From Treasure Room to Archives The McWhorter Papers and the State College of Washington trevor james bond n September 1944, Virgil Mc- cially since you state he has given to land’s successors kept the college’s Whorter visited the Yakima, Wash- you all of the material needed to com- promises to Lucullus V. McWhorter Iington, home of his ailing 84-year- plete this book.”4 McWhorter did not and his heirs, publishing the elder Mc- old father, Lucullus V. McWhorter. complete the manuscript before his Whorter’s lifework under the title Hear Surrounded by Indian bows, war clubs, death in October, and in 1945, Virgil Me, My Chiefs! in 1952 and completing and regalia, bundles of papers, and McWhorter and President Holland the processing of the collection in shelves jammed with books, the Ya- came to an agreement. The college 1959. In turn, these efforts pushed kima rancher, advocate for Indian would find someone to finish writing WSC to professionalize its curatorial rights, and collector put down the the history and then publish the work, oversight over its manuscript collec- magnifying glass he used to read and and the McWhorter family would do- tions, with the college moving the col- spoke with his son. Both men knew the nate to the college the remainder of lections from the Treasure Room, elder McWhorter did not have much Lucullus V. McWhorter’s Nez Perce where manuscripts and rare books time (he would die within a month). collection and library. were kept haphazardly, to a profession- They discussed McWhorter’s unfin- ally staffed archives repository. The ished lifework: a monumental volume After various setbacks, President Hol- challenges in publishing McWhorter’s of Nez Perce ethnography from an In- dian perspective that the elder man Lucullus V. McWhorter with his beloved collection in his Yakima home. (L. V. McWhorter called his “Field History.” The history Photograph Collection, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections [masc], Washing- was to center on the Nez Perce but ton State University [WSU] Libraries, Pullman) would include information that Mc- Whorter had collected over the previ- ous four decades on other Plateau In- dians as well.1 Before entering the hospital shortly af- ter this meeting, the elder McWhorter willed that some of his Nez Perce col- lection, his manuscripts, and his old letters be given to the State College of Washington (WSC) in Pullman, Vir- gil’s alma mater.2 He also asked his doctors to give him “just six more months to complete his book.”3 Should McWhorter be unable to finish the book, his son was to contact Dr. Ernest O. Holland, president of WSC, for help in completing the manuscript. Shortly before his father’s death, Virgil did get in touch with Holland, who as- sured him that if his father was unable to complete the book, “We shall make arrangements here at the State College for the most competent person on our faculty to complete this volume, espe- Spring 2011 67 fill several museum cases; he was un- aware of the true scope of what Mc- Whorter had assembled. Holland and his colleagues, of course, wanted to be sure that the college would receive McWhorter’s Nez Perce collection and continued to maintain good relations with the McWhorter family over the next few years. Profes- sor Herman J. Deutsch wrote to Mc- Whorter on October 9 asking to ex- cerpt four pages from appendix A of Yellow Wolf, now published, for a course reader, citing the appendix as “one of the best descriptions of Indian life of which I have any knowledge.”10 Deutsch then told McWhorter that “it would be a real service to anthropol- ogy” if he would keep all of his papers A photo taken by McWhorter of a Yakama woman carding wool, 1918. (McWhorter “together in one container and to add Photograph Coll., masc, WSU Libraries) at random notes on points which come to mind but of which you have never manuscript and processing his collec- see the collection, he learned that made a record. In the event you should tion, and the collection’s influence on Lucullus V. McWhorter’s book Yellow be too pre-occupied with other mat- the creation of an enduring archives Wolf: His Own Story would soon be ters, you could make some reputable program at WSC, will be the focus of published.6 Ever eager to expand the depository the beneficiary.”11 Of course, this essay. college’s collections, Holland told Vir- Deutsch already knew of just such a gil, “I think it would be splendid if he “reputable depository.” McWhorter’s The college’s courting of Lucullus V. could give us this manuscript a little immediate reply, dated “Falling Leaf McWhorter began in earnest on later for our Treasure Room.”7 Moon, 10 Suns, 1941 Snows,” was en- April 16, 1940, when President