Elgin Victor Kuykendall Papers, 1892-1956

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Cage 59
Elgin Victor Kuykendall
Papers, 1892-1956

Number of Containers: 22
Linear Feet of Shelf Space: 11
Approximate Number of Items: 8,000

BIOGRAPHY

Elgin Victor Kuykendall was born at Oakland, Oregon in 1870 and spent his early years at Fort Simcoe, Washington, where his father, George Benson Kuykendall, was the Indian Agency physician. His family moved to Pomeroy, Washington in the 1880s, and there he finished school, briefly taught and studied law in the office of Samuel Cosgrove, later Governor of Washington. Kuykendall practiced law in Pomeroy from the 1890s until 1924 when he was appointed Superior Court Judge for Asotin, Garfield and columbia Counties. In the meantime he had held several elective posts in local government, had been twice elected to the State Senate (sessions of 1917 and 1919) and had served four years as the Chairman of the State Public Service Commission. His political career was generally associated with the progressive wing of the Republican Party. Following his appointment as Superior Court Judge he was reelected to the non-partisan position several times until his retirement in 1949.

In addition to his legal and political careers, Kuykendall as also involved with research in eastern Washington history and Indian lore. Following the inspiration of his father, who had been a local historian and genealogist, he wrote many articles on local history for the press, collected Indian legends and lore, particularly of the Nez Perce, managed the local pioneer association and eventually wrote a history of Southeastern Washington. Additionally, Kuykendall was active in historic preservation and memorial organizations such as the Whitman Memorial Association, the Lewis and Clark Memorial Association and the restoration efforts at Fort Simcoe. His interest in local history led to donate his father’s papers to the Washington State University Library in 1949; in turn, his heirs donated his papers shortly after his death in 1958.

DESCRIPTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE PAPERS

The papers of Elgin Victor Kuykendall consist of correspondence, business papers, deeds, contrasts, legal briefs, depositions, courtroom transcriptions, research notes, drafts, manuscripts and photographs relative to Kuykendall’s private and business affairs, his political activities, his position on the bench and his historical research projects. Aside from the considerable portion of the collection which deals with the history of Southeastern Washington, the subjects which most dominate the papers are the civil and criminal cases brought before the Superior Courts of Asotin, Garfield and Columbia Counties. Additionally, the general correspondence contains many references to Washington State politics, elections and public appointments in the 1930s and 1940s. The State Public Service Commission is also briefly documented.

The papers of E. V. Kuykendall are arranged in five series:

Series: Description Boxes

Series 1: Business Papers, ca. 1900-ca. 1956
Deeds contracts, bills, receipts, record books and other papers related to Kuykendall’s properties in Southeastern Washington and Central Oregon, to the Kuykendall-Start Company, the Kenwood Promotion Company, Kuykendall Bros., Kuykendall and Gose-Attorneys, and the Chloride Queen Mine. 1-2

Series 2: Judicial and legal papers, 1917-1957
Briefs, depositions, and other legal papers submitted to the Superior Court in various cases heard by Kuykendall, abbreviated transcripts of trials kept in Kuykendall’s handwriting on selected cases heard between 1927 and 1949, a folder of letters of national reaction to the 1931 Herbert Niccolls case, in which Kuykendall sentenced a 13 year old boy to life imprisonment, correspondence and documents concerning naturalization proceedings administered by Kuykendall’s court, and correspondence and documents relative to several cases in which Kuykendall served as attorney or executor-of-estate. 3-8

Series 3: Historical Writings and Speeches, ca. 1920-ca. 1955
Notes, drafts, manuscripts and printed copies of a number of historical and ethnological essays written by Kuykendall, including Historic Glimpses of Asotin County and Kuykendall’s memoirs, drafts of speeches on historical and public affairs and Kuykendall’s correspondence with various historic preservation associations. 9-11

Series 4: Personal and Political Papers (1892-1950)
Documents related to elections in Southeastern Washington, Kuykendall’s candidacy papers for judicial elections, Kuykendall’s certificates of bar admission, and licenses to practice, a series of diaries (1923-1945) an dnumberous photographs, some identified mostly of Kuykendall and his family, Southeastern Washington and early pictures of Pomeroy, Washington and its residents. 12-13

