Guide to the Carson W. Taylor Papers 1887-1934
Cage 221

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
Taylor, Carson W.
Title
Carson W. Taylor Papers
ID
Cage 221
Date [inclusive]
1887-1934
Extent
3 containers., 3 linear feet of shelf space., 500 items.
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Correspondence, financial records, diaries, photographs and other papers of the Taylor family. Also included are records of the Branham school district, the Whelan Grange, and assessor and election clerk records.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 221, Carson W. Taylor Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biography/History

Carson W. Taylor, according to James E. Lindsey's biographical sketch of September 27, 1934, was born near Alleghany, Pennsylvania, on September 29, 1863, the son of William and Jennie Carson Taylor. Following the death of his mother in 1868, and the subsequent deaths of his younger sister and brother, young Carson was boarded out to various relatives until he was fifteen years old.

At that time he rejoined his father who had located in Moscow, Idaho. William Taylor had filed a pre-emption near Clinton, a homestead near Staley and a timber culture near Whelan on the Washington side of the border. This last he maintained until Carson could file on it as a homestead, which he did in 1886.

The same year Carson Taylor married Miss Sarah Eagle of Johnson, Washington. They had five children. Sarah died in 1890 in the Puget Sound Country and two years later, in Franklin, Michigan, Carson married Lou Bowden. They also had five children, only three of whom survived to maturity.

The timber culture homestead, filed on in 1886, was prepared for plowing and the sowing of wheat. Throughout his life Carson Taylor remained primarily a wheat farmer and was often one of the first in the area to purchase and use new equipment. In addition he occasionally raised flax, alfalfa, peas and corn.

Added to his responsibilities as farmer both Carson Taylor and his wife were active in civic matters. Lou Taylor was registration clerk for the Branham precinct for many years. She also served as school director. Carson Taylor was deputy assessor of Branham precinct for over twentyfive years. In addition he was clerk of the local school board for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were active in the Whelan Grange as well; in fact, Carson Taylor helped organize it and served in every local office except that of master, which he refused. Carson W. Taylor died December 8, 1934 in Pullman, Washington.

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Scope and Content

The papers of Carson W. Taylor consist of personal and business correspondence, records of bank loans, savings and checking accounts and other financial matters, tax and other receipts, photographs and other papers. Included also are Carson Taylor, Jr.'s records of his 4-H projects and some other papers; a 1918 diary of his sister Jennie and an earlier diary of Mrs. Taylor, 1893-1897.

Included among the papers are records of the Taylors' various civic activities: Branham School District, Assessor's records, Grange records, and poll books and Voters registers, Branham precinct.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2012

http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Carson W. Taylor (1863-1934) were acquired by Washington State University prior to 1940.

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Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Branham School District No. 35 (Wash.)
  • Washington State Grange. Whelan Grange (Whitman County)

Personal Name(s)

Creator(s) :
  • Taylor, Carson W., 1863-1934--Archives

Subject(s)

  • Elections--Washington (State)--Whitman County
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Sources
  • Schools--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Records and correspondence
  • City and Town Life
  • Diaries
  • Government and Politics
  • Washington (State)

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Detailed Description of Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series 1: Carson W. Taylor Papers 

Correspondence 
box folder

  1907-1923  42

 1 1

  1924  40

 1 2

  1925  19

 1 3

  1926-1927  21

 1 4

  1928-1934  15

 1 5

Financial records 
box folder

  1888-1899  20

 1 6

  1900-1909  33

 1 7

  1910-1924  42

 1 8

  1925-1935  48

 1 9
box folder

Tax records 1887-1928  43

 1 10

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Series 2: Taylor Family Papers 
box folder

Photographs.   11

 2 11

C.O. Taylor, Jr. papers 1918-1935  48

 2 12

Jennie E. Taylor diary 1918  1

 2 13

Lou F. Bowden Taylor diary, in large account book. 1893-1897  1

 2 14

Thomas M. Taylor. A brief history of the Taylor family undated  2

 2 15

Memo and account books 1916-1932  5

 2 16

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Series 3: Branham School District #35 
box folder

Records 1900-1914  28

 3 17

School register 1913-1919  1 volume

 3 18

Claim receipt book 1915-1919  1 volume

 3 19

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Series 4: Rose Creek School District #158 
box folder

School register 1909-1917  1 volume

 3 20

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Series 5: other Records 
box folder

Deputy Assessor's records 1924-1934  44

 3 21

Whelan Grange records 1921-1930  13

 3 22

Poll Books, Branham Precinct No. 3 1916-1933  17

 3 23

Voters Register, Branham Precinct No. 3 1916-1932  4 volume

 oversized 24

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