Cage 47

Ruby El Hult

Papers, 1899-1994

Acquisition And Processing Information

Ruby El Hult donated her papers to the Washington State University Libraries in several installments between 1959 and 2001. Her manuscripts, correspondence and other materials span more than six decades. The papers were processed by Kevlin Haire in 2002; in 2007 Lynette Scriver performed additional preservation and processing.

Extent/Quantity Information

Number of Containers: 45

Linear Feet of Shelf Space: 25

Biography

Washington author Ruby El Hult (1912-2008) was born in Belgrove, Idaho, to John Adolf and Carolina (Pearson) Hult. She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1932, and was a student at the University of Washington during 1945-46. After holding various secretarial positions between 1942 and 1949, she served as assistant editor of the Washington State Journal of Nursing in Seattle from 1949 to 1952. During this time, she completed a number of short stories for writing classes she took between 1924 and 1953.

In the early 1950s, Hult began a freelancing writing career that continued for decades, publishing articles and opinion pieces concerning Pacific Northwest historical and conservation issues. She also began to publish a number of books on the Pacific Northwest, beginning with Steamboats in the Timber in 1952 (a second edition was published in 1968). That was followed by Untamed Olympics in 1954 (a second edition was published in 1971), and Lost Mines and Treasures of the Pacific Northwest in 1957. A sequel to that book, Treasure Hunting Northwest, was published in 1971. In 1960, both Northwest Disaster: Avalanche and Fire and Guns of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (an expanded version of the June 6, 1955 article in Guns Magazine, "The Arms that Won an Empire") were published. The second edition of her last book, Herb Crisler in the Olympic Mountain Wilds (originally published in 1977), was published in 1992.

During this time, Hult maintained ties with a small group of Pacific Northwest women writers, historians and book lovers, some of whom she had met in the late 1930s. Up through 1980s and 1990s, Hult regularly corresponded with these women, who were both friends and professional colleagues. These included Hazel Corbeill, Eleanor Garst, Martha Livingston and Eleanor Marion Saunders. In 1980, Hult and Saunders published their correspondence over the years in a compendium called The Cockalorum Chronicles: New Words Between Old Friends: Correspondence of Elizabeth Marion Saunders and Ruby El Hult.

Ruby El Hult was married first to S. John Sether, who died in 1959. She married her second husband, Raymond L. McAndrew, in 1961. He died in 1978.

Collection Description

The Ruby El Hult Papers consist chiefly of original manuscripts, notes, photos, correspondence and other materials related to Hult's writing career. Also included is personal correspondence to family and friends. Most material is typewritten, although much personal correspondence is handwritten.

Collection Arrangement

The papers retain Hult's original order.There are eleven series, organized alphabetically (except the Oversize materials). Within each series, the contents are arranged by the type of material, such as notes, correspondence, clippings, etc.

Series List

Series 1: Articles, Short Stories, and other Writings. Concerns both published and unpublished writings not directly related to her books.

Series 2: Editing Work. Relates mostly to her work as assistant editor at the Washington State Journal of Nursing.

Series 3: Lost Mines and Treasures. Includes materials related both to the original book and to its sequel, Treasure Hunting Northwest.

Series 4: Miscellaneous Matters. Contains clippings, correspondence and source materials not directly related to Hult's books or personal life.

Series 5: Northwest Disaster. Contains materials related to this book.

Series 6: Personal and Family Matters. Mostly letters from friends and family with whom Hult regularly corresponded over the years. These papers are then divided alphabetically by name.

Series 7: Photographs. Contains photos and negatives dating back to the late 1800s. These mostly were gathered for use in her books, but some personal photos are included as well.

Series 8: Political Materials. Includes historical materials, clippings and correspondence related to Hult's involvement in campaigns for various causes. Also included are publications of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions Santa Barbara, CA, where Hult served as mail supervisor from 1965-66.

