Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Portland collection., 1849-1998
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Title
- Portland collection.
- Dates
- 1849-1998 (inclusive)18491998
- Quantity
- 1.75 cubic feet (3 document cases, 1 oversize folder, 1 microfilm reel )
- Collection Number
- Mss 1286
- Summary
- Collection assembled by the Oregon Historical Society containing documents and ephemera relating to the history of Portland, Oregon. Includes view booklets, promotional brochures, as well as published city government documents and city planning information and other documents issued to Portland residents. Also includes a scrapbook of clippings relating to the vice investigations of 1956 and data on the Bull Run water system in 1926.
- 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
Portland, Oregon, began as a clearing on the west bank of the Willamette River in 1844. The original land claim was filed by William Overton and Asa Lovejoy, but Overton sold his share to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, Maine, who, after winning a coin toss with Lovejoy, gave the town site the name of his native city. The new city was incorporated in 1851 and prospered because of its advantageous location near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, among other factors. Its growth was spurred by flourishing agriculture in the Willamette Valley, the California gold rush, the Indian wars of the 1850s, and gold discoveries in eastern Oregon and Idaho in the 1860s. By the Civil War, Portland was the principal metropolis of the Pacific Northwest with a population of around 3000. The arrival of the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads in 1883 and 1884 contributed to a new boom in prosperity, and in 1891 the city annexed the municipalities of Albina and East Portland on the east side of the Willamette. Residential growth was most dramatic in the eastern districts after 1900, and expansion was especially rapid after the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905. By 1910 Portland's population was over 207,000, and it continued its rapid growth up to the 1930s. Concern over the city's water supply led to the development of the Bull Run Reserve, with a dam built at Bull Run Lake in 1915, and reservoirs established in Mt. Tabor and Washington parks. Another boom was precipitated by World War II, which greatly stimulated shipbuilding and related industries. Postwar growth was most dramatic in outlying suburbs, especially in Washington County to the west. But along with "big city" status came accompanying ills, such as the vice scandal which surfaced in 1956 and involved organized crime and official corruption. The 1960s brought a heightened interest in urban planning, and considerable effort was made to revitalize the downtown area and to improve mass transit.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Portland collection was assembled by the Oregon Historical Society from a variety of sources. It pertains to government and history of the city of Portland, Oregon, including: the charter revision of 1927; city hall account sheet for 1896; report of the city planning commission of 1927; a report and listing of gambling houses and saloons, undated; appointments and ordinances; and the chairman's report of Public Docks Commission, 1929 December 1. Also included are illustrated view books from the late 19th and early 20th centuries; a copy of The greater Portland plan by Edward H. Bennett and Marshall N. Dana; specifications for street paving and lighting fixtures; a report on the municipal water system, 1922, by Lawrence S. Kaiser; documents relating to water shortages and the Bull Run water supply in 1926; clippings relating to the vice investigations of 1956; a scrapbook; pamphlets; and ephemera.
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
Portland collection, Mss 1286, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
Series A: Illustrated view books, 1883-1918
Series B: Promotional brochures and pamphlets, 1920-1998
Series C: City records, 1849-1988
Series D: City planning materials, 1912-1998
Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
Acquisition Information
The collection was assembled by the Oregon Historical Society from a variety of sources, including Library Accessions 19433, 19230, and 19881.
Separated Materials
A few items from the collection were transferred to the City of Portland Archives in 2009 and are indicated by the presence of a removal notice in the appropriate folder.
Related Materials
Promotional brochures and other pamphlets relating to the city of Portland can be found in the Pacific Northwest Promotional Brochures, Mss 6000, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Illustrated view books, 1883-1918Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Folding postcards and miniature
views
Includes:
Bardell Fototone
miniaturesPortland folding postcard "The City
of Roses"Souvenir folder of Portland,
Or., Lipschuetz & Katz
See also Postcard Collection (Org. Lot 146), Oregon Historical
Society Research Library
|
circa 1915-1920 |
| 1/2 |
Glimpses of
Portland, Oregon
|
1892 |
| 1/3 |
The
glorious fourth of July (July 4th program with bird's-eye
view) |
1888 |
| 1/4 | Kiser Company booklet depicting
office buildings and harbor |
circa 1910 |
| 1/5 |
Portland
and vicinity
Promotional pamphlet published by I. Samuel of Portland
containing basic information on the city and vicinity; and drawings and short
synopsis of various sites and items of interest, including: Portland High
School; Court House Park; Kamm's Building; Riverview Cemetery; Portland Post
Office; various down town areas; mouth of the Willamette; Crater Lake; Mount
Hood; Oregon State University; and many more.
|
1887 |
| 1/6 |
Portland,
Oregon, the city of roses
2
copies
|
circa 1905 |
| 1/7 |
Portland,
Oregon, the New York of the Pacific
|
1907 |
| 1/8 |
Portland :
the rose city (H. H. Tammen Company, Los Angeles)
|
1913 |
| 1/9 |
Portland's
scenic beauties
Two versions, one published for the National Livestock
Association convention, January 12-15, 1904, and issued by the Division of
Exploitation, Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition; and the other published by
John G. Kidd and Roy S. Searle, Portland, n.d.
|
1904; undated |
| 1/10 |
Portland's
great flood views souvenir
|
1894 |
| 1/11 |
Samuel's
souvenir no. 1, Portland, Oregon
2
copies
|
1883 |
| 1/12 | Singer Sewing Machine Company
view cards |
circa 1905 |
| 1/13 |
Souvenir of
Portland, Oregon and vicinity, W. E. Jones, publisher |
1898 |
| 1/14 |
Souvenir of
Portland, Oregon and vicinity, C. P. Heininger, publisher |
1890 |
| 1/15 |
View album
of Portland and vicinity
|
1889 |
| 1/16 |
Views of
Portland and vicinity, L. H. Nelson, publisher |
undated |
| 1/17 |
Views of
Portland and vicinity
|
1903 |
B: Promotional brochures and pamphlets, 1920-1998Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/18 |
Birthplace
of a city, Portland Center Urban Renewal Project ground
breaking |
1964 |
| 1/19 | City information guides and
maps |
1926-1981 |
| 1/20 |
Enjoy
yourself in Portland, Oregon, Visitors Service Department, Portland
Chamber of Commerce |
undated |
| 1/21 | Greater Portland Convention and
Visitors' Association brochure |
circa 1998 |
| 1/22 |
Interesting
facts about Portland, Hazelwood Company |
undated |
| 1/23 |
Know
Portland, compiled by Mayor George L. Baker |
1927 |
| 1/24 |
The 100th
birthday story of Morgan's Landing Farm on Sauvie's Island in
Oregon
12
pages
|
1949 |
| 2/1 |
The port of
Portland
1
brochure
|
undated |
| 2/2 | Portland Chamber of Commerce,
Industries Department 1
brochure
|
undated |
| 2/3 |
Portland
loves parks
|
circa 1998 |
| 2/4 | Portland Renewal Information
Development Endeavor (PRIDE) 3
brochures
|
circa 1958 |
| 2/5 |
The
Portland story, by Stewart Holbrook 31
pages
|
1950 |
| 2/6 |
Portland
welcomes you, Newcomer's Service |
1955 |
| 2/7 |
Rose city :
Portland, Oregon, Portland General Electric |
undated |
| 2/8 |
There's
something new in Old Town
|
undated |
| 2/9 |
Vest pocket
guide to the city of Portland
2
versions
|
1920 |
Series C: City Records, 1849-1988Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 2/10 | Bonds--Harbor
facilities |
1944 |
| 2/11 | Bonds--City of Portland, $500
gold coin |
1886 |
| 2/12 | Bonds--Municipal grain
elevator |
1917 |
| 2/13 | Bull Run Reservoir--Water
shortage materials
Charts, diagrams, clippings, notebook and correspondence
relating to drought in Portland, August 1926, and subsequent shortage in water
supply, Bull Run Reservoir.
|
1926 |
| 2/14 | Pamphlet on Bull Run water by
Ralph C. Clyde |
1941 |
| 2/15 | Bureau of Environmental Services,
brochures on mid-county sewer project |
1987 |
| 2/16 | Charter revision
proposal
Proposed amended, charter, special municipal election, June 28,
1927; proposed charter for abolishing commission form of government, 1930;
charter amendments and recommendations, 1930.
|
1927-1930 |
| 2/17 | City government--lists of people,
dates, meetings |
circa 1911-1913 |
| 2/18 | City license to the
Evening Journal
|
1902 |
| 2/19 | Department of Public
Works--Construction standards for streets and related equipment
Includes "Standard method of laying bricks and blocks on street
intersections," 1923 May 1, illustrated.
|
1914-1925 |
| 2/20 | Documents--Early ordinances,
appointments
Includes list of voters in Portland, probably dating from the
early 1850s; and documents from the 1850s relating to maintenance of the
levee.
|
1850-1884 |
| Oversize Folder/Items 4-8 | Documents relating to city labor
and schools (photostatic copies)
Articles of agreement, 1849, Portland school and meeting house,
between William Warren, William M. King and Stephen Coffin; agreement for
removal of bodies from city cemetery by William James, dated November 16, 1857;
contract for convict labor, June, 1860.
|
1849-1860 |
| 2/21 | Harbormaster
regulations |
1908 |
| 2/22 | Mill Ends Park--Letter from Mayor
Terry Schrunk to Dick Fagen |
1968 |
| 2/23 | Financial statement |
1930 |
| 2/24 |
The
municipal water system of Portland, Or.: historical, descriptive,
statistical (typescript, carbon, 55 pages), by Lawrence C.
