History of Whitman County - Whitman Heritage Digital Collections

History of Whitman County - Whitman Heritage Digital Collections The collection includes photographs, documents, and artifacts which tell the stories of Washington's small and rural communities. Roy M.

Whitman Heritage Digital Collections is a project of the Whitman County Rural Library District to preserve the history of Whitman County through this digital photo collection. About This Collection

Whitman Heritage Digital Collections is a project of Washington Rural Heritage, a collection of historically significant materials residing in libraries, heritage institutions, and private collections

throughout Washington State. Whitman Heritage is coordinated by the Whitman County Library (Colfax, WA), which works with local heritage organizations to digitize and provide enhanced access to historically significant materials documenting the history of Whitman County and communities throughout Eastern Washington's Palouse Region. In addition to working with institutional partners, Whitman County Library is committed to uncovering the wealth of unique historical materials residing in the private family collections of the communities within its service area. To view materials held in the private collections of more than 100 Whitman County residents, click here. To learn more about how you can contribute your historical materials to this community based digitization project, please contact the Whitman County Library. Sub-collections

Battle Days Museum Collection : This museum houses many artifacts from the Rosalia, Washington area, including reproduction photos of historical value. Guy Albion Historical Society, Dee Harrison Museum Collection: Among the variety of items on display in this museum is an impressive array of historical photos including early aerial views of Albion and of various community businesses over the years. Oakesdale Historical Society, McCoy Valley Museum Collection: Housed in the Oakesdale Community Center, this museum features numerous photographic collections organized by topic, documenting the early people, businesses, and events that shaped the history of this community. Palouse Empire Fair Collection: The photos selected for this collection are a small sampling of a larger photographic scrapbook collection documenting the history of this annual fair. Rosalia Visitors Resource and Interpretive Center Collection: This well-known landmark building was once a Texaco station. This history of the building, as well as other aspects of Rosalia, Washington are documented in the collection. Chatters Newspaper and Print Museum Collection: These photos, depicting a cross-section of the history of the Palouse, are taken from photographic scrapbooks and reproductions housed in the museum. Tekoa Museum Collection: The photographs in this collection are primarily taken from a photo album collection in the museum dating back to the early 1880s. Also included in the collection are larger items from the museum such as portrait drawings of residents, some town plat maps, and a series of images depicting Miss Irene Hoare. Whitman County Library History Collection: Early story time events and bookmobile operations are depicted in this scrapbook photograph collection documenting the history of the public library service in Whitman County, Washington. Washington State University Libraries—Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections: A selection of unique and rare photos from the extensive WSU archvies, representing various communities throughout Whitman County. Rights & Use

Many items from Whitman Heritage Digital Collections are under protection of copyright. Please contact the Whitman County Library for permission to use the items in this collection. By the use of these digital images and texts, users agree to the following:

Materials may not be used for any commercial purpose without prior written permission from the copyright holder and/or owning institution. The Washington State Library does not have authority to grant such permission; please contact the Whitman County Library. Materials may be used for purposes of research, teaching, and private study. You must contact the holding institution and/or copyright owner for permission related to other uses. Credit must be given to the contributing institutions (e.g., 'Photo courtesy of the Tekoa Museum and Whitman County Library.'; 'Photo courtesy of the Whitman County Library, from the private collection of John Smith.'). Materials may not be re-published in print or electronic form without prior written permission from the holding institution and/or copyright owner. Materials may not be mounted on an additional server for public use, or for use by a set of subscribers without written permission from the holding institution and/or copyright owner. View the Washington Rural Heritage Rights & Use Statement for additional information. Whitman County Library

The Whitman County Library operates out of 14 branches throughout Whitman County, Washington. It is the community's #1 resource for information, recreation, and discovery. Visit the Whitman County Library's website for more information.

Lindsey Cooper Staley's sixth birthday party, Pullman, Washington, 1912 Friends of Lindsey Cooper Staley attended a part...
06/12/2026

Lindsey Cooper Staley's sixth birthday party, Pullman, Washington, 1912

Friends of Lindsey Cooper Staley attended a party for Lindsey's sixth birthday at the family home in Pullman, Washington. Lindsey is standing next to a collie on the far right. Note: other children are unidentified. Staley, Lindsey Cooper, 1906-1964. Photo courtesy of Staley Museum.