Series 9: Steamboats in the Timber. Contains materials related to this book.

Series 10: Untamed Olympics. Includes materials related to this book.

Series 11: Oversize Materials. Contains mostly large scrapbooks with reviews and other clippings, as well as correspondence related to the publication of Hult's books.

Subjects

Hult, Ruby El, 1912-2008 -- Archives.
Historiography -- Northwest, Pacific -- Women authors.
Steamboats -- Idaho -- Photographs.
Logging -- Idaho -- History -- Photographs.
Mines and mineral resources -- Idaho -- Photographs.
Idaho -- History -- Archives.
Washington (State) -- History -- Archives.
Coeur d'Alene Lake (Idaho) -- History -- Photographs.
Fort Sherman (Idaho) -- History -- Photographs.

Access

This collection is open and available for research use. Copyright restrictions apply.

Preferred Citation

The suggested citation for the collection is:

[Item Description]
Ruby El Hult papers, 1899-1994
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Washington State University Libraries
Pullman, WA

Languages

Materials are in English.

Container List:

Box Folder Description
    Series 1: Articles, Short Stories, Other Writings
    Clippings
1 1 Various articles, 1944-1954
  2 University of Washington "Month's Best" supplement, 1945 May and November
  3 "The Chilcoot Pass Went Up, Up, Up," Seattle Times, 1964 July 26
  4 "The Saga of George W. Bush" reprint, with bibliography, 1962 September
    Correspondence, Drafts
  5 "Aristocrat of the Wilds," 1963
  6 Black Drift article, 1953
  7 Chilcoot Pass article, 1963
  8 "Lady of the Paddlewheel," 1954
  9 Outdoor safety article, 1954
  10 "Sturdy Tugs and 'Poke Fire' Boats," 1969-1970
    Correspondence, Notes, Sources
  11 Babes in the Woods article, 1950s
  12 George W. Bush article, 1962-1969
  13 "Joe Meek and His Gun," 1958
2 14 Lewis and Clark article, 1950s
  15 Mima Mounds article, 1953-1954
  16 Moncacht Ape article, 1954-1956
  17 Mountain Beaver article, 1952-1958
  18 Mt. Stuart article, 1962
  19 "Narrow Gauge Up the Jackass Trail," 1953-1954
  20 Olympic College outdoor class program article, 1956-1958
  21 Ozette Indian Tribe article, 1956-1958
  22 Wild horses article, 1954-1958
  23 Various articles, 1952-1962
  24 "Harrison Named after President" (with Paul Drus), 1971-1972
  25 Correspondence, contributions to Pacific Bakers News, 1966-1971
    Drafts
  26 "Eggs is Odd"
  27 "The Ghostly Companion of the Andrea Doria;" "Not S.O.S., but C.Q.D."
  28 "Houseboat Headaches"
  29 "Mahoney and the Millars' Daughter"
  30 Richard W. Poston article
  31 "Shut Mah Mouf," 1954
  32 "Great White Watchers," 1963
3 33 Early writings, 1924-1944 (3 folders)
  34 "TV or not TV" (Journalism class paper)
  35 Writing class papers, 1929-1953
  36 Unpublished articles, 1954-1958
    Series 2: Editing Work
  37 "Along Seattle's Seawall," Vol. I
  38 Journal of Nursing issues and related materials, 1949-1952 (2 folders)
  39 Journal of Nursing issue, 1954
    Series 3: "Lost Mines and Treasures" Papers
  40 Bibliographies
  41 Book lists, 1966
4 42 Brochures, maps, pamphlets on Idaho (2 folders)
    Clippings
  43 Bunker Hill Co., including notes from Hazel Corbeill, 1966-1969
  44 Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River areas, 1967-1970
  45 Coeur d'Alene silver mining, 1934-1970
  46 General, 1966-1970
