Virginia Meyer collection

Virginia Meyer collection, 1900-1920

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Meyer, Virginia (Dempsey), 1923-2021
Title: Virginia Meyer collection
Dates: 1900-1920 (inclusive)
19001920
Quantity: 0.5 cubic feet
Collection Number: MG 524
Summary: Photographs of Kamiah, Idaho and a stock book for Kamiah Bridge Company.
Repository: University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Virginia M. (Dempsey) Woods Meyer was born on July 2, 1923 to Ward L. Dempsey and Gladys M. Dissmore in Clarkston, Washington. Throughout her childhood her family moved to Lewiston, Kamiah, and eventually Grangeville, Idaho. Here she attended Grangeville High School and 1942 pursued studying Home Economics at the University of Idaho.

During her time at the university she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, the Home Economics Club, and participated in campus events usually playing the piano. After completing her degree she taught in various schools in Oregon, and traveled throughout the state of Idaho as a home economist for Washington Water Power Company. She eventually earned her Master's degree in Home Economics from the University of Idaho, and began teaching as an assistant professor at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

Later in life she moved back to Washington State and worked as a cooperative extension agent and chairman in Asotin County. Then she worked a county agent for Lincoln County until she retired in 1985. Virginia passed away on October 22, 2021.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Virginia Meyer was a University of Idaho alum who earned both a BA and MA in Home Economics. This collection contains many photographs of the Kamiah, Idaho area. Specifically, many of the photographs are of her relative's business, Dissmore Mercantile Company. Her mother came from the Dissmore family, and married into the Dempsey family. There are various photographs which were used as postcard, and some are photocopies as well as negatives. The last folder is the Kamiah Bridge Company stock book which houses stock certificates.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Materials in this collection may contain images, language, or other content that may be offensive or disturbing. These materials are a product of a time and place in history and should be viewed within their historical context. To maintain historical accuracy, the materials appear as they were originally created to serve as historical evidence of the social mindsets, occurrences, behaviors, and norms of their time. They do not reflect the current views of the University of Idaho. For more information about how we treat materials with offensive or disturbing content, please see the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections & Archives Offensive Content Policy.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Description of Item], Virginia Meyer collection, MG 524, Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library, Moscow, Idaho.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Collection was left in original order.

Bibliography

Information in the Biographical/Historical section came from the online obituary of Virginia Wood Meyer, published by the Lewiston Tribune.

