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Kyrk family papers, circa 1855-2015
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Kyrk family
- Title
- Kyrk family papers
- Dates
- circa 1855-2015 (inclusive)18552015
- Quantity
- 9.6 cubic feet, (17 letter document cases; 1 slim letter document case; 1 flat box (20x24x3); 1 flat box (10x13x3); 1 card file box (9x16x5); 1 card file box (12x9x3); 2 card file boxes (12x9x6); 1 card file box (12x3x5); 1 card file box (12x6x4); 2 boxes (10.5x12.5x6); 1 map folder (30x42))
- Collection Number
- Coll 489
- Summary
- Papers and photographs of the Kyrk family and related families. William Wallace Kyrk and Margaret Tennant Kyrk emigrated from Nebraska to Portland, Oregon, in 1889. Members of the Kyrk family lived in Portland, Oregon; Clackamas County, Oregon; Marion County, Oregon; and Pendleton, Oregon.
- 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
In 1889, William Wallace Kyrk and his wife, Margaret Tennant Kyrk, emigrated from Nebraska to Portland, Oregon. Their son, Arthur George Kyrk, worked as a printer pressman for the State of Oregon, and as a farmer in Hubbard, Oregon. He married Gertrude Evira Hansen, the daughter of Danish immigrants, married in 1923. The couple had three sons: Robert J. Kyrk, Warren Kyrk, and Howard Kyrk.
Warren Kyrk served in the 4th Marine Division during World War II. After the war, all three Kyrk brothers raised turkeys until the mid-1950s. After 1954, Robert J. Kyrk, the oldest of the brothers, worked as an insurance adjustor in Pendleton, Oregon; Yakima, Washington; and Weiser, Idaho. Eventually, he retired to Yoder, Oregon. Robert J. Kyrk was married three times: first to Barbara J. Woodford; then to Ruby I. Capps-Parks; and finally to Ethel Rosetta Eyman Mattison.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The bulk of the collection consists of papers and photographs relating to Robert J. Kyrk and his immediate family. The papers include Robert J. Kyrk's appointment books and journals. The collection also includes land records, materials related to turkey farming, papers relating Warren Kyrk's service during World War II, and materials relating to dog shows and to Future Farmers of America, of which Robert J. Kyrk was a member. The collection also contains a large number of photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. Other individuals and families represented in the collection include Gertrude Kyrk's family, the Hansens; the Mattison family; the Eyman family; and the Widstrand family. The collection includes a genealogy of the Kyrk family and histories of families related to the Kyrk family through marriage.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Collection was titled "Kyrk family collection" prior to 2020.
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. 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
Kyrk family papers, Coll 489, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Collection is arranged in three series: Series A. Family papers; Series B. Family histories; Series C. Family photographs.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Robert J. Kyrk, Julia C. Kyrk Peterson, and Juliana K. Kyrk, March 2014, with an addition in 2015 (Lib. Acc. 28160).
