Louis A. Jacobsen papers

Louis A. Jacobsen papers, 1866-1960

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Jacobsen, Louis A. (Louis Andrew), 1871-1965
Title: Louis A. Jacobsen papers
Dates: 1866-1960 (inclusive)
18661960
Quantity: 7.4 cubic feet, (2 paige cartons; 3 legal document cases; 1 slim legal document case; 1 card file box; 3 flat boxes (11x14); 1 flat box (14x18); 4 oversize folders (20x24); 4 map folders.)
Collection Number: Mss 1670
Summary: Business, personal, and family papers of Louis A. Jacobsen. Jacobsen (1871-1965) was a Portland, Oregon, businessman who owned or was involved with numerous local firms in the early 20th century, including the Jacobsen Construction Company and the University Drug Company.
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

Louis Andrew Jacobsen was born in January 1871 and lived for most of his life in Portland, Oregon. After working as a foreman in his father's construction company, he founded the Jacobsen Construction Company, and later the Portland Tug and Barge Company. He managed both firms until 1941, when he sold them to Morrison and Knudsen Company, Inc. Jacobsen was also involved with a number of other businesses, including the University Drug Company.

Jacobsen was married to Eva Allen (1878-1955). The couple had a son, Louis Fred (1897-1944). Louis A. Jacobsen was a member of a number of fraternal organizations, including the Al Kader Temple of the Shriners and the Freemasons; he was also a charter member of the Portland Lions Club. Jacobsen died in March 1965.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of the papers of Louis A. Jacobsen and his family. The bulk of the collection's contents are correspondence and records relating to Jacobsen's business activities, particularly the Jacobsen Construction Company and the University Drug Company. These include specifications and plans relating to specific construction projects involving marine and railroad facilities or installations. Documents and plans often concern piles, a term used to describe the foundational supports of structures. Additional materials in the collection include records for properties that Jacobsen owned, as well as photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera relating to Jacobsen and members of his family. Some of the family papers are in Danish.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

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.

Preferred Citation

Louis A. Jacobsen papers, Mss 1670, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series: Series 1. Business papers; Series 2. Property records; Series 3. Personal and family papers.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Pauline St. Marie, July 1973 (Lib. Acc. 12614).

Separated Materials

Artifacts were separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Business papers, 1896-1960Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Subseries : Correspondence and records Folders labeled as "correspondence and related records" contain a mixture of letters to or from the Jacobsen Construction Company, the University Drug Company, or Jacobsen as an individual.	1896-1960
Box	Folder
1	1-17	Correspondence and related records, surname or firm name A-P	1910-1959
1	18-23	Correspondence and related records, surname or firm name R-W	1909-1958
10	4	Jacobsen Construction Company - disbursements	1934-1937
7		Jacobsen Construction Company - expenses book	1907-1909
7		Jacobsen Construction Company - A. B. Jones' pile book	undated
7		Jacobsen Construction Company - pile specifications book	1910
7		Jacobsen Construction Company - time books	1908-1912
7		Jacobsen Construction Company - wage books	1911-1915
	Folder
1	24	University Drug Company corporation book	1908-1945
1	25	University Drug Company correspondence	1936-1940
1	26-30	University Drug Company records and correspondence	1931-1939
2	1-4	University Drug Company records and correspondence	1943-1939
2	5-7	University Drug Company and Portsmouth Pharmacy records and correspondence	1911-1940
11	1	University Drug Company account statements	1935; undated
8		University Drug Company general accounts	1931-1940
9		University Drug Company general accounts	1931-1938
	Folder
11	2	University Drug Company receipt book	1932-1940
2	8	Inventory for unidentified drug company	circa 1935
3	1-3	Account books	1911-1951
11	3	Account book	1938-1940
2	9	Agreements	1910-1931
2	10	Agreement to sell Portland Tug and Barge Company to Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc.	1941
2	11	Building permits	1912
3	4	Cash book	1930-1944
11	4	Disbursements	1939-1940
10	5	Disbursements	1942-1950
2	12	Employer's Social Security tax forms	1943-1957
2	13	Jacobsen-DeTemple Company - pile book; pile lists	undated
2	14-15	Jacobsen-Reid Lumber Company records	1917-1930
2	16	Records and correspondence relating to liability and life insurance	1896-1911
2	17	Oregon Coast Timber Company brochures and stock certificate	circa 1915
2	18-20	Oregon State Industrial Accident Commission records	1920-1960
2	21-22	Oregon State Unemployment Commission records	1937-1944
4	1	Rent book	1940-1946
4	2	Wage book	1914-1936
2	23	Washington State Industrial Accident Commission records	1918-1941
2	24	Tax returns	1937-1940
2	25	Page from document on bidding process for Bonneville Dam project; Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department bidding form	circa 1933; 1934
2	26	Commission of Public Docks Ordinance No. 15	undated
2	27	Stationery and business cards for Jacobsen's firms	undated
		Subseries : Construction project records Records are arranged in alphabetical order by firm name or location name.	1909-1939
Folder
Oversize 1		Blueprints of bills of pile for Broadway Bridge, and enclosed letter	1912
Box	Folder
2	28	Specifications for Hawthorne Avenue Bridge	1909
Folder
Oversize 2		Plans for bulkhead, King's Heights	undated
Box	Folder
2	29	Detail plans for Willamette Boulevard pile bulkhead	1933 October
2	30	Notes and cost calculations for lighthouse at mouth of the Willamette River	undated
Folder
Oversize 6		Blueprint plans for Willamette River light station	1911
Box	Folder
2	31	Specifications for repair and extension of wharf at Willamette River light station	circa 1915
Folder
Oversize 8		Plans for warehouse and platform built for Jacobsen	1921 May
Oversize 8		Plans for lower-level addition to Jacobsen warehouse	1924 June
Oversize 6		Blueprint plans for elevator well and foundations, Colby Steel and Engineering Company	1935
Oversize 7		Blueprint plans for 15-ton derrick, Department of Public Works	1924 November
Oversize 7		Blueprint of details for pile driver designed by Jacobsen Construction Company	undated
Oversize 7		Blueprint plans of dock for Minsinger Bros. & Co., Vancouver, Washington	undated
Oversize 5		Blueprint plans for Mt. Hood Railway Company trestle, Sandy River piers, and truss spans	1910-1911
Box	Folder
2	32	Contract with Plylock Corporation	undated
Folder
Oversize 7		Foundation plan blueprints for veneer air drying sheds, Portland Manufacturing Company	1919 May
Box	Folder
2	33	Blueprint of specifications for contracts for Public Works Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department	1931 August 1
Folder
Oversize 5		Blueprint plans for repairs to bulkhead and piers, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Submarine and Destroyer Base	1934
Oversize 7		Blueprint plan for Astoria-area slough from Willamette River to Lower Dam at Burlington, for Spokane, Portland, & Seattle Railway	1912-1913
Oversize 6		Blueprint plans for reconstruction of dock in Willbridge, Oregon, for Standard Oil Company	1925
Box	Folder
2	34	Specifications for Star Sand Company dock at St. Johns	undated
Folder
Oversize 7		Design blueprint for dock at Mt. Coffin for Star Sand Company	1911 March
Oversize 6		Blueprint plans for Star Sand Company dock, Mt. Coffin, Washington	undated
Box	Folder
2	35	Specifications for McCormick Terminal Dock, Unit No. 2, Union Pacific System	undated
2	36	Correspondence and notes from project with Willamette Iron and Steel Works	1921
Folder
Oversize 6		Blueprints of price and equipment lists for dock at Willamette Iron and Steel Works	1921
Oversize 2		Plans for dolphins and walks, Willamette Iron and Steel Company and Durkee Famous Foods, Inc.	1939
Oversize 5		Blueprints for University Pharmacy, Portland	1925
Oversize 8		Plan of repairs to University Drug Company garage	undated
Oversize 2		Plans for unidentified project	undated
Oversize 8		Plans and schematics for unidentified projects	undated

Series 2: Property records, 1871-1960Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
4	3	Records relating to property owned by Jacobsen	1929
4	4	Abstract of title for addition to Nelscott Beach, Lincoln County, Oregon	1910-1928
4	5	Abstract of title for Lots 1 and 2, Block 72, University Park, Portland	1873-1920
4	6	Abstract of title for Lots 5, 6, and 7, Block 266, Holladay's Addition, East Portland	1871-1912
4	7	Abstract of title for Lots 6, 7, and 8, Block 211, Couch's Addition, Portland	1871-1925
5	1	Multnomah County assessments	1940-1960
5	2	Property taxes	1957-1959
Folder
Oversize 1		Blueprint of tract map of St. Joe	undated
Oversize 6		Blueprint for W. E. Morris Gerlinger building	undated
Oversize 7		Blueprint plan for Jacobsen's garage on NE Hancock Street, Portland	undated

Series 3: Personal and family papers, 1866-1948Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
5	3	Unsorted papers and ephemera of Louis A. Jacobsen	1916-1942
5	4	Frederick R. Jacobsen - patents for automatic valves	1907
Folder
Oversize 3		Draft drawing examples by L. F. Jacobsen	undated
Box	Folder
5	5	Mary P. Jacobsen papers and memorabilia (includes materials in Danish)	1869-1912
5	6	Mary P. Jacobsen - ephemera, funeral program, and condolence cards	1948
5	7	William Jacobsen papers and memorabilia	1889-1917
5	8	Hans J. Larsen papers compiled by Mary Jacobsen Ste. Marie (includes materials in Danish)	1877-1933
5	9	Pauline Jacobsen Ste. Marie - book of stitch models done for school	circa 1907-1908
5	10	Guy Roger Ste. Marie and Pauline Jacobsen Ste. Marie memorabilia	circa 1891-1893; 1913-1942
5	11	Fuel rationing records and ephemera	1942-1944
5	12	Lions banquet and Lang Syne Society dinner programs; well-wishes card	1943-1948; undated
5	13	Family photographs	circa 1880-1920
5	14	Al Kader photographs, including Louis A. Jacobsen	1939; undated
10	1	Group photograph of 18th Cathedral Class, 32nd Degree, including Louis A. Jacobsen	1912 January 20
5	15	Photographs of Coquille River lighthouse construction, done by William Jacobsen Construction Company	1895
10	2	Class photographs of St. Johns Military Academy, Sing Sing, New York, including Guy Roger Ste. Marie	circa 1893
6	1	Photographs of Jacobsen Construction Company facilities	circa 1910-1930
6	2	Portland Fire Department photographs	circa 1890
Folder
Oversize 4		Photograph of USS Tantuck and crew; photograph of USS Wallowa crew	1927 April; circa 1930
Box	Folder
6	3	Unsorted or unidentified photographs	circa 1890-1940
10	3	Unsorted or unidentified photographs	circa 1890-1930
6	4	Souvenir photograph book of San Francisco	circa 1900
6	5-6	Unsorted memorabilia, ephemera, and publications	1866-1944

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Building--Northwest, Pacific
Building--Oregon--Portland
Business enterprises--Oregon--Portland
Drugstores--Oregon--Portland

Personal Names

Jacobsen, Louis A. (Louis Andrew), 1871-1965

Corporate Names

Jacobsen Construction Co. (Portland, Or.)
University Drug Co. (Portland, Or.)

Family Names

Jacobsen family

Form or Genre Terms

administrative records
blueprints (reprographic copies)
correspondence
financial records

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents