Guide to the Bill Walter Studio Photographs circa 1890-1978
PC 120

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Creator
Walter, Bill.
Title
Bill Walter Studio Photographs
ID
PC 120
Date [inclusive]
circa 1890-1978
Extent
39 Linear feet of shelf space, 39 Boxes
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
Collection of photographs from the Bill Walter Studio, Colfax, Washington. The bulk of the collection is safety film negatives, but it also contains many photographs, some oversize and panoramic.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Bill Walter Studio Photographs, circa 1890-1978 (PC 120)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Return to Top »


Biography/History

Bill Walter was born on November 4, 1915 in Pullman, WA. He lived in a number of locations in Washington State, graduating from Ballard High School in Seattle. He attended the State College of Washington shortly before World War II, where he met and married Mary Sands. Mr. Walter joined the National Guard in 1940, and was assigned to one of the first units to be nationalized.

In the National Guard, he served in the medical core, rising to the rank of Colonel by the time the war ended. After the war, he located his family in Colfax, Washington and started a sporting goods and photography business. As the years went by, he shifted more and more toward photography. On several occasions, he attended photography school in Winona, Indiana.

Mr. Walter advertised himself as the "Photography on the Palouse". Many of his photographs appeared in the local newspaper, the Colfax Gazette, and at one time a large display of his work was exhibited in Colfax City Hall. Mr. Walter retired in 1979 but continued his photography until the early 1990's. He passed away on November 15, 1999.

Return to Top »


Scope and Content

Collection of photographs from the Bill Walter Studio, Colfax, Washington. The bulk of the collection is safety film negatives, but it also contains many photographs, some oversize and panoramic.

Highlights of the collection include a glass plate negative of the former Colfax Courthouse (torn down in the 1950's), a plethora of images depicting Palouse agriculture, both early and early modern farm machinery, local businesses, and calamities such as the Oakesdale Grain Growers Elevator Fire in 1970 and the Colfax Floods of 1910 and 1948. Of a more regional interest are the Construction of the Boundary Dam for Seattle City Light Company in 1967 and the 12th World Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America held in Farragut State Park in 1967.

Return to Top »


Arrangement

The collection is arranged in 4 series, primarily by format. Where possible, the original order used by Mr. Walter is preserved. The major exceptions to this are Series 1, Photograph Subject Files and Series 2, Photograph Negative Subject Files. These two series reflect a subject arrangement designed to make the collection more easily accessible.

Series 1 contains photographs, mostly 8x10, depicting various scenes and subjects, mostly of regional interest.

Series 2 is also a series of subject files, black and white, most of which are of a local history nature.

Series 3, almost entirely portraits of individuals, families, weddings, etc., forms the bulk of the collection.

Series 4 contains oversize photographs, panoramic photographs and some photographs that could not be identified by subject or place. Many of these photographs are copies made by Walter from other photographers.

Return to Top »


Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2020

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 apply.

Acquisition Information

B. Oliver Walter donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 2000 (UPC-0014) and in 2020 (MS.2020.07). On Feb. 12, 2021, 15 photographs were gifted to MASC by the Whitman County Library, which had received them one month prior from Oliver Walter of Laramie, WY (who had acquired them while living in Colfax), and these were interfiled as folder 8 in box 1. The former folders 8 to 13 in that box were renumbered 9 to 14 at that time.

Return to Top »


Names and Subjects

Corporate Name(s)

Subject(s) :
  • Boundary Hydroelectric Project -- History -- Photographs.
  • St. Ignatius Hospital (Colfax, Wash.) -- History -- Photographs.

Geographic Name(s)

  • Colfax (Wash.) -- History -- Photographs.
  • Whitman County (Wash.) -- History -- Photographs.

