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Cage 94
Paul Thaddeus Bockmier
Papers, 1850-1977

The Paul T. Bockmier Papers were donated to the Washington State University Libraries between 1959 and 1977 (MS 1977-41). This collection was processed and arranged in February and March, 1978 by Catherine F. Feher.

Additional papers of Paul Bockmier were donated to the Washington State University Libraries in 1992 (MS 1992-61) by the Latah County Historical Society. The papers had been left with the Society by an anonymous donor. These papers were processed in February and March of 1993 by Sarah Barber-Braun.

Number of containers: 11
Linear feet of shelf space: 5

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Paul T. Bockmier was born in a log cabin on the banks of the Palouse River on September 15, 1891, the oldest child of Sarah Farnam Bockmier and Paul Thaddeus Bockmier, Sr. The Bockmiers were a prosperous pioneer family of Whitman County, Washington. His surviving brothers and sisters were Ralph, Carl, Waneta, Lettie and Charles. During his youth he worked with his father on local business interests, including a mining company. He acquired a basic knowledge of business at the same time. He was also an inventor and developed a type of drinking fountain. In 1918, he became an employee of The Washington Water Power Company. Throughout his long life (he died in Garfield in 1977), he was an avid collector of regional historical documents and artifacts. Bockmier was an amateur historian, and gained access to numerous papers, memoirs and photographs relevant to historical development of the Palouse. Many of these were directly related to his own family history, particularly his mother's family, the Perry-Ross family.

Bockmier began his association with the Washington Water Power Company (WWP) as an employee in 1918. During his long career, he rose to District Manager in Garfield and retired from that position in 1956. His Washington Water Power material provides insight into the introduction of electricity to the Palouse and the role it played in the development of the area.

Bockmier and his wife, Lou Ella, were active in a number of social and service organizations. One of the most important of these was the Whitman County Tuberculosis Association. In his role as historian, Bockmier compiled histories both of this organization and the Washington Water Power Company. He employed many of the materials he had collected to do so.

ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION

The Paul T. Bockmier papers have been arranged in five groups or series: Bockmier Family Papers, Perry-Ross Family Papers, materials on Whitman County history, Papers of the Whitman County Tuberculosis Association, and Records of the Washington Water Power Company. Photographs, family documents, family histories, regional historical pamphlets, business papers and correspondence, financial papers, maps, and brochures make up the bulk of the papers. The arrangement is an arbitrary topical arrangement, as the records were in no recognizable order when received.

The second accession of Bockmeier's papers was added to this collection as a sixth series. The papers consist of correspondence, business records such as bank statements, and records of invention. These papers are arranged by type of material.

SERIES LIST
Series 1: Bockmier Papers, 1880-1965                                     
Series 2: Perry-Ross Family Papers, 1870-1920                            
Series 3: Whitman County History 1879-1967                               
Series 4: Whitman County Tuberculosis Association Records 1917-1961    
Series 5: Washington Water Power Company Papers 1919-1956                                                                        
Series 6: Additional Papers

CONTAINER LIST
Box Folder   Description # of
Items
 
Series 1: Bockmier Papers, 1880-1965
 
1 1.1-1.2 Correspondence: business and personal correspondence of P. T. and Lou Ella Bockmier, 1923-1949. 40
2 Business receipts and ledgers, 1910-1941. 20
Palouse Choral Society Records, 1910-1911.
3 Investment records: business papers, drillhole records, leases, stock certificates, stock holding reports, stock agreements of the Palouse River Coal and Development Company and related companies; 1913-1920s. 20
4 Investment records: prospectus reports, board members, stock reports, plats of Gold Creek Mining district and other records of investments of P. T. Bockmier, Sr.; 1910-1933. 15
5 Membership Cards, 1919-1977 15
6 Woodmen of the World: pamphlets, financial statements, correspondence; 1942-1948. 5
7 Religious affiliations and fraternal organizations: church pamphlets, Masonic information, Scottish Rite pamphlets; 1940-1950. 20
8 Photographs of P. T. Bockmier and J. D. Lewis, 1938-1965 7
9 P. T. Bockmier's Patented Sanitary Drinking Fountain, 1918 2
10.1 Bockmier family History: news clippings, compiled history, 1885-1959. 23
10.2 Bockmier family photographs, 1894-1963. 20
 
Series 2: Perry-Ross Family Papers, 1865-1965
 
1.1 11.1-11.3 Perry-Ross Family pictures and papers, genealogies, traditions, photographs, compiled histories, newspaper clippings, 1865-1965. 50
2 12 Perry-Ross Family Scrapbook (compiled 1926). 1
13 Poetry and Personal History of Mrs. David (Fannie) Ross (compiled 1924). 1
14 Whitman County Pioneer Association papers: newspaper clippings, compiled histories of association and past presidents, 1901-1965. 1
 
