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

Guide to the Town of Albion Records, 1896-1969


Cage 46





Finding aid prepared by Lawrence R. Stark

Finding aid encoded by Mark O'English, 2003
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

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
 
Collection Number:
 

Cage 46
 
Creator:
 

Albion, Washington
 
Title:
 

Town of Albion Records
 
Dates:
 

1896-1969 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

23 containers.
17.5 linear feet of shelf space.
92,600 items.
 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English 

 
Summary:
 

Public and administrative records of the municipal government of a small, farming-area community, including minutes, ordinances, resolutions, budgets, election records, routine government records, retired revenue bonds, receipts, claims, records of the municipal water system, and correspondence, primarily with C.C. Hockley, E.R. Hoffman, and the auditors from the Division of Municipal Corporations. Some materials are duplicate copies of official records.
 

Historical Note

Inhabitants of the Whitman County community of Albion first organized a local government when they incorporated as a "town", or fourth-class city in 1910. Prior to that time the settlement, known as Guy prior to 1901, had been under the jurisdiction of Whitman County, whose principal local agency had been a justice-of-the-peace court.

From about 1890 to the end of the first world war the town was a relatively prosperous agricultural/commercial community having several merchants, a bank and a collegiate academy. The town was incorporated against this background of prosperity and began a period of municipal activity, building sidewalks and installing a gas streetlighting system. During this period of vigorous public activity, the Town Clerk's office operated in an active, but careless, fashion and eventually corrupt activities were uncovered. Readjusting after the scandal, the town government retrenched nearly simultaneously with the decline in commercial prosperity. In the following years, municipal government became a routine and restricted affair. Not until the late 1930's did the character of town government begin to change. Offered several thousand dollars by the Federal Emergency Administration for Public Works, the voters of the town agreed to match funds and authorized the first sale of revenue bonds in the town's history. The proceeds from the grant and the securities sale constructed a public water distribution system, a facility which was to be the principal focus of municipal activity for many years following.

In the 1950's the population decline reversed and Albion again became a growing community, as a satellite community of Pullman, Washington. Becoming an almost purely residential area, now characterized by many new "suburban" houses mingled with mobile home courts, the town's government changed to meet an ever-increasing demand for public facilities. The town again sold bonds during the 1950's and 1960's to expand the water system. In the late 1960's, sewers and a water treatment plant were added. Revived interest in municipal government also appeared to be a new feature of Albion.

Content Description

The Records of the Town of Albion deposited at the Washington State University Library are comprised of the public records required by statute and the administrative records necessary for the operation of the town government. Several relocations of the records between 1910 and 1973 have brought about losses and destruction, and the present group is perhaps 50% of the original records. Among the extant papers are legislative records, such as council minutes, ordinances and resolutions; election records, such as registers of voters, poll books and ballots; routine government records, such as insurance policies, public notices and annual reports; financial records, including retired revenue bonds, receipts for town income and claims for payment; and town utility records, concerning the water department and street lighting. Correspondence relating to all facets of the town's activities can also be found among these records.

Arrangement

Arrangement of the records follows the organization of the town government. Series 1 contains the records of the actions of the Council and Mayor. Series 2 consists of the records of the Town Clerk, an appointed official who serves as Secretary to the Council, Town Auditor and general supervisor of Town Activities. Series 3 is records of the Town Treasurer, an elected official with rather rigidly circumscribed powers. This series also contains the claims for payment submitted for Council action. These are not properly a product of the Treasurer's office, but this practice has been employed as it permitted the discarding of cancelled warrants and other Treasurer's records which duplicate the information in the claims. Series 4 contains the records of the public utilities, the water department and street lighting. Series 5 includes records relating to all the above series, but segregated because the records are contained in large ledgers. Series 5 also contains the only records of the justice and police courts.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

The records of the Town of Albion, a fourth-class municipal corporation located in Whitman County, Washington, were transferred to the Washington State University Library by the town officials in April, 1973.

Processing Note 

This arrangement was constructed by the WSU library; the original arrangement of the records was much less formal, as smallness of Albion town government and the general familiarity with public affairs did not require an organized records procedure.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

This collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation 

[Item Description]. Cage 46, Town of Albion Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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.

 
Hockley, C. C.
Hoffman, E. R.
Albion (Wash.) --Archives (creator)
Washington (State). Division of Municipal Corporations
Washington (State)--Albion
Albion (Wash.) --Politics and government
Municipal government--Washington (State)--Albion--Records and correspondence

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Series 1: Council and Mayor
 
 
Container(s)
Description
 
box/folder
1 / 1

Minutes of Council Meetings ,  1949-1959
 
100 items.
 