"Virginia Woods Meyer". (2021). The Lewiston Tribune.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Materials, 1900-1920Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Miscellaneous Includes a letter from Virginia Meyer to Terry Abraham, Head of Special Collections and Archives at the time, and photocopies of various photographs.	March 03, 2000
1	2-4	Photographs
Box	Folder
1	2	"In Kamiah, Genevieve & Bob, Gladys in back seat, Stella on Running board, Harry driver" Photograph used as postcard.	1915
1	2	"Boiler going up to Caribal Mill from Kamiah" Photograph used as postcard.	undated
1	2	"Lunchtime for Visitors, Kamiah, Ida." Photograph used as postcard.	undated
1	2	"Directors inspecting mines, Kamiah, Ida." Photograph used as postcard.	undated
1	2	"Methodist Episcopal Church, Kamiah, Ida." Photograph used as postcard.	ca. 1925
1	2	"No. 8 Main Street, Kamiah, Idaho."	ca. 1912
1	2	Band (Kamiah) Photograph used as postcard. Please see the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections & Archives Offensive Content Policy.	undated
1	2	"No. 6 Hotel Kamiah, Kamiah, Idaho" Photograph used as postcard.	ca. 1910
1	2	Possible parade float sponsored by State Bank of Kamiah Photograph used as postcard.	undated
1	2	"Kamiah High School Basketball Team" (Girls Team) Photograph used as postcard.	1915
1	2	Kamiah Concert Band Photograph used as postcard.	undated
1	2	Rawson, Sassaman, & Henderson General Merchandise store front Photograph used as postcard. Back states: "Do you recognize the bunch? I leave Sunday for Portland. Then I will go to Canada. Will write you from some place don't know just where. Everyone is fine and so is Annette. Lona Matlock was married Sunday Bueler(?). Mr. Ward Dempsy. Scolland, Alta."	1913
1	2	"Idaho St. Kamiah, Idah." Photograph used as postcard. Writing and stamp on back, sent from Mr. Guy Dissmore from Lakota, North Dakota.	June 29, 1913
1	2	Dissmore Mercantile Store Photograph used as postcard. Description states: "Dissmore Mertcantile Store as built following fire of 1911. Note hitching rack for horses."	ca. 1911
1	2	Main Street, Kamiah, Idaho Photograph used as postcard.	undated
1	2	Two unidentified women sitting at counter	undated
1	2	"Kamiah Band"	1909
1	2	Horse drawn cart with stacked mattresses Photograph used as postcard. Writing on back.	1911
1	2	Horse drawn delivery cart for Dissmore store Photograph used as postcard. Description states: "Our first delivery service in 1917. Both phones too. Think that small chap is Chester. Started him young but it was a good idea."	1917
1	2	Postcard copies and negatives	December 2002
1	3	Unidentified men and women posed on stage (Kamiah)	undated
1	3	Band (Kamiah) Please see the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections & Archives Offensive Content Policy.	undated
1	3	"End of Flume, Kamiah, Ida."	undated
1	3	Unidentified portion of railroad	undated
1	3	Dissmore Mercantile store interior	undated
1	3	Calendar Description states: "This is from an original calendar we put out in 1915". Depicts Harry Dissmore, W. A. Dissmore, and Guy Dissmore.	1915
1	3	Dissmore Mercantile store interior Descriptions states: "1929. I bought the Mercantile Co. out and operated as "Dissmores" until selling out and moving to Pullman in January 1937. Remodeled entire inside of the store in 1929."	1929
1	3	Dry goods department of Dissmore Mercantile Description states: "Dry goods department in the new building. My brother Harry now in the firm is at the extreme right. I am on the left this time. Note that we have electric lights now. Think that the largest was 25 watts. Note the current women's fashion."	undated
1	3	Dissmore Mercantile Co. store exterior Description states: "New brick building that we moved into in the Spring of 1912. Dad on the left and me on the right."	undated
1	3	4th of July display at Dissmore Mercantile Co. Kamiah, Idaho	ca. 1915
1	3	Old Dissmore Mercantile store exterior Description states: "Store building as it looked before we burned out in the fall of 1911 with complete loss."	ca. 1910s
1	4	Dissmore Mercantile Co. store interior Description states: "Complete inside view of store. Note ladies!! Those are Gossards foundation garments of 1912-1914."	undated
1	4	Band (Kamiah) Please see the University of Idaho Library, Special Collections & Archives Offensive Content Policy.	1917
1	4	Kamiah Progress newspaper office Description states: "Kamiah Progress newspaper office. Calendar reads 1911. Owner publisher of the time were W. A. Dissmore and his wife Ella Dissmore."	1911
1	4	"Birds eye view of Kamiah, Idaho"	1912
1	4	"Birds eye view of Caribel, Ida."	1912
1	4	"Front view New Mill at Caribel, Ida."	undated
1	4	"Dry goods department, Kamiah, Dissmore Mercantile" (2 copies) Description states: "Dry goods department, Kamiah, Dissmore Mercantile. Note wrapping paper rolls & twine for tying packages. Guy Dissmore at left counter. Other names not known."	undated
1	4	"Furniture department. Same store."	1907
1	4	Dissmore Mercantile Co. Inc. store front	undated
1	5	Kamiah Bridge Company Stock Book Book containing stock certificates sold by the Kamiah Bridge Company.	1900-1910

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