Subject(s)

  • Wheat -- Harvesting -- History -- Photographs.
  • Steamboats -- History -- Photographs.
  • Floods -- Washington (State) -- Whitman County -- History -- Photographs.
  • Ranches -- Washington (State) -- Whitman County -- Photographs.
  • Washington (State)
  • Agriculture
  • City and Town Life
  • Photographs

Return to Top »


Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1: Photographs Subject Files, circa 1920-1978 

box folder

Early Colfax, circa 1900-1922 

1 1

Palouse Region Small Towns 

box folder

Early Elberton, Washington, undated 

1 2

St. John, Washington, undated 

1 2

Winona, Washington, undated 

1 2

Oakesdale, Washington, undated 

1 2

Moscow, Idaho, undated 

1 2

Potlatch, Idaho, undated 

1 2

Thornton, Washington, undated 

1 2

Boundary Dam Construction, 1967  28 photos and negatives

1 3

Boundary Dam Construction, 1967  44 photos, some duplicates

1 4

12th Boy Scout World Jamboree, Farragut State Park, Idaho 

1 5

Palouse Empire Fair: Exhibits, 1966 

1 6

Palouse Empire Fair: Rodeo, undated 

1 7

Protests in Colfax, likely Feb. 28, 1969 

1 8

Fire, Oakesdale Grain Growers Elevator, 1970  12 photos, includes negatives

1 9

Palouse Highway (US 195) Aerial Views, undated 

1 10

Tanker Truck Accident on the Palouse, undated 

1 11

Rock Creek Park (color photographs and negatives), 1976 

1 12

Central Ferry Barge Loading, circa 1973-1978 

1 13

Central Ferry Barge Loading, circa 1973-1978 

1 14

Return to Top »


Series 2: Photograph Negatives Subject Files, 1948-1988 

Agriculture 

box folder

Steiger Farm Cattle, undated 

2 1

Ensley Children and Cattle, undated 

2 2

Ensley Bull, 1952 

2 3

Immler (sp?), G., Cattle, undated 

2 4

Sauer, Horse Ranches and Harvest, 1961  5 color negatives

2 5

McGregor Ranch, 1958 

2 6

Harry Sandeen Farm, Harvest, 1953 

2 7

Mykelbust Ranch, Harvest, 1954 and 1955  22 photos (6 from 1955, 16 from 1954)

2 8

Oscar Steiger Farm, 1954 

2 9

Marlo Ochs Ranch, Harvest, 1954  11 photos (1954)

2 10

Dave White Ranch, 1955 

2 11

Townsend Harvest, 1954 

2 12

Heusle Ranch, Harvest, 1951 

2 13

R. Farr Ranch, 1959 

2 14

John Divine Ranch, 1953 

2 15

Russell Looney Ranch, 1953 

2 16

Colyar Ranch, 1969 

2 17

Jeffries Farm Harvest (Dean Upshaw), 1953 

2 18

Koenig Harvest, 1960 

2 19

Otto Camp Harvest, 1953, 1957  12 photographs (7 from 1953, 5 from 1957)

2 20

Del Flewring(sp?) Ranch, Harvest (Case farm machinery), undated 

2 21

Moore Farm, 1962 

2 22

Hensle Farm, Harvest, 1951 

2 23

Lloyd Och Ranch, 1952 

2 24

Other Miscellaneous Harvest Negatives 

2 25

Harvest and Harvest Machines (slides), circa 1920 

2 26

Palouse Region Events 

box folder

Colfax (Whitman County) Courthouse (glass plate), undated 

3 1

City view of Colfax, circa 1952 

3 2

Colfax Flood, 1948  40 photographs; roll film negatives

3 3

Elberton Flood, 1963">1963 

3 4

"Mud in Front of Studio", 1969 

3 5

"Negro Demonstration", 1965 

3 6

Palouse Empire Fair, 1951-1952 

3 7

Bill Walter Studio, fish and game catches, 1950-1951 

3 8

"Planting" fish (Palouse River?), 1951 

3 9

Fire, Endsley Flowers and Gifts, 1967 

3 10

Fire, Henry Building (Colfax?), 1958 

3 11

Palouse Countryside, Aerial and Ground Views, 1968; Macguire, 1968; Meyers, 1970  87 photographs (64 Palouse, 23 Meyers), 7 color negatives (Macguire)

