About This Collection

Whitman County Heritage is a project of Washington Rural Heritage, a collection of historically significant materials residing in libraries, heritage institutions, and private collections throughout Washington State. The collection includes photographs, documents, and artifacts which tell the stories of Washington's small and rural communities.

Whitman County 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.
• Roy M. 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 the Whitman County Heritage collection 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.

Coordinated By

Whitman County Library

(509) 397-4366

info@whitco.lib.wa.us

102 S. Main Street

Colfax, WA 99111-1863

Project Partners

Museums

• Guy Albion Historical Society Museum
• McCoy Valley Museum (Oakesdale, WA)
• Rosalia Battle Days Museum
• Rosalia Resource and Interpretive Center
• Roy Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum (Palouse, WA)
• St. John Museum
• Tekoa Museum

Clubs, Schools, and Organizations

• Artisans at the Dahmen Barn
• Athenaeum Club (Colfax, WA)
• Bank of Whitman (Columbia Bank)
• Bethel Cemetery
• Endicott School District
• McGregor Company
• Palouse Empire Fair
• Steptoe School
• Whitman County Historical Society
• Washington State University—Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
• Palouse Magazine
• Whitman County Gazette

Exhibit Partners

• McGregor Company
• Creative Image Photography
• Whitman County Preservation Funds

• Select All Collections