  47 Golden Chest Mine, including notes from Hazel Corbeill 1966-1970
5 48 Oregon Mines, 1900-1969
  49 St. Joe River area, 1968-1969
  50 Sunken treasure, 1958-1969
  51 Treasure hunting in California, Nevada, 1966-1969
    Correspondence
  52 Binfords & Mort publishers and general, 1956-1964
  53 Binfords & Mort, 1966-1971
  54 General, 1954-1974 (folders 1-2)
6 54 General, 1954-1974 (folders 3-4)
  55 Blue Bucket Mine, 1968-1972
  56 Lake Coeur d'Alene treasure, 1958-1967
  57 Lost Cement Mine (correspondence with Harvey Altman), 1971-1972
  58 Lost Pedro, Lost Sheperder, other mines, 1954-1955
  59 Neahkahnie (correspondence with Don Viles), 1969-1971
  60 Portland treasure chart, 1964-1969
  61 Spanish Silver Mine, 1966-1971
  62 Tillamook Mine, 1966-1967
  63 Reprint, 1994
  64 Stanley Partridge, 1966-1971
    Correspondence, Notes, Sources
  65 ABT Indian Post Office Mine, 1966-1971
7 66 Astoria and Clatsop County, 1967
  67 Blue Bucket Mine, 1954-1959 (2 folders)
  68 Cabin mines, 1964-1968
  69 Capt.'s Caches and Chevy Chase, 1966-1967
  70 Chief Bigfoot, 1967-1968
  71 Chief Kitsap's gold mine, 1966
  72 Ed Schieffelin's gold mine, 1966-1970
  73 Gold strikes of Olympic Mountains, 1966
  74 Granville Stuart, 1967
  75 Idaho mines, 1966-1971
  76 Idaho place names, 1955-1956, 1969-1970 (folder 1)
8 76 Idaho place names, 1955-1956, 1969-1970 (folders 2-7)
9 77 Indian Lost Cinnabar Mine, 1967-1969
  78 Klamath Butte Creek, 1969-1970
  79 Lake County, 1966-1968
  80 Lemon Mine, 1967-1968
  81 Lost Cabin Mines, 1965-1967
  82 Lost Creek Mine, 1967-1968
  83 Mountain treasures stories, 1968
  84 Moose City, 1959-1969
  85 Nahanni's lost gold, 1969-1970
  86 Neahkahnie and Nehalem, 1955-1956
  87 Neahkahnie, 1966-1971
  88 Oregon mines, 1963-1969
10 89 Plummer Gang, 1966-1969 (2 folders)
  90 Port Orford meteorite, 1955 forward
  91 Post Falls Diamond Mine, 1966-1969
  92 Roslyn Bank Robbery, 1968-1969
  93 S.S. Golden Rule, 1956-1957
  94 Santa Creek, 1959-1971
  95 Vancouver Island, 1969 (2 folders)
  96 Vault of Gold, 1968
11 97 Washington, 1963-1968
    Drafts
  98 "Legends of the Little Rockies," including notes
  99 Malta train robbery, including notes
  100 Early drafts of book (2 folders)
  101 Galley proofs (2 folders)
  102 Galley proofs (sequel)
  103 Write-up of interview with Fred and Cora Kelly, and related materials, 1969
  104 Library of Congress list of treasure maps, 1964
12 105 Manuscript, including index and table of contents, for sequel (4 folders)
  106 Microfiche records about S.S. Golden Rule and crew, 1861-1877
    Notes
  107 Beesway, Blue Bucket and Neahkahnie mines, shipwrecks
13 108 Cabins, ledges, Randolph Trail, Sheperder mine
  109 General
  110 Silverthorne, other Montana mysteries
    Pamphlets
  111 Pamphlets for treasure seekers, 1953-1968
  112 Pamphlets on Washington-Idaho border areas, 1937 forward
  113 Publicity and orders for sequel
  114 Scrapbook of Tony Moreno, 1966-1968
    Series 4: Miscellaneous Topics
  115 Archive container item lists sent to WSU from Hult, 1950s-1960s
  116 Articles, flyers, newsletters on atheism, 1970s (folder 1)
14 116 Articles, flyers, newsletters on atheism, 1970s (folder 2)
  117 Catalogs for colored prints, engraved portraits and lithographs
    Clippings
  118 Idaho County Free Press anniversary edition, 1966 June 16
  119 Kellogg Evening News Progress edition, 1969
