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.

Lena Harthill near Pullman, Washington, 1918 Lena Harthill crossing a creek near Pullman, Washington, in April 1918. Not...
08/31/2026

Lena Harthill near Pullman, Washington, 1918

Lena Harthill crossing a creek near Pullman, Washington, in April 1918. Note: For purposes of identification, married names are included if known, although they may not have been married at the time of the photo.

Ball, Lena Jane (née Harthill) 1890-1973;

Photo courtesy of John Tietz.

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

Harris Meat Market, Colfax, Washington, circa 1905 The Harris meat market was an early Colfax business located on the we...
08/22/2026

Harris Meat Market, Colfax, Washington, circa 1905

The Harris meat market was an early Colfax business located on the west side of the South 200 block of Main Street. It was just south of the Pasttime Theater located on the corner of Main and Canyon Streets. This building was later used by Bilger Studio. Photo courtesy of City of Colfax.

See more of our Markets collection here:
http://washingtonruralheritage.org/digital/collection/whitman/search/searchterm/Markets/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and

Blacksmith shop, Hooper, Washington, circa 1910 Hooper, Washington had a blacksmith shop first on the back side of the h...
08/19/2026

Blacksmith shop, Hooper, Washington, circa 1910

Hooper, Washington had a blacksmith shop first on the back side of the hardware store. Most recently it was located in the cinder block building across the park. "As a youngster, whenever my trike or anything else broke down, I'd holler 'Mr. Foster fix it', for I was confident that the blacksmith could fix anything" Alex McGregor. Photo courtesy of Alex McGregor.

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

Methodist Church adult and junior choirs, LaCrosse, Washington, 1954 The adult and junior choir members of the Community...
08/15/2026

Methodist Church adult and junior choirs, LaCrosse, Washington, 1954

The adult and junior choir members of the Community Methodist Church in LaCrosse, Washington, on Easter Sunday, 1954. The adult choir director was Dorothly Langley (seated to the right of the pulpit), and the accompanist was Olive Osborne (seated at the end of the second row of the junior choir.)

Note: names read left to right, front to back, as subjects appear. None of the children's names are known.
_; _; _; _; _; _; _; _; _; _; _; _; _; Osborne, Olive; _; _; _; _; _; Langley, Dorothy; Smick, Mary; Miller, Evelyn; Ping, Neva; McWhirter, jean; Dorman, Jan; Herman, Greta; Langley, Margaret; _; Stueckle, Dick; Langley, Duane; Stueckle, Arnold; Washburn, Weldon; Stueckle, Rueben; Langley, Ken

Photo courtesy of Della Fleming

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

Elberton sawmill, Elberton, Washington, circa 1896 The sawmill in Elberton, Washington was built in 1886 and was steam p...
07/21/2026

Elberton sawmill, Elberton, Washington, circa 1896

The sawmill in Elberton, Washington was built in 1886 and was steam powered. The sawmill was owned and operated by S.M. Wait. The town of Elberton was first settled in the late 1870's by Giles D. Wilbur who was one of the first Whitman County Commissioners. S.M Wait however surveyed the town into lots in 1886 to sell them to the townspeople. Overtime it grew to have a population of about 500 people. The Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company had rail lines through Elberton. The town also had a post office from 1887-1958 and many other businesses. After the turn of the century, the town began to diminish. Businesses relocated and in 1966 the town was unincorporated. A few years later Whitman County, Washington acquired about 85 acres of the old town site with plans to develop it into a historical county park. Photo courtesy of Bill Walter Studio.

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

Moore family home, Oakesdale, Washington, 1894The Moore family home was located on the flat to the right entering Oakesd...
07/18/2026

Moore family home, Oakesdale, Washington, 1894

The Moore family home was located on the flat to the right entering Oakesdale, Washington from Belmont. James Issac Moore and Eldora Irene Harrison Moore are standing on the front porch with their five children. A cow, to the right of the porch, is also pictured. Wooden screen door, brick chimney and decorative trim can be seen. This photograph was taken in Oakesdale, Washington in 1894. Note: read names left to right as subjects appear. Photo courtesy of L.W. and Elsie Moore McFarland.

Moore, Goldie; Moore, Eldora Irene (née Harrison); Moore, Charles Parker "C.P.","Charlie"; Moore, Henry; Moore, David Burson, "Bert", 1886-1961; Moore, James Edwin "Ed", 1883-1957; Moore, James Isacc;

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

Address

102 S Main Street
Colfax, WA
99111

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