Ben Hur Lampman papers , 1912-1954

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Lampman, Ben Hur, 1886-1954
Title
Ben Hur Lampman papers
Dates
1912-1954 (inclusive)
Quantity
21 linear feet, (17 containers)  :  1 record storage box, 3 manuscript box, and 13 oversize boxes.
Collection Number
Ax 426
Summary
Ben Hur Lampman (1886-1954) worked as a compositor, printer, and editor in North Dakota, then as editor and publisher of the Gold Hill News in Gold Hill, Oregon (1912-1916). From 1916, he was an editorial writer for the Portland Oregonian and also wrote stories and essays for a variety of periodicals. He was designated Poet Laureate of Oregon in 1951. The collection contains manuscripts for books, poems, editorials, essays, correspondence with magazine editors, speeches, printed material, biographical material, photographs, and scrapbooks, 1912-1954.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ben Hur Lampman (1886-1954) was born in Barron, Wisconsin and educated in North Dakota. He worked as a compositor, printer, and editor in Nelson County, North Dakota, and then as editor and publisher of the Gold Hill News, Gold Hill, Oregon (1912-1916).

From 1916 he was an editorial writer for the Portland Oregonian. He wrote short stories, essays, and poems for a variety of periodicals, a novel, and non-fiction books. He was designated poet laureate of Oregon in 1951.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains manuscripts for books, poems, editorials and essays, correspondence with magazine editors, speeches, printed material, biographical material, photographs, and scrapbooks.

The collection has been separated into four series: Series 1: Manuscripts and related material; Series 2: Scrapbooks; Series 3: Publications; and Series 4: Personal and biographical material.

Series 1: contains manuscripts of essays, stories, editorials, paragraphs, poems, music, and books. Book manuscripts include The Coming of the Pond Fishes and Wild Swan and Other Sketches. Correspondence relating to The Coming of the Pond Fishes is also included in this series.

Series 2: contains scrapbooks which house clippings, letters, photographs, mementos, manuscripts, and printed pieces.

Series 3: contains publications in which Lampan's writings have appeared, including The Dearborn Independent, Nature Magazine, Newsweek, The Oregon Sportsman, Outdoor Recreation, Outdoors - South, Postmasters Gazette, and Sunset Magazine.

Series 4: contains correspondence (1916-1945) with magazine editors includes letters exchanged with William L. Finley, and Nature magazine, five speeches, pamphlets, reprints of editorials, broadsides, and offprints, among them the pamphlet, Centralia, Tragedy and Trial (1920). Biographical material in this series consists of photographs and mementos, including inscribed copies of the Senate resolution urging Lampman's appointment as Oregon's Poet Laureate.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • American literature--Authorship
  • American literature--Oregon
  • Authors, American--20th century
  • Authors, American--Oregon
  • Journalists--Oregon
  • Newspaper editors--Oregon
  • Poetry--Authorship
  • Poets laureate--Oregon
  • Poets, American--20th century
  • Poets, American--Oregon

Personal Names

  • Lampman, Ben Hur, 1886-1954

Corporate Names

  • Oregonian (Firm)

Geographical Names

  • Gold Hill (Or.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Photographs
  • Scrapbooks