Western Washington University
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Building
808 25th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123
Phone: 360-650-7747
http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/cpnws/



Guide to the Stimpson Family papers, 1866-1998,


XOE0191Stimpson





Finding aid prepared by Megan Sibbert

Finding aid encoded by Joshua Zimmerman, 2007 May 23
Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Funding for encoding the finding aid was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Overview of the Collection

 
Repository Name:
 

Western Washington University
Center for Pacific Northwest Studies

Goltz-Murray Building
808 25th Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-9123
Phone: 360-650-7747
http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/cpnws/

 
Collection Number:
 

XOE0191Stimpson

 
Creator:
 

Stimpson Family

 
Title:
 

Stimpson Family papers

 
Dates:
 

1866-1998, (inclusive)
1920-1990 (bulk)

 
Quantity:
 

84 linear ft.

 
Languages:
 

Collection materials are in English. 

 
Summary:
 

The Stimpson Family Papers comprise the records of several generations of the Stimpson and Watts families. These two families have been influential members of the Bellingham community since the early 1900s. The records in the collection reflect their community involvement as well as the internal workings of the two families.

 

Historical Note

The Stimpson Family Papers document several generations of the Stimpson and Watts families and their activities in the Pacific Northwest. Both families made significant contributions to the community of Bellingham, Washington, during the twentieth century, notably in the areas of health care, education, and business.

Born in Northampton, England, Edward Whitmell Stimpson (1875-1960) emigrated to the United States with his parents, John Stimpson and Caroline (Whitmell) Stimpson, as an infant. The family lived in Chicago, western Minnesota, and North Dakota before settling finally in the Pacific Northwest. Edward W. Stimpson returned to the Midwest to attend medical school at the University of Minnesota where he earned his degree in 1903. After graduation, Edward returned to the region and established his first medical practice in Roslyn, Washington. In 1905, he married Mabel Keown, with whom he had two children, Edward Keown and Mabel. In 1909, following his first wife's death, Edward married his sister-in-law Edith Keown. Together, Edward, Edith and the children migrated to Bellingham, Washington, where he resumed his career as a physician in 1914. In 1938, Edward married his third wife Ella Harrison. Edward W. Stimpson died in Bellingham in 1960.

Arthur E. Watts, his wife Maud Belden Watts, and their young daughter Ruth, moved to Bellingham, Washington from Nashua, Iowa around 1905. After arriving in Bellingham, the Watts family grew to include three additional children, Catharine (Kitty), Elizabeth (Betty), and Arthur Jr. Arthur Watts Sr. began his career in Bellingham as a land agent for the Bellingham Bay Improvement Company, and later ran his own real estate and insurance business. Actively involved in civic affairs, Arthur was a founder and the first president of the influential Young Men's Commercial Club. Under Watts’ leadership, the club provided the funding to create Whatcom Falls Park in 1908. Arthur Watts Sr. died in 1930, and Maud died in 1950.

Edward K. Stimpson, the first son of Edward W. and Mabel (Keown) Stimpson, was born April 2, 1906. He arrived in Whatcom County with his parents at the age of seven. He graduated salutatorian from Whatcom High School in 1923, where he was student body president. He attended Reed College, Stanford University, and graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1933.

After completing an internship in New Haven, Connecticut, Edward returned to Bellingham, where he married his high school sweetheart, Catharine (Kitty) Watts, and became a partner in his father's medical practice. As a lifelong social activist in the Bellingham community, Edward served as campaign chairman for the American Red Cross in 1934, and as a board member from 1935 to 1948. He was an early proponent of local civil defense efforts and a lifelong advocate for public health and local hospitals. Edward served in the Army Air Corps in England and Russia during World War II, after which he was a strong supporter of the United Nations and United World Federalists. He was also a member of the boards for the YMCA and the United Good Neighbors. His community activities included involvement in the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, and several other recreational and service organizations.

