Devere and Helen Helfrich Collection

Devere and Helen Helfrich Collection, 1859-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Helfrich, Devere; Helfrich, Helen
Title: Devere and Helen Helfrich Collection
Dates: 1859-1990 (inclusive)
18591990
Quantity: 49 linear feet , (42 boxes, 4 file drawers)
Collection Number: SHL017
Summary: The collection includes research materials gathered by Devere and Helen Helfrich as editors of the Klamath Echoes, photographs used in that publication, part of the Helfriches personal photography collection and annotated maps they used to trace emigrant trails in the western United States. Devere and Helen Helfrich were the official photographers of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for many years, the editors of the Klamath Echoes, and had a long-time interest in tracing and documenting early emigrant trails in the western United States.
Repository: Oregon Institute of Technology Libraries, Shaw Historical Library
Oregon Institute of Technology Libraries
3201 Campus Drive
Klamath Falls, OR
97601
Telephone: 5418851772
Fax: 5418851777
libtech@oit.edu
Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research use.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Devere and Helen Helfrich spent many years researching the history of Klamath County, Oregon and the Klamath Basin. Devere Helfrich was editor and Helen Helfrich was assistant editor of the Klamath Echoes, a sixteen volume series of Klamath County, Oregon history published between 1964 and 1978. Devere and Helen Helfrich were the official photographers of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for many years. The Helfriches also had a long-time interest in tracing and documenting early emigrant trails in the western United States. They authored or edited several books including Rodeo Pictures and Emigrant Trails West : a Guide to Trail Markers Placed by Trails West, Inc. along the California, Applegate, Lassen, and Nobles' Emigrant Trails in Idaho, Nevada, and California.

Devere Helfrich was born on April 16, 1902 in Lamonta, Oregon. Helen Grace Reed was born on October 29, 2907 in Bend, Oregon. Devere and Helen married on August 2, 1926. They had two daughters, Darle Bernice and Delores Helen. Devere and Helen Helfrich moved from central Oregon to Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1933, started and ran several businesses in Klamath Falls, and Devere began photographing rodeos in 1939. Klamath Falls was the Helfriches home base for the rest of their lives, although they spent many years following the rodeo circuit as the official photographers of the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association. Devere specialized in action photography while Helen specialized in portraits. Devere Helfrich died in Klamath Falls, Oregon on September 1, 1981. Helen Helfrich died in Klamath Falls on July 30, 1989.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection includes research materials gathered by Devere and Helen Helfrich as editors of the Klamath Echoes, photographs used in that publication, part of the Helfrich's personal photography collection and annotated maps they used to trace emigrant trails in the western United States. The collection is arranged into three series. Series I: Documents includes a variety of types of research materials related to the creation of the Klamath Echoes. Series II: Images includes original photographs, copies of photographs and negatives. Some photographs appear to have been used in the production of the Klamath Echoes. Others are ones created by Devere and Helen Helfrich. Series III: Maps includes topographic maps of quadrangles throughout the western United States as well as other maps covering the same geographic area. Many maps are annotated with notes about emigrant trails traces.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Before materials from the Shaw Historical Library may be quoted in print or otherwise reproduced in whole or in part in any publication, exhibit, broadcast or other manner, the user must obtain permission from the owner of the physical property and the holder of the copyright. Copyright status for collections in the Shaw Historical Library varies. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred Citation

[item identification], Devere and Helen Helfrich Collection, The Shaw Historical Library, Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged into Series I: Documents, Series II: Images and Series III: Maps.

Location of Collection

Shaw Historical Library

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Shaw Historical Library by Helen Helfrich and Darle Runnels.

Separated Materials

Devere and Helen Helfrich's personal library of books, periodicals and pamphlets related to the history of the Land of the Lakes and emigrant trails were individually cataloged into the Shaw Historical Library's collections.

Related Materials

The Devere Helfrich Rodeo Photographs collection is held by the Dickinson Research Center, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The finding aid is available at http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/research/cms/FindingAids/HELFRICH/tabid/255/Default.aspx.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: DocumentsReturn to Top

8 linear feet

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Folder
1	Index
2	Tribute to Helen Helfrich
3	Logging and Lumbering
4	F.A. Bishop 2 files
5	Jessie D. Carr/ Clear Lake
6	Capt. Jack's pony
7	John S. Parke
8	John Muir
9	Shaw
10	Co-Op teaching in Klamath Falls
11	Tule Lake photos
12	Levi Scott - Diary
13	Chronological History of the Klamath National Forest
14	Boston Store
15	Roughing it on the Deschutes
16	Klamath National Forest and Siskiyou Co.
17	CCC Reunion
18	Records of the Civilian Conservation Corps
19	Pacific Spruce Corp
20	Wood River Valley	1880s
21	Hudson's Bay Record Society
22	W.G. "Bill" Hoover
23	Professional Letters
24	Personal Letters
25	Correspondence
26	Notes
27	Notes
28	Cards
29	Diaries
30	Diaries
31	Diary Notes
32	Stories
33	Stories
34	Stories
35	Miscellaneous Stories
36	As Told to Me
37	McLoed Letters
38	McLoed Letters
39	McLoed Microfilm
40	Journals
41	Journals
42	Journal Stories
43	Journal Books
44	Collection of Excerpts
45	Research Papers
46	Travel Logs
47	Magazines
48	Pioneer Days
49	Works in Progress - Administration of Oregon
50	Applegate Bio
51	Ashland Tidings
52	Newspapers - