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C.E.S. Wood collection, circa 1852-1970
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944.
- Title
- C.E.S. Wood collection
- Dates
- circa
1852-1970 (inclusive)18521970
1852-1944 (bulk)18521944 - Quantity
- 1.64 cubic feet, (2 document cases, 2 oversize folders)
- Collection Number
- MSS 800
- Summary
- Collection includes correspondence, mostly photocopies, of C.E.S. Wood and Sara Bard Field. Also included are diaries, record books, certificates, miscellaneous speeches, scripts, poems, programs, broadsides, ephemera, and photocopied excerpts from Wood's autobiographies.
- 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
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
C.E.S. Wood was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on February 20, 1852 to Rosemary Carson and William Maxwell Wood. He graduated from West Point Academy and subsequently headed west in 1874 to embark on his own military career, during which he served in the Nez Perce and Bannock-Paiute campaigns. It was during this time that Wood first came to eastern Oregon and experienced a profound connection with the natural world that influenced much of his poetry and writing. Afterward, Wood earned his law degree at West Point and settled in Portland, Oregon where he joined the law firm of Durham and Ball. Wood and his wife, Nanny Moale, had five children. Wood was outspoken in his political and cultural views; he became a highly influential figure in Portland’s culture and society. He was multi-faceted; at times a pacifist, an activist, an anarchist, a libertarian, a soldier, an attorney, and a bohemian. His life was richly steeped in the world of the arts and humanities as creator and lover of art, writer, bibliophile, and gifted public speaker. His diverse writing endeavors include poems, play scripts, book reviews, and articles. His writing was often published in The Pacific Monthly, a popular Portland magazine.
Wood and his wife had been estranged for some time when Wood met Sara Bard Field Erhgott, with whom he had much in common. They shared similar political views and they both loved literature and wrote poetry. The couple moved to California, where they eventually married and lived the rest of their lives at "The Cats,” their estate named after the nearby town of Los Gatos. Wood wrote prolifically during these years. C.E.S. Wood passed away just shy of his ninety-second birthday on January 22, 1944.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The contents of this collection consist primarily of photocopies of documents from the Huntington Library and Stanford Library. A sizable portion of the collection consists of personal and professional correspondence between C.E.S. Wood or Sara Bard Field and others. The collection also includes C.E.S Wood’s journals, excerpts from his autobiographies, and documents relating to Wood’s military and law career. These documents provide insight into Wood’s experience in the Bannock War, the treaty between the Bannocks and Shoshones, the Nez Perce campaign, and Chief Joseph’s surrender.
Many samples of Wood’s published writing, including scripts, poems, and speeches are in this collection. Publications include “Circe: A Drama with a Prologue”, “A Beggar at the Gate”, “The Desert in Summer”, “Imperialism vs. Democracy”, and “The Poet in the Desert.” In addition, there are production handbills, book jackets, and letterpress proofs. The collection also includes miscellaneous documents spanning close to a century from Wood’s family members, such as a speech of Sara Bard Field, family event invitations, C.E.S. Wood’s memorial, and published materials of Erskine Wood. A brief story of Wood’s home life in Portland is told in “The Wood Household”, by Barbara Barlett Howell.
Individuals represented in this collection include William Rose Benet, Ernest Bloch, Cyril Clemens, Anne Cobden-Sanderson, Clarence Darrow, Sara Bard Field, Barbara Barlett Hartwell, Max Hayek, David Erskine Honeyman, Harry Howard, Edward Lyman, H.L. Mencken, John and Molly O’Shea, Lute Pease, Ezra Pound, Theodore Roosevelt, Hendrik Willem van Loon, Olin L. Warner, Bruce Berwick Wood, Erskine Wood, Tom Carson Wood, and William Maxwell Wood.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
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
C.E.S. Wood collection, MSS 800, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in the following series:
- Series A: Correspondence
- Series B: Personal papers
- Series C: Professional papers
- Series D: Publications and ephemera
- Series E: Family papers
Custodial History
Acquisition Information
Lib. Acc. 11686
Processing Note
Collection processed by Jules Filipski
Separated Materials
Bibliography
Related Materials
Additional materials about the Wood family can be found in the following collections housed at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library:
- Erskine Wood papers, 1893-1978, Mss 2445.
- Nan Wood Honeyman papers, 1935-1962, Mss 193.
- Nanny Moale Wood notebooks, circa 1893-1902, Coll 511.
- Nanny Wood collection, 1894-2011, Coll 223.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A : Correspondence , 1883-1970 Return to Top
Includes both professional and personal correspondence involving C.E.S. Wood and/or his family members.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Olin L. Warner to C.E.S. Wood
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1883-1895 |
| 1/2 | Theodore Roosevelt to C.E.S. Wood
Photocopy from the Huntington Library.
|
1901 |
| 1/3 | Clarence Darrow to C.E.S. Wood
Five letters. Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1912-1920 |
| 1/4 | Wood, Montague & Hunt to Oregon Bar notifying of
Wood's resignation |
1913 |
| 1/5 | C.E.S. Wood to Bruce Berwick Wood
Photocopy.
|
1921 |
| 1/6 | H.L. Mencken to Hendrik Willem van Loon
Photocopy from the Huntington Library.
|
1923 |
| 1/7 | C.E.S. Wood to Max Hayek regarding the German
translation of "A Poet in the Desert"
Photocopy from the Huntington Library.
|
1927 |
| 1/8 | C.E.S. Wood to Cyril Clemens
Photocopies from Stanford Library.
|
1928; 1932 |
| 1/9 | C.E.S. Wood to Tom Carson Wood
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1934 |
| 1/10 | C.E.S. Wood to David Erskine Honeyman |
1937 |
| Oversize folder B | Ezra Pound to C.E.S. Wood
Photocopy from the Huntington Library.
|
1937 |
| 1/11 | Edward Lyman to and from C.E.S. Wood
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1939 |
| 1/12 | Sara Bard Field and C.E.S. Wood to Molly and John
O'Shea
Photocopies from Stanford Library.
|
1941 |
| 1/13 | C.E.S. Wood to Harry Howard
Photocopy from the Huntington Library.
|
1942 |
| 1/14 | Sara Bard Field
Includes letters from Sara Bard Field to Ernest Bloch and to
WRB, 1944; Letter from Lute Pease to Sara Bard Field, 1944; Photograph of
Christmas card inscription, 1939. Some photocopies from Huntington Library.
|
1939-1944 |
| 1/15 | Marian Wood Kolisch |
1970 July 12 |
Series B : Personal Papers , circa 1871-1943 Return to Top
Includes original journals, bound books owned by C.E.S. Wood and excerpts from his autobiographies.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/16 | "Commentaries on American Law" (Vol. 1), by James Kent
Bound copy of 11th edition owned, signed and dated by C.E.S.
Wood.
|
1867 |
| 1/17 | Private journal
Bound volume contains officers' names and brief description of
treaty with the Bannocks and Shoshones.
|
1878 |
| 1/18 | Private journal
Photocopy of transcription.
|
1878 |
| 1/19 | Excerpts from diaries
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1893-1896 |
| 1/20 | Excerpts from autobiography
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1912-1916 |
| 1/21 | Excerpts from autobiography
Topics include the Nez Perce campaign and Chief Joseph's
surrender. Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1925 |
| 1/22 | Excerpts from autobiography
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1943 |
Series C : Professional Records (includes military and law career) , circa 1878-1943 Return to Top
Includes military and law career records of C.E.S. Wood and military nomination of William Maxwell Wood.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/1 | Articles of Incorporation and Record Book, Mt. Hood
Stage Company
Bound volume.
|
1889 April 24 |
| 2/2 | Bannock War journal
Bound volume.
|
1878 |
| 2/3 | Excerpts from Bannock War journal
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
1878 June 14 and 15 |
| 2/4 | Military time book
Bound volume.
|
1888 |
| Oversize folder B | Military nomination, William Maxwell Wood
Nomination from President Ulysses S. Grant of Wood to the
position of Medical Director, rank of Captain in the U.S. Navy.
|
1871 |
| Oversize folder B | Certificates and nominations, C.E.S. Wood
Photocopies of documents regarding C.E.S. Wood’s career as an
attorney, his military education and subsequent military career.
