Potlatch Lumber Company Records, 1890-1949

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Potlatch Lumber Company
Title
Potlatch Lumber Company Records
Dates
1890-1949 (inclusive)
Quantity
5 Cubic Feet
Collection Number
MG193 (collection)
Summary
Correspondence of Walter D. Humiston, assistant general manager and director of research; contracts, leases, deeds and conveyances, property tax records, and reports on timber cruises; also property tax and other records of the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These records of the Potlatch Lumber Company, of Potlatch, Idaho, span the years 1890 to 1949, with the bulk of the material covering the years 1901 to 1932.

The records include the correspondence of Walter D. Humiston, assistant general manager and director of research, several early contracts, leases, deeds and conveyances, property tax records and the results of numerous timber cruises. There are twelve folders of material from the Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Company as well as individual folders containing material relating to Potlatch subsidiaries such as the brick company, dairy ranch, and flour mill, as well as the incorporation of the town of Elk River.

In addition to this record group the University of Idaho library has several manuscript collections of Potlatch related material, including the records of Potlatch Lumber Company, 1901-1979 (MG 135, 111 cubic feet); and Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Company, 1903-1962 (MG 139, 65.5 cubic feet).

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Many of the items in this record group were in labeled folders or document envelopes when received; all headings were retained during processing. The series designation was determined by the storage method of the material, i.e. folders, document envelopes, or, as in the case of the timber cruises, wooden drawers.

The first series contains the correspondence of W.D. Humiston, much of whci concerns the work of the research department. The first thirteen folders were in individual file folders which were contained in a large accordion folder. The original order of the folders was maintained during processing. Folders 16 to 22 contain correspondence between Potlatch and G.J. Esselin concerning processes he was developing for Potlatch. There is some duplication of material in files 16 to 19, e.g. the original of a letter from Esselin will be in one folder, and a carbon in another. The remaining correspondence in this series concerns patents.

The second series contains other items originally foldered and includes reports, specifications for the Potlatch Mill, and a contract with the Wisconsin Log and Lumber Company, 1903.

A large portion of the material was contained in document envelopes. This material was identified by company, Potlatch Lumber Company, Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway, or other subsidiary. The material was then unfolded and placed in file folders which were then arranged alphabetically. Papers dealing with Potlatch subsidiaries, e.g. brick company, dairy ranch, etc., were arranged by company and placed at the beginning of the series. They are followed by the lumber company, and finally the railroad. Types of material include leases, deeds, rights of way, and property tax receipts and related correspondence. The final items in this series are abstracts of title.

The final series consists of timber cruise notes, or estimates of timber, in sections of Latah County. These take three forms, 5 x 8" cards, arranged by location; notebooks, identified by cruiser and also by number; and by 8 1/2 x 11" sheets of paper.

Acquisition Information

The records of the Potlatch Lumber Company were donated to the Latah County Historical Society which transferred them to the University of Idaho Library, where they complement other Potlatch material, in December 1986.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Walter D. Humiston Correspondence File , 1928-1939Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Alcohol, Vegalene motor fuel, gasoline energizer and by products
23 items
1928-1919
1/2
Pulpwood spools
11 items
1930
1/3
Densewood, correspondence with Alfred G. Olson
34 items
1930-1931
1/4
Instructions on the recording and compilation of experimental data and observations
2 items
1931
1/5
Miscellaneous correspondence, some related to research projects
98 items
1928-1932
1/6
Travel diary
1 item
1928
1/7
Wood flour
7 items
1930-1931
1/8
Research department correspondence
97 items
1929-1932
1/9
Hallowax Corporation
26 items
1931
1/10-11
Skinner, Sherman Esselin, research correspondence
193 items
1929-1930
1/12
Research department correspondence
67 items
1931-1932
1/13
Research department, Densewood
11 items
1931
1/14
Patents for future consideration: patents
142 items
1955-1928
1/15
Patents for future consideration: correspondence
21 items
1931
1/16-19
G.J. Esselin correspondence
208 items
1929-1931
1/20-22
G.J. Esselin patent applications for products developed for Potlatch
106 items
1931-1935
1/23-24
Reports by W.D. Humiston
55 items
1928-1939