3 12

Colfax Aerial Views, 1968 

3 13

Palouse Region Aviation, undated 

3 14

Palouse Region Small Towns: 

box folder

Eastern Wash. Natural Gas Co.-Map of Endicott, Washington, undated 

3 15

Garfield Elevator, undated 

3 15

Thornton panorama, 1954 

3 15

Palouse Region Churches/Church Buildings 

box folder

Colfax Lutheran Choir, undated 

3 16

St. John Lutheran Church, undated 

3 16

Endicott Adventist Church, 1959 

3 16

St. John Christian Church, 1953 

3 16

St. John Catholic Church, 1961 

3 16

Garfield Nazarene Church, 1954 

3 16

Ewan Nazarene Church, undated 

3 16

St. John Catholic Church, 1961 

3 16

Palouse Region Schools 

box folder

Joint Picnic, undated 

3 17

8th Grade Graduation (school unidentified), group photo, 1962 

3 17

5th Grade, St. John, 1963 

3 17

4th Grade, Endicott, 1956 

3 17

4th Grade, St. John, 1956 

3 17

3rd Grade, Palouse, 1956 

3 17

4th Grade, Oakesdale, 1956 

3 17

2nd Grade, Garfield, 1956 

3 17

1st Grade, Garfield, 1956 

3 17

2nd. Grade, Rosalia, 1956 

3 17

3rd Grade Field Trip, Endicott, 1961 

3 17

Palouse Region Businesses 

box folder

Swanson Spray Company, 1966 

3 18

Palouse Ammonia, 1952 

3 19

McGregor Chemical, Steptoe Pea Plant, 1965 

3 20

Rogers Bros. Seed Co, 1952 

3 21

Monsanto Co, 1962 

3 22

Richfield Oil Co/Brown and Holter (Pullman?), 1963 

3 23

R.A. Hanson Co., Palouse, WA, 1959 

3 24

"Les" Mills Aircraft, 1970 

3 25

LaCrosse Grain Growers, Dusty Elevator, circa 1988 

3 26

Colfax Businesses/Bldgs 

box folder

Russell Bartlett Trucking Co, 1970 

3 27

195 Café/ B.P.O.E, undated 

3 28

LaVerne Bakery, 1961 

3 29

Colfax Welding, 1959 

3 30

Colfax City Shop, 1961 

3 31

Gr. Grow Building, construction, 1959 

3 32

Stueckle-Franz Bldg, 1959 

3 33

Seattle 1st National Bank (includes negatives), 1956 

3 34

Brown and Holter (car dealership), opening, 1957 

3 35

Burgunder Bldg, 1953 

3 36

Disposal Plant, concreting, 1953 

3 37

Tom Gallagher Garage, 1958 

3 38

Wheatland Marina, Grand Opening, 1975 

3 39

Telephone Bldg construction, 1955 

3 40

Port of Whitman, Central Ferry Barge Loading, circa 1960s 

3 41

Port of Whitman, Central Ferry Elevator, circa 1960s 

3 42

Port of Whitman, Central Ferry, 1970 

3 43

Western Grain Exchange, Central Ferry, 1973 

3 44

Historic Structures/Buildings 

box folder

Old National Bank, Interior, 1955 

4 1

Elberton Bridge, 1969 

4 2

St. Ignatius Hospital and Catholic Chapel, 1960-1966  29 items; includes photographs

4 3

Whitman Hotel, 1977  4 color photos and negatives

4 4

Community Services Organizations 

box folder

Whitman County Sheriff and Crew, 1957-1964 

4 5

Colfax Police Dept, 1963, 1988 

4 6

Colfax Fire Dept, 1922, 1967-1969 

4 7

Pullman Fire Dept, 1967 

4 8

Port of Whitman, Lower Granite Lock and Dam Project Map, undated 

4 9

Helena Duncan Crime Scene, November 1969 

4 10

Miscellaneous Palouse Region Negatives 

box folder

Elks Style Show, 1974 (color negatives) 

4 11

State Class D Basketball Tournament (St. John vs. Davenport), 1962 St. John Basketball Team, 1966-1969 

