Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Stallcup-Smith Family Papers
Date(s)
Extent
4 boxes
(3.5 cubic feet)
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Stallcups moved from Denver, Colorado to Tacoma, Washington in 1889. In Tacoma, they lived at 317 South G St. The family included Judge John Calhoun Stallcup, Mary Pindell Shelby Stallcup, and their children: John C. Stallcup Jr., Evan Shelby Stallcup, and Margery Bruen Stallcup.
John Calhoun Stallcup (1841-10/21/1915) Practiced law in Denver Colo. and served as Justice of the Supreme Court of Colorado from 1887 until 1889. In 1889 he came to Tacoma with his family. He was elected to the Superior Court bench in 1892 on a non-partisan ticket and held the position for four years. From 1897-1900 he served on the State Board of Audit and Control, having received the appointment from Gov. Rogers. For his last five years, he had been a member of the Tacoma Public Library board. He also authored an essay titled "Refutation of the Darwinian Theory" which was published in Tacoma in 1905.(1)
Mary Shelby (Pindell) Stallcup (1846-10/21/1916), a native of Lexington, Kentucky, married Judge Stallcup on Nov. 2nd, 1880 in Kirkwood, Mo. She helped charter and held office in the Mary Ball chapter of the D.A.R. and was active in the parish, guild, and auxiliary of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. (1) (2)
Evan Shelby Stallcup (1888 -1938) A graduate of the old Tacoma High School and entered Stanford University on his 17th birthday. After two years at Stanford, he entered Columbia University where he completed his Law course then returned to Tacoma to work with his father in his law office. He served in the 91st Division in World War I. After the war, he moved to Phoenix where he became involved in city government. He held the position of City Manager and head of the Water Department. (3)
Margery Bruen (Stallcup) Smith (1883-1946) was admitted to the bar in 1909 (4). She was affiliated with the Women’s Club house board and the Tacoma Interracial Council and the Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Married Fredrick A. Smith in 1918 (6). She was a member of the 50 year club, on the board of the American Association of University Women and one of the founders of the Woman's Council for Democracy (7).
John C. Stallcup Jr (1886-1920)
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Contains correspondence, photographs, personal papers, clippings, and other assorted material that chronicle the life of the Stallcup and Smith families. These documents trace the family descendants beginning with John Calhoun Stallcup and Mary Pindell Shelby in the mid-1870s in Ohio and Kentucky through their life in Denver and eventual move to Tacoma, WA in 1899. The primary source material is organized with additional notes and research files compiled by the donor.
System of arrangement
The original order established by donor has been maintained.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Acquired from Shelby Susan (Sue) Scherer Clark in 2021
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Accruals received in 2021
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Born digital supplemental material available upon request,
• Microsoft Word documents include guides to the letters, papers, and background on the family’s history in Tacoma, and other supportive information.
• Excel documents include indexes of the letters by name, author, and topic.
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
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Sources used
Archivist's note
Written by Spencer Bowman, 2022