Guide to the Carpenter-Richardson Family Papers 1880-1972
Cage 171

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Creator
Carpenter-Richardson Family
Title
Carpenter-Richardson Family Papers
ID
Cage 171
Date [inclusive]
1880-1972
Extent
4000.0 items.
General Physical Description note
8 linear feet of shelf space.
Language
English
Abstract
Correspondence and other papers of Cle Elum banker Frank Carpenter, his wife Norah Carr Carpenter, their daughter Margaret and her husband Dr. John P. Richardson regarding the movement of the family from Illinois to Washington State, the operation of the Cle Elum State Bank, the education of Margaret Carpenter at Annie Wright Seminary and Sarah Lawrence College, the medical practice of Dr. Richardson, and personal relations of members of the family, among themselves and with aquaintances throughout the United States as well as members of the Carr family at Girard, Illinois.

Preferred Citation note

[Item Description]. Cage 171, Carpenter-Richardson Family Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical/Historical note

The Carpenter-Richardson family established itself in Cle Elum, Washington in 1906 when Frank Carpenter, a native of Girard, Illinois, arrived and organized the Cle Elum State Bank. Norah Carr, also of Girard, joined him at Cle Elum in 1908 and they married soon after. Their daughter, Margaret, was born at Cle Elum about two years after her parents' marriage. In 1943, she married Dr. John Purver Richardson, a physician from Ellensburg.Dr. Richardson died in 1953, Mr. Carpenter in 1959, Mrs. Carpenter in 1962, and Margaret Carpenter Richardson in 1973. During its sixty-seven years in Cle Elum, the family's place was among the community's relatively well-to-do elite. It was supported by Frank Carpenter's income from the Cle Elum State Bank, a small state bank with branches at Cle Elum and Roslyn, and from his various investments in local real estate. This income enabled his family to conduct a style of life which included an expensive house, travel around the United States, and boarding schools for daughter Margaret.

Margaret Carpenter, the principal figure in the Carpenter-Richardson papers, first attended Annie Wright Seminary in Tacoma and then Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. Ill at ease in school, despite excellent academic performance, Margaret left Sarah Lawrence in her sophomore year and attempted to find a career in, successively New York, Washington D. C., and San Francisco. Meeting with little success, she returned to Cle Elum and a modest positon at the bank her father managed. She continued to travel, participate in amateur theatrical productions, and carry on correspondence with a cosmopolitan circle of acquaintances from her college days. In 1943, she quietly married Dr. Richardson, founder and partner in an Ellensburg clinic, and for several years continued her life much as before, adopting Dr. Richardson's name only in about 1948. After Dr. Richardson's death in 1953, Margaret returned to her association with her parents in Cle Elum. After their deaths, she adopted a daughter, Susi. She also became involved in various local volunteer activities, such as the Cle Elum Historical Society. She lost her sight in 1968, but remained active until her death in 1973.

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Scope and Contents note

The Carpenter-Richardson papers consist of about 4,000 items, mostly letters received by the four members of the family, especially the two women. As each member of the family wrote to other members, the papers accordingly contain some letters written by the respective members and received by others. A larger portion of the papers, however, consists of letters written by persons outside the immediate family. Many from earlier dates are written by sisters and cousins of Norah Carr Carpenter. Those from a later time, addressed mainly to Margaret Carpenter, are also from cousins, aunts and so forth, but to a greater degree reflect a non-familial pattern. Many are from college friends or Central Washington figures of social circumstances similiar to those of the family. The papers also contain some materials relative to the education and occupations of the various family members.

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Arrangement note

The papers are arranged into two series. The first series, correspondence, is divided into two subseries, one consisting of the letters written among the four members of the family, the other of letters received from persons outside the family. The second series consists of materials relative to the education, occupations, and interests of the four individual members of the family.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries © 1975

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.

Custodial History note

Prior to acquisition by the Washington State University Library, these papers were held at the University of Oregon Library, where provisional processing had been completed.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The Carpenter-Richardson Family Papers, consisting primarily of letters received by Frank Carpenter, Norah Carr Carpenter, Margaret Carpenter Richardson, and John Purver Richardson of Cle Elum and Ellensburg, Washington, were accessioned by the Washington State University Library in January, 1975.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Annie Wright Seminary. Students -- Correspondence
  • Cle Elum State Bank (Wash.)

Family Name(s)

  • Carpenter family --Archives
  • Richardson family

Geographic Name(s)

  • Cle Elum (Wash.)--History

Occupation(s)

  • Bankers--Washington (State)--Cle Elum--Records and correspondence
  • Physicians--Washington (State)--Records and correspondence

Personal Name(s)

  • Carpenter, Frank, 1871-1959
  • Carpenter, Norah Carr, ca. 1875-1962
  • Richardson, John Purver, 1892-1953
  • Richardson, Margaret Carpenter, 1910-1973

Subject(s)

  • Business, Industry, and Labor
  • Home and Family
  • Washington (State)

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Collection Inventory

Series 1: Correspondence 

Subseries 1.1: Carpenter-Richardson Correspondence 
Box Folder

 1901-1907   50.0 items.

