Guide to the Richard Montgomery Webster Papers 1847-1953
Cage 447

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Creator
Webster, Richard Montgomery
Title
Richard Montgomery Webster Papers
ID
Cage 447
Date [inclusive]
1847-1953
Extent
470.0 items.
General Physical Description note
1 linear feet of shelf space.
Language
English
Abstract
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial papers, photographs and genealogical materials primarily related to the Webster and Landram families.

Preferred Citation note

[Item Description]. Cage 447, Richard Montgomery Webster Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical/Historical note

Richard Montgomery Webster was born in Leesburg, Kentucky, on August 30, 1869. He graduated from the National University Law School in Washington, D. C. with a L.L.B. and from George Washington University, Washington, D. C., with an L.L.M. In 1902 he was appointed law clerk to the Post Office Department. He rapidly advanced to the position of Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Post Office Department.

Webster came to Spokane in 1904. In addition to his private law practice, he served as an instructor at Gonzaga University Law School. In 1917 he was elected superior court judge for Spokane, a position he held throughout the remainder of his career. During the years following 1919 until his retirement in 1948, his greatest efforts were devoted to juvenile court work.

Webster's brother, John Stanley Webster, arrived two years later in 1906 and became a prominent judicial and political figure in Spokane. (See the papers of J. S. Webster, Cage 459).

Webster was married to Florence Knode of Fairmont, Minnesota, in August 1908. Their three children included a daughter Virginia Garrard (Holmes), and two sons, John Landram and Thomas Richard. On March 14, 1953, Judge Webster passed away at the age of eighty-three years.

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Scope and Contents note

Dating from 1847 through 1953, the bulk of the papers of Judge Richard M. Webster consists of correspondence between Webster and family members or legal associates. Newspaper clippings also comprise a substantial part of the papers. His family background is detailed in the family history folder and also the Landram family folder. The material which predates Webster's birth (pre-1869) is contained in the family history file and the Landram family folder; this material consists of marriage licenses, birth certificates, and some financial records for the period 1847 through 1869. Although the papers contain some legal and financial documents, the records are incomplete. The papers also contain several photographs of family members which are undated. The bulk of the material dates from the post-1900 period with an emphasis in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

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Arrangement note

The papers of Judge Richard M. Webster are arranged in a single alphabetical subject series.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries © 1980

http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The papers of Richard Montgomery Webster (1869-1953) were donated by Marilyn W. Ring to Washington State University Libraries in August 1978 (MS 78-34).

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Controlled Access Headings

Family Name(s)

  • Landram family.
  • Webster family

Personal Name(s)

  • Webster, Richard Montgomery, 1869-1953--Archives

Subject(s)

  • Government and Politics
  • Home and Family
  • Washington (State)

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Collection Inventory

Box Folder

Baby Book 1909   1

 1 1

Bible 1876   1

 1 2

Certificates 1902-1924   3

 1 3

Correspondence 1894-1953   175

 1 4-8

Family History 1867-1927   20

 1 9

Financial Records 1892-1938   24

 1 10-11

Landram Family 1847-1908   8

 2 12

Legal Papers 1897-1937   48

 2 13-14

Memorabilia 1900-1947   20

 2 15

Military 1927-1947   12

 2 16

Newspaper Clippings 1905-1951   40

 2 17-20

Newspaper Clippings: Webster 1908-1948   70

 2 21-22

Photos 1908-1952   11

 2 23

Scrap Book 1902-1928   35

 2 24

Washington Trust Company Ledger 1926   1

 2 25