|
1874-1891 |
Series D : Publications and Ephemera , circa 1893-1928 Return to Top
Includes poems, programs, letterpress proofs, book dust jackets, broadsides and ephemera of C.E.S. Wood's writing career.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/5 | "Ave! Caesar. Imperator. Morituri Te Salutant"
Three copies.
|
|
| 2/6 | "The Beggar at the Gate"
Proof sheets.
|
1913 |
| 2/7 | "Circe: A drama with a prologue" |
1919 |
| Oversize folder B | “Circe: A drama with a prologue", Portland, Oregon
Screenplay.
|
1919 |
| 2/8 | "The Desert in Summer", article in The Public
|
1907 November 16 |
| 2/9 | "Free Speech and the Constitution in the War"
Three copies.
|
|
| 2/10 | "Heavenly Discourse" playbills from Blanding Sloan
Puppet theatre
Three copies.
|
circa 1928 |
| Oversize folder B | "Heavenly Discourse" production handbill from Blanding
Sloan Puppet theatre |
circa 1928 |
| Oversize folder C | “Heavenly Discourse” and “Too Much Government” book
jackets |
|
| 2/11 | "Imperialism vs. Democracy" address |
1899 April 13 |
| Oversize folder B | Letterpress proof beginning with “An old Burgundian
...” |
|
| Oversize folder B | Acts 14 and 15 from unknown text
Letterpress proofs.
|
|
| 2/12 | Oration for Memorial Day sermon |
1893 May 30 |
| 2/13 | "The Poet in the Desert" and "Civilization" (Part 1)
Bound, letterpress proofs.
|
1918; 1914 |
| 2/14 | Poetry, assorted |
|
| 2/15 | Poetry and dramas about Christmas |
|
| 2/16 | "The Sleeping Princess" playbills
Three copies.
|
Series E : Family Papers , circa 1852-1969 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/17 | Invitations to Nanny Wood's marriage and the centennial
anniversary of C.E.S. Wood's law practice |
1907; 1984 |
| 2/18 | "Lazard Freres: My Father's $50,000 Fee," by Erskine
Wood
Two copies.
|
1969 |
| 2/19 | C.E.S. Wood memorial |
1852-1944 |
| 2/20 | Souvenir booklet to Anne Cobden-Sanderson |
1926 June26 |
| 2/21 | Speech of Sara Bard Field |
1921 February 15 |
| 2/22 | Assorted documents of William Maxwell Wood
Photocopies from the Huntington Library.
|
|
| 2/23 | "The Wood Household", by Barbara Bartlett Hartwell
|
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Authors, American--Oregon
- Authors, American--19th century.
- Authors, American--20th century.
- Bannock Indians--Treaties
- Bannock Indians--Wars, 1878
- Nez Percé Indians--Wars, 1877--Personal narratives.
- Poets, American--19th century.
- Poets, American--20th century.
- Shoshoni Indians--Treaties
Personal Names
- Benet,William Rose, 1886-1950
- Bloch, Ernest, 1880-1959--Correspondence.
- Clemens, Cyril, 1902--Correspondence.
- Cobden-Sanderson, Anne, 1853-1926
- Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938--Correspondence.
- Field, Sara Bard, 1882-1974--Correspondence.
- Hartwell, Barbara Bartlett, 1892-1973.
- Hayek, Max, 1882--Correspondence.
- Honeyman, David Erskine--Correspondence.
- Kolisch, Marian W.--Correspondence.
- Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956--Correspondence.
- O'Shea, John--Correspondence.
- O'Shea, Molly, 1951--Correspondence.
- Pease, Lute, 1869-1963--Correspondence.
- Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972--Correspondence.
- Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919--Correspondence.
- Van Loon, Hendrik Willem, 1882-1944--Correspondence.
- Warner, Olin Levi, 1844-1896--Correspondence.
- Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944--Archives.
- Wood, Erskine.
- Wood, Nanny, 1855-1933.
- Wood, William Maxwell, 1809-1880
- Wood, Bruce Berwick--Correspondence.
- Wood, Tom Carson
Corporate Names
- Mt. Hood Stage Co. (Or.)--Records and correspondence.
Geographical Names
- Los Gatos (Calif.)
- Portland (Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Account books
- Broadsides
- Certificates
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Poetry
