Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Diaries, 1848-1973
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Brown, Hiram, 1823-1898
- Title
- Diaries
- Dates
- 1848-1973 (inclusive)
1855-1896 (bulk) - Quantity
- 3 cubic feet, (2 card file boxes; 3 document cases)
- Collection Number
- Mss 370
- Summary
- Diaries of Hiram Brown, captain of a river steamboat operating between Portland and Astoria, Oregon, from the mid to late 19th century. Includes notations on ship movements and tides. Includes transcripts and notes by Joseph Schiwek.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Hiram Brown was born in Cayuga County, New York, on December 14, 1823. He was first employed as a deckhand on a Mississippi River steamboat and came West during the California gold rush. Brown returned to maritime work as a deckhand on the river steamer Lot Whitcomb in 1851, sailing between Portland and Astoria, Oregon. In 1857, he was promoted to captain and worked continuously for the next 32 years, until his retirement in December 1889. He died on March 9, 1898, in Astoria.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Diaries record Brown's daily activities in Portland, Oregon, and Astoria, Oregon; also contains information about ships in port, including their names, arrival and departure times, and notes on tides. All years between 1855 and 1896 are represented except 1858 and 1874. Most entries are brief. Personal information, such as family events, is written in cipher. A key to the cipher is included in the collection.
In 1973 the diaries were transcribed by Joseph A. Schiwek. Besides these transcriptions, the collection includes Schiwek's extensive notes on people and places mentioned in the diaries.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Alternative Forms Available
A transcription of the diaries by Joseph A. Schiwek, Jr., 1973, is included in the collection.
Preferred Citation
Hiram Brown Diaries, Mss 370, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The diaries are arranged in two series as follows
- Series A: Original diaries, 1855-1896
- Series B: Transcriptions, notes, and related materials, circa 1973
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Original diaries, 1855-1896Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Vol. 1 |
1855-1856 |
| 1/2 | Vol. 2 |
1857 |
| 1/3 | Vol. 3 |
1859 |
| 1/4 | Vol. 4 |
1860 |
| 1/5 | Vol. 5 |
1861 |
| 1/6 | Vol. 6 |
1862 |
| 1/7 | Vol. 7 |
1863 |
| 1/8 | Vol. 8 |
1864 |
| 1/9 | Vol. 9 |
1865 |
| 1/10 | Vol. 10 |
1866 |
| 1/11 | Vol. 11 |
1867 |
| 1/12 | Vol. 12 |
1868 |
| 1/13 | Vol. 13 |
1869 |
| 1/14 | Vol. 14 |
1870 |
| 1/15 | Vol. 15 |
1871 |
| 1/16 | Vol. 16 |
1872 |
| 1/17 | Vol. 17 |
1873 |
| 1/18 | Vol. 18 |
1875 |
| 1/19 | Vol. 19 |
1876 |
| 1/20 | Vol. 20 |
1877 |
| 1/21 | Vol. 21 |
1878 |
| 1/22 | Vol. 22 |
1879 |
| 2/1 | Vol. 23 |
1880 |
| 2/2 | Vol. 24 |
1881 |
| 2/3 | Vol. 25 |
1882 |
| 2/4 | Vol. 26 |
1883 |
| 2/5 | Vol. 27 |
1884 |
| 2/6 | Vol. 28 |
1885 |
| 2/7 | Vol. 29 |
1886 |
| 2/8 | Vol. 30 |
1887 |
| 2/9 | Vol. 31 |
1888 |
| 2/10 | Vol. 32 |
1889 |
| 2/11 | Vol. 33 |
1890 |
| 2/12 | Vol. 34 |
1891 |
| 2/13 | Vol. 35 |
1892 |
| 2/14 | Vol. 36 |
1893 |
| 2/15 | Vol. 37 |
1894 |
| 2/16 | Vol. 38 |
1895 |
| 2/17 | Vol. 39 |
1896 |
Series B:: Transcriptions, notes, and related materials, ca. 1973Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/1 | Cipher key and biographical materials
Includes explanation of cipher; copy of newspaper article;
notes; loose papers found in diaries, ca. 1873; photocopy of letter from Hiram
Brown to his wife, 1848; and rubbing from grave stone of Hiram Brown
|
ca. 1848-1973 |
Uncorrected transcriptions by Joseph Schiwek |
1973 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/2-4 | Transcription vols. 1-3, for diaries
1855-1885 |
1973 |
| 4/1 | Transcription vol. 4, for diaries
1886-1896 |
1973 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/2-4 | Corrected transcriptions |
1973 |
| 5/1-3 | Notes |
ca. 1973 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Ship captains--Oregon--Diaries
- Steam-navigation--Columbia River
- Steam-navigation--Oregon--Willamette River
- Steamboats--Columbia River
- Steamboats--Oregon--Willamette River
Personal Names
- Schiwek, Joseph Anthony, 1947- (creator)
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries
- Ledgers
- Weather diaries
Occupations
- Ship captains
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Brown, Hiram, 1823-1898--Archives
