Edward Baumeister Papers, 1890-1911

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Baumeister, Edward
Title
Edward Baumeister Papers
Dates
1890-1911 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 container., (.5 linear feet of shelf space.), (390 items.)
Collection Number
Cage 381
Summary
.5 ft. Summary Incoming correspondence concerning political, business, and personal matters. Correspondents include Governor S.G. Cosgrove, U.S. Representative F.W. Cushman, Washington State Bank Examiner J.L. Mohundro, and Lewiston merchant J.P. Vollmer.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Edward Baumeister was born in Saxe-Weimar, Germany on June 24, 1848. He and his family emigrated in 1854 and settled in New York City where he attended public schools. In April 1860 he and his brother, Maximilian Baumeister (1840-1909), moved to California and then, in 1863, to Walla Walla, Washington, where they worked for 19 years as barbers and then two years as real estate and insurance agents. Edward moved to Lewiston, Idaho in 1885 and worked for seven months at John P. Vollmer & Co., a general store. In the fall of 1885 he again moved, to nearby Asotin, Washington, where he built a general store just outside of the town. This later became the new location for the modern city of Asotin and the business center for Asotin County.

The general store also served some of the functions of a bank for the community and in 1900 Edward established the first bank in Asotin County. In 1908 he sold the general store, but retained the bank. Edward Baumeister has been called the father of Asotin and from 1901-1905 served as state senator for Asotin, Garfield, and Columbia Counties.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Edward Baumeister papers consist of incoming correspondence dating from September 28, 1890 through January 17, 1911, but also include newspaper clippings, published material, and other papers. The papers concern the political, business, and personal life of Edward Baumeister principally for the period between 1901 and 1905 when he served as state senator from Asotin, Garfield, and Columbia Counties. Principal correspondents include: Washington State Governor S.G. Cosgrove; U.S. Representative Francis W. Cushman; Washington State Bank Examiner J.L. Mohundro; mechanical engineer, Frederick Egner; Baumeister's banking partner, John P. Vollmer; and Baumeister's nephew, Emil Baumeister. Also included is the will of Maximilian Baumeister, Edward's brother.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 381, Edward Baumeister Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Baumeister arranged his correspondence alphabetically and this arrangement has been maintained; each alphabetic section has been arranged chronologically. Baumeister filed correspondence from Emil Baumeister under "M" and this arrangement has been retained. Maximilian Baumeister's will has been placed at the end of the collection.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Edward Baumeister of Asotin, Washington were donated to Washington State University Libraries by Mrs. Anona Staley Barnes, March 14, 1978. (78-6)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1 / 1
A.
14 items.
May 10, 1890-March 2, 1908
1 / 2
B.
21 items.
February 12, 1902-January 17, 1911
1 / 3
C.
46 items.
March 25, 1896-April 5, 1909
1 / 4
D.
8 items.
February 9, 1903-August 30, 1907
1 / 5
E.
68 items.
September 28, 1890-May 13, 1910
1 / 6
F.
6 items.
January 24, 1903-December 28, 1903
1 / 7
G-J.
11 items.
January 26, 1903-April 23, 1908
1 / 8
K.
9 items.
January 21, 1903-January 8, 1906
1 / 9
L.
19 items.
February 7, 1903-December 2, 1907
1 / 10
M.
36 items.
June 10, 1892-October 22, 1908
1 / 11
N.
8 items.
December 18, 1902-December 31, 1903
1 / 12
O-Q.
18 items.
July 31, 1901-March 14, 1908
1 / 13
R.
18 items.
February 5, 1900-June 11, 1907
1 / 14
S.
25 items.
February 3, 1903-February 7, 1908
1 / 15
T.
50 items.
November 22, 1902-March 26, 1908
1 / 16
U-V.
17 items.
December 30, 1902-November 26, 1907
1 / 17
W-Z.
14 items.
September 5, 1900-February 26, 1909

Will of Maximilian Baumeister, , July 17, 1909Return to Top

Container(s): Box-folder 1 / 18

1 item.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Banks and banking--Washington (State)--Asotin--Records and correspondence
  • Legislators -- Washington (State)--Correspondence
  • Washington (State). Governor (1909 : Cosgrove)

Personal Names

  • Baumeister, Edward, 1848- --Archives (creator)
  • Cosgrove, Samuel G., 1847-1909
  • Cushman, Francis W., 1867-1909
  • Mohundro, J. L., d. 1914
  • Vollmer, John P., 1847-1917