See more of our Party collection here:
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whitman/search/searchterm/Parties/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and

St. John's Academy, Colfax, Washington, circa 1940 Postcard of St. John's Academy on south Main Street in Colfax, Washin...
06/09/2026

St. John's Academy, Colfax, Washington, circa 1940

Postcard of St. John's Academy on south Main Street in Colfax, Washington. St. John's Academy opened on June 6, 1915 but was blessed on October 4, 1915. It was operated both as a grade school and a high school by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. In 1927 the high school was discontinued due to decreasing enrollment and the need for teachers in the other schools. In June 1938 the Charity Sisters bought the academy for a nursing school and nurses quarters. It was still used as a grade school. The Parish purchased the Academy building from the Sisters of Charity of Providence in 1954. The Sisters continued to staff the eight grades of school. During the summer of 1959 the old church was demolished to make way for a new church. The furnishings of the church were moved to the auditorium at St. John’s academy which served as a chapel during the construction of the new church. In 1962 extensive repairs were made on the building after which it became the home for sixty-one Cuban refugee children brought here during the Cuban uprising. The academy was closed in 1966 due to rising costs and decreasing enrollment. The building continued to be used as a parish hall. The steeple of St. Patrick's Church can be seen in upper right background behind academy. Photo courtesy of Sandy Jackson.

See our collection of Educational Facilities here:
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whitman/search/searchterm/Educational%20facilities/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and

Palouse Brewing Company, Palouse, Washington, circa 1905-1909 The brick building was the bottling building. It still sta...
05/31/2026

Palouse Brewing Company, Palouse, Washington, circa 1905-1909

The brick building was the bottling building. It still stands across from Bagott Motors. It operated from 1905 until the city voted itself dry in 1910. Note the blur of a pig running in front of the man at the right. Photo courtesy of Bob West.

See more of our Brewing Industry collection here:
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whitman/search/searchterm/Brewing%20industry/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and

Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co, farming demonstration train, Farmington, Washington, 1910Many of the Farmington communi...
05/28/2026

Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co, farming demonstration train, Farmington, Washington, 1910

Many of the Farmington community and area residents came to the railroad yard to see the various demonstrations provided by the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Farming Demonstration Train. "In 1909 and 1910, railroad companies sent farming demonstration trains on tour to promote improved agricultural practices, in an effort to ensure and improve reliable freight business between farmlands and marketplaces. Crowds greeted the trains at depots and looked at a variety of exhibits in the cars, including a poultry exhibit stocked with nesting fowls. Professors and scientists traveled with the trains, giving agricultural lessons at each stop. Railroad employees also worked with farm bureaus and other organizations to conduct soil surveys, establish production standards, and develop irrigation districts."-- Text courtesy of Kathy Tucker, Oregon History Project 2002 Oregon Historical Society. Photo courtesy of Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, WSU libraries,

Follow the link to access this photo and our zoom feature!
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whitman/id/2904/rec/3522

Maria Moore McGuire and Laura Della McGuire Baldwin, Thornton, Washington, circa 1890 Postcard photo of Maria (née Moore...
05/22/2026

Maria Moore McGuire and Laura Della McGuire Baldwin, Thornton, Washington, circa 1890

Postcard photo of Maria (née Moore) McGuire and her daughter Laura Della (née McGuire) Baldwin. Maria was the mother of area pioneer George Henry McGuire who settled in the Cashup and Thornton area of Whitman County, Washington. Maria told her family of her hardships coming west. Her family made a strenuous journey from Toronto, Canada, to Buffalo, New York, then across the plains by ox team to Oregon in 1852. She married Joseph McGuire in 1853 on Boon's Island at Salem, Oregon. Clergyman, Mr. Boone, a Methodist minister officiated at the wedding. The Oregon Territorial Legislature was in session in a small wooden building next door to his home so he invited them to witness the ceremony. The legislative session declared a recess and the members attended in a body. Her obituary indicated that Mrs. McGuire left the following sons and daughters: Walter Bonapart McGuire, and Laura Della Baldwin of Hood River; Homer Clark McGuire of Chesaw, Washington; George Henry McGuire of Colfax, Washington; Arthur Baker McGuire and Charles Crawford McGuire of Spokane, Washington; Grant Ulysses McGuire of Woodburn; Clara Delila Wohlschegel of Laurel; Anna Belle Lewis of Zion City, Illinois; Emma Francis Ward of California died previously in 1902 and Henry Clay McGuire of Salem, Oregon died previously in 1917. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Snider Bennett.

Note: names read as subjects appear, left to right:
Baldwin, Laura Della (née McGuire), 1867-1952; McGuire, Maria (née Moore), 1832-1919

See more of our postcard collection here:
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whitman/search/searchterm/Postcards/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and

The Rural Heritage website is not functioning properly and technical support has been contacted. In the meantime, you ca...
05/19/2026

The Rural Heritage website is not functioning properly and technical support has been contacted. In the meantime, you can still access our collection by following this link:

Address

102 S Main Street
Colfax, WA
99111

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