Separated Materials
A book of sheet music was separated to the Performing Arts collection, Mss 1523, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Preservation Note
Photographs in Box 18, folder 7, and Box 28 are not available for direct access. Portrait of Arthur G. Kyrk requires assistance to view. Contact library staff for assistance.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Family papers, 1886-2015Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1-3 | General correspondence |
1931-1988 |
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence from Marie K. Hansen to Gertrude Kyrk |
1941-1948 |
| 1 | 5-6 | Margaret Tennant Kyrk correspondence |
1896-1948 |
| 1 | 7 | Correspondence between Maxine Pfister Raney and Robert J. Kyrk |
1967-1993 |
| 1 | 8 | Mattison family correspondence |
1989; undated |
| 1 | 9-10 | Correspondence - postcards and greeting cards |
1905-1967 |
| 1 | 11 | Baby cards |
undated |
| 1 | 12 | Announcement of Hansen Farm auction |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | Arthur G. Kyrk's Printing Pressmans' Union ribbon |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Gertrude E. Hansen autograph book, "My Ladye's at Home Book" |
1904-1917 |
| 2 | 3 | Gertrude Hansen's Monitor State Bank account book, including pasted newspaper clipping about automobile accident |
1923; undated |
| 2 | 4 | Gertrude Kyrk account book |
1920-1957 |
| 2 | 5 | Gertrude Kyrk "Stork Shower" notes |
circa 1923 |
| 2 | 6 | Irena Kyrk notebook |
circa 1920 |
| 2 | 7 | Margaret Tennant Kyrk ephemera |
undated |
| 2 | 8 | Robert J. Kyrk baby book |
1924-1925 |
| 27 | 2 | Baptism certificates of Ethel Rosetta Eyman, Robert Julius Kyrk, and Warren Frank Kyrk |
1916; 1924-1925 |
| 27 | 4 | Insurance Institute of America certificates awarded to Robert J. Kyrk |
1971-1972 |
| 3 | Robert J. Kyrk appointment books |
1956-1986 | |
| 4 | Robert J. Kyrk journals |
1976-1999 | |
| 5 | Robert J. Kyrk journals |
2000-2012 | |
| Folder | |||
| 2 | 9 | Robert J. Kyrk and Warren F. Kyrk confirmation certificates |
1940 May-1940 June |
| 2 | 10 | Robert J. Kyrk and Barbara Kyrk marriage certificate |
1946 |
| 2 | 11 | Robert J. Kyrk and Ethel Kyrk marriage certificate |
1995 |
| 2 | 12 | Barbara Woodford school records |
1942-1946 |
| 2 | 13 | Robert J. Kyrk autograph book for Oak Lawn School |
1938 |
| 2 | 14 | Warren F. Kyrk grade school report cards |
1930-1938 |
| 6 | 1-2 | Robert J. Kyrk and Warren F. Kyrk Canby Union High School records |
1939-1943 |
| 6 | 3 | Canby Union High School handbook |
1941 |
| 6 | 4 | Records about Canby Union High School reunions |
1967-1992 |
| 6 | 5 | School commencement and convention programs |
1924-1942 |
| 21 | 3 | Warren F. Kyrk - Camp Elliott commemorative book |
1944 |
| 6 | 6 | Warren F. Kyrk flight logbook |
1953-1954 |
| 6 | 7 | Warren F. Kyrk Marine Corps ephemera |
circa 1944 |
| 6 | 8 | Correspondence about Warren F. Kyrk's military service and his stay at the Veteran's Hospital |
1946-1968 |
| 27 | 1 | Crayon portrait of William Wallace Kyrk |
circa 1875 |
| 6 | 9 | Mamie Widstrand autograph book |
1907-1911 |
| 6 | 10 | Kyrk family ration books |
circa 1943 |
| Folder | |||
| Oversize 1 | Aerial maps of Kyrk farm at S. Schneider Road and S. Needy Road |
undated | |
| Box | Folder | ||
| 7 | 1 | Business cards |
undated |
| 7 | 2 | 1961 Agricultural Conservation Program Handbook for Clackamas County |
1961 |
| 7 | 3 | Clackamas County Jersey Spring Show program |
1943 |
| 27 | 5 | Maps of Clackamas County and Steens Mountain |
undated |
| 7 | 4 | Dog show and kennel club correspondence |
1954-1956 |
| 7 | 5 | Dog show and kennel club certificates, forms, and receipts |
1954-1957 |
