Fred C. Ashley Papers, 1941-1970

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Cage 294
Fred C. Ashley
Papers, 1941-1970

The Washington State University Library acquired the papers of Fred C. Ashley, real estate broker and appraiser, rancher, businessman and political figure of Spokane and Colville, Washington, as a gift from Mr. Ashley in 1970. The papers were processed by Lawrence R. Stark from November, 1970 - February, 1971. Literary rights in the unpublished writings and other properties in this collection are reserved by Washington State University Library. Further Fred C. Ashley papers are located in Cage 501.

Number of Containers: 21
Linear feet of shelf space occupied: 10.5
Approximate number of items: 6,000

BIOGRAPHY

Fred C. Ashley was born in Spokane in 1899. After his graduation from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, he was commissioned an U.S. Army balloon officer, but the war ended before he had an active assignment. After the end of World War I, he returned to Spokane and was employed by several firms in the automotive and insurance fields until 1938. In that year, he organized his own real estate business. In the 1950's he specialized in real estate appraisals and he and his associates became active in condemnation proceedings involving public works projects. Ashley ultimately became one of the leading figures in the appraisal profession and in recognition was elected to senior membership in the American Society of Appraisers, an organization of which he was regional governor from 1964 to 1968. As an adjunct to his real estate interests, he was a developer and builder of residential homes in Spokane during the early 1940's. He was also a rancher in the Colville area from 1946 to 1963.

Ashley entered politics as a Republican about 1940. He served in the Washington State Legislature as representative from Spokane County from 1942 to 1947. He sponsored the Teacher's Retirement System Law of 1947 and several pieces of aviation legislation. He also authored a wartime resolution commending the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. About 1948, Ashley became a Democrat, and from 1952 to 1958, he served as Stevens County Democratic Chairman. He was an organizer of the 1952 Adlai Stevenson campaign and a delegate to the 1956 Democratic National Convention. He ran unsuccessfully for the Washington State Senate in 1954 and 1958, and in 1960 was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Congressman representing the Fifth District of Washington.

Active in the public electric power movement in both Washington and Idaho, Ashley was for a time a member of the Bonneville Power Administration Advisory Committee. He received another important appointment in 1959 when he was made a member of the Washington State Advisory Board on Public Assistance, and remained a member until its dissolution in 1965. He also held appointment as Director of the Stevens County Civil Defense Unit for several years during the 1950's.

DESCRIPTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE PAPERS

The papers of Fred Ashley are concerned with his various activities from 1941 to 1970. Approximately one-half relates to real estate appraisals performed by Ashley, or his associate W. J. Carrothers, during the 1950's and 1960's. Although this material contains some private appraisals, much of it is concerned with public works projects, such as the John Day Dam, the Albeni Falls Dam and various highway construction projects. The appraisal papers, as well as certain real estate transaction records, have been retained in Ashley's working arrangement.

The collection also contains material relevant to real estate and appraisal organizations, especially the American Society of Appraisers. This portion of the collection has been arranged into chronological series. The remainder of the collection, also in chronological order, is made up of partial records of various business enterprises, personal papers and photographs, and political papers. Of the political and governmental papers, half relate to the Washington State Advisory Board on Public Assistance; the other half is concerned with electoral and legislative politics.

SERIES LIST

Series: Description                                  Containers
Series 1: Political and governmental papers           1-5
Series 2: Professional association papers             6-8
Series 3: Personal papers and photographs             8
Series 4: Business papers: miscellaneous              9
Series 5: Business papers: real estate                10-11
Series 6: Business papers: appraisal                  12-18
Series 7: Appraisal papers of W. J. Carrothers        19-21

CONTAINER LIST

Box Folder   Description

Series 1: Political and Governmental Papers.

