Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater Family Collection, ca. 1874-1955
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Blackwell, Eva, 1900-1987
- Title
- Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater Family Collection
- Dates
- ca.
1874-1955 (inclusive)18741955
1895-1931 (bulk)18951931 - Quantity
- 0.4 cubic ft., (The materials are housed in two document boxes and one 20x24 oversize box.)
- Collection Number
- Consult repository.
- Summary
- The Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater Family Collection documents the activities of Eva Blackwell and her family, especially her grandfather, William A. Frater. Blackwell graduated from Oregon Agricultural College in 1924 and was employed in the Registrar's Office for more than 40 years. Frater served as postmaster for Roseburg, Oregon from 1898 until 1904 when he was removed from office for misappropriation of postal funds. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, newspapers and publications, emphemera, artifacts, and photographs assembled by Blackwell.
- Repository
-
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu - Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Alumna Eva Blackwell graduated from Oregon Agricultural College (OAC) in 1924. Blackwell was born March 13, 1900 in Riddle, Oregon and grew up on a dairy farm in Smith River in the lower Umpqua Valley. She graduated from high school in Riddle, Oregon in 1918. Blackwell took a 2-week milk testing course at Oregon Agricultural College and returned to the Gardiner area to work for a local dairy association testing milk for butter fat content. In 1920, she enrolled as an undergraduate student at OAC. After her graduation in 1924, she began working in the Registrar's Office and held various positions, including Assistant Registrar until her retirement in 1965. In the early 1950s, she was a member of the College's Archives Committee. She returned to work for the Registrar's Office in May of each year through 1981 to compile statistical data for the graduating class. Blackwell died in Benton County, Oregon, in 1987.
Blackwell's maternal grandfather, William A. Frater was born in Ohio in 1843. After serving as a 2nd Sergeant of Company E, 170th Ohio Volunteers during the Civil War, he operated a livestock business with his brothers in Ohio. Frater moved to Kansas in 1877 and to Roseburg, Oregon in the late 1870s. He served as Douglas County Treasurer from 1893 to 1898 and as postmaster in Roseburg from 1898 until 1903 when he was indicted for misappropriation of postal funds and removed from office. Frater's daughter, LaAmi Etta Frater, married Lincoln Blackwell in 1896 and lived in the lower Umpqua River Valley.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Series I consists of letters to William A. Frater on the topic of his appointment as postmaster and letters from United States senators regarding support of bills introduced that affected the state of Oregon. Series II contains the certificate of appointment as postmaster presented to William A. Frater, March 8, 1898, signed by President William A. McKinley and the high school diploma for Ida Isabella Blackwell. The clippings in Series III represent a variety of topics, many concerning local Roseburg and Douglas County topics including William A. Frater's indictment and trial for misappropriation of funds and removal from his position as Roseburg's postmaster. Series III also includes an 1895 issue of the Riddle Enterprise. Series IV contains assorted artifacts and ephemera, including an International Order of the Odd Fellows badge for the May 1911 meeting in Portland, Oregon. Series V contains publications, including a book of verse presented by William A. Frater to his daughter, Etta, on her wedding day. Series VI consists of pocket calendars recording various daily tasks and events. Series VII includes a photo of Frater and several unidentified children.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater Family Collection, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The materials are arranged into seven series: I. Correspondence; II. Certificate and Diploma; III. Clippings and Newspapers; IV. Artifacts and Ephemera; V. Publications; VI. Pocket Calendars and Autograph Album; and VII. Photographs.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: Correspondence, 1897-1900Return to Top
Container(s): Box 1
Series II: Certificate and Diploma, 1898-1924Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Certificate of Appointment of
William A. Frater as Postmaster of Roseburg, Oregon
apx 20x24 in.
|
1898 |
| 1 | Diploma to Ida Isabella
Blackwell from Smith River High School, Reedsport, Oregon |
1924 |
Series III: Clippings and Newspapers, ca. 1874-1931Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Newsclippings |
ca. 1874-1931 |
| 2 |
Riddle
Enterprise
apx 20x24 in.
|
May 25, 1895 |
| 2 |
Oregon State
Barometer
apx 20x24 in.
|
November 1, 1930 |
| 2 |
Oregon State
Barometer
apx 20x24 in.
|
April 1, 1931 |
Series V: Publications, 1895- ca. 1955Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 |
Immortal Treasures of Choice
Literature, Masterworks of Art and Superb Songs
Presentation copy to "Etta" from William A. Frater on their
wedding day, December 22, 1896.
|
1895 |
| 1 |
The Tale of Bunny
Cotton-Tail, by Laura R. Smith
Presentation copy to Eva Blackwell from her teacher, L.A.
Lyster, August 31, 1906.
|
1905 |
| 1 |
Umpqua of
Gardiner
|
1917-1918 |
| 1 |
Industrial Club Work of Oregon Boys
and Girls
|
1918 |
| 1 |
Songs of OSC
|
ca. 1955 |
Series VI: Pocket Calendars and Autograph Album, 1880-1929Return to Top
Container(s): Box 1
Series VII: Photographs, ca. 1900-1920Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | Two children |
ca. 1900 |
| 3 | Baby |
ca. 1900 |
| 3 | Dairy cow
("Midget") |
ca. 1910 |
| 3 | Postcard print of
K.V. Kruse
|
ca. 1920 |
| 3 | William A. Frater
Photo by H.D. Graves, Roseburg, Oregon.
|
ca. 1900 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Postal service--Oregon--Roseburg
Personal Names
- Blackwell, Eva, 1900-1987. (creator)
- Frater, William A., 1843-1918.
Geographical Names
- Douglas County (Or.)
- Roseburg (Or.)
- Smith River (Douglas County, Or.)
- Umpqua River Valley (Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Diaries.
- Photographs.
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Frater, William A., 1843-1918. (creator)
Finding aid prepared by Faye Harkins.
2004
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