Series 5: General Correspondence, 1923-1951
The correspondence is complete for the years 1923-1924 and 1933-1945 and concerns the operations of the Court, personal matters and state politics. Correspondence include Clarence Martin, Arthur Langlie, Homer Bond, Knute Hill, Otis Halbert Holmes, Ernest O. Holland, George B. Kuykendall, and Jerome Kuykendall. This series also contains Kuykendall’s correspondence relating to the Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Pythias Lodge and the Sons of the American Revolution. 14-22

CONTAINER LIST

Box   Description No. of
Items

1 Deeds, contracts, leases, mortgages, releases, stock certificates, ca. 1900-1956 100

Taxes: federal income tax forms, property tax statements, ca. 1910-1956 200

Correspondence, bills and receipts, ca. 1930-1950 200

2 Insurance: policies and correspondence, ca. 1920-1956 100

Account books and stockholder registry books, 1909-1935 6

3 Briefs, depositions, motions re: Superior Court cases in Asotin, Benton, and Columbia Counties, 1917-1949 50

4 Briefs, depositions, motions re: Superior Court cases in Franklin, Garfield, King, Kittitas, Spokane, Walla Walla and Whitman Counties, 1924-1949 50

Judge Kuykendall's personal notes on court cases and trials:

5    1927-1935 9

6    1937-1945 9

7    1946-1949 4

Marriages, licenses and ceremony 15

Niccolls trial correspondence, 1931 50

Naturalization proceedings: correspondence and documents, 1927-1949 300

8 Practice legal practice, 1935-1955 300

State Bar Association and Superior Court Judges Association correspondence, 1934-1948 60

Testimony before Interstate Commerce Commission, 1938 1

9 Eighty years in the changing West: memoirs of E. V. Kuykendall (published 1954)
The story of Lieutenant Gaston and the Steptoe Expedition
Some forgotten heroes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
The son of the Howling Wolf: story of Chief Kamiaken
Myths and legends of the Indians
The eagle cave legend
The contribution of the American Indian of Democracy Christian Indians
Religion of the American Indians
The emotional and expressive side of the American Indian
Legends of the Klickitats
Timothy: a neglected hero
Discussion of the Nez Perce Ceremony of Koyit, the Spring Festival
Koyit; the Nez Perce Spring thanksgiving festival
Prince Jane
The Isle of the Dead
History of the Columbia Center and the France-Haven tragedy (with documents)

10 Historic glimpses of Aostin County, with supplement of myths, legends and curious beliefs of Indians of the Northwest, main text also containing legends of Indians pertaining to the particular regions discussed. (published 1955)
"Father" James Harvey Wilbur: his place in the history of the Northwest
Fort Simcoe: Former seat of the Yakima Indian Agency
Captain B.L.E. Bonneville in Eastern Oregon and Washington (with copies and transcripts of documents)
What we owe Robert Connell
Justice Brandeis
Report of the Historian (Garfield County Pioneer Association)
Observations of the landside election of 1946
Early history of the Pomeroy-Clarkston Road
On the opening of the Snake River Bridge
Remarks at the dedication of the new school building at Pomeroy

11 The wisdom of the ancients
Address to meeting of the judges
The British attitude toward the Italio-Ethiopian controversy
Statement submit... in relation to navigation on the Snake River
Speech given in Pullman, 1933
Regarding the General Strike-- an attempted revolution in Seattle, 1919
Our constitution
Evasion of Justice on the insanity plea
The Constitution of the United States
Speech to the Northwest Electrical Association, 1921
Governmental regulation of public service
Lincoln Day banquet, 1929
Early irrigation dreams
Citizenship and crime
Juvenile protection
Paroles and pardons
A confidential message to the judges
Speech on sex crimes
The Blackenstoes Show
Miscellaneous notes, quotes and transcripts of speeches
The guy from Syracuse: a drama in seven acts (published, n.d.)
Clippings of local history stories, by Kuykendall, C.S. Kingston, J.L. Ashbrook, and John White
Historical and biographical sketch of the Kuykendall Famile
Explanation of the operation of the Washington Department of Public Works (published 1923)

Spalding Memorial Association, correspondence, 1953-1954 8

Whitman Memorial Association, correspondence, 1950 35

Fort Simcoe Restoration, correspondence, 1953-1954 100

Lewis and Clark Memorial Association, correspondence, ca. 1925 15

Source Research Bureau, correspondence, 1925-1927 30

12 Elections, Garfield and Asotin County: returns, sample ballots, petitions, voter lists and campaign materials, 1920-1950 70