Kaiser |
1922 |
| 2/25 | Organizations--Political and
local groups
|
1907-1987 |
| 2/26 | Portland Fire Department--Widow's
pensions |
1919 |
| 2/27 | Portland-Guadalajara sister city
history |
1983-1992 |
| 2/28 |
Urban
services of the city of Portland
|
circa 1987 |
D: City planning materials, 1912-1998Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/1 | Planning Commission
report |
1946 |
| 3/2 |
The greater
Portland plan and municipal facts of Edward H. Bennett, edited by Marsha
Newport Dana |
1912. |
| 3/3 |
Growth
concepts, prepared by the Livable City Project |
1992 |
| 3/4 | Metro planning and auditing
documents |
circa 1998 |
| 3/5 |
Policy at
the port, League of Women Voters |
1973 |
| 3/6 | Portland Chamber of Commerce
brochure |
circa 1938 |
| Oversize Folder/Item 9 |
Portland :
give us your dreams to build a plan on
|
1985 |
| 3/7 | South Burlingame Neighborhood
Association |
1979-1980 |
| 3/8 | Union Station Task Force,
Portland Development Commission |
1992 |
| 3/9 | Waterfront development and other
downtown planning
Documents re Portland waterfront development. Includes Portland
City Advisory Committee & Water-front Task Force meeting notes, Feb-Mar.
1974; draft, Portland Skid Row project, Feb. 1974; Willamette River Greenway
policy conference study guide, March 1974.
|
1974 |
Series E: General materials, 1867-1988Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| Oversize Folder/Item 10 |
Coming of
the white man
"Coming of the white Man," a supplement to the Oregon Journal,
September 3, 1907. Photographs and text on Portland businesses, manufacturing
opportunities, recreational facilities, etc. No pagination.
|
1907 |
| oversize:folder | ||
| /Items 1-2 | Council Crest
broadsides |
1902 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/10 | Ephemera, general |
1883-1988 |
| Oversize folder / Item 12 | Panorama view of Portland Oregon,
postcard |
circa 1910 |
| Oversize folder/Item 11 | Multnomah County civilian
defense, organizational chart |
circa 1941 |
| 3/11-12 | Multnomah county vice crimes
(clippings)
Clippings regarding corruption and vice in Multnomah County,
April 19-Nov. 18, 1956. Compiled by Teamsters, Portland. 2 folders
|
1956 |
| 3/13 | Pioneer Courthouse dedication
ceremony |
1973 May 1 |
| 3/14 | Property used for immoral
purposes
Rominger, H. V. Committee report to the Ministerial Association
of Portland on ownership of property in Portland devoted to immoral purposes.
[Committee members are H. V. Rominger and H. P. Wallace, prepared ca. 1891-93].
Includes list of property owners. 12 pp. Holograph.
|
circa 1893 |
| Oversize folder/Item 3 | Scrapbook
Scrapbook containing clippings regarding Portland's history,
including articles about bridges, Bull Run, Columbia River Scenic Highway, and
many others.
|
1945-1965 |
| 3/15 | Theodore Roosevelt statue
unveiling |
1922 |
| Microfilm |
The great
northwest
The Great Northwest; proceedings of a meeting of the people of
the City of Portland, Or. on the subject of the Pacific Rail Roads and Oregon
Rail Roads: with the report and resolutions adopted Dec. 18, 1867. A. G.
Wailing & Co. Printers, 1867. 17 pp. 14 x 22. 5 cm. [Belknap Imprint
1044].
|
1867 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- City planning--Oregon--Portland--History.
- Docks--Oregon--Portland--History.
- Drinking water--Oregon--Portland--History.
- Gambling--Oregon--Portland--History.
- Prostitution--Oregon--Portland--History.
- Streets-- Maintenance and repair--Oregon--Portland.
- Vice control--Oregon--Portland--History.
Personal Names
- Bennett, Edward H. (Edward Herbert), 1874-1954. (creator)
- Dana, Marshall N. (Marshall Newport), b. 1885. (creator)
- Kaiser, Lawrence S. (creator)
Corporate Names
- Portland (Or.). Commission of Public Docks--Archives.
- Portland (Or.). Dept. of Public Works--Archives.
- Portland (Or.). Office of the City Auditor--Archives.
Geographical Names
- Bull Run River Watershed (Or.)--History.
- Portland (Or.)--History.
- Portland (Or.)--Pictorial works.
- Portland (Or.)--Politics and government.
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings
- Scrapbooks
Titles within the Collection
- The great northwest : proceedings of a meeting of the people of the City of Portland, Or. on the subject of the Pacific Rail Roads and Oregon Rail Roads.
- The greater Portland plan of Edward H. Bennett.
Collection processed by Trudy Williams
and Geoffrey Wexler, 2006
2006