4 12

Colfax Junior Miss (color photos and negatives), undated 

4 13

Whitman County Bar Assn, 1973 

4 14

Jenetta Morris, Easter Seals, 1960 

4 15

Ed Curtis poster on Post Office billboard, 1958 

4 16

Carol Steuckle, lentil products, 1967 

4 17

Washington Water Power-new truck with Ed Stone, 1954 

4 18

Pinski singing, 1949 

4 19

Baumiter (sp?) figurines, 1955 

4 20

Solar eclipse, 1960 

4 21

"New Hiway", 1956 

4 22

"Historical Society", 1973 

4 23

Empire Title Co., Pullman - College Hill Map, undated 

4 24

Return to Top »


Series 3: Portraits, 1950-1978 

box

Miscellaneous Portraits: weddings, "photos never picked up", portraits, 1950's-1961, C-L 

5

Miscellaneous Portraits, 1950's-1961, L-Z 

6

Miscellaneous Portraits, 1958-1961; more weddings, 1950-1961 

7

Miscellaneous Portraits, 1958-1961; servicemen's portraits 

8

Portraits, 1960-1961, A-M 

9

Portraits, 1962, A-R 

10

Portraits, 1962, R-Z; 1963 A-E 

11

Portraits, 1963, F-S 

12

Portraits, 1963, S-Z; Miscellaneous Portraits, 1960-1970 

13

Portraits, 1964, A-H 

14

Portraits, 1964, H-S 

15

Portraits, 1964, S-Z; 1965, A-K 

16

Portraits, 1965, K-Z; 1966, A 

17

Portraits, 1966, B-O 

18

Portraits, 1966, P-Z; 1967, A-H 

19

Portraits, 1967, H-Z; 1968, A-E 

20

Portraits, 1968, E-M 

21

Portraits, 1968, N-Z; 1969, A-D 

22

Portraits, 1969, D-W 

23

Portraits, 1970, A-S 

24

Portraits, 1970, S-Z; 1971, A-L 

25

Portraits, 1971, L-Z; 1972, A-C 

26

Portraits, 1972, D-M 

27

Portraits, 1972, M-Z; 1973, A-B 

28

Portraits, 1973, C-O 

29

Portraits, 1973, P-Z and miscellaneous photos 

30

Portraits, 1974, A-K 

31

Portraits, 1974, K-Z 

32

Portraits, 1975, A-U 

33

Portraits, 1975, V-Z; 1976, A-R 

34

Portraits, 1976, R-Z; 1977, A-H 

35

Portraits, 1977, H-Z; 1978, A-Z 

36

Return to Top »


Series 4: Oversize and Unidentified Photographs 

Miscellaneous Photographs 

box folder

Early Palouse Agriculture, undated 

37 1

Early Modern Palouse Agriculture, undated 

37 2

Colfax Flood, 1910 

37 3

Early Modern Colfax, undated 

37 4

Steamboats, undated 

37 5

Miscellaneous Identified 

box folder

Union Pacific Railroad (town unknown), undated 

37 6

Pupils of District 166, 1909 

37 6

Central Ferry, Barge Loading, undated 

37 6

Whitman County Bar Association, 1973 

37 6

Rev. Cushing Eels, undated 

37 6

Dr. W.A. Mitchell 

37 6

Spalding at Almota, undated 

37 6

Railroad being built in Lamont 

37 6

L.L. Druning and friends, undated 

37 6

Cashup Davis funeral, undated 

37 6

Deed to City of Colfax, 1874 

37 6

Portraits Unidentified 

37 6

Miscellaneous Unidentified 

37 6

1948 Flood 

37 7

Panoramic Photographs 

box

I.L. Moore Header, 1913 (Hutchison Photo, undated) 

38 o.s.

Central Ferry Bridge Celebration, 1924 (Hutchison Photo) 

38 o.s.

Diamond, Washington (Allen Photo Co., Walla Walla), undated 

38 o.s.

Diamond, Washington (Hutchison Photo, undated), undated 

38 o.s.

Steptoe, Washington, undated 

38 o.s.

Stueckle and Broekel Thresher (Hutchison Photo), 1913 

38 o.s.

Colfax, Washington, undated 

38 o.s.

Miscellaneous Unidentified Panoramic Photographs 

38 o.s.

Miscellaneous Photographs 

box folder

Palouse Agriculture 

39 1

“Near Rosalia Wash” 

39 2

Palouse People and Structures 

39 3

Landscape Photographs 

39 4

Return to Top »