Edward’s career in medicine led to an abiding interest in community health issues. He helped form the first full time district health department, was a member of the Board of Health in 1948, and medical chairman for St. Luke's Hospital Building Committee. He maintained professional affiliations with the Whatcom County Medical Society, the American Medical Association, was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and councilor of the Washington Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Edward was awarded the A.H. Robbins Community Service Award by the Washington State Medical Association in 1967. In 1967, St. Luke's Hospital named its new wing for Dr. Stimpson. Edward died in October, 1967 at the age of 61.

Born February 17, 1907, the second of four children to Arthur and Maud Belden Watts, Catharine C. "Kitty" (Watts) Stimpson was a lifelong resident of Bellingham, Washington. She graduated valedictorian from Whatcom High School in 1923, and attended Washington State Normal School (now Western Washington University) and the University of Washington, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English in 1929. After graduation from Washington State Normal School, Kitty worked briefly as a schoolteacher in Everson, Washington during the 1925-1926 school year. After her father's death in 1930, Kitty took over the Watts family real estate and insurance business.

After their marriage in 1933, Kitty and Edward raised seven children, Edward, Catharine, Mary, Susan, Jane, Caroline and John. Following the death of her husband in 1967, Kitty became a nationally recognized civic leader. She served on the boards of Whatcom Community College, St. Luke's Hospital, Fairhaven College Advisory Council, Mount Baker Theatre Committee, United Way, Opportunity Council, City Club, Allied Arts, City Center Development Authority, Planned Parenthood, Women's Political Caucus, North Puget Sound Comprehensive Health Planning Council and the American Hospital Association Regional Advisory Board. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Kitty to the National Council on Educational Research, the policy board for the National Institute of Education.

Kitty Stimpson received many awards for her public service, including the 1990 Living Treasure Award from the Bellingham Municipal Arts Commission, 1990 Citizen of the Year award from Whatcom County Association of Realtors, 1987 Woman of Distinction given by Soroptomists International of Bellingham. In May of 1998, she was honored with a sculpture, “Zoe Garden Wall,” in Big Rock Garden Park for her lifetime of service to the Bellingham community. Kitty died at the age of 91 on July 29, 1998.

Content Description

The Stimpson Family papers date from 1866 to 1998. However, the bulk of the papers date from 1920 to 1990. They comprise the records of several generations of the Stimpson and Watts families, both of whom have been influential members of the Bellingham community since the early 1900s. The records in the collection reflect their community involvement as well as the internal workings of these two prominent families.

The bulk of the material in the collection relates to Edward K. Stimpson and Catharine C. “Kitty” (Watts) Stimpson. The collection contains a large amount of correspondence between Stimpson family members, most notably between Kitty and Edward from the time of their courtship through Edward's military service in World War II. While correspondence makes up the largest part of the papers, there are other types of records as well. Numerous documents pertaining to Kitty's charitable and political activities throughout the years are represented in the papers, as are educational papers of both Edward and Kitty. Awards, plaques and honors individually given to both Edward and Kitty are also well-documented in the collection.

The Stimpson Family papers also contain material from Edward and Kitty's children: Edward, Catharine R. (Dotie Kate), Mary, Susan, Jane, Caroline, and John. Among the seven children, material pertaining to Catharine is the most abundant. These materials primarily deal with her educational documents from high school, junior high school as well as Bryn Mawr College.

There is also a small amount of material generated by other members of the Stimpson and Watts families current with the lives of Edward and Kitty as well as photographs and documents from the Stimpson and Watts families dating back to the 1830s.

Arrangement

The Stimpson Family papers are organized in accorndance with the following series arrangement.