Series II. Other Papers , 1893-1941Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/25
New moulding machine, correspondence and reports
42 items
1937-1941
2/26
Studies and proposals of Roland Johnson
20 items
1937-1940
2/27
Specifications for a saw mill...to be erected for Potlatch Lumber Co. Plans by W.A. Wilkinson
1 item
undated
2/28
Land title certificates
3 items
1893-1903
2/29
Contract: Wisconsin Log and Lumber Company with Potlatch Lumber Company
1 item
April 10, 1903

Series III. Papers from Document Envelopes , 1890-1949Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Potlatch Lumber Company
Box/Folder
2/37
Bunch property
17 items
1906-1923
2/38
Deeds and conveyances
52 items
1892-1909
2/39
Green, James R. vs. Potlatch Lumber Company
20 items
1909-1910
2/40
Insurance policies and claims
56 items
1917-1920
2/41-42
Leases
89 items
1906-1947
Individual Leases
Box/Folder
2/43
Continental Oil Company
14 items
1915-1926
2/44
Samuel Frei
9 items
1916-1931
2/45
H.H. Lea
15 items
1908
2/46
Moose Lodge
7 items
1946-1948
2/47
Potlatch Dairy Company
21 items
1922-1927
2/48
Potlatch Garage
32 items
1926-1947
2/49
Sawmill tract
7 items
1903-1910
2/50
Leases, correspondence concerning
44 items
1911-1945
2/51
Logging truck privileges
2 items
1949
2/52
Old Palouse records, old deeds and correspondence
39 items
1904-1931
2/53
Potlatch Story
1 item
September 1965
2/54
Palouse property, correspondence
25 items
1903-1908
2/55
Palouse River Lumber Company
6 items
1903-1908
2/56
Releases, old deeds, etc.
29 items
1901-1906
2/57
Rights of way
11 items
1922-1948
2/58
Taxes: Palouse property lists and matters pertaining to taxation and assessments
6 items
1908-1909
2/59
Taxes: Whitman County tax list
1 item
undated
2/60-62
Taxes: Whitman County, Washington
121 items
1896-1909
3/63-65
Taxes: Whitman County, Washington
98 items
1910-1919
3/66
Trespass cases
50 items
1908-1916
3/67
Vacating of Palouse lots
1 item
1922
3/68
Whitman County, miscellaneous papers
6 items
1890-1908
Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company
Box/Folder
3/69
Correspondence concerning cars
50 items
1905
3/70
Crossing agreements
24 items
1905-1918
3/71
Deeds from individuals to William Deary
23 items
1905
3/72
McGiffert Loading Machine
53 items
1905-1906
3/73
Miscellaneous papers
25 items
1905-1915
3/74
Princeton plat maps
3 items
undated
3/75
Rights of way
9 items
1906-1908
3/76-80
Taxes: Latah and Whitman County
242 items
1905-1919
3/81
Abstracts of title: correspondence
15 items
1903-1911
3/82-93
Abstracts of title
19 items
1898-1918
Box/Folder
2/30
Brick Company
26 items
1911-1917
2/31
Dairy Ranch sale
7 items
1927-1934
2/32
Elk River incorporation
9 items
1910-1911
2/33
Field notes from a land survey
3 items
undated
2/34
Flour Mill property
31 items
1903-1913
2/35
Homestead receipts
2 items
1901-1902
2/36
Potlatch Timber Protective Association. Grazing lease
1 item
1910

Series IV. Timber Estimates (Cruise Reports) , 1901-1906Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/94
Estimates on cards
1620 items
1901-1906
5/95-131
Estimate books 54-82
36 items
1903-1905
5/132-133
Estimate sheets
47 items
1901

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Land titles -- Idaho
  • Lumber trade -- Idaho -- Potlatch -- History -- Sources
  • Lumbering -- Idaho -- Potlatch -- History -- Sources
  • Tax assessment -- Idaho -- History -- Sources

Personal Names

  • Humiston, Walter D.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Potlatch Lumber Company
    • Washington, Idaho and Montana Railway Co.