| 7 | 6 | Driver's licenses and Motor Association papers |
1941-1996 |
| 7 | 7 | Other certificates and membership cards |
circa 1937-1995 |
| 7 | 8 | Estate records |
1966-1982 |
| 7 | 9 | Hymn book of Arthur George Kyrk, "The Finest of the Wheat" |
1896 |
| 7 | 10 | Non-English language materials |
1886; undated |
| 7 | 11-12 | Funeral service programs of Kyrk family and friends |
1959-2015 |
| 8 | 1-3 | Funeral service programs of Kyrk family and friends |
1982-2011 |
| 8 | 4 | Future Farmers of America materials |
1941-1963 |
| 8 | 5 | Grave plot purchases |
1922-1931 |
| 8 | 6 | Histories of Smyrna Congregation and of Yoder, Oregon |
2004 August |
| 8 | 7 | International Order of Odd Fellows materials |
1922-1987 |
| 8 | 8-9 | Land and business records |
1948-1972 |
| 9 | 1 | Land and business records |
1955-1971 |
| 9 | 2 | Marion County Farm Bureau convention notebooks |
undated |
| 9 | 3 | Newspaper clippings |
1944-1996 |
| 9 | 4 | Newspaper clippings about Alden C. Mattison and Makin Island raid |
1942 |
| 9 | 5 | Issues of "The American Observer" |
1942 March-May |
| 9 | 6 | Issues of "Canby Union High School Echo" |
1940-1941 |
| 9 | 7 | Issue of "The Grantonian" |
1941 October 10 |
| 9 | 8 | Oregon-related ephemera |
1901-1956 |
| 9 | 9 | Oregon Farm Bureau publications and mailings |
1951-1982 |
| 9 | 10 | Oregon Soil Clinic records |
1953 |
| 9 | 11 | Permits and licenses |
1912-1955 |
| 21 | 2 | Plat and zoning records |
1926-1971 |
| 9 | 12 | Smyrna Church materials |
1941-1966 |
| 9 | 13 | Correspondence, certificates, and other materials relating to turkey farming |
1942-1966 |
| 9 | 14 | Essay by Noel L. Bennion of Oregon State College about Kyrk turkey farm |
circa 1948 |
| 10 | 1 | "Useful Birds of America" cards |
undated |
| 10 | 2 | War Cookbook for American Women |
1918 |
| 10 | 3 | Warranty deeds |
undated |
| 10 | 4 | Blank Christmas cards |
undated |
| 10 | 5-7 | Blank postcards |
undated |
| 10 | 8 | Postcard booklets |
undated |
| 20 | 16 | Scrapbook of newspaper clippings and photographs |
1936; undated |
Series B: Family histories, 1957-2013Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 10 | 9 | Handwritten biographical narratives |
undated |
| 10 | 10 | Kyrk family genealogy |
2013 |
| 10 | 11 | Eyman family history |
1957 |
| 10 | 12 | Gottwald family history |
1978 |
| 10 | 13 | Schneider family history |
2006 |
| 10 | 14 | Widstrand family history |
2003 |
Series C: Family photographs, circa 1855-2009Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 11 | 1-8 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1870-1900 |
| 12 | 1-2 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1870-1900 |
| 27 | 6 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1870-1900 |
| 12 | 3-9 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1900-1930 |
| 13 | 1-8 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1900-1930 |
| 14 | 1-2 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1900-1930 |
| 14 | 3-8 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1930-1960 |
| 15 | 1-9 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1930-1960 |
| 16 | 1-8 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1930-1960 |
| 17 | 1-9 | Unsorted family photographs |
circa 1960-2009 |
| 18 | 1 | Henry Hansen and Wesley Hansen |
1921-1945; undated |
| 18 | 2 | Marie K. Hansen |
undated |
| 18 | 3 | Hansen farm in Monitor, Oregon |
undated |
| 18 | 4 | Hansen farm on S. Needy Road, Canby, Oregon |
undated |
| 18 | 5 | Gertrude Hansen Kyrk |
circa 1920-1950 |
| 18 | 6 | Gertrude Kyrk funeral |
1968 January |
| 18 | 7 | Irena Ellen Kyrk and Arthur G. Kyrk (glass image) |
circa 1895 |
| 18 | 8 | School that Arthur G. Kyrk attended |