  • Series I Edward K. and Kitty (Watts) Stimpson Family, 1908-1996
  • Series II Edward K. Stimpson, 1906-1983
  • Series III Catharine “Kitty” (Watts) Stimpson, 1914-1998
  • Series IV Catharine R. Stimpson (Dodie, Kate), 1941-1960
  • Series V Mary (Stimpson) Rivkin, 1951-1958
  • Series VI Edward Stimpson, 1952
  • Series VII Watts Family, 1881-1990
  • Series VIII Stimpson Family Ancestry, 1866-1990

Administrative Information

Custodial History 

The Stimpson Family Papers were donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies by Edward W. Stimpson, Catharine R. Stimpson, Mary S. Rivkin, Susan Trimingham, Jane Bremner, Caroline MacDonald, and John K. Stimpson after the death of their mother, Catharine “Kitty” Stimpson. The records, originally housed in the Stimpson home, were transferred to the Center over the summer of 1998.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

NOTE: The following research and publication restrictions apply to the collection at the request of the donors:

  • 1. The pre-1945 material is open to qualified researchers.
  • 2. The post-1945 material is closed until January 2012.
  • 3. All material relating to Arthur and Margaret Watts remains closed until after their deaths.
  • 4. All researchers must obtain permission from the family donor committee to quote from any of the materials until 2022.
  • 5. Access to the collection is limited to qualified researchers for the purpose of scholarship.
  • 6. Access to the collection for non-academic research must be approved by a committee of donors.

Preferred Citation 

Stimpson Family papers, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123

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.

 
Stimpson, Catharine C., 1907-1998.
Stimpson, Edward K., 1906- 1967.
Stimpson Family -- Correspondence -- Sources.
Stimpson Family.
Watt Family.
Saint Luke's General Hospital (Bellingham, Wash.) -- History -- Sources.
Whatcom Community College -- History -- Sources.
Civic leaders -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.
Community colleges -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- Administration -- History -- Sources.
Community health services -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- Administration -- History -- Sources.
Physicians -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.
Women -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
Women civic leaders -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.
Women in charitable work -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.
Women in community organization -- Washington (State) -- Whatcom County -- History -- Sources.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Correspondence -- Sources.
Bellingham (Wash.) -- History -- Sources.
Whatcom County (Wash.) -- History -- Sources.
Other Creators :
Stimpson, Catharine C., 1907-1998.
Stimpson, Edward K., 1906-1967.

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Series I:  Edward K. and Kitty (Watts) Stimpson Family, 1908-1996

 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
   
Subseries 1:  Biographical Materials
  1940-1958
 
box/folder
1/1


Marriage Certificate
  1933
 
1/2

Notebook titled “My Record of my Children” - RESTRICTED.
  1940-1958
   
Subseries 2:  Correspondence
  1927-1996
 
1/3-7/5

Correspondence from Edward to Kitty
  1927-1945
   
Correspondence from Kitty to Edward
  1927-1945
 
8/1-8/8

Correspondence from Kitty to Edward
  1927-1931
 
8/9

Correspondence from Kitty to Edward
  1940
 
8/10-15/5

Correspondence from Kitty to Edward
  1942 November-1945 July
 
15/6

Correspondence to Edward and Kitty regarding their wedding
  1933
   
Correspondence from children to family
  1954-1994
 
16/1-16/3

From Edward Watts to family and Kitty
  1964-1994
 
16/4-18/5

From Dodie (family nickname for Catharine R. Stimpson) to the family
  1954 September-1996
 
19/1

Correspondence from Mary to Kitty
  1980-1989
 
19/2

Correspondence from Mary and Steve to Kitty
  1990-1996
 
19/3

Correspondence from Jane and Susan: re: upcoming weddings,
  1965 April-May
 
19/4

Correspondence from Susan to Kitty
  1983 1989
 
19/5

Correspondence from Jane to Kitty
  1982, 1984
 
19/6

Correspondence from Caroline to Kitty
  1980-1989
 
19/7

Correspondence from John and Joyce to Kitty
  1980-1996
 
20/1-22/4

Correspondence from the family to Dodie (Catherine R.)
  1940-1960
 
23/1-23/2

Correspondence from Grandchildren to Kitty
  1980s-1990s
 
23/3-23/6

Correspondence from Mabel (Edward’s sister) to Kitty and Edward,
  1945 September-1963
 
