Guide to the Cyrus Bradley Papers, 1882-1915
Cage 243

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Creator
Bradley, Cyrus
Title
Cyrus Bradley Papers
ID
Cage 243
Date [inclusive]
1882-1915
Extent
4100.0 items.
General Physical Description note
4.5 linear feet of shelf space.
Language
English
Abstract
Correspondence, business records, legal documents and other materials re: Bradley's investments in urban real estate, irrigation projects and mining properties in the Spokane area; especially business correspondence during the years Bradley was attempting to recover from financial reverses incurred in real estate operations during Spokane's formative years. In addition, the papers reflect Bradley's personal affairs, primarily his involvement in philanthropic and social work organizations.

Preferred Citation note

[Item Description]. Cage 243, Cyrus Bradley Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical/Historical note

The son of a riverboat operator of moderate wealth from Dayton, Ohio, Cyrus Bradley spent his young adulthood moving about the American West in various capacities until he located in Spokane Falls in 1883. There he founded a newspaper, the Spokane Miner, with his brother-in-law, Graham B. Dennis. Shortly, however, they abandoned the paper to concentrate on a venture in urban real estate development which largely centered on "Dennis and Bradley's Addition." A highly successful venture in the late 1880's and early 1890's, the addition became involved in financial difficulties in the mid-1890's, as did Bradley's investments in Spokane's Second Railroad Addition and in the Ross Park Street Railroad and the Washington Water Power Company. Narrowly escaping failure, Bradley emerged from the depression of the 1890's as a modest trader and investor in real estate, mining properties and irrigation projects. His investments were no longer concentrated in Spokane, but scattered throughout the West, and even included some as far away as Florida. One of Spokane's leading figures in his days as town boomer, Bradley spent his later years simply trying to earn a modest income. He remained active in philanthropic and social work organizations, but he never again became one of the powerful leaders of the city. Instead his main concern seems to have been the welfare of the family of his brother-in-law and ex-partner, Graham B. Dennis, who did not manage even a modest recovery from the financial turmoils of the 1890's.

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Scope and Contents note

The Cyrus Bradley papers consist of correspondence, business records, legal documents and a few personal items. The correspondence from Bradley's later years predominates and is mainly concerned with financing and trading real estate and mining properties.

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Arrangement note

The papers are arranged in three series which separate the various types of papers: (1) correspondence, (2) business records, and (3) personal items. Within each series, items are organized chronologically.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries © 1956

http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

The papers of Cyrus Bradley (b. 1852), a Spokane, Washington, real estate developer and investor of the city's formative period, were acquired by Washington State University Library prior to a 1955 inventory of manuscript collections.

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Related Materials

Separated Materials note

The papers of Cyrus Bradley's father, Captain John Bradley, have been removed and are now maintained as a separate collection, Cage 153.

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Controlled Access Headings

Personal Name(s)

  • Bradley, Cyrus, b. 1852. --Archives
  • Dennis, Graham Barclay, 1855-1926

Subject(s)

  • Business, Industry, and Labor
  • Charities -- Washington (State)--Spokane
  • City Planning
  • Irrigation -- Washington (State)--Finance
  • Mining industry and finance--Washington (State)
  • Real estate business--Washington (State)--Spokane
  • Washington (State)

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Collection Inventory

Series 1: Correspondence 

Letterbooks 
Box-folder

 1886-1895   1.0 volume.

 1 / 1

 1892-1897   1.0 volume.

 1 / 2

 1897-1900   1.0 volume.

 1 / 3

 1897-1898   1.0 volume.

 2 / 4

 1898-1906   1.0 volume.

 2 / 5

Outgoing Correspondence 
Box-folder

 1892-1903   190.0 items.

 2 / 6

 1904-1905   220.0 items.

 2 / 7

 1906-1909   120.0 items.

 3 / 8

 1910-1911   120.0 items.

 3 / 9

 1911   190.0 items.

 3 / 10

 1912-1913   150.0 items.

 3 / 11

 Undated   30.0 items.

 4 / 12

Fragments   40.0 items.

 4 / 13

Incoming Correspondence 
Box-folder

 1882-1892   125.0 items.

 4 / 14

 1893-1895   140.0 items.

 4 / 15

 1896-1901   95.0 items.

 4 / 16

 1902   230.0 items.

 5 / 17

 1903-1904   235.0 items.

 5 / 18

 1904   125.0 items.

 5 / 19

 1904   150.0 items.

 5 / 20

 1905   300.0 items.

 6 / 21

 1906-1909   200.0 items.

 6 / 22

 1910   165.0 items.

 6 / 23

 1911   275.0 items.

 7 / 24

 1912-1915   190.0 items.

 7 / 25

 Undated   70.0 items.

 7 / 26

Fragments   60.0 items.

 7 / 27

Personal, 1894-1912.   97.0 items.

 7 / 28

Personal, undated.   70.0 items.

 7 / 29

Correspondence of persons other than Bradley 
Box-folder

Miscellaneous, 1883-1912.   97.0 items.

 8 / 30

William Dennis, 1896-1906.   11.0 items.

 8 / 31

Graham B. Dennis, 1885-1891.   12.0 items.

 8 / 32

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Series 2: Business Records and Legal Documents 
Box-folder

Agreements, permits and notices, 1883-1912.   13.0 items.

 8 / 33

Assays and price lists.   14.0 items.

 8 / 34

Bills and notes, 1883-1912.   89.0 items.

 8 / 35

Bills of lading and invoices, 1893-1909.   14.0 items.

 8 / 36

Checks, 1882-1911.   15.0 items.

 8 / 37

Deeds and mortgages, 1884-1895.   6.0 items.

 8 / 38

Maps   3.0 items.

 8 / 39

Mining agreements, claims and reports, 1897-1911   60.0 items.

 8 / 40

Receipt book, 1890.   1.0 item.

 9 / 41

Receipts and payment notices, 1885-1912.   39.0 items.

 9 / 42

Statements and accounts, 1884-1912.   31.0 items.

 9 / 43

Newspaper clippings, 1896-1911.   20.0 items.

 9 / 44

Miscellaneous.   9.0 items.

 9 / 45

Miscellaneous notes.   24.0 items.

 9 / 46

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Series 3: Personal 
Box-folder

Portraits   4.0 items.

 9 / 47

Autobiographical sketch, 1893.   2.0 items.

 9 / 48

Diary, 1894-1897.   1.0 item.

 9 / 49

Preliminary register and notes. 1956   7.0 items.

 9 / 50

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