  120 Life Magazine issue, including announcement for Wilderness Kingdom book, 1967 (note: relocated to Oversize, box 45, folder 276)
121 Kellogg News, 1924-1970
15 122 Various Northwest newspapers, 1952-1988
    Clippings, Correspondence
  123 Bunker Hill Company strike, 1960 (2 folders)
    Correspondence
  124 Robert Hitchman, 1959-1971
  125 Tahuya Book Sellers, 1960-1961
  126 Washington State Historical Society, 1959-1962
  127 Writers, printers, etc., 1953-1963
    Correspondence, Notes, Sources
  128 Henry J. Warre paintings, 1954
16 129 "Crow's Nest" newsletter by Robert Hitchman, 1955-1970
  130 Expense books, 1953-1962 (3 folders)
  131 "La Blanc and La Gasse: Predecessors of David Thompson...," U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1966
  132 Log marks chart of lumber and logging companies in Lake Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River areas, 1921
  133 Pamphlets on Pacific Northwest timber and lumbering, 1938-1956 (folders 1-2)
17 133 Pamphlets on Pacific Northwest timber and lumbering, various dates (folder 3)
  134 Publishers' trade lists
  135 "The Quileute of La Push, 1775-1945," by George A. Pettitt, 1950
    Series 5: Northwest Disaster Papers
  136 "Avalanche" article in Spokesman-Review, with draft, 1960 February 11
  137 Basil Sherlock's description of avalanche, 1960
    Clippings, Correspondence
  138 Inland Empire forest fires scrapbook, 1967-1969
    Correspondence
  139 Binfords & Mort, 1958-1961
  140 General, 1957-1960
  141 Book promotion, 1960
  142 1910 Fire, 1956-1960
    Correspondence, Drafts
  143 William Morris and Ed Pulaski, 1960s
    Correspondence, Notes, Sources
18 144 1910 Fire, 1950-1960
  145 Galley proofs (3 folders)
  146 Hart's corrections and suggestions
  147 Journalism class paper on 1910 Fire
  148 Manuscript (folders 1-2)
19 148 Manuscript (folder 3)
  149 Manuscript of "Experiences on a National Forest," by William Morris
  150 Manuscript of "Letters from Coeur d'Alene," by William Morris
  151 "Northwest Disaster" maps (2 folders)
  152 Notecards listing interviewees, 1956-1960
    Notes
  153 Avalanche
  154 Interview with Edward Sweeney, including transcript, 1957 May 22
  155 1910 Fire
  156 Articles about avalanche byother authors
    Series 6: Personal and Family Concerns
20 157 Autograph book from high school, 1932
    Correspondence
  158 Lee Carpenter, Jr., 1959-1967
  159 Hazel Corbeill, 1957-1969 (folders 1-4)
21 159 Hazel Corbeill, 1970-80 (folders 5-11)
22 159 Hazel Corbeill, 1981-91 (folders 12-18)
  160 Family, 1937-1945 (20 postcards)
  161 Family, 1960-1970 (Ruby's cousin, Gloria Hult Kennedy)
  162 Family, 1955-1968 (folders 1-4)
23 162 Family, 1969-1975 (folders 5-11)
24 162 Family, 1976-1980 (folders 12-15)
  163 Family, 1973-1976 (McGoughs in Hong Kong)
  164 Family, 1976-1978 (McGoughs in Middlebury, VT)
  165 Friends, including item list, 1955-1969 (folder 1)
25 165 Friends, 1970s (folder 2)
  166 R.H. Gallagher, 1961
  167 Eleanor Garst, 1956-1969 (folders 1-4)
26 167 Eleanor Garst, 1970-1979 (folders 5-11)
  168 General, 1974-1979 (mostly fan letters)
  169 Bill and Dorothy Hershey, 1958-1967
27 170 L.S. Keeton, 1953-1958
  171 Cindy Kramer, 1962
  172 Bonnie Kreshel, 1957-1968
  173 Margaret Livingston, 1959-1969
  174 Elizabeth Marion Saunders, 1957-1971 (folders 1-3)
28 174 Elizabeth Marion Saunders, 1972-1981 (folders 4-9)