24/1

Correspondence from Edward and Kitty to the children
  1942, 1949, 1954
 
24/2-24/3

Notes and Cards to Kitty and Edward on the birth of their children
  1934/1942
 
24/4

Notes and Cards from Edward to Kitty
  circa 1940s-1950s
 
24/5

Notes and Cards from the children to Edward
  circa 1940s-1950s
 
24/6

Notes and Cards from the children to Kitty
  circa 1940s-1950s
 
24/7

Notes and Cards-Sympathy cards and letters to Edward and Kitty on the death of Edward Whitmell Stimpson
  1960 April
 
24/8-24/9

Notes and Cards-Sympathy cards and letters to Kitty on the death of Edward
  1967 October
 
24/10

Notes and Cards-from bouquets on the death of Edward,
  1967 October
 
25/1-25/6

Notes and Cards-Sympathy cards and letters to Kitty on the death of Edward
  1967 October-1968 January
 
25/7

Memorial Donations made to the American Cancer Society
  1967 October
   
Subseries 3:  Photographs
  1908-1996
 
All of Subseries 3 is restricted until January 2012
 
oversized
26


Stimpson Family Portraits
  1931-1953
   
Stimpson Family Individual Portraits
  1930s-1970s
 
box/folder
27/1


Edward K.
  1941-1965, undated
 
27/2-27/3

Kitty
  circa 1908-1915, circa 1920s-1980s
 
27/4-27/5

Edward Watts
  1935-1950s circa 1980-1996
 
27/6-27/7

Catharine R. (Dodie)
  1937-1958, circa 1960s-1970s
 
27/8

Mary
  1938-1974
 
27/9

Susan
  1940-1950s
 
27/10

Jane
  1942-1950s
 
27/11

Caroline
  1947-1950s
 
27/12

John
  1950s
 
28/1

Stimpson family photo on metal plate
  1950s
 
28/2-28/3

Stimpson Family Snapshots
  1930s-1960s
 
28/4-28/5

Stimpson Family Negatives
  1930s-1940s
 
28/6

Family and Friends Negatives
  1960s-1980s
 
28/7

Kitty with Family and Friends
  1960s-1990s
 
28/8-28/10

Stimpson Family and Friends
  1940s-1990s, undated
 
28/11

Miscellaneous
  undated
   
Subseries 4:  Scrapbooks
  1941-1972
 
All of Subseries 4 is restricted until January 2012
   
Family Scrapbooks
  1941-1972
 
29/1

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
  1941
 
29/2

Family Scrapbooks
  1951-1959
 
29/3

Family Scrapbooks
  1960 Spring-1972 January
 
29/4

Family Scrapbooks
  1972 Fall
 
29/5

Family Scrapbooks
  circa 1950s
 
oversized
30


Family Scrapbooks
  1958-1967
   
Subseries 5:  Material about the Stimpson Children
  1960s-1990s
 
All of Subseries 5 is restricted until January 2012
 
box/folder
31/1


Edward
  circa 1960s-1990s
 
31/2

Lock of Catharine's hair
  undated
 
31/3-31/6

Catharine R. (Dodie)
  1970-1994
 
31/7

Mary (and her husband Steve Rivkin)
  circa 1980-1997
 
31/8

Susan
  circa 1980s-1990s
 
31/9

Jane
  1987, undated
 
31/10

Caroline
  1973, 1986
 
31/11

John's birth certificate
  1950
 
31/12

John
  circa 1980s
 
31/13

Articles and Announcements about Stimpson children,
  circa 1980s-1990s
   
Subseries 6:  Business and Financial
  1928-1970
 
32/1

Insurance Papers (property)
  1928-1967
 
32/2

Sale of Highland Dr property
  1969-1970
 
Folder 32/2 is restricted until January 2012
 
32/3

Bank Statements
  1933 November-1934 December
 
32/4-32/15

