Washington State Good Roads Association records

Washington State Good Roads Association records, 1883-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Washington State Good Roads Association
Title: Washington State Good Roads Association records
Dates: 1883-2005 (inclusive)
18832005
Quantity: 3.0 linear feet
Collection Number: XOE_CPNWS0074wagoodr
Summary: The collection includes the business records of the Washington State Good Roads Association.
Repository: Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions: The collection is open to the public.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Washington State Good Roads Association (WSGRA) was established in 1899 by Sam Hill to encourage development of an adequate and practical statewide highway system in Washington State. Sam Hill cultivated the support of non-profit civic groups interested in road-building and affiliated operations. The primary goal of the WSGRA was to establish a highway system created by the state legislature and operated under state management. The membership of WSGRA consisted mainly of county chapters representing local civic groups such as Chambers of Commerce and Granges. These local groups lobbied not only through WSGRA for the state-wide road network, but also in their local districts for improved road conditions. WSGRA was led by a president and was supported by an executive committee, consisting of one representative from each district. Districts were based on geographical divisions within the state. The yearly conferences involved delegates from the local organizations state-wide.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Washington State Good Roads Association Records document the activities of the Washington State Good Roads Association (WSGRA) along with the North End Improvement Council (NEIC). These records also have some material from the Kitsap County Good Roads Association and the North Olympic Chamber of Commerce. The dates of the collection span from 1910-2005 and comprise three linear feet (6 boxes). Records include early and subsequent by-laws of the WSGRA, articles of association, a history of the organization, materials from conventions attended and organized, minutes, agendas, rollcalls and other information of some of the executive and annual member meetings; membership lists and profiles; financial records reflecting collection of membership dues and convention planning and execution; correspondence regarding membership, legislative activity, lobbying efforts, and inter-organizational relations; activities information including newsletters, pamphlets, and lobbying; newspaper clippings referring to the organization or road building; and some undated photographs. The NEIC records include by-laws, meeting minutes and proceedings, bank statements and financial quarterly statements, and correspondence. There is also some correspondence from the Kitsap County Good Roads Association, some subject file records from the North Olympic Chamber of Commerce, and some pamphlets and statements from other Good Roads Associations across the country.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Washington State Good Roads Association records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Washington State Good Roads Association records are organized in accordance with the following series arrangement:

Series I: Washington State Good Roads Association (WSGRA), 1910-2005
- Sub-series 2. Financial Records, 1966-2005
- Sub-series 3. Correspondence, 1913-2005
- Sub-series 4. Activities, 1920-2003
- Sub-series 5. Clippings, 1917-2000
- Sub-series 6. Photos, undated
Series II: North End Improvement Council (NEIC) & Other Organizations, 1926-1980
- Sub-series 1. North End Improvement Council (NEIC), 1926-1960
- Sub-series 2. Kitsap County Good Roads Association, 1954-1960
- Sub-series 3. North Olympic Chamber of Commerce, 1956-1957
- Sub-series 4. Other Good Roads Associations, 1979-1980