1 / 2

Ordinances ,  1913-1963
 
50 items.
 


#1 Rules and order of Business of Town Council, 1913
 


#2 Election and appointment of city officials,  1913
 


#3 Assessment and collection of taxes , 1913
 


#4 Street and road taxes , 1913
 


#5 Dog Tax , 1913
 


#6 Licenses, 1913
 


#7 Health and sanitary regulations , 1913
 


#8 Street, alleys and watercourses; pavement , 1913
 


#9 Regulating livestock in town, 1913
 


#10 Crimes, misdemeanors and penalties, 1913
 


#11 Regulating material to be used in sidewalks , 1913
 


#12 Ordinance adopting first 11 ordinances , 1913
 


#13 Regulating staking of livestock in town , 1913
 


#14 Pool Halls and billiard rooms , 1913
 


#17 Selling city property and condemning sidewalks, 1913
 


#19 Telephone franchise, 1913
 


#20 Telephone franchise, 1913
 


#25 Licensing dance halls, 1916
 


#37 Abolishing office of Poundmaster, 1916
 


#38 Duties of police, 1917
 


#42 Regulating running at large of domestic fowl , undated
 


#47 Sale of water revenue bonds , 1938
 


#48 Establishing municipal water works, 1938
 


#49 Repealing #47 re: water system, 1938
 


#50 Fire Hydrant Fund, 1938
 


#51 Amending #48 re: water system, 1938
 


#52 Rules for water system users, 1946
 


#52 Prohibiting fireworks, 1950
 


#55 Water meter deposit, undated
 


#57 Use of water system and meter deposit, undated
 


#62 Water use rules, 1959
 


#63 Bonds for water storage tank , 1959
 


#64 Purchase of land for reservoir , undated
 
1 / 3

Resolutions,  1919-1958
 
25 items.
 


Vacating street , 1919
 


Telephone franchise assignment, 1929
 


Creating Street Fund , 1938
 


Water system election, 1938
 


Revising contract with W. L. Geist , 1938
 


Bids on water system construction, 1938
 


Resolutions and related documents required by PWA for funding of water system, 1938
 


Purchase of land, 1946
 


Liquor sale election , 1954
 


Street maintenance tax levy, 1958
 
1 / 4a

Correspondence re: council activities, 1937-1954
 
22 items.
 
1 / 4b

Petitions, 1912-1920
 
9 items.
 
2 / 5

Budgets, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1923, 1927-1930, 1932, 1934-1943, 1945, 1949-1952, 1956-1959, 1965
 
55 items.
 
2 / 6

Revenue bond issue., 1938
 
16 items.
 
2 / 7

Revenue bond issue., 1953
 
16 items.
 
2 / 8

Revenue bond issue., 1959
 
16 items.
 
2 / 9

Coupons from revenue bond issue., 1963
 
20 items.
 
2 / 10

Certificates, receipts, and notices re: revenue bonds., 1938-1963
 
11 items.
 
2 / 11

Contracts and related documents with Richard Taylor, Civil Engineer, Washington Water Power Company, Spray Brothers Drilling, United Brethren in Christ, R. A. Hanson Company. Plans, specifications, and contract documents for water system construction, constituting agreements with PWA and W. L. Geist. Plans and specifications for water reservoir., 1938-1958
 
25 items.
 

Series 2: Town Clerk
 
 
Container(s)
Description
 
box/folder
3 / 12

Ballots, for water bond election of 1938, Democratic Party primary, 1918, and general elections in 1919, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1927, [1935], 1940, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1964., 1918-1919, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1927, [1935], 1938, 1940, 1950, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1964
 
500 items.
 
3 / 13

Correspondence, notices of elections, election regulations, absentee ballots and regulations and material for holding elections., 1917-1960
 
270 items.
 
3 / 14

Certificates of election, resignations from office, oaths of office, loyalty oaths., 1910-1960
 
60 items.
 
4 / 15

Registry of voters, arranged alphabetically, Askins through Zerba., 1934-1951
 
200 items.
 
4 / 16

Lists of voters., 1916-1950
 
50 items.
 
4 / 17

Cancelled, transferred, absent voter and renewed registrations., 1916-1958
 
150 items.
 
