Archives West Finding Aid
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Seth Lewelling papers, 1854-1937
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Lewelling, Seth, 1820-1896.
- Title
- Seth Lewelling papers
- Dates
- 1854-1937 (inclusive)18541937
- 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
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