Hol- thusiastic. “I prize your comments land wrote to Virgil McWhorter, In May 1941, Holland received good more highly than the general output. news from Virgil McWhorter. You have my unqualified permis- Several persons have told me recently about sion to make use of Appendix A.”12 In a great collection of Indian relics, including My father has carefully considered your the end, Deutsch opted not to include a number of baskets, which your father has letter of February fourth concerning the the excerpt in his reader.13 collected during the past fifty years. It is presentation of his Nez Perce Collection to also my hope that some arrangement can be the State College of Washington. It is my made whereby your father would be willing Father’s wish (my Brother and I concurring), Holland, the indomitable, hands-on to release this great collection for permanent that this rare collection be given to your president of WSC, kept up the wooing deposit in our splendid museum here on the college. Father is ready to proceed with the of McWhorter by inviting him to the college campus.5 transfer of part of this collection as soon as 1941 commencement banquet. As part the college has made suitable arrangements In reply, Virgil indicated that he would to receive the same. He desires, however, to of the ceremony, Holland conferred consult with his father regarding the retain a part of the collection which he upon McWhorter a certificate of merit deposition of his Nez Perce collection. cherishes so much, for the present. Father and presented Washington’s governor, Initially, President Holland thought desires to visit the college and confer with Arthur Langlie, with an autographed that this and the rest of McWhorter’s those who will prepare the cabinet to receive copy of McWhorter’s recently pub- the collection.8 collection consisted primarily of ob- lished Yellow Wolf.14 McWhorter was jects (Indian relics and baskets). He The use of the term cabinet points to deeply touched by these contacts and would soon learn that it also included the expectation of the McWhorter the prestige conferred by WSC: Mc- a vast trove of manuscripts, correspon- family that the collection would be Whorter’s formal education had ended dence, and photographs. As Holland permanently displayed on the WSC by age 12. In September 1941, Mc- corresponded with Virgil to arrange a campus.9 President Holland, for his Whorter donated 32 Nez Perce arti- visit from a WSC faculty member to part, thought that the collection would facts, including the Nez Perce warrior 68 Pacific Northwest Quarterly Yellow Wolf’s Winchester rifle, war tary account of the Nez Perce War time set McWhorter apart from others whistle, and war club to the college from an Indian perspective. Mc- writing about this group of people.19 museum.15 In November of the follow- Whorter and Yellow Wolf’s cousin, Peo He voraciously collected multiple ver- ing year, he gave the college the manu- Peo Tholekt, lobbied the U.S. govern- sions of the same stories and never script for Yellow Wolf.16 So it was natu- ment for the return of the Nez Perce’s threw anything away. His collection ral that shortly before his death, homeland in the Wallowa country of also contained extensive correspon- McWhorter would instruct his dutiful eastern Oregon.17 In 1914, McWhorter dence with other early northwest his- son, Virgil, to contact President Hol- began a long-term collaboration with torians such as the moralizing Clifford land so that McWhorter’s last, great Mourning Dove, whose book, Coge- Drury, who studied the Protestant book would be published. wea, the Half-Blood (1927), was the missionaries, and Helen Addison first novel by a Native American female Howard, author of War Chief Joseph hy did Deutsch and Holland ever published. (1941). Wwant the collection so badly? First, McWhorter was a well-known McWhorter also arranged Indian The third reason Deutsch and Holland authority on Indian history in the Pa- shows for northwest fairs and rodeos, were so interested in the collection was cific Northwest. He supported the such as the Walla Walla Frontier Days, that it was well documented. Unlike Eastern Washington State Historical to supplement his income (and the in- most other collectors of American In- Society and spearheaded the fundrais- comes of his Nez Perce friends). In this dian materials, McWhorter was careful ing efforts for a gravestone for Yellow capacity, said his biographer, Steven to differentiate among tribes and to as- Wolf and a colossus statue (never real- Ross Evans, McWhorter “hired many sociate the objects he collected with ized) for the Nez Perce leader Chief of the people he hoped to interview.”18 their creators, the result of his close in- Joseph.