5 / 18a

Poll books for primary and general elections held in 1910(2), 1911(2), 1912(9), 1913(2), 1914(8), 1916(7), 1918(2)3 1919(2),1920(2), 1922(2), 1924, 1925, 1927, 1932, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1944(2), 1946(2), 1950, 1964., 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1918, 1919,1920, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1932, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1946, 1950, 1964
 
61 items.
 
5 / l8b

Party platforms.,  1910-1914
 
3 items.
 
6 / 19

Surety bonds given by city officials and contractors, arranged alphabetically, Bidle through Wright., 1910-1960
 
50 items.
 
6 / 20

Fire and liability insurance policies., 1938-1956
 
33 items.
 
6 / 21

Correspondence and memoranda re: bonds and insurance., 1917-1958
 
40 items.
 
6 / 22

Deeds to town cemetery., 1918-1945
 
5 items.
 
6 / 23

Certificates, notices, advertisements for bids, permits, proclamations, re: water use, public property, water rights, etc., 1928-1961
 
50 items.
 
6 / 24

Survey reports, responses and related correspondence with State Department of Health, Division of Municipal Corporations, State Department of Highways, Association of Washington Cities, Washington State University, United States Senate, and Washington Water Power Co. concerning municipal activities and public services., 1935-1960
 
70 items.
 
6 / 25

United States Census Bureau, correspondence and reports., 1945-1960
 
50 items.
 
6 / 26

Water test reports., 1939-1958
 
13 items.
 
6 / 27

Subscription list for donations to water system construction., 1938
 
7 items.
   
Correspondence concerning water system funding and construction, chiefly with Federal Emergency Administration For Public Works and Contractors.
 
7 / 28

1935-1938
 
300 items.
 
7 / 29

1939
 
250 items.
   
Miscellaneous city correspondence with suppliers, State Department of Highways, civil defense officials, etc.
 
8 / 30

1910-1943
 
250 items.
 
8 / 31

1944-1969
 
150 items.
   
Annual Reports to Division of Municipal Corporations
 
9 / 32

1913-1916, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922-1923, 1925-1929
 
13 items.
 
9 / 33

1930-1931, 1933, 1935-1938, 1940-1945, 1947
 
14 items.
 
10 / 34

Special financial reports to Division of Municipal Corporations., 1953-56
 
4 items.
 
10 / 35

State Auditors' Examinations, including documents relative to 1918 investigation of misconduct of office by Town Clerk O.G. Lawler., 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1947.
 
30 items.
   
Miscellaneous financial records kept by Town Clerk
 
10 / 36

1910-1914
 
2
 


Receipts., 1914
 
30 items.
 


Payrolls., 1937-1941
 
3 items.
 
11 / 37a

1916-1917
 
2 items.
 
11 / 37b

1916-1917
 
200 items.
 

Series 3: Town Treasurer
 
 
Container(s)
Description
   
Claims for payment presented to Town Council
 
box/folder
12 / 38

1912
 
3 items.
 


1912
 
3 items.
 


1913
 
29 items.
 


1914
 
5 items.
 


1915
 
5 items.
 


1916
 
11 items.
 


1917
 
108 items.
 


1918
 
42 items.
 


1919
 
65 items.
 


1920
 
83 items.
 
12 / 39

1921
 
90 items.
 


1922
 
45 items.
 


1923
 
1 item.
 


1924
 
1 item.
 


1925
 
11 items.
 
12 / 40

1926
 
81 items.
 


1927
 
53 items.
 


1928
 
47 items.
 


1929
 
52 items.
 
12 / 41

1930
 
30 items.
 


1931
 
26 items.
 


1932
 
28 items.
 


1933
 
42 items.
 


1934
 
40 items.
 


1935
 
58 items.
 


1936
 
52 items.
 


1937
 
76 items.
 
13 / 42

1938
 
72 items.
 


1939
 
111 items.
 
13 / 43

1940
 
74 items.
 


1941
 
73 items.
 


1942
 
69 items.
 


1943
 
65 items.
 
13 / 44

1944
 
69 items.
 


1945
 
56 items.
 


1946
 
108 items.
 


1947
 
96 items.
 
13 / 45

1948
 
136 items.
 


1949
 
105 items.
 


1950
 
88 items.
 
13 / 46

1951
 
91 items.
 


1952
 
86 items.
 


1953
 
72 items.
 


1956
 
1 item.
 


1963
 
97 items.
 


1964
 
9 items.
   
Receipts
 
14 / 47

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