Archives West Finding Aid
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Turner and Chessman family papers., 1851-2001
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Turner, Marjorie.
- Title
- Turner and Chessman family papers.
- Dates
- 1851-2001 (inclusive)18512001
- Quantity
- 1.5 cubic ft., (3 document cases and 1 oversize folder)
- Collection Number
- Coll 369
- Summary
- Collection includes biographical information, genealogy, family papers, and photographs the family of the Turner, Chessman, and affiliated families, compiled by Marjorie Turner, the daughter-in-law of Arthur Kepner Turner, physician in Springfield, Oregon, and his wife Bernice Chessman Turner.
- 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
Arthur Kepner Turner (1874-1950) practiced medicine in Petaluma, California and Springfield, Oregon. His marriage to Bernice Chessman produced four sons: Robert, Louis (aka Luis or Lew), Merle, and Paul. Robert worked for the US Treasury and Customs Service. Lew made his career as a commercial artist and photographer. Merle Turner, a psychology professor, served in the Air Force during World War II. Paul followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor. Bernice Turner’s brother, Merle Rowland Chessman, publisher of the Astorian-Budget, served as state senator from Clatsop County.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains information regarding the Turner, Chessman, and affiliated families, compiled by Marjorie Turner, the daughter-in-law of Arthur Kepner Turner, physician in Springfield, Oregon, and his wife Bernice Chessman Turner. Included are a memoir of Bernice Chessman Turner; biographical materials relating to Merle Chessman; Merle Turner's military records; an unpublished manuscript on World War II as well as artwork by Lew Turner; yearbooks and reunion materials from Washington High School in Portland (Or.); Willamette University reunion materials; photographs, genealogies, and family histories of the Turner, Chessman, Rowland, Caswell, and Kepner families, as well as the Jacob Wise Tharp family, including Obadiah Tharp; and self-published family histories compiled by Liza Tharp Wilson, Peggy Chessman Lucas, and Charlotte Warner Parsons.
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
Turner and Chessman family collection, Coll 369, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
- Series A: Family papers and genealogies
- Series B: Photographs and artwork
Acquisition Information
Lib. Acc. 27903
Processing Note
Negatives separated for storage. Positive images created where lacking and added to the collection for reference use.
Separated Materials
Yearbooks and related materials: Astoria High School Zephyrus (1932), Willamette University Wallulah (1937 and 1941), and Willamette University Sesquicentennial Alumni Directory (1991) were separated and added to the OHS serials collection.
Book: Mt. Bachelor: Bill Healy's Dream by Peggy Chessman Lucas (1999; copy inscribed to Marjorie and Merle Turner) is cataloged individually.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: Family papers and genealogies, 1851-2001Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1/1 | Merle Chessman --Biographical
materials |
1947-1986 ; undated |
| 1/2 | Merle Turner --Military
Records |
1945-72 |
| 1/3 | From envelope Labeled Bernice
Turner
family letters, notes, temperance ribbon, ephemera, Chessman
family crest by Lew Turner
|
1851-1975 |
| 1/4 | Washington High School yearbook,
The Lens
|
1935 January; 1935 June |
| 1/5 | Washington High School, Thirties
Reunion |
1983 September |
| 1/6 | Willamette University Class of
1941 reunions |
circa 1992; 1996 |
| 1/7 | “My Memories”
handwritten memoir by Bernice Chessman Turner
|
1975 |
| 1/8 | Unpublished manuscript on World
War II by Luis (Lew) Turner |
undated |
| 1/9 | Letter re: Chessman family
genealogy by Samuel Chessman |
1892 |
| 1/10 | Chessman family genealogy from
Peggy Lucas |
1981 |
| 1/11 | Chessman family
genealogy |
1984; undated |
| 1/12 | Tharp family
genealogy |
undated |
| 1/13 | “Jacob W. Tharp, 1744-1793” by
Liza Ann Tharp Wilson |
1982 |
| 1/14 | “The Jacob Tharp Family History
(1744-1793),” by Liza Tharp Wilson |
1981 |
| 2/1 | “This is Your Life Tree,” by
Charlotte Warner Parsons |
1984 |
| 2/2 | “This is Your Life Tree,” by
Charlotte Warner Parsons, Part Two |
1984 |
| 2/3 | “Our Genes,” by Peggy Chessman
Lucas |
2001 |
| Oversize folder 1 | Certificates |
1896-1907 |
Series B: Photographs and artwork, circa 1870-1991Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 3/1 | Photographs –
identified |
circa 1880s-1968 |
| 3/2 | Photographs –
unidentified |
circa 1870-1940 |
| 3/3 | Photographs – from envelope
labeled “Who knows collection" |
circa 1920-1964 |
| 3/4 | Photographs – Caswell |
circa 1940s |
| 3/5 | Photographs – Kepner |
circa 1890-1926 |
| 3/6 | Photographs– Tharp family
|
circa 1920s & 1930s |
| 3/7 | Photo album |
1930s |
| 3/8 | Photographs – Lew Turner &
Early Artwork, Salem Railroad |
circa 1930s |
| 3/9 | Luis Turner, ink drawing on
vellum |
1938 |
| 3/10 | Silhouette,
unidentified |
undated |
| 3/11 | Photographs – Willamette
University class reunion |
circa 1991 |
| 3/12 | Cased image from envelope labeled
“Bernice Turner” |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Commercial artists--Oregon
- Legislators--Oregon--Clatsop County
- Physicians-Oregon--Springfield
- Publishers and publishing--Oregon--Biography
- Social life and customs
- Women--Northwest, Pacific.
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
Personal Names
- Chessman, Merle Rowland, 1886-1947--Biography
- Tharp, Jacob Wise, 1744-1793
- Tharp, Obadiah, 1809-1874 – Photographs
- Turner, Arthur Kepner, 1874-1950
- Turner, Bernice Chessman, 1885-1979
- Turner, Bernice Chessman, 1885-1979
- Turner, Louis Arthur, 1913-
- Turner, Merle Brandt, 1917-
Corporate Names
- Willamette University (Salem, Or.)
Family Names
- Caswell family -- Photographs
- Chessman family -- Photographs
- Chessman family--Archives
- Kepner family -- Photographs
- Rowland family -- Photographs
- Tharp family -- Photographs
- Turner family -- Archives
- Turner family -- Photographs
Geographical Names
- Astoria (Or.) -- Biography
- Eugene (Or.) -- Biography
Form or Genre Terms
- Family papers
- Genealogies
- Memoirs
- Photographs
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Lucas, Peggy Chessman (creator)
- Parsons, Charlotte Warner (creator)
- Turner, Bernice Chessman, 1885-1979 (creator)
- Turner, Louis Arthur (creator)
- Wilson, Liza Tharp (creator)
