Elon James Gilbert Papers, 1890-1977

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gilbert, Elon James
Title
Elon James Gilbert Papers
Dates
1890-1977 (inclusive)
Quantity
11 containers., (7 linear feet of shelf space.), (7300 items.)
Collection Number
Cage 454
Summary
Personal and business correspondence, financial records, photographs, and other papers relating to Richey and Gilbert Company, land subdivision, ranching and other ventures; includes some correspondence with William O. Douglas.
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

Elon James Gilbert was born at Genesco, Illinois, in 1897--one of seven children--to Horace M. and Marion Richey Gilbert. The Gilbert family moved to Yakima from Illinois in the late 1890s. There Gilbert developed a diversified series of businesses based in the fruit industry. The Gilberts soon became one of the prominent families in Yakima, figuring largely in both social and civic affairs. As a boy Elon Gilbert formed a close friendship with William O. Douglas, which he maintained throughout his life.

Gilbert received his B.A. from the University of Washington in 1920 and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1923. After his graduation from Harvard, he was given a position in one of his father's businesses--the Richey & Gilbert Company, a fruit brokerage house--and quickly became a successful businessman in his own right. The Gilberts were hit hard by the Great Depression, as were most growers in Yakima. By the time of Gilbert's death in 1934, the family business had acquired substantial debts. This was due in part to large investments in capital goods and commodities with little liquidity, e.g., orchards, equipment and warehouses. In these circumstances Elon and Curtis Gilbert set out to recover their losses. The Depression years were very difficult for the Gilbert brothers. When Curtis died in 1947 Elon became the principal owner of a still debt-plagued business.

During the mid and late 1950s, Gilbert began to sell and subdivide many of his orchard-land properties. During these years, he developed three subdivisions: Viewmont, Hilltop and the Uplands, all of which became part of Yakima proper. While in his early sixties, Gilbert invested in Charolais cattle, Arabian horse and Welsh ponies, and he settled into a life not unlike that of a country gentleman on his "Snow Mountain Ranch" on Cowychee Creek. His love for animals and for the outdoor life--shared with Justice Douglas -- continued up to the time of his death in 1978.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 454, Elon James Gilbert Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The records and papers of Elon J. Gilbert are arranged in four series: Financial, 1905-1977; Subject File, 1893-1977; Agriculture, 1890-1977; and Photographs and Slides, 1948-1969. Despite these divisions, all materials are somewhat interrelated. For example, the financial records and correspondence of the early years of the Gilbert family orchard business are included both in the Financial series and in the Agriculture series.

The Financial series, 1905-1977, has two major parts. The first consists largely of individual federal income tax returns of several members of the Gilbert family, all of whom were active in the family's orchard and fruit-related businesses. Tax documents include those prepared for: Curtis R. Gilbert (Elon's brother), 1935-1948; Elon J. Gilbert, 1935-1976; and Horace M. Gilbert (father of Elon Gilbert), 1908-1926. In addition, tax records of the Richey-Gilbert Company, a fruit brokerage house founded by Gilbert and later managed by Elon Gilbert, are included, covering the years 1905-1954. No other materials from Gilbert's various business ventures have been identified.

The Financial series also encompasses a subject file which contains business-related records (chiefly pertaining to concerns of Elon Gilbert) such as financial statements, credit ratings, disbursement and cash journals, insurance documents, property tax papers, and stock transaction records. All materials are in alphabetically arranged folders with subject headings. Materials are evenly distributed through the period from 1905 to 1977.

The Subject File series, 1893-1977, assembed as a unit by the processor, brings together loosely ordered materials. The series contains both personal papers and business records indirectly related to the Gilberts' businesses. The personal items include correspondence with various family members, items concerning family history and a group of William O. Douglas material, which includes newspaper clippings, correspondence and a fragmentary biography by Marian D. Irish. The business records are made up of job applications, general correspondence, court cases, employee records, maps and building plans. All folders are arranged alphabetically by subject headings. The bulk of the material dates from 1950 to 1977.

The Agricultural series, 1890-1977, is the largest series within the papers. It covers four catagories: cattle, horses, land, and subject file. The Cattle section is made up of advertising for Snow Mountain Ranch; artificial insemination information; breeding records; correspondence from various associations, individuals and customers; notes; pedigree certificates and veterinary treatment records. Principal correspondents are Perry and Howard Blackham and Maynard Veum. The Horse file contains advertising; breeding records; correspondence with various associations, individuals and customers; memberships; notes and sales records. The Land subseries is divided into three sections: leases, orchards and subdivisions. The lease file includes records of various leases of Indian lands which Gilbert used for grazing and orchard purposes, as well as deeds of Gilbert. Orchard material is made up of general correspondence and correspondence from several nurseries; newspaper clippings; notes; patents for fruit box labels; photographs of fruit; postcards depicting the prize-winning fruit display of Gilbert; Snow Mountain Orchard materials and Woods Industries materials. The Subdivision records pertain to three areas of orchard land near Yakima, where Gilbert developed three residential subdivisions--The Hilltop, Viewmont, and The Uplands--during the 1950s. The Hilltop material consists of brochures, correspondence, general files, and protective covenants. Viewmont materials include brochures, correspondence, general files, "Mrs. America Home" promotional materials, a purchase contract, percolation records, general promotional material, real property petitions, soil data and survey maps. The Uplands file contains an abstract-of-title and correspondence. Also included within the Agricultural series is a subject file containing agreements with various persons, articles on subdivisions, Department of Natural Resources correspondence, court cases, general files, grazing permits, improvements on and leases of the Gilbert ranch at Cowychee, Nob Hill Water Company stock and soil conservation information.

All folders in this last series are arranged alphabetically by subject, with the exception of the leases where the arrangement is numerical by allotment number. The bulk of the material is from 1950-1977.

The fourth series, Photographs and Slides, 1948-1969, was also assembled from dispersed materials. The majority of the photographs bear no labels and accordingly they are grouped by subjects. Included are phtographs and negative of a livestock show, cattle and horses, as well as Elon Gilbert and his home. The folders are arranged alphabetically and most material is undated.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Elon James Gilbert were donated to the Washington State University Libraries in June of 1979 (MS 79-24) by Mrs. Joan Gilbert.

Bibliography

For anecdotal information on the Gilbert family, see: Winfield Boyd, Recollections and Impressions. (Yakima: Published by the author, n.d.), pp. 51-55.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

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

Series 1: Financial, 1905-1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Curtis R. Gilbert:
Box Folder
1 1
Affidavit on the Estate of Curtis R. Gilbert
2 items.
1948
1 2
Financial Statement
1 item.
1947
1 3-15
Tax Records
315 items.
Elon J. Gilbert:
Box Folder
2 16-34
Tax Records
279 items.
1935-1976
Horace M. Gilbert:
Box Folder
3 35-43
Tax Records
90 items.
1911-1926
3 44
Check Stubs
35 items.
1919-1923
3 45
Promissary Notes
26 items.
1908-1921
Richey and Gilbert Company:
Tax Records:
Box Folder
4 46-57
251
1905-1920
5 58-69
239
1944-1954
Subject File:
Box Folder
6 70
Analytical Report of Credit Rating for Richey & Gilbert Company
1 item.
1955
6 71
Boyd
2 items.
1968
6 72
Constructive Balance Sheet - Elon J. and Curtis R. Gilbert
4 items.
1944; 1947
6 73
Correspondence - General
8 items.
1943-1963
6 74-75
Disbursement and Cash Journals
163 items.
1967-1974
6 76
Estimated Taxes
1 item.
1975
Financial Statements:
Box Folder
6 77
Elon J. and Joan S. Gilbert
9 items.
1944-1954
6 78
Horace M. Gilbert
2 items.
1927
Box Folder
6 79
Financial Statements, Audit Reports and Constructive Balance Sheets for Richey and Gilbert Company
30 items.
1935-1961
6 80
General File
5 items.
1959-1975
Insurance:
Box Folder
6 81
100
1926-1976
6 82
Policies and Claims
31 items.
1961-1975
Box Folder
6 83-85
Property Taxes
170 items.
1969-1976
6 86
Ranch Division - Balance Sheet Accounts, Real Estate Contracts and Notes Receivable
4 items.
1960
6 87
Sale of Richey and Gilbert Company to Marley Orchards
8 items.
1961
6 88
Seattle First National Bank Treasury Bill Purchases
16 items.
1969-1974
Stocks:
Box Folder
6 89
Certificates
13 items.
1907-1944
6 90
Certificates of the Women's Century Club of North Yakima
3 items.
1917-1937
6 91-93
Transactions by E. F. Hutton
384
1975-1977
6 94
Transfers
26 items.
1914-1969
Box Folder
6 95
Walston and Company
8 items.
1968-1969

