Seth Lewelling papers, 1854-1937

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Lewelling, Seth, 1820-1896.
Title
Seth Lewelling papers
Dates
1854-1937 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 cubic feet (3 document cases, 2 card file boxes)
Collection Number
Mss 23
Summary
Papers of an Oregon pioneer nurseryman dating from the late 19th century and containing business correspondence, letterpress copy book, account books and financial records, and daily diaries with business-related entries. Also includes correspondence and legal documents from Lewelling's stepdaughter, Florence Olson.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Oregon pioneer Seth Lewelling (1820-1896) was a native of North Carolina, where his family conducted a nursery business, later moving to Indiana. Seth came to Oregon via California with his brother John, in 1850. There they joined their brother Henderson, who had traveled overland in 1847 with stock to start a nursery. Settling near present-day Milwaukie, Oregon, Seth built a successful fruit orchard business, specializing in apples, pears, peaches and cherries. He was known for his introduction of the "Black Republican" and "Bing" cherries.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Papers include: Pocket diaries (1854-1877); business correspondence (1892-1893); letterpress book (1881-1886) containing correspondence sent by Seth Lewelling; materials describing family and horticultural history; day book and account (1876) of fruit sold; ledger (1883-1891) of Lewelling & Harvey Company; Lewelling & Sons nursery catalog (1878); nursery business sales book (1883-1889); property title abstract (1892) from the Clackamas Title Company; amendments to city charter of Milwaukie, Or. (1915); loan notes, credit ratings and personal letters (1884-1890); award certificate from the International Exhibition of 1876; correspondence and legal documents of Florence Olson (Seth's step daughter).

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 before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Seth Lewelling Papers, Mss23, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series A: Business correspondence, 1892-1893
  • Series B: General materials, 1878-1937
  • Series C: Financial records and letterpress copy book, 1859-1893
  • Series D: Diaries and pocket account books, 1854-1875

Acquisition Information

Portions of the collection were a gift of Dr. Vern Wirtz, Nov. 1973.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series A:  Business correspondence, 1892-1893Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
1892 Mar-May
1/2
1892 July-Aug
1/3
1892 Sept
1/4
1892 Oct
1/5
1892 Nov
1/6
1892 Dec
1/7
1893 Jan
1/8
1893 Feb
1/9
1893 Mar
1/10
1893 Apr
1/11
1893 May
1/12
1893 June
1/13
1893 July
1/14
1893 Aug

Series B:  General materials, 1878-1937Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/15
Florence Olson papers
 1897-1903
1/16
History of family and horticulture
 1879-1937
1/17
Wholesale catalog, Seth Lewelling & Sons
 1878
2/1
General papers
 1884-1893
2/2
Clackamas County Title Co., Abstract of Title
Abstract to part of Lot Whitcomb donation land claim in township 1 south, range 1 east, Milwaukie
1909
2/3
Proposed amendment to city charter of Milwaukie
 1915

Series C:  Financial records and letterpress copybook, 1859-1893Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
2/4
Account book
 1859-1869
2/5
Accounts and commonplace book
 circa 1876-1882
2/6
Ledger, Lewelling and Harvey
 1883-1891
2/7
Nursery sales book
 1883-1889
2/8
Financial journal
 1892-1893
3/1
Ledger
Includes lease, inventory of property, accounts, and financial journal.
1884-1892
3/2
Letterpress copybook of Seth Lewelling
 1881-1886

Series D:  Diaries and pocket account books, 1854-1875Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
4/1
Diary
 1854
4/2
Diary
 1855
4/3
Diary
 1859
4/4
Diary
 1860
4/5
Diary
 1861
4/6
Diary
 1862
4/7
Diary
 1863
4/8
Diary
 1864
4/9
Diary
 1865
4/10
Diary
 1866
4/11
Diary
 1867
4/12
Diary
 1868
4/13
Diary
 1869
4/14
Diary
 1870
4/15
Diary
 1871
5/1
Diary
 1872
5/2
Diary
 1873
5/3
Diary
 1874
5/4
Diary
 1875
5/5
Diary
 1876
5/6
Diary
 1877
5/7
Diary
 circa 1878
5/8
Ledger
 1850
5/9
Ledger
 1853
5/10
Ledger
 1855
5/11
Ledger
 1856
5/12
Ledger
 1856
5/13
Ledger
 1875
5/14
Ledger
 1857-1858
5/15
Ledger
 1875
5/16
Accounts
 undated
5/17
Accounts
 undated
5/18
Covers for ledgers and diaries
 1850-1857

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Nurseries (Horticulture)--Oregon--Milwaukie
  • Nursery growers--Oregon--Milwaukie--Correspondence
  • Nursery growers--Oregon--Milwaukie--Diaries
  • Pioneers--Oregon--Milwaukie--Correspondence
  • Pioneers--Oregon--Milwaukie--Diaries

Personal Names

  • Lewelling, Seth, 1820-1896--Correspondence (creator)
  • Lewelling, Seth, 1820-1896--Diaries
  • Olson, Florence--Correspondence

Geographical Names

  • Milwaukie (Or.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries
  • Financial records
  • Ledgers
  • Letterpress copybooks
  • Letters

Finding aid encoded by Geoffrey B. Wexler
2006

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