Central Washington University, Archives and Special Collections
400 E University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 963-1717
http://www.lib.cwu.edu/Archives-Special-Collections
archive@cwu.edu
MS007-01
Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society
Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society Collection
1844-2002
12.0 cubic feet
13 letter sized document cases; 1 letter half sized document case; 6 oversized boxes; and 4 map tubes
Fair condition with some ledgers and maps that are soiled, torn and have insect damage
This collection includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, family histories, genealogies, rare books, and photographs documenting the history of Thorp, WA (1844-2002), and the greater Kittitas Valley.
English
Historical Note
The Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society was established to preserve the Thorpe Mill, which began operations in 1883, for the benefit of the local community and to make it available for the benefit of all citizens seeking to understand American culture and history. The Society devotes itself “to developing the mill site both as an interpretive site and as a gathering place for community activities, maintaining and fostering the close sense of community and family and the enterprising spirit that is Thorp’s heritage.” The Society also collects information and materials documenting the history of Thorp.
The collection consists of newspaper clippings from regional news agencies and correspondence of the early settlers in the central Kittitas Valley. Family histories and genealogies, birth, death, marriage, census records, and local cemetery information are included in the collection. There are extensive Thorp post office records and numerous materials related to the Thorp public schools. The F.C. Porter family, who owned a general store in Thorp during the first half of the 1900s, contributed many of their store records, shipping records, and children’s school books to the collection. Many materials in the collection are photocopies of the original documents. Also included are a dozen rare books given to the mill over the years. Photographs of the early Thorp community as well as the Thorp Mill restoration project are in the collection in both print and negative form.
Arranged alphabetically by subject and chronologically and organized by type and size of document.
Selected photographs from the Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society Collection can be viewed online at Central Washington University Digital Archives.
Open to the public for educational research.
[Name of document or photograph number]. MS007-07-04, Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society Collection. Archives and Special Collections, Brooks Library, Central Washington University.
"Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society." Accessed 27 February 2012. http://www.thorp.org/
Porter, Barton. ‘’Listen to the Millrace.’’ Seattle, WA: M. J. Stone Co., 1978.
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.
Thorp Mill Town Historical Preservation Society
F.C. Porter family
Thorp (Wash.)
Kittitas Valley (Wash.)
Thorp Gristmill
Pioneers--Washington (State)--History
Gristmills--Washington (State)--History.
Pioneers
Washington (State)
Correspondence
Photographs
1
1
Bowles Family Dispute
1910
1
2
Brain Family
1
3
George Bush and Some Documentary Records of Slavery in Oregon
1887
1
4
Reminiscences of WM. M. Case and Mrs. Sarah A. Case
1890-1900
1
5
Ellison Family
1
6
Fischer Family Newspaper clippings
1
7
Nathanial Ford’s Letter from Oregon
1
8
Reminiscences of Mrs. Frank Collins, nee Martha Elizabeth Gilliam and of Washington Smith Gilliam
1903-1916
1
9
Stories of Early Years in Johnson Canyon by Ethel McMillen Pearson Goodwin
1883-1980
1
10
Hatfield Family
1
11
Reminiscences of Alanson Hinman
1901
1
12
Hutchinson Family
1
13
Hutchinson Diary, Photocopy and Transcript
1890
1
14
Kittie Ireland Newspaper clippings and Writings
1
15
Karlson Family
1
16
Kellicut Family
1
17
Mason Family
1
18
Mattox Family
1
19
Caroline “Callie” Mattox Family
1
20
Clara Belle Mattox Parker Family
1
21
Reason Turner Mattox Family
1
22
William Miles Mattox Family
1
23
James L. Mills Family
1
24
John A. Yearwood Family
1
25
John Minto, Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society
1901
1
26
Minto and Parrish Letters Description
1844
1
27
Larry Morree Family
1
28
Mrs. Nancy Irwin Morrison and Robert Wilson Morrison
1890-1894
1
29
Newman and Wilcox Families
