Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Preliminary Guide to the Gillis Family Business Records
circa 1882-2003
MS.2010.27
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
- Creator
- Gillis family Gillis family
- Title
- Preliminary Guide to the Gillis Family Business Records
- ID
- MS.2010.27
- Date [inclusive]
- circa 1882-2003
- Extent
- 13.5 linear feet, 6 manuscript cases, 6 records cartons, 3 oversize flat boxes.
- Location
- (MASC staff use): 2-8-1-3.
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Language
- Materials are in English.
- Abstract
- This collection consists of records of the Gillis family farm near Washtucna, WA, and other family business enterprises. For the farm, the collection includes record books (1931-1994) and loose receipts (circa 1980-2003).
Biography/History
Angus M. Gillis (d. 1931) immigrated to the United States from Prince Edward Island, Canada, in the 1880s. With his brothers, Dan and John Gillis, he formed Gillis Brothers Contractor and Builders, a business in Athena, OR. He married Ida Campbell, and in 1907 they purchased a half-section of farm land northwest of Washtucna, WA, to take up dry land wheat farming. Subsequent generations of the family, including their son Lloyd Gillis (d. 1942) and grandson Robert Lloyd "Bob" Gillis (1924-2011), continued to operate the family farm for decades, into the early 21st century.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of records of the Gillis family farm near Washtucna, WA, and other family business enterprises. For the farm, the collection includes record books (1931-1994) and loose receipts (circa 1980-2003). The collection also includes other Gillis family material (A.M. Gillis papers, Gillis Bros. papers, circa 1882-1930; also a few printed items related to Masonic lodges in Oregon, and miscellaneous items).
Preliminary inventory:
Box 1. Farm: "Loose receipts" (some foldered).
Box 2. Farm: "Loose receipts" (some foldered), and envelope: "Building of house, 1930."
Box 3. Contents of small metal box: assorted documents, including notes (loans), bank records, barn information, correspondence with C.T. Mudge Co.
Box 4. Mixed contents. Includes printed material: "Masonic Literature"; also loose items from unlabeled wooden box (receipts and bills, 1940s), and "Loose receipts" (some foldered), mortgages, deeds, leases, Adams Co. tax receipts; unlabeled bundle (Tum-A-Lum, T.C. Milnes).
Box 5. Mixed contents. Farm: "Loose receipts"; A.M. Gillis accounts, 1900; account book (John Gillis?), 1882-1889, and an 1889 letter; canvas receipt file, A.M. Gillis, circa 1900-1918; Lloyd Gillis tax and banking records, circa 1936-1940.
Boxes 6-7. File boxes (receipts). [Note: case labels are incorrect.]
Box 8. Binder: receipts and invoices, Gillis Bros., circa 1889-1904.
Boxes 9-10. Mixed contents. Invoices and account books, A.M. Gillis business, Athena, OR, 1900-1903; A.M. Gillis personal time books and expense books, 1880-1900; unlabeled expense book, 1882-1889 (begins at Charlottetown, PEI); book: "Complete Ready Reckoner" (tables of units and prices for calculating totals); pocket notebook with "List of Combine Extras" 1917, brief list of addresses.
Boxes 11-13. Farm record books, 1931-1994.
Box 14. Aerial photograph of farm; receipt file, 1950-1951.
Box 15. Farm record books, 1994-2004.
Arrangement
This is an unprocessed collection. Any arrangement reflects either a pre-existing order from the records' creators or previous custodians, or preliminary sorting performed by staff.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
http://www.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.
Acquisition Information
Bill Gillis donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 2010 (MS.2010.27).
Names and Subjects
Family Name(s)
- Gillis family
- Gillis family
Subject(s)
- Family farms--Washington (State)--Adams County--Archives
- Agriculture--Washington (State)--History--Sources
- Agriculture--Washington (State)
- Agriculture--Washington (State)--Adams County--History--Sources
- Agriculture