Bank Statements and Cancelled Checks
  1937 October-1944 December
 
33/1-33/13

Bank Statements and Cancelled Checks
  1945 January-1949 December
 
All of Box 33 is restricted until January 2012
 
34/1-34/10

Bank Statements and Cancelled Checks
  1950 January-1953 April
 
All of Box 34 is restricted until January 2012
 
35/1-35/10

Bank Statements and Cancelled Checks
  1953 May-1956 November
 
All of Box 35 is restricted until January 2012
   
Subseries 7:  Travel
  1963-1966, undated
 
All of Subseries 7 is restricted until January 2012
 
35/11

Journals
  1963 June-July, 1966 July
 
36/1

Wales
  1966
 
36/2

Shrewsbury, Chester, Oxford, Windsor, and Salisbury
  1966
 
36/3

London
  1966
 
36/4

Chichester
  1966
 
36/5

Lavenbaum
  1966
 
36/6

Dorer Castle, Rochester Castle, and Kentish Coast
  1966
 
36/7

Hastings
  1966
 
36/8

Arundel Castle, The Roman Villa at Bignor Sussex
  1966
 
36/9

Canterbury
  1966
 
36/10

Norwich Castle
  1966
 
36/11

Winchester, Dartmoor, Selworthy, and Bath
  1966
 
36/12

Travel Guides
  1963, 1966
 
36/13

Maps of Britain
  undated
   
Subseries 8:   Dreamhouse (never built)
  1950-1955
 
All of Subseries 8 is restricted until January 2012
 
36/15

Legal Papers, Bids, and Correspondence
  1950-1955
 
36/16

Contract
  1950
 
36/17

Specifications
  1950
 
36/18-36/23

Plans
  1950 undated
 
36/24

Renderings and Elevations
  undated
 
rolled/documents
1


Sketched plans for Dream House
  1950-1955
 
2-4

Architectural Drawings for Dream House
  1950-1955
 
5

Architectural Sketches
  undated

 

Series II:  Edward K. Stimpson (EKS),  1906-1967

 
Container(s)
Description
Dates
   
Subseries 1:  Biographical and Personal Materials
  1906-1967
 
box/folder
37/1


EKS Certificate of Baptism and EKS Birth Certificate
  1930, 1906
 
37/2

Passports
  1925, 1930
 
37/3

EKS Obituary, October and EKS Death Certificate
  1967, 1968
   
Subseries 2:   Correspondence
  1923-1966
 
37/4-39/4

EKS to his parents
  1923-1932 October
 
39/5

EWS (father) and Edith Stimpson to EKS
  1927
 
39/6-39/7

Edward W. Stimpson (father) to EKS
  1942-1945
 
40/1-40/2

Mabel (sister) to EKS
  1942-1945
 
40/3-40/4

Mrs. A. (Maud) Watts to EKS
  1942-1945
 
40/5-40/6

General-From EKS
  1926-1932
 
40/7

General-To EKS
  1927-1932
 
40/8-40/11

General-To EKS
  1942-1945 1949
 
40/12

General-Church Related
  1955-1956
 
Folder 40/12 is restricted until January 2012
 
41/1-41/2

Get Well Cards
  1963-1964
 
All Box 41 is restricted until January 2012
 
41/3

Get Well Cards that came with flower arrangements
  1963-1964
 
41/4

Get Well Cards
  1966 October
 
41/5

Get Well Letters
  1966
   
Subseries 3:   Education
  1923-1983
   
High School
  1918-1923
 
42/1

Attendance Certificate
  1918
 
42/2

Bellingham High School Diploma
  1923
 
42/3

Whatcom High School Graduation- News clippings, EKS
  undated
   
Salutatorian
  1923 June
 
42/4-42/6

Yearbooks- Whatcom High School, The Kulshan
  1922, 1923, 1925
 
42/7

Yearbooks-Fairhaven High School Aurora
  1925
 
42/8