Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Guide to the Elkanah and Mary Richardson Walker Papers
1830-1938
Cage 57
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
- Creator
- Walker, Elkanah, 1805-1877
- Title
- Elkanah and Mary Richardson Walker Papers
- ID
- Cage 57
- Date [inclusive]
- 1830-1938
- Extent
- 13 Linear feet of shelf space, 14 Boxes
- Location
- (MASC STAFF USE): Boxes 9-14: Holland 428, W4-7-1 and 2
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Abstract
- Correspondence, diaries, photographs and other papers, as well as artifacts, related to country life in New England, overland journey to Oregon in 1838, missionary work among the Spokane Indians at Tshimakain Mission, 1839-1848, and educational and religious activities in the Willamette Valley. Correspondence includes letters to and from family members, the ABCFM Mission Board, and other missionaries and settlers in Oregon.
Preferred Citation
[Item description]
Elkanah and Mary Richardson Walker Papers, 1830-1938 (Cage 57)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
When Elkanah Walker (1805-1877) was a senior at the Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary in 1836, he was planning a mission career among the Maritime Zoolaks of South Africa. He was told that it would perhaps be better for him to be married before undertaking such a mission. At the same time Mary Richardson (1811-1897) of Baldwin, Maine, was told that she too must be married to become a missionary. The result was a whirlwind courtship and marriage which did not go to South Africa but the equally distant and rudimentary Oregon Mission. Eventually settling at Tshimakain on Walker's Prairie near Spokane they ministered to the Spokane Indians and their fellow missionaries: Marcus Whitman, Cushing Eells, Henry H. Spalding and William H. Gray and their wives. After the Whitman Mission killings in 1847, the Walkers moved to Fort Colville for nearly three months and then spent the remainder of their days in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Here they helped establish the Congregational Association of Oregon City and Tualatin Academy (now Pacific University) at Forest Grove.
Scope and Content
The papers of the Walkers can be divided into three groups: the manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, documents and other papers of the Walkers and their family; photocopies of Walker papers from the files of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) and from the Huntington Library, as well as from the papers at Washington State University; and typescript transcripts of the documents and photocopies.
The original papers of Elkanah and Mary Walker consist of their correspondence, diaries, autograph albums, essays and photographs. In addition there is some correspondence and reminiscences of their children. The extensive correspondence file, while mostly incoming, is very complete for the earlier school days, their courtship and marriage, and their missionary experiences. There is very little regarding their life in the Willamette Valley. Perhaps the largest body of material is family letters from relatives in New England.
In addition there is an extensive run of the diaries of Mary Richardson Walker from 1833-1878, except for the two volumes which are now in the Huntington Library. There is also a volume of Elkanah Walker's diary, 1854-1857, which is primarily a register of ministerial services.
Both of the Walkers maintained autograph albums which were also used in the manner of a guest book while at Tshimakain. Other papers include Elkanah's theological notes made as a student, Mary's essay on the Discouragements & Consolations of missionaries written in 1837, constitutions of Maternal Associations, Elkanah's translation of the Book of Matthew into the Flathead or Spokane language, and Mary's drawings and paintings of botanical subjects.
Sons Joseph and Samuel wrote accounts of their parents which are in the collection, as is a portion of son Levi's scrapbook of clippings. The photographs are mostly portraits of the Walkers and their family.
Rounding out the gaps in the collection are photocopies of the material from the Huntington Library, San Marino, California, and the archives of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, now in the Houghton Library, Harvard University. These include additional diaries and correspondence. A large part of the photocopies are of original material in the Washington State University Library.
Artifacts are also included in the collection: John Mix Stanley's portrait in oil of Abigail B. Walker, C.A. Geyer's sketch of Tshimakain, a pencil sketch of Mary Walker, and a photograph portrait of Samuel T. Walker; clothing and other textile items; a portable writing desk and bread paddle.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in four series: Series 1. Manuscripts and papers, 1830-1966; Series 2. Photocopies of documents from Walker collections at other repositories; Series 3. Typescript transcripts; Series 4. Artifacts.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2021
https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open and available for research use.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Elkanah and Mary Richardson Walker were acquired by gift and purchase from members of the family: S.T. Walker, Ruth Karr McKee, Eunice V. Karr, Elda R. Walker, Leva B. Walker, Josephine Claghorn Walker, Herbert J. Gilkey and Nellie M. Walker; and from Dr. C.M. Drury. Much of the collection was acquired through the efforts of Dr. Drury in researching the lives of the missionaries. These materials were acquired by Washington State University Library between 1935 and 1966. In 2014, the textiles and other artifacts in boxes 9-14 were transferred to the WSU Libraries from the WSU Historic Costume and Textile Collection (part of MS.2014.09).
