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Oliver Matthews Collection, 1905-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Matthews, Oliver Vincent, 1892-1979
Title
Oliver Matthews Collection
Dates
1905-1969
Quantity
16 cubic feet
Collection Number
Consult repository.
Summary
The Matthews Collection consists of scrapbooks and trip logs pertaining to Oregon trees, logging methods, and wood products.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Oliver Matthews (1892-1979), dendrologist and self-described "botanical tramp," traveled all parts of Oregon for more than 40 years in pursuit of trees, particularly the biggest of each species. Matthews graduated from Willamette University in 1913 and later received teacher training as a post-graduate at Oregon College of Education, but had no formal training as a botanist.

He served in Europe during World War I and worked as a carpenter and an extra in the silent film industry in Hollywood after the war. He returned to Oregon in 1928 and except for seasonal work as a carpenter and in a Salem cannery, devoted the rest of his life to the study of Oregon's trees. He corresponded extensively with herbariums, state and national forest services, newspapers, and individuals; collected hundreds of wood specimens; discovered a new cypress that bears his name; extended the known geographical range of several trees; contributed extensive botanical specimens to many herbariums; and located, measured, and documented the largest specimens of many trees, including Douglas Fir and Weeping Spruce.

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Content Description

This collection consists of scrapbooks and logs pertaining to Oregon trees, logging methods, and wood products. The scrapbooks, arranged by species or other subject, include correspondence, clippings, photographs, and postcards. The logs contain day-by-day and mile-by-mile information on trips taken by Matthews in his search for botanical specimens, wood samples, and rare or large trees. The logs include maps, photographs, correspondence, trip narratives, and receipts.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Oliver Matthews Collection, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized in three series: 1. Scrapbooks; 2. Logs; and 3. Publications.

Related Materials

Other materials relating to this collection can be found in the Oliver Matthews Photographic Collection (P 118) and in the Memorabilia Collection.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Christmas tree growing.
  • Cypress.
  • Douglas fir--Oregon.
  • Forest products--Oregon.
  • Forest fires--Oregon.
  • Forests and forestry--Oregon.
  • Logging railroads.
  • Logging--Machinery.
  • Logging--Oregon.
  • Tillamook Burn, Or., 1933.
  • Trees--Oregon--Identification.
  • Wood--Identification.

Corporate Names

  • Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition (1905: Portland, Or.)

Geographical Names

  • Coos Bay (Or.)
  • Salem (Or.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Scrapbooks.


1993

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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