Guide to the Edward Baumeister Papers
1890-1911

Print this Finding Aid | Email this Finding Aid

Table of Contents
  Overview of the Collection
   
  Biographical Note
   
  Content Description
   
Use of the Collection
   
Administrative Information
   
Detailed Description of the Collection

 

Correspondence

 

Will of Maximilian Baumeister,

  Subjects

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

New Holland Library
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA
(509) 335-6691
http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/masc.htm

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

Biographical Note

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 Description

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 Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

This collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation :  

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

Administrative Information

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 Collection

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

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

^ Return to Top

Will of Maximilian Baumeister, , July 17, 1909
1 item.
Container(s)
box-folder
1 / 18

^ Return to Top

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

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

    ^ Return to Top

    Finding aid prepared by Patricia M. Gourd
    © 1979