Candidacy papers for judicial elections, 1930-1940 25

Columbia Valley Association, correspondence, 1931-1934 10

Certificates, licenses, and other papers, 1870-1925 15

Souvenirs and mementos, ca. 1920-1940 50

13 Testimony of Jerome Kuykendall upon his nomination as Chairman of Federal Power Commission, 1953

Diaries, 1923-1953 30

Photographs (prints and negatives) of E. V. Kuykendall, the Kuykendall Family, southwestern Washington, Pomeroy, Samuel Cosgrove, 1892-1950 200

General Correspondence:

14    1923-1933 500

15    1933-1936 500

16    1936-1938 500

17    1938-1940 500

18    1940-1942 500

19    1942-1943 500

20    1944-1945 500

21 Sons of the American Revolution, correspondence, 1947-1951 200

Kiwanis Club, correspondence, 1935-1937 300

22 Knights of Pythias Lodge, correspondence, 1926-1945 400

Donor file, 1946-1960 15

History of Garfield County, by E. V. Kuykendall. 1955 (added 7/6/1983 by Barbara Kovarik Gahl) 1

Series: Description	Boxes
Series 1: Business Papers, ca. 1900-ca. 1956 Deeds contracts, bills, receipts, record books and other papers related to Kuykendall’s properties in Southeastern Washington and Central Oregon, to the Kuykendall-Start Company, the Kenwood Promotion Company, Kuykendall Bros., Kuykendall and Gose-Attorneys, and the Chloride Queen Mine.	1-2
Series 2: Judicial and legal papers, 1917-1957 Briefs, depositions, and other legal papers submitted to the Superior Court in various cases heard by Kuykendall, abbreviated transcripts of trials kept in Kuykendall’s handwriting on selected cases heard between 1927 and 1949, a folder of letters of national reaction to the 1931 Herbert Niccolls case, in which Kuykendall sentenced a 13 year old boy to life imprisonment, correspondence and documents concerning naturalization proceedings administered by Kuykendall’s court, and correspondence and documents relative to several cases in which Kuykendall served as attorney or executor-of-estate.	3-8
Series 3: Historical Writings and Speeches, ca. 1920-ca. 1955 Notes, drafts, manuscripts and printed copies of a number of historical and ethnological essays written by Kuykendall, including Historic Glimpses of Asotin County and Kuykendall’s memoirs, drafts of speeches on historical and public affairs and Kuykendall’s correspondence with various historic preservation associations.	9-11
Series 4: Personal and Political Papers (1892-1950) Documents related to elections in Southeastern Washington, Kuykendall’s candidacy papers for judicial elections, Kuykendall’s certificates of bar admission, and licenses to practice, a series of diaries (1923-1945) an dnumberous photographs, some identified mostly of Kuykendall and his family, Southeastern Washington and early pictures of Pomeroy, Washington and its residents.	12-13
Series 5: General Correspondence, 1923-1951 The correspondence is complete for the years 1923-1924 and 1933-1945 and concerns the operations of the Court, personal matters and state politics. Correspondence include Clarence Martin, Arthur Langlie, Homer Bond, Knute Hill, Otis Halbert Holmes, Ernest O. Holland, George B. Kuykendall, and Jerome Kuykendall. This series also contains Kuykendall’s correspondence relating to the Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Pythias Lodge and the Sons of the American Revolution.	14-22