29 174 Elizabeth Marion Saunders, including 1993 death notification (folders 10-14)
  175 "The Cockalorum Chronicles," 1979 (compendium of correspondence between Hult and Saunders)
  176 Minnesota State Inspector's Licenses for J.A. Hult, 1899, 1906
  177 North Central High School yearbook, 1931
  178 Poems of John Morgan McReary, 1965
  178.1 Letters from fans and friends, 1977
    Series 7: Photographs
  179 Burke, Idaho, 1902
  180 Chilkoot Pass photos, sketch maps
30 181 Dodo Canar and Blanche Canar (later Blanche Bond Ryan), 1909-1912
  182 Independence Placer Mining Company, including item list, 1925-1926
  183 Lake Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River area, 1960s
  184 Lake Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River area, by Vern L. Hult, 1967 (3 folders)
  185 Lake Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River area steamboats, various dates (3 folders)
  186 Lake Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River area, various dates (folder 1)
31 186 Lake Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River areas, various dates (folders 2-3)
  187 Lake Coeur d'Alene area, 1968 July
  188 Lake Coeur d'Alene area residents in steamboat era, various dates
  189 Lost Mines and Treasures photos (sequel)
  190 Lumberjacks, 1950s
  191 Mining, including item list, 1925-1926
  192 Montana historical sites
  193 1910 Fire, Idaho
  194 Oregon postcards, 1968-1972
  195 Personal, various dates
32 196 St. Joe River area, early 1900s
  197 St. Maries and St. Joe River area, early 1900s
  198 St. Maries and St. Joe River valley negatives, 1968
  199 Valleyford, WA, snow scenes by Vern L. Hult, 1960s
  200 Valleyford, WA, winter of 1969 snow scenes, including item list, 1969
  201 Wallace, Idaho, photos and negatives
  202 Portrait of Ruby El Hult, 1932 (high school graduation)
  203 Portrait of Eleanor Averitt Stark Garst and son Richard Stark
    Series 8: Political Materials
  204 Campaign for George W. Bush recognition, 1962-1963
  205 Campaign to retain Ozette Indian Reservation in Olympic National Park, 1954-1958
  206 Campaign for Three Sisters Wilderness boundaries, 1955-1961
  207 Campaigns for various causes, 1960s-1970s
  208 Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions pamphlets, 1962
33 209 Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions article in Pageant magazine, 1965 August
  210 Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions "Change" issues, 1965-1966
  211 Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions seminar materials, 1965
  212 Discussion papers, newsletters, magazines, press releases, 1950s-1960s (3 folders)
  213 Excerpts from writings of various authors, 1940s
  214 "The Good Brahmin," by Voltaire, 1949
  215 Industrial Workers of the World newsletters, pamphlets, circa 1930s-1940s
    "The Bloodstained Trail: A History of Militant Labor in the United States," 1927
34 216 Seattle Urban League quarterly newsletters, 1947-1948
  217 Seattle Urban League 17th annual report, 1947
  218 Washington State Legislature materials, 1963
    Series 9: "Steamboats in the Timber" Papers
    Clippings, Correspondence
  219 General, 1952-1983
    Correspondence
  220 Binfords & Mort, 1967-1969
  221 Book contracts, including royalty statements, 1952-1967
  222 Caxton Printers Ltd., regarding book shipment, 1960 July 27
