Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Walker Farms records, 1945-1977
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Walker Farms (Athena, Or.)
- Title
- Walker Farms records
- Dates
- 1945-1977 (inclusive)19451977
- Quantity
- 1.2 cubic feet, (3 document cases)
- Collection Number
- Coll 188
- Summary
- Records of an eastern Oregon farm, near Athena, Oregon, Umatilla County, engaged in large-scale farming of wheat, oats, and peas in the 1940’s to the 1960’s.
- 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
Historical NoteReturn to Top
In Eastern Oregon during the post-World War II era, wheat and oats were cash crops that not only grew in abundance, but also sold readily on the world market. One of the successful farming ventures in the area was Walker Farms, in the Athena area in Umatilla County. The farm was financed by Emery Walker, a businessman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and managed by his partner and son-in-law, Herbert Whitacre.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The main part of the collection consists of the records of the Walker Farms. Included are correspondence, primarily between the partners, financial records related to the farm, the financial holdings of Emery Walker, estate records when Walker died, papers of Walker’s widow Constance, and miscellaneous printed material. The papers in the collection reflect the concerns of farmers with the many ways crops can be ruined by weather, by insect invasions, and by low prices. Alternately, the papers reflect the success of careful management, strong financing, and thoughtful planning. Oregon history in this era would be incomplete without the records of the farm community, such as those in the Walker Farms Records.
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 prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.
Preferred Citation
Walker Farms records, Coll 188, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series:
- Series A: Correspondence
- Series B: Financial records
- Series C: General printed matter
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Correspondence, 1945-1967Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | General |
1946-1967 |
| 1/2 | Pendleton Grain Growers |
1949-1967 |
| 1/3 | Umatilla Canning Company |
1959-1967 |
Correspondence between Emery Walker and Herbert Whitacre |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/4 | 1945-1950 | |
| 1/5 | 1951 | |
| 1/6 | 1952-1955 | |
| 1/7 | 1956-1959 | |
| 1/8 | 1960-1963 | |
| 1/9 | 1964-1967 | |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/10 | Whyte, Hirschback & Minahan
Additional correspondence with this firm appears in the series Financial Records under the estates of Nellie Bucey and Emery Walker.
|
1951-1956 |
Series B: Financial records, 1945-1977Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | Estate of Nellie Bucey |
1951-1952 |
| 2/2 | Investments |
1958-1968 |
| 2/3 | Notes of Emery Walker, including lists of his possessions |
undated |
| 2/3-2/6 | Notes and papers of Constance Walker |
1970-1977 |
| 2/7 | Probate |
1970 |
| 3/1-3/4 | Taxes, general |
1945-1967 |
| 3/5-3/6 | Taxes--Walker Farms |
1951-1967 |
Series C: General printed matterReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/7 | General printed matter |
circa 1945-1970 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Agriculture--Oregon--History.
- Agriculture--Oregon--Umatilla County.
- Farming--Oregon--History.
- Farming--Oregon--Umatilla County.
Personal Names
- Walker, Emery--Archives (creator)
- Whitacre, Herbert O.--Archives. (creator)
Corporate Names
- Walker Farms (Athena, Or.)
Geographical Names
- Athena (Or.)--History.
Form or Genre Terms
- Financial records
- Letters (correspondence)
Finding aid prepared by Grace Hawes and Geoffrey B. Wexler
2010