Correspondence, 1942-1970. This sub-series contains personal political correspondence relative to the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Democratic Party, the National Democratic Convention of 1956, political appointments and expressions of opinion. Included is correspondence with Mon Walgren, Arthur B. Langlie, Albert Rosellini, Lon Johnson, Daniel Evans, Warren Magnuson, Henry Jackson, Tom Foley, Don Magnuson, Luke Wright, Adlai Stevenson, Averell Harriman, Stuart Symington, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey, and others.
1 1    1942-1944
2    1946-1951
3    1953-1957
4    1958
5    1959-1970
2 6 The "Palestine Resolution", 1944. Copies of House Joint Memorial No. 1, 1944 Session, letters of support for the resolution and printed material relative to the Palestine situation.
7 1947 Legislature Session Bills, with changes and revisions noted.
3 8 Stevens County Democratic Party, 1954-1962
9 Election returns and maps, 1950-1962
10 Democratic National Convention, 1956
11 Clippings and Pamphlets, 1954-1960
12 State-Senate Campaigns, 1954, 1958
13 Campaign for United States Congress, 1960
14 Political Miscellaneous
State Advisory Board on Public Assistance. This sub-series contains correspondence with members of the Board and with officials of the Department of Public Assistance, reports of the Board, minutes of meetings and supplementary information collected for the Board's consideration.
4 15    1959-1960
16    1960
17    1961-1962
5 18    1963-1965
19    Reports, undated

Series 2: Professional Papers.

American Society of Appraisers, 1958-1969. Letters, printed materials, circulars and reports of the American Society of Appraiser's Northwest Regional Office, both before and during Ashley's tenure as Regional Governor. Also included is correspondence of the various local chapters that made up the regional unit.
6 20    Regional Office 1958-1961
21    Regional Office 1962
22    Regional Office 1963
7 23    Regional Office 1964
24    Regional Office 1965-1966
25    Regional Office 1967-1969
26    Billings Chapter, 1961-1964
27    Vancouver, B.C. Chapter, 1962-1964
28    Portland Chapter, 1962-1964
29    Seattle Chapter, 1961-1964
30    Spokane Chapter, 1963-1964
8 31 Real Estate Organizations. This group contains papers relative to the Spokane Realty Board, National Association of Realty Boards, Idaho Realty Board, National Association of Farm and Land Brokers, and the Spokane Real Estate Trader's Club, 1943-1967.
32 American Right-of-Way Association, 1959-1967

Series 3: Personal Papers and Photographs.

33 Personal papers, 1945-1965. This group contains some "random" papers relative to Ashley's insurance policies, charities, book clubs and activities. Included is material from the American Platform Association, a public speaking group, and the text of a speech on the mental health of financial executives. Also included are Ashley resumes and a short biographical sketch.
34 Photographs, 1943-1967. Portrait and photograph of Ashley, his family, and professional and political associates. Some identified. Included is a presentation portrait of Warren Magnuson.

Series 4: Business Papers, Miscellaneous.

9 35 Account books, balance sheets, and expense and income statements, 1943-1967 (not inclusive)
36 Taxation Reports, 1946-1959. Federal income tax reports, 1946-1961; Property tax reports, 1954-1964; Unemployment insurance tax, 1950-1959; Excise tax reports, 1954-1959.
37 Ranch, 1946-1967. Deeds, mortgages, cattle and stock, brand registrations, and other papers related to purchase and sale of ranch.
10 38 Idaho Water Power Corporation Charter, 1951
39 Northwest Farmer's Supply, 1950. Profit and loss statement, inventory, and photograph.
40 Bill's Shell Station, Addy, WA., 1956-1957. Bills, receipts, and legal papers.
41 Empire Building Company, 1944-1951 Correspondence, legal papers, financial records and corporate minutes.
42 Security Homes, Inc.; Rental Homes, Inc.; Hollywood Homes, Inc., 1942-1947. Taxation records, financial records.
43 Mining Investments, 1963-1965.

Series 5: Business Papers, Real Estate.