Series 2: Subject File, 1893-1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Applicants:
Box Folder
6 96
For Housekeeper Job
12 items.
1975-1977
6 97
For Ranch Job
41 items.
1969-1971; 1976-1977
Correspondence:
Box Folder
6 98-99
General
66 items.
1928-1975
6 100
To Be Answered
17 items.
1966
Box Folder
6 101
Court Case
1 item.
1963
William O. Douglas:
Box Folder
6 102
Articles and Newspaper Clippings
30 items.
1950-1975
6 103
Biography
1 item.
1956
6 104
Correspondence
43 items.
1961-1976
Box Folder
6 105
Employees
6 items.
1962; 1965
Family:
Correspondence:
Box Folder
6 106
Luke and Pauline Benz
33 items.
1966-1975
6 107
Luke Benz financial reports
27 items.
1969-1973
6 108
Mercedes Eicholtz (Douglas)
13 items.
1963-1968; 1975
6 109
General
50 items.
1952,1975
6 110
Elon J. Gilbert
33 items.
1961-1975
Box Folder
6 111
Horace N. Gilbert
65 items.
1962-1976
6 112
History
24 items.
1893-1968
Box Folder
7 113
Fish and Waterfowl
9 items.
1963-1976
7 114
Foreman Bonus
4 items.
1970
7 115-118
General File
69 items.
1949-1976
7 119
Gold Hill Ski Club
7 items.
1950; 1960; 1966
7 120
Harvard Materials
4 items.
1919-1923
7 121
Maps - Various
4 items.
undated
7 122
Notebooks
23 items.
undated
7 123
Plans for Buildings
31 items.
undated
7 124
Retirement Plans
4 items.
1961-1962
7 125
Dr. Twiss
3 items.
1969-1970
7 126
University of Washington 50th Reunion of the Class of 1920
23 items.
1970

Series 3: Agriculture, 1890-1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Cattle:
Box Folder
7 127-128
Advertising
40 items.
1961-1977
7 129-130
Amiral
68 items.
1966-1972
7 131
Artificial Insemination
70 items.
1968-1976
7 132
Beef Short Course by Washington State University
1 item.
1974
7 133-135
Breeding Records
235 items.
1960-1977
7 136
Canadian Health Certificates
7 items.
1963-1964
Correspondence:
Box Folder
7 137
All West Breeders
17 items.
1970-1972
7 138
American International Charolais Association
18 items.
1970-1974
7 139
Tom Bangart
48 items.
1966-1971
7 140
Perry and Howard Blackham
100
1968-1975
7 141
Bill Campbell
3 items.
1970
7 142
Canadian Charolais Association
6 items.
1970-1974
7 143
Ron Christenson
23 items.
1972-1973
7 144
Customers
200
1966-1976
7 145
Tom Eggertson
35 items.
1968-1971
7 146
Ron Garrison
4 items.
1970
7 147-149
General
113
1962-1976
7 150
F. Warren George
25 items.
1973-1975
7 151
Tom Hazen
25 items.
1973-1975
7 152
LaCrosse Bull Testing Station
27 items.
1975
7 153
Art Link
10 items.
1968-1969
7 154
David Treat
9 items.
1970-1972
7 155
Maynard Veum
45 items.
1967-1970
8 156
Bruce West
10 items.
1969-1970
Box Folder
8 157
Cow Feeding
3 items.
1970
8 158
Keating Certificates
6 items.
1970-1973
8 159-160
Notes Concerning Cattle
130 items.
undated
8 161
Pedigree Certificates for Cattle
55 items.
1952-1972
8 162
Relco Livestock Services
6 items.
1974
8 163
Veterinary Treatment
7 items.
1969-1970
Horses:
Box Folder
8 164
Advertising
40 items.
1965-1976
8 165
Breeding Records
27 items.
1950; 1966-1976
Correspondence:
Box Folder
8 166
Ellis H. Call
12 items.
1964-1969
8 167
General
85 items.
1963-1978
8 168
International Arabian Horse Association
4 items.
1968-1970
8 169
Jack and Tish Nettleship
4 items.
1970-1971
8 170
Bud Noel
4 items.
1969
8 171
Samuel P. Thiessen
4 items.
1967-1969
8 172
Welsh Pony Society of America
14 items.
1963-1970
8 173
Wil-O-Mar Arabians
12 items.
1976
Box Folder
8 174
Memberships
3 items.
1968-1970
8 175
Notes Concerning Horses
100 items.
1964-1971
8 176
Welsh Pony Sales
4 items.
1969
Land:
Leases (by allotment number):
Box Folder
8 177
952 (Upriver 80)
16 items.
1946-1952
8 178
1188 and 2793
7 items.
1947
8 179
1697 (The West 40)
11 items.
1955-1957
8 180
1698 (Kay's 80)
9 items.
1957-1958
8 181
1774
20 items.
1955-1958
8 182-183
1858 (Gangle)
26 items.
1946-1950
8 184
1858 and 2793 (Alex Showaway/Henry Chasley/Philip John)
40 items.
1943-1949
8 185-187
2424 (Twin Bar Open-Molsee)
44 items.
1945-1957
8 188-189
2426 (Twin Bar Open-Molsee)
37 items.
1945-1957
8 190
2427 (Pete's 40)
135
1944-1960
8 191-192
2427 (Robert's 20)
63 items.
1945-1958
8 193-194
2429 (William's 80)
43 items.
1945-1953
8 195
2430
1 item.
1959
8 196-197
2432 (Hobb's Lease)
42 items.
1946-1954
8 198
2792 (Show 40)
26 items.
1948-1954
8 199
2793 (Showaway 60)
15 items.
1943-1956
8 200-201
3040 (Nedeff Leases)
75 items.
1946-1959
8 202-203
3554 (Twin Leaf Open)
71 items.
1947-1960
Box Folder
8 204
General Lease File (Yakima Indian Agency)
150 items.
1946-1954
8 205
Deeds of Horace M. Gilbert
2 items.
1897
Orchard:
Correspondence:
Box Folder
8 206
C & O Nursery
20 items.
1964-1976
8 207
General
42 items.
1948; 1960-1974
8 208
May Nursery
13 items.
1962-1969
8 209
Stark Brothers Nursery
40 items.
1960-1962
Box Folder
8 210
Newspaper Clippings
1 item.
