Guide to the William O. Druffel Papers 1920-1962
Cage 219

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Creator
William O. Druffel
Title
William O. Druffel Papers
ID
Cage 219
Date [inclusive]
1920-1962
Extent
5 containers., 2.5 linear feet of shelf space., 1200 items.
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Correspondence, notes, clippings, scrapbooks and other papers concerning the Washington State Guard, the history of Colton, and Druffel's activities as a county official.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 219, William O. Druffel Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Return to Top »


Biography/History

William O. (Bill) Druffel was born in Spokane, Washington, September 7, 1894, the son of Joseph and Adelaide Druffel. At the age of six years, the Druffels moved to a farm near Pine City, then to Colton, Washington, where Bill grew up. He capped his education at St. Martins College in Olympia, receiving an M.A. in 1911. In 1916 he was employed as a printer's apprentice, then as a bookkeeper for a grain firm. This was followed by a position with the First National Bank of Pullman. In 1920 he became Cashier of the Farmer's State Bank of Johnson, while the same year he was married to Miss Charlotte Hicks of Pullman, Washington. In 1925, he became cashier of the Security State Bank of Colton, holding that position for over twentyfive years. Between 1933 and 1940 he also managed the Highway Garage Hardware.

His civic activities included several terms as Mayor of Colton, member of the school board, Whitman County Commissioner, President of the Washington State Association of County Commissioners, and Vice-President of the National Association of County Officials.

He was a veteran of a World War I Balloon Company, and active as Company Commander in the National Guard during and after World War II. He was also a member of the Pullman Ration Board during that period.

From 1958 until his death Bill Druffel was President of the WSU Friends of the Library in which he played an active supporting role. Much of his FOL-related activities are documented in the records of that organization.

He died on December 12, 1962, in Colton, Washington.

Return to Top »


Scope and Content

The papers of William O. Druffel consist of correspondence, clippings, notes, publications, photographs, scrapbooks and other material arranged in four categories documenting his Washington State Guard activities, his interest and support of local government, material collected and written about the history of Colton, Washington, followed by a small group of miscellaneous personal material, including the accession file and a large scrapbook of clippings.

Return to Top »


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

Revision Description

 This material was temporarily processed in 1964 and was reprocessed and described in May, 1974, by Torchie Corey and Terry Abraham.  1974

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Acquisition Information

The papers of William O. Druffel were a gift to Washington State University Library by Mrs. Charlotte Hicks Druffel in November 1963.

Return to Top »


Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Washington (State). National Guard Company C (Pullman, Wash.)

Geographic Name(s)

  • Colton (Wash.)--History--Sources

Occupation(s)

  • County officials and employees--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Records and correspondence

Personal Name(s)

Creator(s) :
  • Druffel, William O., 1894-1962 --Archives
Donor(s) :
  • Druffel, Charlotte Hicks. waps

Subject(s)

  • Military
  • Pacific Northwest History
  • Government and Politics
  • Washington (State)

Return to Top »


Detailed Description of Collection

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

Series 1: Washington State Guard 

box folder

Scrapbook. Clippings concerning World War II, the Washington State Guard activities in the state and Whitman County. 1942-1945  58 leaves.

1 1

Scrapbook. Several hundred unmounted clippings concerning WW II, and Washington State Guard activities. 1943-1946  26 leaves.

1 2

Company "C". Clippings, membership lists, financial records, The "C" Breeze, drafts of speeches and articles, rosters, membership cards, and other records, correspondence and memoranda concerning Company "C", Washington State Guard and its reunions. 1948-1962  100 items.

1 3

Photographs. Snapshots of military encampment. 1943  170 items.

1 4

Return to Top »


Series 2: County Government 

box folder

Government. Correspondence, clippings and speeches concerning local government. 1952-1961  19 items.

2 5

Gas Tax Funds. Correspondence, memoranda, notes, news bulletins, and other papers concerning allocation formula, and other highway matters. 1952-1954  18 items.

2 6

Washington State Association of County Commissioners. Correspondence, reports, speeches, memoranda, minutes, programs, certificates and other papers. 1951-1960  140 items.

2 7-8

Idaho Association of County Commissioners and Clerks. Correspondence, programs, speeches and other papers. 1954-1959  34 items.

2 9

Intergovernmental Relations Committee. Correspondence, minutes, transcripts of testimony before the Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Committee on Government Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives. 1957-1958  29 items.

2 10

National Association of County Officials. Correspondence, memoranda, notes, speeches and other papers. 1949-1961  100 items.

2 11-12

Return to Top »


Series 3: History 

box folder

Schools. Clippings on the Colton schools. 1935-1962  100 items.

3 13

Notes on the history of Colton 1936-1950  25 items.

3 14

Notes on pioneers (primarily on cards)  undated  115 items.

3 15

Notes on the history of Colton. Includes deeds, notes, lists, title abstracts, announcements and other papers. 1920-1956  20 items.

3 16

Register of pioneers of Colton. Pages in a fragment of a Johnson bank ledger. May 23, 1943   3

3 17

Colton pioneer picnic. Scrapbook of photographs. May 29, 1960  1 volume.

3 18

Colton community center. Scrapbook of photographs. July, 1949  1 volume.

3 19

Photographs: Colton, Uniontown, pioneers, Whitman County scenes 1900-1961  100 items.

3 20

Johnson history, particularly Jonathan Johnson  1957-1959  8 items.

4 21

NPRR action to discontinue station at Johnson 1927  10 items.

4 22

Precinct #24, Johnson, Washington, Registration Officer (W.O. Druffel) Papers 1924  20 items.

4 23

Steptoe Butte, by B. F. Manring and Troy Lindley undated  2 items.

4 24

Whitman County, by James Short 1960  2 volumes.

4 25

Return to Top »


Series 4: Personal 

box folder

Election scrapbook 1956  108 items.

4 26

Druffel Family [i.e. Miscellaneous] undated  10 items.

4 27

Stewart Holbrook correspondence 1960-1961  14 items.

4 28

American Balloon Corps Veterans, correspondence 1962  5 items.

4 29

Mrs. Druffel's correspondence with WSU 1962-1966  28 items.

4 30

Scrapbook Sept. 1938-Jan. 1940  1 volume.

5 31

Return to Top »