Correspondence, 1941-1962
11 44    1941-1946
45    1954
46    1961-1962
CONTAINER LIST AND DESCRIPTION
Real Estate papers, 1955-1962. Contracts, listings, sales agreements, earnest money agreements, correspondence.
47    Aa - Cl
48    Cm - Ly
49    McC - Wi

Series 6: Business Papers, Appraisal.

12 50 Correspondence, 1963-1967. Letters relative to securing contracts, bills for services and correspondence related to appraisals.
Appraisal Notes, papers and reports, 1961-1968
51    Aa - Car
52    Ce - Eastern Washington State College
13 53    Fo - General Services Administration
54    General Telephone - Hop
55    Hoq - Libby Dam
14 56    Los A - McG
57    Na - Ste
58    Washington State Highway Department
15 59    Washington State Highway Department
60    Washington State Highway Department
16 61    Washington State Highway Department - Yu
62-63    Comparable Sales Appraisals, 1961-1967
17 64-65    Appraisals in Spokane, 1962-1965
18 66    Appraisals in Spokane, 1966-1968
67    Miscellaneous appraisal papers, 1963-1964
68    Tribal Lands, Colville Reservation, 1964

Series 7: Papers of W.J. Carrothers

19 69 Correspondence, 1960-1962. Letters regarding appraisal contracts and bills for services.
Appraisal notes, papers, and reports, 1951-1962. Notes, reports, and maps relative to the John Day Dam, the Ice Harbor Dam, the Priest Rapids Dam, the Albeni Falls Dam, Bonneville Power Administration, the Kalispell and Cut Bank Air Force Station, and highway projects.
70-71    Washington State Highway Department, 1959-1962
   Federal Government (public works and military agencies)
20 72       1951-1958
73       1958
74       1959-1960
21 75       1960-1962
76    Montana Highway Department, 1960-1962

Box	Folder	Description

Series 1: Political and Governmental Papers.

		Correspondence, 1942-1970. This sub-series contains personal political correspondence relative to the Washington State Legislature, the Washington State Democratic Party, the National Democratic Convention of 1956, political appointments and expressions of opinion. Included is correspondence with Mon Walgren, Arthur B. Langlie, Albert Rosellini, Lon Johnson, Daniel Evans, Warren Magnuson, Henry Jackson, Tom Foley, Don Magnuson, Luke Wright, Adlai Stevenson, Averell Harriman, Stuart Symington, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Hubert H. Humphrey, and others.
1	1	1942-1944
	2	1946-1951
	3	1953-1957
	4	1958
	5	1959-1970
2	6	The "Palestine Resolution", 1944. Copies of House Joint Memorial No. 1, 1944 Session, letters of support for the resolution and printed material relative to the Palestine situation.
	7	1947 Legislature Session Bills, with changes and revisions noted.
3	8	Stevens County Democratic Party, 1954-1962
	9	Election returns and maps, 1950-1962
	10	Democratic National Convention, 1956
	11	Clippings and Pamphlets, 1954-1960
	12	State-Senate Campaigns, 1954, 1958
	13	Campaign for United States Congress, 1960
	14	Political Miscellaneous
		State Advisory Board on Public Assistance. This sub-series contains correspondence with members of the Board and with officials of the Department of Public Assistance, reports of the Board, minutes of meetings and supplementary information collected for the Board's consideration.
4	15	1959-1960
	16	1960
	17	1961-1962
5	18	1963-1965
	19	Reports, undated

Series 2: Professional Papers.

		American Society of Appraisers, 1958-1969. Letters, printed materials, circulars and reports of the American Society of Appraiser's Northwest Regional Office, both before and during Ashley's tenure as Regional Governor. Also included is correspondence of the various local chapters that made up the regional unit.
6	20	Regional Office 1958-1961
	21	Regional Office 1962
	22	Regional Office 1963
7	23	Regional Office 1964
	24	Regional Office 1965-1966
	25	Regional Office 1967-1969
	26	Billings Chapter, 1961-1964
	27	Vancouver, B.C. Chapter, 1962-1964
	28	Portland Chapter, 1962-1964
	29	Seattle Chapter, 1961-1964
	30	Spokane Chapter, 1963-1964
8	31	Real Estate Organizations. This group contains papers relative to the Spokane Realty Board, National Association of Realty Boards, Idaho Realty Board, National Association of Farm and Land Brokers, and the Spokane Real Estate Trader's Club, 1943-1967.
	32	American Right-of-Way Association, 1959-1967

Series 3: Personal Papers and Photographs.