1
30
Orndoff Family, Including Oral History Transcript
1
31
Osborn Family
1
32
Crossing the Plains in 1844, Diary of Rev. Edward Evans Parrish
1
33
Pease Family
1
34
Nona Reid, Daily Diary
1918-1921
1
35
Dorothy M. Schwarek Letter
1998
1
36
Schultz Family
1
37
Viola Splawn Shadel and Ethel Shadel Coughlin
1
38
Biography of Capt. William Shaw
1795-1887
1
39
Southern Family
1
40
Michael T. Simmons in Transactions of Oregon Pioneer Association
1886
1
41
Splawn Family History
1
42
From an Interview with Mrs. W.D. Bruton, nee Flora Splawn
1
43
Sublette Papers Description
1844
2
1
Fielden M. and Leonard L. Thorp
1889
2
2
Letters of Judge Joseph Thorp about His Father
1880-1889
2
3
Thorp Family History, 1630-1981
2
4
Reminiscences of R. Paul Tjossem
2
5
Tjossem Family
2
6
Bridget Anna Elizabeth Mackay Warner and Grace Irene Werner Family
2
7
Joseph Watt, Oregon Pioneer Association
1890
2
8
Weed Family
2
9
Mrs. Nancy Dickerson Welch, Transactions of the Oregon Pioneer Association
1897
2
10
An Old Pioneer’s Return, The Oregon Pioneer Association
1889
2
11
Thorp Area Family Genealogies
2
12
Pioneer Family Investigation
2
13
Notices of Continuation of Classification
1941
2
14
World War II Newspaper Clippings, Thorp Residents
2
15
World War II Newspaper Clippings, Thorp Residents
2
16
Tanum House Meal Punch Cards
1906
2
17
Ed Birn’s “National” Cash Register History
2
18
Mann Brothers Sliced Wood Products News clippings
2
19
Quilt Signatures
2
20
1913 Fire Wagon
2
21
The End of the Trail by Leta May Smith, Chapters 6 and 7
2
22
Newspaper Clippings about Thorp
1960
2
23
Newspaper clipping by Clareta Smith, Donated with Mattox Family Material
2
24
Sixth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
1885
2
25
Report of the Governor of Washington Territory to the Secretary of the Interior
1885
2
26
Tenth Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Washington
1890
2
27
Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Washington Territory to the Legislative Assembly
1885
2
28
Coal and Coal Mining in Washington by Stephen H. Green
1947
2
29
“Thorp, Be There June 26-30” Sign
3
1
Thorp School Graduates and Teachers
1935-1970
3
2
Thorp High School Newsletter: The Bumble Bee
1941-1942
3
3
Thorp School News clippings
3
4
Hialitza – Thorp High School Yearbook
1922-1926
3
5
Hialitza – Thorp High School Yearbook
1989
3
6
School Census Records of Kittitas County, Washington
1894-1900
3
7
Early Kittitas County Schools News clippings and Photographs
3
8
Ellensburg Junior Chamber of Commerce Activities Report
1951-1952
3
9
Plano Manufacturing Company Catalog
1895
3
10
Land Roller Patent
1899
3
11
Letters from J.A. Wilcox, Justice of the Peace
1907
3
12
Ancient Order of United Workmen Member Death Announcements and Dues Postcards
1909
3
13
Washington Fruit Labels
3
14
Washington Fruit Labels
3
15
Golden West Fine Graham Flour Sack, Thompson’s Flouring Mills, Shedd, Oregon
4
1
Census Photocopies from Yakima County Territorial Census
1871
4
2
Abstract of Title, James H. McMurray to Milford A. Thorp
1885
4
3
Abstract of Title, Milford and Amanda Thorp to Lewis F. Ellison
1901
4
4
Typed List of Polk Directory for Kittitas County, Thorp Listings
1919-1920
4
5
Handwritten List of Names from Polk Directory, Kittitas County, Thorp Listings
1921-1922
4
6
Quit Claim Deed for Thorp Fire Station Property
1944
4
7
Homestead Patents
1875-1898
4
8
Deed to Wilken Briggs
1887
4
9
List of Leases at Thorp Station
1904-1924
4
10
Thorp Commercial Map
1907
4
11
Thorp Township Maps
1934
4
12
Assorted Thorp Area Maps
4
13
Land Ownership Study Maps
4
14
Final Report Farrell Merit Scholarship, Thorp Land Ownership Study on Computer Layered Mapping
1993
4
15
Thorp Area Ranch Histories from Washington’s Centennial Farms: Yesterday and Today
4
16
Christine Peck Railroad Thesis Research
1991
4
17
Northern Pacific Railway Employees and Rule Books
1949-1959
4
18
Northern Pacific Railway Train Orders and Schedules
1957-1962
4
19
Thorp Train Depot Transfer, Historic Thorp Mill Train Project, Proposed Creation of Thorp Historic District
1993-2001
4
20
Correspondence Received and Sent by Mill Society
4
21
Old Cemetery, North of I-90 West
4
22
Thorp Cemetery Directory, Alphabetical Listing
4
23
Thorp Cemetery Directory, by Grave Location
4
24
Thorp Indian Cemetery
4
25
Kittitas County Cemetery Available Plots
1991
4
26
Farming Statistics of Washington
1890-1909
4
27
Upper Kittitas County Landmarks
1999
4
28
Mountains to Sound Greenway Aerial Photos
1999
5
1
Post card Receipts Mailed to F.C. Porter
1907-1909
5
