organized by the Whatcom County Arts Commission and led by Michael Sullivan. These records contain informational materials distributed to participants of the survey as well as the completed forms from the following Bellingham neighborhoods: Lettered Streets, Sehome, South Hill, and the York District.

In the course of his work, Sullivan collected research and reference materials regarding Whatcom County and Whatcom County pioneers. These materials comprise newspaper clippings and biographies of important Bellingham and Whatcom County characters, Sullivan's personal research notes, diaries and notes of Henry Roeder and extensive information on "Dirty" Dan Harris. Reference materials regarding Whatcom County history includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, personal notes, photographs, and negatives.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[item/date], Michael Sullivan Papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is organized in accordance with the following series and subseries arrangement:

  • Series I: Whatcom County Historical Preservation Survey, 1978-1985 (bulk 1978-1981)
    • Subseries One: Survey Board Advisory Materials, 1978-1985
    • Subseries Two: Survey Inventory Forms, 1979
    • Subseries Three: Historical Preservation Survey Slides, 1978
  • Series II: Whatcom County Arts Commission Survey - "Vintage Bellingham," 1977-1979
    • Subseries One: General Survey Information, 1977
    • Subseries Two: Completed Survey Forms, 1979
  • Series III: Research and Reference Materials on Whatcom County pioneers, 1864-1981
  • Series IV: Regional Research and Reference Materials, 1880-1975

Acquisition Information

Michael Sullivan donated his papers to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in 2006.

Processing Note

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content.

Bibliography

Sullivan, Michael. The Fairhaven Folktales of Dirty Dan Harris. Ink Slinger Publication Company, 1981.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architecture, Domestic--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Architecture, Domestic--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Surveys--Sources.
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Sources.
  • Historic preservation--Washington (State)--Whatcom County--Sources.
  • Legends--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Area.

Personal Names

  • Harris, Daniel Jefferson,--1826-1890.
  • Roeder, Henry,--1824-1902.
  • Sullivan, Michael,--1950 ---Archives.

Corporate Names

  • Whatcom County Park Board.

Geographical Names

  • Baker, Mount, Region (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Bellingham (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Ferndale (Wash.)--History.
  • Point Roberts (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--History--Sources.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources--Photographs.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources--Slides.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Buildings, structures, etc.--History--Sources.
  • Whatcom County (Wash.)--Surveys--Buildings, structures, etc.--Sources.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Personal correspondence.
  • Photographs.
  • Records (Documents)

Finding aid prepared by Roz Koester
2006

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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