James E. Carty Papers

Collection

Identifier: WSUV-SpeColl-006

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The materials in this collection include manuscripts of Carty's historical reserach, some of which pertains to his book A Territorial Anthology of the Oregon Territory 1792-1860 (Similar manuscripts can be found in the James E. Carty Collection WSUV.SpeColl.001, an earlier donation of James E. Carty's works). Materials also include family records including information on the Carty family and Shoen family collaboration in the U-Haul enterprise, which began on the Carty ranch in Ridgefield, Washington in the 1940s. The bulk of the collection consists on James Carty's political records and correspondence during his time as Clark and Cowlitz Democratic Party Chair. Contents also include personal correspondence and records from Carty's law practice. A small amount of ephemera and personal affects are included in this collection.

Dates

circa. 1867 - 1938; 1950 - 2000

Creator

Carty, James E., 1920-2001 (Ridgefield, Washington) (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Biographical / Historical

James E. Carty was born on November 11, 1920 in Ridgefield, Washington. The son of former Washington State Representative William Edward Carty and Mary E. Fitzpatrick, Carty was a descendant of one of the first non-Native American families to settle in Clark County. He was a graduate of Ridgefield High School in 1938, attended Washington State University (graduating in 1949) and then received his law degree from Duke University in 1952. For over twenty years Carty served as city attorney for Woodland, Washington. He later became prosecuting attorney for Clark County, which he served from 1973 to 1980. During his lifetime Carty was politically active in the Democratic Party, becoming chairman for both Cowlitz County (1952-1956, 1958-1960) and Clark County (through the sixties and seventies). Following his retirement in the 1980s, Carty began doing historical research on the Northwest, writing a series of essays, a book and giving presentations and lectures to the local community. In the early 1940s he married Leona Carty and they remained together living in Woodland, Washington for 59 years until the time of his death on October 24, 2001.

Extent

10.6 Linear Feet (The donation was originally contained in 9 cartons and were then transfer into a filing cabinet designated for the collection.)

Additional Description

Abstract

Manuscripts, correspondence, family photographs, essay drafts and other materials created and compiled by James E. Carty while as a student at Washington State College (WSC) and Duke University. The collection also includes materials during Carty's career as a Woodland, Washington city attorney, Clark County prosecuting attorney (1973-1980), historian and Chairman for the Cowlitz County and Clark County Democratic Party. Also contains personal effects relating to the history of the Carty family. Materials in this collection were donated by Leona Carty. [Accessioned as wsuv.2013.004]

Arrangement

The collection is separated into five series.

Series A: Includes drafts of sections from James Carty's book, A Territorial Anthology of the Oregon Territory 1792-1860 (alternately titled An Oregon Country Anthology). A final manuscript copy of the book is included. The series also contains notes, copies of archival material and correspondence related to research. Dates of research circa. 1986-1994.

Series B: Family photographs, correspondence, documents and personal effects relating to property, James Carty's education and numerous family matters. Includes correspondence concerning the inheritance of U-Haul, the murder investigation of Eva Schoen and a subsequent family feud within the Schoen family. Documents linking the Carty family's Irish heritage. Date range is nonconsecutive, but includes contents that extends from 1867 to the 1990s.

Series C: Papers from Carty's personal law practice, political interests and his political campaigns for Clark County Prosecuting attorney. Clippings documenting his professional career.

Series D: Political correspondence, papers, photographs and organizational materials mostly pertaining to James Carty's tenure as Democratic Party Chair for Clark County and Cowlitz County.

Series E: Miscellaneous, ephemera and memorabilia.