George Browne Van Waters papers , 1879-1939

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Van Waters, George Brown
Title
George Browne Van Waters papers
Dates
1879-1939 (inclusive)
Quantity
7.5 linear feet, (5 containers)  :  5 record storage boxes
Collection Number
Ax 215
Summary
George Browne Van Waters (1856-1934) was a Protestant Episcopal clergyman who served in Pennsylvania before traveling to Oregon where he became the Oregon Diocese from 1891-1924, and founded St. David's and Grace Memorial Church in Portland, Oregon. The collection contains correspondence, parish records, sermons, a timber account book, family legal and financial papers, and penal reform documents by Miriam Van Waters.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

George Browne Van Waters (1856-1934) was a Protestant Episcopal clergyman. He was born in Rensselaer Falls, N.Y., and educated at Oberlin, Kenyon College, and the Bexley Divinity School. His early parishes were in Greenburg and Dubois, Pennsylvania.

After he traveled to Oregon he served in the Oregon Diocese from 1891-1924, and from 1915 he served as Archdeacon of Eastern Oregon. He founded St. David's and Grace Memorial Church in Portland, Oregon. He married Maud O. Vosburg in 1884. A daughter, Miriam, is a noted reformer and penologist.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains correspondence, parish records, sermons, a timber account book, family legal and financial papers, and penal reform documents by Miriam Van Waters.

The correspondence is divided into multiple sections.

The first section contains outgoing correspondence by Van Waters (1895-1928) and consists of mostly family and personal letters.

The second section contains incoming correspondence organized alphabetically by name or organization title. This section includes a series of letters from Bishop Lewis Paddock of Eastern Oregon (1916-1923), a folder of documents regarding the "Paddock case," and 44 letters from a brother, Charles C. Van Waters of Rensselaer, N.Y. (1882-1895, 1900-1922).

Also available is incoming and outgoing correspondence by other Van Waters family members: Van Water's wife Maud, their daughter Miriam, his mother Sarah Ann, Maud's aunt Emily Vosburg, Maud's brothers Fred, Harry and J. Lawrence Vosburg, and Maud's mother and father.

Other material includes sermons by Van Waters, records of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon and St. David's Episcopal Church including baptism, marriage, confirmation, burial and communicants' registers, and documents and letters relating to church calls and personal business.

Also contained in the collection is an expense ledger of George R. Vosburg on behalf of John E. DuBois' lumber and timber purchases in Oregon, 1899-1901.

The 1979 addendum contains outgoing and incoming correspondence, incoming telegrams, sermon manuscripts, and miscellaneous church papers including bulletins, announcements, programs and promotional material.

The 1993 Addendum (Up 085) consists of sermon notes, and family legal and financial papers.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Clergy--United States--Correspondence
  • Lumbering--Oregon

Personal Names

  • Van Waters, Miriam

Corporate Names

  • Episcopal Church. Diocese of Oregon

Family Names

  • Vosburgh family

Geographical Names

  • Oregon, Eastern--Church history
  • Oregon--Church history

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Sermons