 1 1

 1908   50.0 items.

 1 2

 1909-1921   50.0 items.

 1 3

 1922-1925   50.0 items.

 1 4

 1926   50.0 items.

 1 5

 1927   50.0 items.

 2 6

 1928   50.0 items.

 2 7

 1929   50.0 items.

 2 8

 1930   50.0 items.

 2 9

 1931-1935   50.0 items.

 2 10

 1936-1942   50.0 items.

 3 11

 1943-1947   50.0 items.

 3 12

 1948-1951   50.0 items.

 3 13

 1952-1972   50.0 items.

 3 14

 undated   30.0 items.

 3 15

Subseries 1.2: Letters received 
Box Folder

A's 1943-1963   10.0 items.

 3 16

Allen, Bruce 1908-1942   8.0 items.

 3 17

Allen, Mrs. Frank DeWitt 1896-1930   100.0 items.

 3 18

Allen, Frank Carr 1943-1958   30.0 items.

 4 19

Allen, Frank DeWitt 1896-1909   9.0 items.

 4 20

Allen, Vera Ann 1954-1960   18.0 items.

 4 21

B's 1897-1972   35.0 items.

 4 22

Bartlett, Emaline 1922-1968   5.0 items.

 4 23

Bergman, Erma 1948-1972   8.0 items.

 4 24

Bon, Frances 1947-1963   15.0 items.

 4 25

Bond, Edna 1956-1959   8.0 items.

 4 26

Bowen, Ruth 1933-1965   13.0 items.

 4 27

Bowersox Family 1897-1911   8.0 items.

 4 28

Bowles, Helen 1944-1956   5.0 items.

 4 29

Burkhalter, Babs 1953-1958   8.0 items.

 4 30

C's 1899-1966   25.0 items.

 4 31

Campbell, Mary 1944-1956   14.0 items.

 4 32

Carpenter, Charles 1915-1926   7.0 items.

 4 33

Carpenter, Mayme 1908-1967   45.0 items.

 4 34

Carr Family 1876-1912   10.0 items.

 4 35

Carr, Harmen 1891-1899   20.0 items.

 4 36

Chalkey, Dell 1940-1971   20.0 items.

 4 37

Cook, Anna 1924-1963   65.0 items.

 4 38

D's 1910-1966   20.0 items.

 5 39

Davidson, Gertha 1945-1966   60.0 items.

 5 40

Diller, Elizabeth 1911-1943   15.0 items.

 5 41

Donaldson, Georgia 1923-1969   40.0 items.

 5 42

Dunham, George 1941-1944   15.0 items.

 5 43

E's 1952-1971   15.0 items.

 5 44

F's 1908-1956   12.0 items.

 5 45

Fisher, Ella 1924-1948   20.0 items.

 5 46

Frederick, Frank 1929-1931   200.0 items.

 5 47

Frierson, Rowenna 1930-1968   20.0 items.

 6 48

G's 1897-1966   10.0 items.

 6 49

Gage, Kate 1940-1968   15.0 items.

 6 50

Garretson Family 1931-1969   25.0 items.

 6 51

Griggs Family 1942-1943   10.0 items.

 6 52

H's 1897-1962   20.0 items.

 6 53

Haak, Noralee 1936-1967   50.0 items.

 6 54

Harlan, Elizabeth 1906-1942   12.0 items.

 6 55

Hoover, W. D. 1947-1958   20.0 items.

 6 56

Houser, Ruth 1953-1966   20.0 items.

 6 57

Houser, Clifford 1960-1969   8.0 items.

 6 58

Houser, Harold 1940-1960 

 6 59

Houser, Vera 1902-1927   50.0 items.

 6 60

Houser, Vera 1928-1957   220.0 items.

 7 61-63

Houser, Vera 1958-1971   140.0 items.

 8 64-66

J's 1908-1943   4.0 items.

 8 67

Jaloneck, Edwin 1948-1960   15.0 items.

 8 68

Jamison, Neil 1951-1952   15.0 items.

 8 69

Johnson, Anna 1911-1913   6.0 items.

 8 70

Johnsone, Charles 1935-1959   8.0 items.

 8 71

Jones, L. P. 1942-1956   12.0 items.

 8 72

K's 1936-1962   12.0 items.

 8 73

Kaden, Mary 1926-1965   25.0 items.

 8 74

Kay, Judith 1916-1930   14.0 items.

 8 75

Kearby, Alice 1911-1947   15.0 items.

 9 76

Kenworthy, June 1928-1948   10.0 items.