2
Receipts and Calculations
5
3
Receipts and Calculations
5
4
Receipts and Calculations
5
5
List of Items from Porter’s Store Box
1992
5
6
Blank Account Ledger
5
7
Invoices Received by Porter’s Store
1905-1906
5
8
Invoices Received by Porter’s Store
1907-1908
5
9
Invoices Received by Porter’s Store
1911-1922
5
10
Inventory List from Porter’s Store Black Binder
1992
5
11
Thank You Letters to Porter’s Store for Field Trip of Mrs. Erickson’s 4th Grade Class
1956
5
12
Blank Composition Book with List of Baseball Team Players and Positions in Front Page
5
13
Barton Porter’s Composition Books (4), Mostly Blank
5
14
Charles Porter’s Composition Books
5
15
Gerald Porter’s Scrapbook
5
16
Gerald Porter’s Latin Notebook
1916-1917
5
17
Charles Porter’s Composition Books
6
1
Barton Porter’s Spelling Tablet
6
2
Barton Porter’s Augsburg’s Drawing Graded Practice Tablet, #1 and 2
6
3
Barton Porter’s Augsburg’s Drawing Graded Practice Tablet, #3 and 5
6
4
Barton Porter’s Augsburg’s Drawing Graded Practice Tablet, #7
6
5
Barton Porter’s Notebooks
6
6
Gerald Porter’s White’s Outline Studies in the History of the United States
6
7
Two Mostly Blank Ledgers, Porter Family
6
8
Porter Children Schoolbook Inventory List
1992
6
9
University of Washington, University Hospital Meal Ticket
1960
7
1
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1907
7
2
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1908-1909
7
3
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1909
7
4
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1909
7
5
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1909
7
6
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1909-1910
8
1
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1910
8
2
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1910
8
3
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1910
8
4
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1910
8
5
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1910
8
6
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1911
9
1
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1911
9
2
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1911
9
3
F.C. Porter’s Scales Shipping Records
1912
9
4
Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter
1913
9
5
Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter
1915
9
6
Receipts from Items Purchased by Joe Deshayer and F. C. Porter
1915-1916
9
7
Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter
1916
9
8
Receipts from Items Purchased by F. C. Porter and Joe Deshayer
1916
9
9
Pocket Books from F.C. Porter’s Records
9
10
Miscellaneous Papers and Receipts from F.C. Porter’s Records
10
1
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA
1923-1924
10
2
Third Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA
1929-1930
10
3
Third Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA
1931-1932
10
4
Third Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA
1932-1933
10
5
Postmaster’s Daily Savings Bond Cash and Stock Summary, Thorp, WA
1945-1947
10
6
Postmaster’s Daily Savings Bond Cash and Stock Summary, Thorp, WA
1949-1950
10
7
Thorp Post Office and Surrounding Area Post Offices History
10
8
Transcript of Splawn Water Rights Testimony
1868-1886
10
9
Journal Entries from Unknown Author Traveling through Thorp Area
1870
10
10
Newspaper Articles about Thorp
1893-1914
10
11
Record of Thorp Marriages and Births and Deaths
1893-1910
10
12
Thorp Literary Society Constitution and Minutes
1899
10
13
Above the Clouds Production by Thorp Residents, Program
1900
10
14
Thorp Flood, Newspaper Clipping
1906
10
15
“Thorp, Washington,” by Eugene J. Brain in The Coast
1908
10
16
“The Little Shepherd Who Was Left Behind: A Christmas Play in Three Parts” by Helen M. Roberts
1938
10
17
Death Announcements, News clippings
1943-1974
10
18
Thorp Church of Christ Golden Jubilee, 50th Anniversary Church Program
1945
10
19
Newspaper Wedding Announcements
1953-1960
10
20
Newspaper Articles about Thorp
1957-1974
10
21
Handwritten “Early Days in Thorp, 1909,” Author Unknown
1970
10
22
Highway 10 Landslide, Newspaper Clippings
1970-1971
10
23
Newspaper Article on Sawmill and the McPherson Monument
1976
10
24
Newspaper Articles about Thorp
1989-2002
10
25
“The Social and Economic Structure of the Thorp Area During the Year 1900” by Edward M. Tucker III
1992
10
26
Letters from Former Residents’ Families
10
27
Miscellaneous Photocopies about Thorp Area
10
28
Morrison and Lowe Pool Hall Coin
10
29
Handwritten Notes, Newspaper Citations about Thorp Area
