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

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Creator
Taylor, Carson W.
Title
Carson W. Taylor Papers
ID
Cage 221
Date [inclusive]
1887-1934
Extent
500.0 items.
General Physical Description note
3 linear feet of shelf space.
Language
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 note

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

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Biographical/Historical note

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 Contents note

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

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries © 1974

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

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

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

Personal Name(s)

  • Taylor, Carson W., 1863-1934--Archives

Subject(s)

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

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Collection Inventory

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   1.0 volume

 3 18

Claim receipt book 1915-1919   1.0 volume

 3 19

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Series 4: Rose Creek School District #158 
Box Folder

School register 1909-1917   1.0 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   4.0 volume

 oversized 24

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