Acquisition Information

Donated by Robert Teshara.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Washington State Good Roads Association (WSGRA), 1910-1987Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: Administrative Records	1910-2005
Box/Folder
1/1	Bylaws	1959-1980
1/2	Articles of Association	1995, 1999
1/3	History	1935-1987
1/4	A Brief History of WSGRA... Samuel Hill	1939
	Conventions
Box/Folder
1/5	Speeches, Reports	1948-1980
1/6	Pamphlet Programs	1938-1984
1/7	Yakima	1967
1/8	Vancouver	1980
1/9	Ellensburg	1981
1/10	Bellevue	1982
1/11	Olympia	1983
1/12	Tacoma	1990
1/13	Pasco	2000
1/14	Tacoma	2001
1/15	Spokane	2003
1/16	Proceedings	1910-1935 (incomplete)
1/17	Proceedings	1936-1948
2/1	Proceedings	1949-1957
2/2	Proceedings	1958-1970
2/3	Proceedings	1971-1972 1978-1987
	Meeting Materials
Box/Folder
2/4	Meetings	1955-1984
2/5	Meetings	1968
2/6	Meetings	1995-1998
2/7	Meetings	1999
2/8	Meetings	2000
2/9	Meetings	2001
3/1	Meetings	2002
3/2	Meetings	2003-2005
	Membership Information
Box/Folder
3/3	Membership Lists	1997-2000
3/4	Membership Lists	2002
3/5	Membership Profiles	2005
	Subseries 2: Financial Records	1966-2005
Box/Folder
3/6	Transactions Paid, Received, Expense Reports	1976-1977
3/7	Statements; Invoices, Transactions Paid and Received	1974-1977 1976-1977
3/8	Treasurer/Auditor Reports; Statements	1966-1976 1977
3/9	Transactions Paid and Received	1978
4/1	Statements	1978-1979
4/2	Check and Deposit Register	1978-1984
4/3	Invoices, Receipts, and Deposit Slips	1981-1982
4/4	Statements, Invoices, and Transactions	1980-1983
4/5	Reports, Invoices and Transactions	1995-2005
4/6	Transportation Partnership Funding Package	2005
	Subseries 3: Correspondence	1913-2005
Box/Folder
4/7	General	1913-1962
4/8	General	1965-1967
4/9	General	1975-1979
4/10	General	1980-1982
4/11	General	2003-2005
5/1	Received and Sent	1979-1981
5/2	Received and Sent	1981-1983
5/3	Sam Hill Bridge Dedication	1964
	Subseries 4: Activities	1998-2003; 1920-2003
Box/Folder
5/4	Newsletters	1998-2002
5/5	Centennial Celebration	1999
5/6	Lobby Information	1999-2001
5/7	Pamphlets	2000
5/8	Resolutions	undated
5/9	Legislative Breakfast	2003
5/10	General	1920-1930
	Subseries 5: Clippings	1917-2000
Box/Folder
5/11	Clippings	1917-2000
5/12	41st Session Washington State Legislature	1969
	Subseries 6: Photos	undated
Box/Folder
5/13	Photographs	undated

Series II: North End Improvement Council (NEIC) & Other Organizations,, 1926-1980Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Subseries 1: North End Improvement Council (NEIC)	1926-1960
	Administrative Records	1926-1958
Box/Folder
6/1	Journal of By-laws, Meetings, Finances,	1926-1942
6/2	By-laws	1928-1956
6/3	Meeting Minutes	1943-1955
6/4	Meeting Proceedings, Reports	1952-1957
6/5	Advisory Board Meeting Proceedings	1953-1958
	Financial Records	1955-1960
Box/Folder
6/6	Bank Statements and Ledgers	1955-1958
6/7	Kitsap County Road District #1 Quarter Reports	1956-1960
	Correspondence	1951-1959
Box/Folder
6/8	General	1951-1956
6/9	General	1957-1959
	Subseries 2: Kitsap County Good Roads Association	1954-1960
Box/Folder
6/10	Correspondence	1954-1960
	Subseries 3: North Olympic Chamber of Commerce	1956-1957
Box/Folder
6/11	Subject File	1956-1957
	Subseries 4: Other Good Roads Associations	1979-1980
Box/Folder
6/12	Pamphlets and Statements	1979-1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Boards of Trade--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
Highway planning--Washington (State)--Citizen participation--History--Sources.
Highway planning--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
Lobbying--Washington (State)--History--Sources.
Roads--Washington (State)--Design and Construction--History--Sources.
Transportation--Washington (State)--History--Sources.

Personal Names

Hill, Samuel,--1857-1931.

Corporate Names

Kitsap County Good Roads Association.
North End Improvement Council.
North Olympic Chambers of Commerce.
Washington State Good Roads Association

Geographical Names

Pacific Coast Highway--History--Sources.
United States Highway 99--History--Sources.
Washington (State)--Politics and government--History--Sources.

Archives West Finding Aid

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