	33	Personal papers, 1945-1965. This group contains some "random" papers relative to Ashley's insurance policies, charities, book clubs and activities. Included is material from the American Platform Association, a public speaking group, and the text of a speech on the mental health of financial executives. Also included are Ashley resumes and a short biographical sketch.
	34	Photographs, 1943-1967. Portrait and photograph of Ashley, his family, and professional and political associates. Some identified. Included is a presentation portrait of Warren Magnuson.

Series 4: Business Papers, Miscellaneous.

9	35	Account books, balance sheets, and expense and income statements, 1943-1967 (not inclusive)
	36	Taxation Reports, 1946-1959. Federal income tax reports, 1946-1961; Property tax reports, 1954-1964; Unemployment insurance tax, 1950-1959; Excise tax reports, 1954-1959.
	37	Ranch, 1946-1967. Deeds, mortgages, cattle and stock, brand registrations, and other papers related to purchase and sale of ranch.
10	38	Idaho Water Power Corporation Charter, 1951
	39	Northwest Farmer's Supply, 1950. Profit and loss statement, inventory, and photograph.
	40	Bill's Shell Station, Addy, WA., 1956-1957. Bills, receipts, and legal papers.
	41	Empire Building Company, 1944-1951 Correspondence, legal papers, financial records and corporate minutes.
	42	Security Homes, Inc.; Rental Homes, Inc.; Hollywood Homes, Inc., 1942-1947. Taxation records, financial records.
	43	Mining Investments, 1963-1965.

Series 5: Business Papers, Real Estate.

		Correspondence, 1941-1962
11	44	1941-1946
	45	1954
	46	1961-1962
		CONTAINER LIST AND DESCRIPTION
		Real Estate papers, 1955-1962. Contracts, listings, sales agreements, earnest money agreements, correspondence.
	47	Aa - Cl
	48	Cm - Ly
	49	McC - Wi

Series 6: Business Papers, Appraisal.

12	50	Correspondence, 1963-1967. Letters relative to securing contracts, bills for services and correspondence related to appraisals.
		Appraisal Notes, papers and reports, 1961-1968
	51	Aa - Car
	52	Ce - Eastern Washington State College
13	53	Fo - General Services Administration
	54	General Telephone - Hop
	55	Hoq - Libby Dam
14	56	Los A - McG
	57	Na - Ste
	58	Washington State Highway Department
15	59	Washington State Highway Department
	60	Washington State Highway Department
16	61	Washington State Highway Department - Yu
	62-63	Comparable Sales Appraisals, 1961-1967
17	64-65	Appraisals in Spokane, 1962-1965
18	66	Appraisals in Spokane, 1966-1968
	67	Miscellaneous appraisal papers, 1963-1964
	68	Tribal Lands, Colville Reservation, 1964

Series 7: Papers of W.J. Carrothers

19	69	Correspondence, 1960-1962. Letters regarding appraisal contracts and bills for services.
		Appraisal notes, papers, and reports, 1951-1962. Notes, reports, and maps relative to the John Day Dam, the Ice Harbor Dam, the Priest Rapids Dam, the Albeni Falls Dam, Bonneville Power Administration, the Kalispell and Cut Bank Air Force Station, and highway projects.
	70-71	Washington State Highway Department, 1959-1962
		Federal Government (public works and military agencies)
20	72	1951-1958
	73	1958
	74	1959-1960
21	75	1960-1962
	76	Montana Highway Department, 1960-1962