Series 3: Whitman County History, 1879-1967
 
15 Miscellaneous History of Garfield and Environs: history of first public school in Garfield, and other papers (program, notes) donated by Emmett F. Dix and Mrs. Joy Matlock; 1879-1903. 3
16 Miscellaneous history of Garfield and environs: Descriptions of early buildings, such as Flour Mill (1891), American Legion and record of its bylaws (1891), information about Garfield Christian Church (1907), history of Garfield Christian Church; 1890-1962. 10
17 Miscellaneous history of Garfield and environs: newspaper clippings, community promotional information and pamphlets, handbills, regional women's club handouts; circa 1920-1967. 20
18 Early Palouse: Palouse promotional papers, description of Palouse in 1889; circa 1890. 3
19 Concerts and cultural activities: concert programs, sheet music, Chautauqua announcements and information; 1910. 15
20 Handbills and Announcements: Market Day dance (Odessa), Garfield Clean-up Week, Political announcements; circa 1940s. 4
21 Publications: Daughters of the American Revolution, Whitman County chapter, pamphlets on local industry, Almira High School Annual; 1919-1945. 13
22 Homestead Certificate, 1888 1
23 Photographs of Early Whitman County, 1888-1920 17
24 Photographs of Early Whitman County, 1888-1920 30
25 Whitman County Agricultural Association: miscellaneous papers and publications, 1943. 2
 
Series 4: Whitman County Tuberculosis Association, 1917-1961
 
3 26 History of the Whitman County Tuberculosis Association, 1917-1961. Compiled by P. T. and Lou Ella Bockmier, circa. 1961. 20
27 Educational pamphlets and tuberculosis information, 1920-1961. 20
28.1 Educational pamphlets and tuberculosis information, advertisements for chest x-ray, 1920-1961. 20
28.2 Washington Tuberculosis Association educational pamphlets and annual reports
 
Series 5: Washington Water Power, 1889-1956
 
4 29 General History of Washington Water Power, 1889-1956: Early history, history of WWP in Spokane and Inland Empire, The Illuminator (1949). 3
30 WWP & Spokane United Railways: political information, employee information, handouts and lessons; 1930-1945. 14
31 History of Electricity in the Palouse Region, 1893-1974.
32 History of WWP in the Garfield District: brief history, substation papers, business correspondence, plats of Garfield and Farmington, 1913, District Manager meeting notes, WWP sales program for 1946; 1889-1946. 10
33 WWP Time Books (Garfield, Odessa), circa 1939. 2
4.1 34 WWP Publications, Pamphlets and Information, circa 1925-1945. 10
35 WWP Photographs, 1900-1956. 15
36 (missing- 10-01)
5 37 Publications of WWP Whitman County: meter books, topographic maps of WWP districts, WWP Service Certificate, WWP Employee Convention photographs, 1923. 20
38 Preliminary inventories, circa 1968. 2
39 [Relocated to oversize]
 
Series 6: Additional Papers
 
6 40-44 Correspondence: Paul Bockmier, Sr., 1904-1919; Sarah Bockmier and siblings, 1917-1919; Ralph H. Bockmier, 1911-1918; Carl W. Bockmier, USN, 1916-1918.
6.1 45 Correspondence: Cousins, 1906-1917.
46 Book: Cornelius DeWitt Wilcox, WAR FRENCH, 1918.
7 47 Letters from Oscar Kildow, 1908-1919.
48 Letters from Friends, 1908-1917.
48.1 Letters from Friends, 1916-1918.
49 Letters from Friends 1918-1919.
50 Greeting Cards.
51 Graduation & Reunion Announcements & Invitations.
52 Wedding Invitations.
8 53-56 National Bank of Palouse checking account: cancelled checks, duplicate check stubs, 1913-1917.
57 Business correspondence: Palouse Business College, Northwest Business College, State College of Washington, State Normal School, Standard Shorthand School, American School of Correspondence, Blair Business College, Eugene Business College, International Correspondence Schools, Spokane Expert School of Business; 1908-1918.
58 Business Correspondence: 1910-1917.
59 Business Correspondence: 1918-1919.
Series 7: Oversize materials
17.1 WWP grid blueprints, circa 1913.
24.1 Photograph, Palouse City Roller Mills, 1960.
39 Photographs of pioneer life, first transport for school children in Whitman County (1911), Garfield Choral Society (1909), Palouse Basketball Team (1910). 20
39.1 WWP photographs; 1923, 1936, undated.
60.1 Newspaper clipping about the Sanitary Drinking Fountain, Spokane Review, 11 March 1917.