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Roberta Ulrich Research Papers, 1806-2010

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ulrich, Roberta, 1928-
Title
Roberta Ulrich Research Papers
Dates
1806-2010 (inclusive)
Bulk 1970-2006 (bulk)
Quantity
13 Linear feet of shelf space, (31 Boxes)
Collection Number
Cage 980 (collection)
Summary
The research materials of Roberta Ulrich into Native fishing and treaty rights as part of her writing process for two later published books, "Empty Nets: Indians, Dams, and the Columbia River" (1999) and "American Indian Nations from Termination to Restoration, 1953-2006" (2010).
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use. Certain items may require an Archivist to review content before access can be granted.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Roberta "Bobbie" Ulrich was born in Lewiston, Idaho in 1928. She graduated from Washington State University in 1950 with a bachelors in English and a certificate in journalism. Ulrich spent 53 years as a reporter working with The Oregonian, weekly and daily papers, an international wire service, in Washington D.C., and as the Spokane bureau manager for the United Press International for nine years. Ulrich was granted awards for her work such as the Alumni Achievement Award from the Washington State University Alumni Association in 1991.

During the last three years of her working life, Ulrich reported exclusively on American Indigenous communities. Retiring in 1996, she went on to write and publish two books about Indigenous history including "Empty Nets: Indians, Dams, and the Columbia River" (1999) and "American Indian Nations from Termination to Restoration, 1953-2006" (2010). Ulrich also obtained a Masters degree in History from Portland State University where she wrote her thesis paper, originally titled Justice Delayed, which later became Empty Nets.

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Content Description

This collection includes research material collected by Ulrich for the writing and publishing of her books and consists of correspondence, legal papers, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Also included are published materials such as books and magazines. Another section of this collection is audiovisual material including CD's and cassette tapes.

All material pertains to the research conducted for three publications by Ulrich including her masters thesis from Portland State University, "Justice Delayed" (1996) which later became her first book "Empty Nets: Indians, Dams, and the Columbia River" (1999), and finally "American Indian Nations from Termination to Restoration, 1953-2006" (2010), which was previously titled "Lots of Funerals"/"A Lot of Funerals" during early drafts.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

The recorded interviews have been digitized and are kept in MASC digital storage.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Guide to the Roberta Ulrich Research Papers 1806-2010 (Cage 980)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The filing system for the collection has been kept substantially in its original form as donated by Roberta Ulrich. Many original folder titles have been retained with some modifications made for clarity. The processor devised the basic organization scheme for the collection and, where necessary, reorganized the papers within the various component groups. This collection is organized alphabetically and then chronologically with older dates coming first.

The series are organized by her general research material, her publications/books, and interviews that correspond with cassette tapes and CD's. For her research material, if explicitly labeled as corresponding with a particular publication (Empty Nets, Justice Delayed, A Lot of Funerals, Termination to Restoration), it was placed in series two with its listed title. If there was no explicit label, it can be inferred that anything before 1999 is for Ulrich's thesis or first book, and any material after is for her second book.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Roberta "Bobbie" Ulrich, 2025 Jan 8.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Caitlin McKeand in March-July 2026.

Separated Materials

Items may be separated from the collection due to privacy restrictions during processing.

Related Materials

Ulrich, R. (2007). Empty nets: Indians, dams, and the Columbia River (2d ed.). Oregon State University Press. MASC ; KF8216 .U47 2007.

Ulrich, R. (2010). American Indian nations from termination to restoration, 1953-2006. University of Nebraska Press. MASC ; E93 .U45 2010.

Boxberger, D. L. (1989). To fish in common: the ethnohistory of Lummi Indian salmon fishing. University of Nebraska Press. MASC ; E99.L95 B68 2000 and Holland and Terrell Library Stacks ; E99.L95 B68 1989.

Hall, R. L. (1991). The Coquille Indians: yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Restoration ed.). Words and Pictures Unlimited. MASC ; E99 C8742 H35 1991.

Wolf, E. C. (2004). Klamath heartlands: a guide to the Klamath Reservation forest plan: vision, history, restoration, reconnection (1st ed.). Ecotrust. MASC ; SD413.07 W65 2004 and Holland and Terrell Library Stacks ; SD413.O7 W65 2004.

Mighetto, L., Historical Research Associates., United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. North Pacific Division., United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Portland District., United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Walla Walla District., and Ebel, W. J. (1994). Saving the salmon: a history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to protect anadromous fish on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Historical Research Associates, Inc. MASC ; SH348 .M52 1994.

Coquille Tribe of Oregon., and Losey, R. J. (2000). Changing landscapes: proceedings of the third annual Coquille Cultural Preservation Conference, 1999. MASC ; E78.06 C67 2000.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms

  • Cayuse Indians
  • Coquille Indians
  • Indians of North America -- Oregon
  • Indians of North America -- Social life and customs
  • Indians of North America -- Washington (State)
  • Indigenous peoples
  • Nez Perce Indians
  • Paiute Indians
  • Umatilla Indians
  • Walla Walla Indians
  • Wasco Indians
  • Wyam Indians
  • Yakama Indians

Personal Names

  • Ulrich, Roberta, 1928-

Geographical Names

  • Celilo Falls (Wash.)
  • Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation
  • Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
  • Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
  • Coquille Indian Tribe
  • Nez Perce Tribe

Finding aid prepared by Caitlin McKeand.
2026

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

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