 9 77

Kine, Mary 1908-1955   20.0 items.

 9 78

L's 1915-1966   35.0 items.

 9 79

LeMoyne, Clara 1933-1957   15.0 items.

 9 80

Liebes, Dorothy 1940-1941   10.0 items.

 9 81

Loveless, Minerva 1935-1956   20.0 items.

 9 82

Low, Roland & Mary 1948-1959   15.0 items.

 9 83

M's 1895-1961   50.0 items.

 9 84

Melly, John 1935-1936   10.0 items.

 9 85

Menaglia, Catherine 1930-1967   35.0 items.

 9 86

Mergentive, Marguerita 1936-1941   15.0 items.

 9 87

Mounts, Walter 1887-1914   20.0 items.

 9 88

N's 1895-1968   15.0 items.

 10 89

Newgord, Jules 1936-1946   15.0 items.

 10 90

O's 1909-1952   15.0 items.

 10 91

Orr, Helen 1909-1971   30.0 items.

 10 92

Ottiano, Bessie Richardson 1950-1955   15.0 items.

 10 93

P's and Q's 1911-1962   25.0 items.

 10 94

R's 1909-1969   25.0 items.

 10 95

Reed, Charles 1910-1944   15.0 items.

 10 96

Richardson, Margaret Sloan 1935-1950   3.0 items.

 10 97

Russell, Katie 1947-1967   15.0 items.

 10 98

S's 1908-1966   65.0 items.

 10 99

Simmons, Mary 1908-1949   20.0 items.

 10 100

Slasor, Roy 1950-1953   15.0 items.

 10 101

Sloan, W. & J. 1951-1952   10.0 items.

 10 102

T's 1911-1955 

 10 103

Tolan, Ella 1908-1933   25.0 items.

 10 104

Univeralist Church 1945-1958   15.0 items.

 11 105

Vernaid, Mary 1897-1917   10.0 items.

 11 106

W's 1908-1971   55.0 items.

 11 107

Walker, Turnley 1952-1960   10.0 items.

 11 108

Wallace, Gertrude 1930-1960   15.0 items.

 11 109

Walker, Maxine 1897-1953   20.0 items.

 11 110

Warren, Stryker 1942-1945   40.0 items.

 11 111

Wesson, Miley 1957-1965   45.0 items.

 11 112

Whitaker, Wendy and Skip 1931-1960   50.0 items.

 12 113

Whiting, Bill 1952-1963   15.0 items.

 12 114

Woods, Kate 1940-1960   12.0 items.

 12 115

X's, Y's and Z's 1930-1967   10.0 items.

 12 116

Unidentified 1898-1964   20.0 items.

 12 117

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Series 2: Subject File 

Subseries 2.1: Frank Carpenter 
Box Folder

Cle Elum State Bank 1910-1958   120.0 items.

 12 118-119

House 1910   20.0 items.

 12 120

Estate 1958-1962   30.0 items.

 12 121

Material relative to death of father, Charles Carpenter 1934-1935   25.0 items.

 13 122

Subseries 2.2: Norah Carr Carpenter 
Box Folder

Early life and education 1880-1900   60.0 items.

 13 123-124

Marriage 1908   15.0 items.

 13 125

Material relative to death of father,Harmen Carr 1897   35.0 items.

 13 126

Subseries 2.3: John Purver Richardson 
Box Folder

Medical papers 1935-1950   20.0 items.

 13 127

Business papers 1935-1950   30.0 items.

 13 128

Subseries 2.4: Margaret Carpenter Richardson 
Box Folder

Advertising 1900-1920   15.0 items.

 14 129

American Red Cross 1918-1919   12.0 items.

 14 130

Biographies undated   4.0 items.

 14 131

Cle Elum Historical Society 1963-1968   30.0 items.

 14 132

Clippings 1910-1945   15.0 items.

 14 133

Displaced persons 1947-1955   50.0 items.

 14 134

Dogs 1944-1952   5.0 items.

 14 135

Doctors 1928-1964   20.0 items.

 14 136

Education 1918-1935   120.0 items.

 14 137-141

Education 

 15 142

Genealogies 1935   5.0 items.

 15 143

Girard, Illinois 1910-1960   20.0 items.

 15 144

Golden Gate exposition 1939-1940   15.0 items.

 15 145

Marriage 1943   15.0 items.

 15 146

Property 1900-1970   50.0 items.

 15 147

Richardson, Susi, adoption 1960   3.0 items.

 15 148

Small Towns Institute 1968-1969   10.0 items.

 15 149

Subseries 2.5: Business Records 
Box Folder

Account books and note books, most from Carr family business at Girard, Ill. 1880-1895   8.0 items.

 16 150-157

Accession folder, including preliminary inventory prepared at the Library of the University of Oregon. 1974   5.0 items.

 16 158

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