1939
8 211
Notes Concerning Fruit
8 items.
undated
8 212
Patents for Fruit Box Labels
26 items.
1911-1967
8 213
Photographs
5 items.
undated
8 214
Postcards
3 items.
1909
8 215
Snow Mountain Orchard
5 items.
1960-1961
8 216
Woods Industries
18 items.
1960-1974
Subdivisions:
Hilltop:
Box Folder
9 217
Brochures
2 items.
undated
9 218-220
Correspondence
56 items.
1955-1975
9 221
General File
3 items.
undated
9 222
Protective Covenants
3 items.
1955
Viewmont:
Box Folder
9 223
Brochures
4 items.
undated
9 224-227
Correspondence
185
1956-1976
9 228-229
General File
7 items.
1956-1974
9 230
Lot 15, Block 1
8 items.
1956; 1973-1975
9 231
"Mrs. America" Give-away Promotion Home
80 items.
1958-1959
9 232
Offer of Purchase Contract
1 item.
1975
9 233-234
Percolation
48 items.
1956-1975
9 235
Plans and Materials
2 items.
1963
9 236
Promotional Material
9 items.
1957-1958
9 237
Real Property Petition
2 items.
1974
9 238
Septic Tank Requirements
2 items.
1959
9 239
Soil Data Reports
1 item.
1973
9 240
Survey Maps
7 items.
1956; 1972
Uplands:
Box Folder
9 241
Abstract of Title
1 item.
1890-1932
9 242
Correspondence
38 items.
1955-1961
Subject Files:
Agreements:
Box Folder
9 243
O. L. Dearing
5 items.
1943
9 244
Lloyd Hahn
5 items.
1964-1966
9 245
Joe Stenson
5 items.
1961-1969
Box Folder
9 246
Articles on Subdivisions
3 items.
1959
9 247
Christenson Lease
3 items.
1972
9 248
Correspondence, Department of Natural Resources
22 items.
1964; 1970-1971
Court Cases:
Box Folder
9 249
Christianson Case
3 items.
1973-1974
9 250
Powelson-Savaria Case
36 items.
1971-1976
Box Folder
9 251-253
General File
24 items.
1944-1976
9 254
Grazing Permits, Department of Natural Resources
22 items.
1958-1969
9 255
Improvements on Cowychee Creek Ranch (Three Bar)
3 items.
1958
9 256
Lease of Three Bar Ranch
50 items.
1969-1970
9 257-258
Nob Hill Water Company
70 items.
1959-1974
9 259
Permit for Shale Rock Quarry
4 items.
1973
9 260
Pipeline Construction
3 items.
1976
9 261
Proposed New Subdivisions
2 items.
1953
9 262
Sprinkler System
7 items.
1969-1970
9 263-264
Soil Conservation
21 items.
1968-1976
9 265
Weeds
4 items.
1963-1973
9 266
Wiley House
6 items.
1972-1973
9 267
Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District
18 items.
1961-1964

Series 4: Photographs and Slides, 1948-1969Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
9 268
Arizona National Livestock Show
1 item.
1960
9 269
Bull - Fuyard
15 items.
1967-1969
9 270-271
Cattle
300 items.
undated
9 272-273
Charolais
27 items.
1968-1969
9 274-275
Elon J. Gilbert
15 items.
undated; 1948; 1951
Horses:
Box Folder
9 276-278
400 items.
undated
10 279
80 items.
undated
10 280
Pedigree
15 items.
undated
10 281
Press Plate Negative
1 item.
undated
Box Folder
10 282
Orchards
35 items.
undated
10 283
Shawaway
4 items.
undated
10 284
Snow Mountain Ranch
12 items.
undated
10 285
Unidentified
12 items.
undated
10 286
Slides
50 items.
undated
11
Film Canisters
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Land subdivision--Washington (State)--Yakima
  • Orchards -- Washington (State)--Yakima County
  • Ranches -- Washington (State)--Yakima County

Personal Names

  • Douglas, William O. (William Orville), 1898-
  • Gilbert, Elon James, 1897-1978 --Archives (creator)
  • Gilbert, Joan Mrs. waps (donor)

Corporate Names

  • Richey and Gilbert Company