undated |
| 27 | 7 | Group photographs of Oregon State Printing Office employees, including Arthur G. Kyrk |
1913 January; undated |
| 18 | 9 | Arthur G. Kyrk and Kyrk farm |
undated |
| 18 | 10 | Arthur G. Kyrk funeral |
1937 July |
| 18 | 11 | Howard Kyrk; Kyrk family at home in Silverton, Oregon; Kyrk family at Mrs. Alvak Kyrk home in Battle Ground, Washington; Robert J. Kyrk home in Pendleton, Oregon |
circa 1962 |
| 27 | 10 | Hand-colored portrait of Margaret Tennant Kyrk |
circa 1855 |
| 18 | 12 | Robert J. Kyrk |
circa 1924-1930 |
| 18 | 13 | Robert J. Kyrk and Howard Kyrk with their cars (prints and negative) |
1944 April |
| 18 | 14 | Robert J. Kyrk and Ethel Kyrk at Julia Kyrk Peterson's home |
2002 June |
| 27 | 8 | Robert J. Kyrk and Warren F. Kyrk portraits |
circa 1942-1943 |
| 18 | 15 | Warren F. Kyrk in the Marine Corps |
1943-1945 |
| 18 | 16 | Kyrk brothers turkey farm |
undated |
| 18 | 17 | Kyrk farm (formerly Hansen farm) at S. Schneider Road and S. Needy Road, Canby, Oregon |
1960-1961 |
| 19 | 1 | Damage caused to Warren F. Kyrk's property by Columbus Day Storm and subsequent cleanup (prints and negatives) |
1962 October-1963 August |
| 19 | 2 | Kyrk property improvements |
1966 June 30 |
| 19 | 3 | Eyman family and Widstand family |
circa 1910-1930 |
| 19 | 4-5 | Eyman family, Widstrand family, and Mattison family |
circa 1930-1960 |
| 19 | 6 | Eyman family, Widstrand family, and Mattison family |
circa 1960-1975 |
| 19 | 7-9 | Eyman family (prints and negatives) |
circa 1944-1947 July |
| 19 | 10 | Eyman family and Mattison family (prints and negatives) |
circa 1948 |
| 19 | 11 | Grandchildren of Fred Eyman and Mamie Eyman (prints and negatives) |
circa 1950 |
| 19 | 12 | Eyman family (prints and negatives) |
circa 1950 |
| 19 | 13 | Eyman family and Widstrand family (prints and negatives) |
1959 July |
| 19 | 14 | Fred Eyman and Mamie Eyman property (prints and negatives) |
1947 |
| 19 | 15 | Fred Eyman and Mamie Eyman (prints and negatives) |
1958 August |
| 27 | 9 | Mamie Widstrand Eyman |
1915; circa 1960 |
| 19 | 16 | Mamie Widstrand Eyman (prints and negatives) |
1961 August |
| 19 | 17 | Eyman family photograph booklet and corresponding negatives |
undated |
| 20 | 1 | Oregon State Printers |
undated |
| 20 | 2 | Pig sucking cow's udder (print and negative) |
1929 |
| 27 | 9 | Yoder School pupils, including Howard Kyrk |
1938 October |
| 20 | 3 | Harold Erland and Norma Erland |
circa 1943 |
| 20 | 4 | Snow scenes |
1949-1950 |
| 20 | 5 | View north of Schneider road |
1961 February |
| 20 | 6 | Car accident near Prosser, Washington (prints and negatives) |
1973 March 15 |
| 20 | 7 | Unidentified farm property |
undated |
| 20 | 8-10 | Unsorted negatives |
undated |
| 20 | 11 | Unsorted negatives |
1938 |
| 20 | 12 | Negatives - Eyman family, Widstrand family, and related families |
undated |
| 20 | 13 | Eyman family slides |
undated |
| 20 | 14 | Wood-mounted image of Mt. Baker |
undated |
| 20 | 15 | Wood-mounted image of Old Oregon State Capitol |
undated |
| 22 | Woodblock portrait of Robert J. Kyrk |
undated | |
| 22 | Photograph album |
circa 1870-1900 | |
| 23 | Photograph album |
circa 1870-1900 | |
| 24 | Photograph album |
circa 1870-1900 | |
| 25 | Photograph album |
circa 1940-1945 | |
| 26 | Photograph album |
circa 1920-1950 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Agriculture--Oregon
- Families--Oregon
- Genealogy
Personal Names
- Kyrk, Gertrude, 1891-1968
- Kyrk, Robert J. (Robert Julius), 1924-2015
- Kyrk, Warren F. (Warren Frank), 1925-1996
Family Names
- Eyman family
- Hansen family
- Kyrk family
- Mattison family
- Widstrand family
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
- photographs