10
30
Miscellaneous Correspondence to and from Thorp Residents
11
1
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account Book, Thorp, WA
1927-1929
11
2
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1933-1935
11
3
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1935
11
4
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1935-1936
11
5
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1936-1937
11
6
Third Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1937
11
7
Third Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1938-1939
11
8
Third Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1939-1940
11
9
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1940-1941
11
10
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1941-1942
11
11
Fourth Class, Postmaster’s Account and Cash Book, Thorp, WA
1942-1943
11
12
Register of Money Orders Issued, Thorp, WA, Post Office
1948-1950
11
13
Register of Money Orders Issued, Thorp, WA, Post Office
1950-1951
11
14
Abstract of Title, Multiple Transfers
1926
11
15
James L. Mill Deed for Millrace
1880
11
16
Land Transfer Records
1882-1910
11
17
Tenem Ditch Company vs. F.M. Thorp
1887-1888
11
18
Town of Thorp Plat and Addition
11
19
J. L. Mills Financial Papers
1880-1883
11
20
Photocopy of Polk Directory, Kittitas County
1913-1914
11
21
Photocopy of Polk Directory, Kittitas County
1914-1915
12
1
Cashbook of the Domestic Money Order Office, Thorp Post Office
1920-1922
12
2
Thorp Post Office Savings Bond Records
1945-1948
12
3
Thorp Post Office Savings Bond Records
1949-1950
12
4
Thorp Post Office Savings Bond Records
1950-1953
12
5
Record of Credit for Store Customers
1895
12
6
Invoices Received by Porter’s Store
1906-1910
12
7
Invoices Received by Porter’s Store
1907
12
8
Journal Used as Account Ledger, Mostly Blank
1912
12
9
Thorp Manufacturing Company Financial Records
1901-1905
12
10
Store Advertisements
12
11
50th Anniversary Announcements, Newspaper Clippings
1953-1977
12
12
Blank Legal Tablet with Painting on Inside of Back Cover
13
1
Photographs – Business and Occupations
1890-1939
13
2
Photographs – People and Families
1890-1959
13
3
Photographs – People and Community, early 1900s
13
4
Photographs – People and Community
1890-1979
13
5
Photographs – Landscapes and Buildings
1900-1929
13
6
Photographs – School Classes and School Houses
1900-1959
13
7
Photographs – Mill Restoration
1988-1989
13
8
Photographs – Mill Restoration
1988-1989
13
9
Photographs – Mill Restoration
1988-1989
13
10
Photographs – Mill Restoration
1988-1989
13
11
Photographs – Mill Restoration
1988-1989
13
12
Photographs from Newsletters
13
13
Copies of Miscellaneous Photographs of Early Days in Thorp from Collection of Shirley Mattox Churchill
14
1
Photographs – Square Dancing
14
2
Photographs and Drawing of Mill
14
3
Frances H. Spero and Schoolchildren
1919-1920
14
4
Photocopied Photographs Donated by Anita F. Boren
1936-1942
14
5
John and Felicia McDonald Family Photos
1910-1919
14
6
Eva May Fischer Family
1900-1971
14
7
Don Barrett Family Photo
1918
14
8
Amy and John Ellison, Rose and George Harvey, Olive Spencer, Sidney Spencer Family Materials
14
9
Aerial Photos and Negatives
14
10
Negatives
14
11
Negatives – Thorp and Community
15
1
Oversized Photographs – Thorpe and surrounding areas
16
1
Oversized documents – Thorpe Census Records
17
1
Oversized maps - Thorpe
18
1
Oversized ledgers - Postmaster’s Account and Cashbooks, Thorpe Post Office
1943-1954
19
1
Oversized ledgers - Postmaster’s Account and Cashbooks, Thorpe Post Office
1955-1965
20
1
Oversized ledgers - Postmaster’s Account and Cashbooks, Thorpe Post Office
1965-1971
21
1
Oversized map in tube container - Kittitas County Road System, Upper County
1971
22
1
Oversized map in tube container - Kittitas County Road System
1974
23
1
Oversized map in tube container - Northern Pacific Cascade Division Mainline, Thorpe, Kittitas County, Washington, December 22, 1902 (revised November 12, 1924 and March 21, 1925)
24
1
Oversized map in tube container – Station Map of Lands, Tracks and Structures, Northern Pacific Railway, Seattle Division, Thorp, Kittitas County, Washington, May 21, 1931
1931
25
1
Photo Genealogy Project – Compact Discs
25
2
Photo Genealogy Project – Identification of material on Compact Discs
25
3
Photo Genealogy Project – Identification of Photographs
25
4
Photo Genealogy Project – Letter of Agreement with Kittitas County Genealogical Society
25
5
Photo Genealogy Project – Loose photographs
25
6
Photo Genealogy Project – Newspaper clippings and ephmera