Processing Information
The preliminary processing of the collection in the early 1940s was done by Lucille M. Luttropp, and included the preparation of typescripts of nearly all the manuscript and photocopy material in the collection. Much of this was bound and includes the diaries, the correspondence between the Walker's and the ABCFM, and the correspondence between Elkanah and Mary. Other transcripts, now in chronological order, were also made. In 1972, additional processing was done by Terry Abraham.
Original Location
Rounding out some gaps in the collection are photocopies of the material from the Huntington Library, San Marino, California, and the archives of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, now in the Houghton Library, Harvard University. These include additional diaries and correspondence. A large part of the photocopies in the collection are of original material in the Washington State University Library.
Related Materials
Related Material
In addition to manuscripts the Washington State University Library has received a large collection of books owned and used by the Walkers. These books are now cataloged and a web site devoted to the library may be found on the WSU MASC web site.
Cushing and Myra Fairbanks Eells Papers, 1838-1938 (Cage 148)
Additional materials on the Walkers may be found at the Whitman National Monument Collections, Walla Walla (NUCMC 61-1597); at the University of Oregon Library (Schmitt); Yale University Library (Washington); the Oregon Historical Society Manuscript Collections; at the Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California (NUCMC 61-2207); and in the papers of C.M. Drury at the Eastern Washington State Historical Society, Spokane (NUCMC 61-1109). The archives of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions are now in the Houghton Library, Harvard University (NUCMC 61-1964).
Names and Subjects
Corporate Name(s)
Creator(s) :
- American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
Geographic Name(s)
- New England -- Social life and customs
Personal Name(s)
Subject(s) :
- Walker, Elkanah, 1805-1877 -- Archives
- Walker, Mary Richardson, 1811-1897 -- Archives
Creator(s) :
- Walker, Mary Richardson, 1811-1897
Subject(s)
- Missionaries -- Washington (State) -- Correspondence
- Missionaries -- Oregon -- Correspondence
- Missions -- Washington (State) -- History -- Sources
- Missions -- Oregon -- History -- Sources
- Overland journeys to the Pacific
- Spokane Indians -- Missions
- Indians of North America -- Missions -- Northwest, Pacific
- Pioneers
- Missionaries
- Overland Journeys to the Northwestern United States
- Native Americans
- Washington (State)
- Oregon
Bibliography
These papers were extensively used by Dr. Clifford M. Drury in the preparation of his book Elkanah and Mary Walker; pioneers among the Spokanes. (Caldwell, Caxton, 1945. 283 p. illus.) Portions were also edited and used by Ruth Karr McKee, a grand-daughter of the Walkers, in Mary Richardson Walker: her book. (Caldwell, Caxton, 1945. 357 p. illus.)
Dr. Drury described this collection in the Oregon Historical Quarterly 42 (September, 1941) 269-271.
Detailed Description of Collection
Series 1: Manuscripts and papers, 1830-1966 750 items. |
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Subseries 1.1: Correspondence, 1830-1934 650 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
undated 11 items. |
1 | 1 | ||
|
1830-1831 21 items. |
1 | 2 | ||
|
1832 22 items. |
1 | 3 | ||
|
1833 27 items. |
1 | 4 | ||
|
1834 33 items. |
1 | 5 | ||
|
1835 47 items. |
1 | 6 | ||
|
1836 47 items. |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Jan-Jun, 1837 42 items. |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Jul-Dec, 1837 33 items. |
1 | 9 | ||
|
1838 36 items. |
1 | 10 | ||
|
1839 25 items. |
2 | 11 | ||
|
1840-1845 37 items. |
2 | 12 | ||
|
1846-1848 28 items. |
2 | 13 | ||
|
1849-1851 37 items. |
2 | 14 | ||
|
1852-1854 32 items. |
2 | 15 | ||
|
1855-1859 27 items. |
2 | 16 | ||
|
1860-1869 32 items. |
2 | 17 | ||
|
1870-1879 37 items. |
2 | 18 | ||
|
1880-1934 10 items. |
2 | 19 | ||
Subseries 1.2: Diaries of Mary Walker, 1833-1878 14 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
January 1, 1833-May 6, 1837 1 volume. |
3 | 20 | ||
|
December 20, 1848-September 9, 1849 14 leaves |
3 | 21 | ||
|
May 16, 1851-February 23, 1852 13 leaves |