Box	Description	No. of Items
1	Deeds, contracts, leases, mortgages, releases, stock certificates, ca. 1900-1956	100
	Taxes: federal income tax forms, property tax statements, ca. 1910-1956	200
	Correspondence, bills and receipts, ca. 1930-1950	200
2	Insurance: policies and correspondence, ca. 1920-1956	100
	Account books and stockholder registry books, 1909-1935	6
3	Briefs, depositions, motions re: Superior Court cases in Asotin, Benton, and Columbia Counties, 1917-1949	50
4	Briefs, depositions, motions re: Superior Court cases in Franklin, Garfield, King, Kittitas, Spokane, Walla Walla and Whitman Counties, 1924-1949	50
	Judge Kuykendall's personal notes on court cases and trials:
5	1927-1935	9
6	1937-1945	9
7	1946-1949	4
	Marriages, licenses and ceremony	15
	Niccolls trial correspondence, 1931	50
	Naturalization proceedings: correspondence and documents, 1927-1949	300
8	Practice legal practice, 1935-1955	300
	State Bar Association and Superior Court Judges Association correspondence, 1934-1948	60
	Testimony before Interstate Commerce Commission, 1938	1
9	Eighty years in the changing West: memoirs of E. V. Kuykendall (published 1954) The story of Lieutenant Gaston and the Steptoe Expedition Some forgotten heroes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition The son of the Howling Wolf: story of Chief Kamiaken Myths and legends of the Indians The eagle cave legend The contribution of the American Indian of Democracy Christian Indians Religion of the American Indians The emotional and expressive side of the American Indian Legends of the Klickitats Timothy: a neglected hero Discussion of the Nez Perce Ceremony of Koyit, the Spring Festival Koyit; the Nez Perce Spring thanksgiving festival Prince Jane The Isle of the Dead History of the Columbia Center and the France-Haven tragedy (with documents)
10	Historic glimpses of Aostin County, with supplement of myths, legends and curious beliefs of Indians of the Northwest, main text also containing legends of Indians pertaining to the particular regions discussed. (published 1955) "Father" James Harvey Wilbur: his place in the history of the Northwest Fort Simcoe: Former seat of the Yakima Indian Agency Captain B.L.E. Bonneville in Eastern Oregon and Washington (with copies and transcripts of documents) What we owe Robert Connell Justice Brandeis Report of the Historian (Garfield County Pioneer Association) Observations of the landside election of 1946 Early history of the Pomeroy-Clarkston Road On the opening of the Snake River Bridge Remarks at the dedication of the new school building at Pomeroy
11	The wisdom of the ancients Address to meeting of the judges The British attitude toward the Italio-Ethiopian controversy Statement submit... in relation to navigation on the Snake River Speech given in Pullman, 1933 Regarding the General Strike-- an attempted revolution in Seattle, 1919 Our constitution Evasion of Justice on the insanity plea The Constitution of the United States Speech to the Northwest Electrical Association, 1921 Governmental regulation of public service Lincoln Day banquet, 1929 Early irrigation dreams Citizenship and crime Juvenile protection Paroles and pardons A confidential message to the judges Speech on sex crimes The Blackenstoes Show Miscellaneous notes, quotes and transcripts of speeches The guy from Syracuse: a drama in seven acts (published, n.d.) Clippings of local history stories, by Kuykendall, C.S. Kingston, J.L. Ashbrook, and John White Historical and biographical sketch of the Kuykendall Famile Explanation of the operation of the Washington Department of Public Works (published 1923)
	Spalding Memorial Association, correspondence, 1953-1954	8
	Whitman Memorial Association, correspondence, 1950	35
	Fort Simcoe Restoration, correspondence, 1953-1954	100
	Lewis and Clark Memorial Association, correspondence, ca. 1925	15
	Source Research Bureau, correspondence, 1925-1927	30
12	Elections, Garfield and Asotin County: returns, sample ballots, petitions, voter lists and campaign materials, 1920-1950	70
	Candidacy papers for judicial elections, 1930-1940	25
	Columbia Valley Association, correspondence, 1931-1934	10
	Certificates, licenses, and other papers, 1870-1925	15
	Souvenirs and mementos, ca. 1920-1940	50
13	Testimony of Jerome Kuykendall upon his nomination as Chairman of Federal Power Commission, 1953
	Diaries, 1923-1953	30
	Photographs (prints and negatives) of E. V. Kuykendall, the Kuykendall Family, southwestern Washington, Pomeroy, Samuel Cosgrove, 1892-1950	200
	General Correspondence:
14	1923-1933	500
15	1933-1936	500
16	1936-1938	500
17	1938-1940	500
18	1940-1942	500
19	1942-1943	500
20	1944-1945	500
21	Sons of the American Revolution, correspondence, 1947-1951	200
	Kiwanis Club, correspondence, 1935-1937	300
22	Knights of Pythias Lodge, correspondence, 1926-1945	400
	Donor file, 1946-1960	15
	History of Garfield County, by E. V. Kuykendall. 1955 (added 7/6/1983 by Barbara Kovarik Gahl)	1