Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Robertson and Corbett family correspondence, 1827-1996
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Robertson family
- Title
- Robertson and Corbett family correspondence
- Dates
- 1827-1996 (inclusive)18271996
1854-1870 (bulk)18541870 - Quantity
- 0.52 cubic feet, (1 slim document case, 1 flat box)
- Collection Number
- Coll 781
- Summary
- Letters and other materials written by and to members of the Robertson and Corbett families in the 19th century, plus transcripts of some letters, along with other materials.
- 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
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
The Corbett and Robertson families were among the early settlers of Portland, Oregon in the 1850s. Henry Winslow Corbett (1827-1903) established a merchandising business, while Thomas Robertson (1817-1900) established a wholesale hardware business, Foster and Robertson. These firms merged in 1892 as Corbett, Failing & Robertson. The families were also linked through the marriage of Thomas Robertson and Mary Freeland Corbett (1822-1879). Caroline Jagger ("Cara") Corbett (1829-1865) was a sister-in-law of Mary Freeland Corbett Robertson, and wife of Henry Winslow Corbett.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection primarily consists of letters written by members of the Robertson and Corbett families. The majority of loose letters are addressed to Thomas Robertson (1817-1900) and Mary Freeland Robertson (1822-1879), and include letters from their son W. E. Robertson and from Emily Alvord, wife of Benjamin Alvord. Box 2 contains a binder compiled by Thomas Robertson (1881-1924), which houses letters to the Corbetts and Robertsons, particularly letters from Caroline ("Cara") Corbett, along with some ephemera. A transcript to the letters in the binder, along with genealogical information, made by Mary Couch Robertson Butler and Mary Caroline ("Ma'Carry") Hull, is housed in Box 1, folder 11. Additional materials include a newspaper clipping of President Andrew Johnson's farewell address and a photograph of Thomas Robertson (1881-1924).
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Robertson and Corbett family correspondence, Coll 781, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Loose materials and transcription are housed in Box 1; binder is housed in Box 2.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Mary Couch Robertson Butler, March 30, 1996 (Lib. Acc. 22636).
Related Materials
Additional materials relating to the Robertson family are housed in Coll 784, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Additional materials relating to the Corbett family are housed in Mss 1110 and Coll 592, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Preservation Note
Access to the binder in Box 2 is restricted for preservation purposes; researchers are asked to use the typescript version of the binder's contents instead.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Frontier and pioneer life--Oregon
Personal Names
- Alvord, Emily Louise, 1826-1885
- Corbett, Caroline E., 1829-1865
- Robertson, Mary Freeland, 1822-1879
- Robertson, Thomas, 1817-1900
- Robertson, Thomas, 1881-1924--Photographs
- Robertson, William Edie, 1854-1939
Form or Genre Terms
- Correspondence
- Ephemera (general object genre)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Robertson, Thomas, 1881-1924 (creator)
Family Names
- Corbett family (creator)