3 | 22 | ||
|
March 2, 1852-April 9, 1854 24 leaves |
3 | 23 | ||
|
April 10, 1854-October 24, 1855 16 leaves |
3 | 24 | ||
|
February 15, 1859-August 1, 1861 12 leaves |
3 | 25 | ||
|
1871-1874 4 volumes. |
3 | 26 | ||
|
1876-1878 3 volumes. |
3 | 27 | ||
|
Diary and accounts of Elkanah Walker, November, 1854-November, 1857 1 volume. |
3 | 28 | ||
Subseries 1.3: Autograph albums, 1832-1892 2 volumes. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Autograph album of Elkanah Walker 1837-1853 1 volume. |
3 | 29 | ||
|
Autograph album of Mary R. Walker 1832-1892 1 volume. |
3 | 30 | ||
Subseries 1.4: Essays and notes, 1836-1846 19 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
E. Walker. Theological studies and notes 1836-1838 26 |
3 | 31 | ||
|
M.R. Walker. The discouragements & consolations of missionaries; or the bitter and the sweet (an address) October, 1837 4 leaves |
3 | 32 | ||
|
Constitution of the Willamette Falls Maternal Association undated 2 leaves |
3 | 33 | ||
|
Constitution of the Lynn and Oregon City Maternal Association undated 2 leaves |
3 | 33 | ||
|
Bible. New Testament. Matthew. Flathead. Translated by E. Walker 1846 2 leaves manuscript |
3 | 34 | ||
|
M Walker. Drawings and paintings Some dated 1832 14 items. |
3 | 35 | ||
Subseries 1.5: Miscellaneous items, reminiscences, letters, photographs, clippings, etc., 1840-1966 200 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Joseph Elkanah Walker. A sketch of the lives of Rev. Elkanah Walker and Mary Richardson Walker undated 19 leaves manuscript; 21 leaves manuscript |
4 | 36 | ||
|
Joseph Elkanah Walker. Pedigrees, Walker, Richardson, Thompson, Hay, Boutwell, Kendall with foreword and additional notes by Herbert J, Gilkey 1910, 1968 32 leaves manuscript notebook |
4 | 37 | ||
Photographs |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Elkanah Walker. 1855 1 copy negative (2 images): 12 x 18 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 11 x 8.5 cm. |
4 | 38.1 | ||
|
Mary Richardson Walker (photo by Bowers, Lynn, Mass.) Sept 27, 1871 1 copy negative (2 images): 12 x 18 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 11 x 8.5 cm. |
4 | 38.2 | ||
|
Mary and Elkanah Walker. 1855 1 copy negative (2 images): 12 x 18 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 11 x 8.5 cm. |
4 | 38.3 | ||
|
Marcus W. Walker and Samuel T. Walker by D.G. Hendee, Milwaukee, Oregon 1855 1 copy negative (2 images): 12 x 18 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 11 x 8.5 cm. |
4 | 38.4 | ||
|
Joseph Richardson. 1840 1 copy negative (2 images): 12 x 18 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 11 x 8.5 cm. |
4 | 38.5 | ||
|
Samuel, Levi, Joseph and Cyrus Walker, Forest Grove. 1907 September 7 1 photoprint, mounted: 14 x 23 cm.; 1 copy negative: 10 x 12.5 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 12 x 17.5 cm.; 1 copy negative: 12.5 x 17.5 cm. |
4 | 38.6 | ||
|
James A. Karr. 1913 September 14 1 photolithograph: 24.5 x 17 cm.; 1 copy negative: 10 x 12.5 cm. |
4 | 38.7 | ||
|
Abigail B. Karr. 1913 September 14 1 photolithograph: 24.5 x 17 cm.; 1 copy negative: 10 x 12.5 cm. |
4 | 38.8 | ||
|
Jannetta M. Walker, Foochow, China. October, 1873 1 photoprint: 10 x 6 cm. |
4 | 38.9 | ||
|
Geyer drawing of Tshimakain Mission. 1843 1 negative: 10 x 12.5 cm; 2 photoprints: 12 x 18 cm., 10 x 12.5 cm. |
4 | 38.1 | ||
|
Samuel T. Walker. 1939 1 photoprint (mounted): 17 x 12 cm. |
4 | 38.11 | ||
|
Walker Family: Mary, Cyrus, Abigail, Marcus, Joseph, John, Levi, and Samuel on lawn in front of first frame house in Forest Grove. 1896 1 photoprint (mounted): 16 x 23.5 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 10 x 12.5 cm. |
4 | 38.12 | ||
|
Four Generations: Mary, Abigail, Olive and Wilna. 1891 1 photoprint: 23 x 17.5 cm.; 1 copy negative: 10 x 12.5 cm.; 1 copy photoprint: 19 x 23.5 cm.; 1 copy negative: 25 x 20 cm. |
4 | 38.13 | ||
|
Mary Walker's trunk. 1936 1 photoprint: 25.5 x 31 cm. |
4 | 38.14 | ||
|
Mary Walker's trunk and briefcase. 1936 1 photoprint: 25.5 x 27.5 cm.; 1 photoprint (mounted): 19 x 24 cm. |
4 | 38.15 | ||
Clippings, reminiscences, and miscellaneous items |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Clippings re: Tshimakain Centennial Celebration 1938 September 18 5 items |
4 | 39 | ||
|
Levi C. Walker scrapbook: clippings and other papers re: missionary work in Oregon and China 1887-1908 20 items |