  223 Hazel Corbeill, 1969-1970 (folders 1-4)
35 223 Hazel Corbeill, 1969-1970 (folder 5)
  224 Regarding photographs, 1967-1969 (2 folders)
  225 Blanche Bond Ryan, regarding St. Maries, Idaho, 1950s
  226 Various letters on Idaho, 1956-1969
    Correspondence, Notes, Sources
  227 North Idaho, 1968 forward
  228 Galley proofs, 1952
  229 Manuscript, 1947
36 230 Personal recollections, 1968
  231 Revisions to manuscript for second edition
  232 Sales and promotional material for second edition, 1968-1969
  233 Souvenir book, St. Maries, Idaho, 1911
  234 Tariff rates for Red Collar Steamboat Company, 1925
    Series 10: "Untamed Olympics" Papers
    Clippings
  235 General
    Correspondence
  236 Awards, publicity, 1953-1961
  237 General, 1952-1954
  238 Robert Hitchman, 1951-1954
  239 Olympic National Park, 1952-1960
  240 Publishers, historical societies, regarding manuscript, 1953
  241 Theodore Rixon, 1952
  242 Second edition, 1968-1970
  243 Victor Smith chapter, 1950-1953
  244 Charles N. Webster, 1952-1955
    Correspondence, Drafts
  245 West end, including notes, 1952-1953
    Correspondence, Notes, Sources
37 246 General regarding second edition, 1969-1970
  247 Timber, incl. short bibliography, 1952-1953
    Drafts
  248 "Bridge to the Future" chapter
  249 "Expendable Forests" chapter
  250 Olympic National Park battle
  251 Various chapters (2 folders)
  252 Manuscript pages
    Notes
  253 General, including bibliography
  254 Olympic Peninsula (folders 1-2)
38 254 Olympic Peninsula (folder 3)
  255 Parks and forests
  256 Port Townsend and Millport
  257 Olympic National Park publications, including clippings, 1930s-1950s
  258 Pamphlets on Washington, mainly on Olympic Peninsula, various dates (2 folders)
39 259 Port Angeles community study publications, 1953
  260 Script of speech to Mason County Historical Society, 1971 November 4
  261 Souvenir program, Port Townsend-Jefferson County Centennial, 1951
  262 Statistical report on Olympic Peninsula by Institute of Forest Products, 1953 October 12
  263 Write-up of interview of William T. Putnam, early explorer of the Olympics, including Shelton-Mason County Journal article dated 1950 June 15
  unnumbered Processing and administrative files
    Series 11: Oversize Materials
40 264 Articles about Olympic Peninsula for "Untamed Olympics," 1949-1962
  265 Ledger for Red Collar Steamboat Company (routes originating mostly from St. Maries), 1921-1923; tariff rates for 1926, 1929; and shipping orders, 1925
  266 Ledger for Red Collar Steamboat Company (mostly St. Maries to Coeur d'Alene route), 1921-1922
41 267 Recording of interview of Ruby El Hult by Bev Brown of KIMA Radio in Yakima, WA, 1952 April 15 (long-playing disk)
    Scrapbooks
  268 "Lost Mines and Treasures" clippings (including reviews), correspondence, 1957-1967
  269 Logging and lumber photos, clippings, various dates
42 270 Miscellaneous clippings on Pacific Northwest, correspondence about books and other writings, 1954-1959
  271 "Northwest Disaster" clippings (including reviews), correspondence, 1960
43 272 Pacific Northwest clippings on fires, 1967-1970
44 273 Pacific Northwest clippings on people, places and things, 1950-1971
  274 "Steamboats in the Timber" clippings (including reviews), correspondence, 1952-1970
45 275 "Untamed Olympics" clippings (including reviews), correspondence, 1952-1964
  276 Miscellaneous