Prosch and McCarver families, circa 1917-1965

Much of the collection includes materials related to the research and writings of early Washington journalists and historians Charles and Thomas Prosch. A correspondence file with letters congratulating Charles Prosch on the publication of Reminiscences of Washington Territory: Scenes, Incidents and Reflections of the Pioneer Period on Puget Sound includes notes from several notable individuals including Eugene Semple, Clarence Bagley, George Kinnear, Hazzard Stevens, Ella Higginson, Louisa Denny, and others. Letters have been removed and flattened for preservation purposes but kept in the original order in which they are indexed in the correspondence file. The collection also contains a signed copy of Reminiscences of Washington Territory along with copies of Thomas Prosch’s "Insane in Washington Territory."

In addition, the collection features papers, clippings, scrapbooks and photographs documenting members of the Prosch family including Charles and Susan Prosch, Thomas and Virginia McCarver Prosch and their children. One scrapbook in the collection is of note as it includes photographs and clippings capturing the history of the Prosch family and related families including McCarver, Ferry, Harris, Mapes, Reynolds, Hoyt and Dotte families dating back to 1860. Other early 1800s documents relate to the Reynolds and Conkling families who were relatives of Susan Conkling Prosch.

A second scrapbook focuses specifically on capturing clippings related to the 1915 car accident that took the lives of Thomas and Virginia Prosch along with Margaret Lenora Denny, and Harriet Foster Beecher. An obituary for Beatrice Prosch, their daughter who died the following year, is also included. The collection also contains documents from Seattle’s Butterworth mortuary regarding funeral arrangements managed by their daughter, Edith Prosch. Hair clippings in the collection are believed to be those of Julia Prosch, Thomas and Virginia’s first daughter who died in infancy.