4 | 40 | ||
|
Samuel T. Walker. (Reminiscences) 1935 11 leaf manuscript |
4 | 41 | ||
|
First Congregational Church of Christ in Baldwin and the "Emerson Meeting-House." 1936 5 p. typescript (carbon) |
4 | 42 | ||
|
Donor File and container list 1935-1966 150 items |
4 | 43 | ||
|
|
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Series 2: Photocopies 225 items. |
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Subseries 2.1: Huntington Library 8 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Elkanah Walker. Journal to the Rocky Mountains (Huntington Library) 1838 18 leaves photocopy |
4 | 44 | ||
|
Elkanah Walker. Diary (Huntington Library) June 3-October 13, 1848 13 leaves photocopy |
4 | 45 | ||
|
Mary Richardson Walker Diary (Huntington Library) May 9, 1837-March 5, 1838 4 leaves photocopy |
4 | 46 | ||
|
Mary Richardson Walker. Diary (Huntington Library) September 30-November 11, 1848 4 leaves photocopy |
4 | 47 | ||
|
Letters to Elkanah Walker, from P.C. Pambrun, A.B. Smith and David Greene (Huntington Library) 1840-1843 3 items, photocopy. |
4 | 48 | ||
Subseries 2.2: American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions 17 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions Correspondence received. Letters from E. Walker, M.R. Walker and others in favor of their going on the mission to Oregon; and the authorization by the Oregon Mission for Whitman to return to the U.S. 1836-1842 17 items, photocopy. |
5 | 49 | ||
Subseries 2.3: Indian Office 1 item |
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| box | folder | |||
|
E. Walker and C. Eells Letter, Cimakain, to Elijah White, sub-agent, Indian Office re: Spokane Indians. Also White's explanatory note and statement: "This is a true copy. E. White" January 9, 1843 3 leaves photocopy. |
5 | 50 | ||
Subseries 2.4: Washington State University Library 200 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Photocopies of Walker Mission material in the Washington State University Library 200 items. |
5 | 51-55 | ||
|
|
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Series 3: Typescript transcripts 120 items. |
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| box | folder | |||
|
Journal of Mary Richardson Walker January 1, 1833-May 6, 1837 78 p. bound, typescript. |
6 | 56 | ||
|
Journal of Mary Richardson Walker March 5, 1838-October 1, 1848 293 p. bound, plus 4 p. index, typescript |
6 | 57 | ||
|
Journal of Mary Richardson Walker September 30, 1848-January 1, 1879 308 p., 6 p. index, bound, typescript. |
6 | 58 | ||
|
Letters concerning Elkanah and Mary Richardson Walker and American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1836-1859. State College of Washington 1941 200 p. bound transcript. |
6 | 59 | ||
|
Letters between Elkanah Walker and Mary Richardson Walker, 1837-1873. State College of Washington 1940 216 p. bound typescript. |
7 | 60 | ||
|
Walker family correspondence, obituaries and geneology 1917-1921. 34 leaves, bound typescript. |
7 | 61 | ||
|
Diary of Mary Richardson Walker, 1838-1848. Transcription by C.M. Drury 1960 331 p. typescript. |
7 | 62-63 | ||
Subseries 3.1: Letters, diaries, essays, notebooks and other papers connected with the Walker Mission 1821-1885 |
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| box | folder | |||
|
1821-1838 64 items, typescript. |
7 | 64 | ||
|
1839-1885 42 items, typescript. |
7 | 65 | ||
|
|
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Series 4: Artifacts |
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| box | ||||
|
"Tshimakain" drawing by Karl Geyer (pen and ink on paper, 31 x 51 cm). Depicts the Tshimakain mission. circa 1843-1844 |
8 | |||
|
Portrait of Abigail B. Walker by John Mix Stanley (oil on board, framed), 36 x 29 cm. 1847 |
8 | |||
|
Items removed from Walker family books (pressed flowers and leaves; two small paintings) circa 1800s |
8 | |||
|
Cape (Mary Richardson Walker) |
9 | |||
|
Lengths of homespun fabric, with repairs (2); baby shirt |
10 | |||
|
Collection documentation file (transferred with artifacts from WSU Historic Costume and Textile Collection) |
11 | |||
|
Thimbles (4), pincushions (2) |
12 | |||
|
Lace collar, ribbons, scarf, hot pad |
13 | |||
|
Writing desk |
14 | |||
|
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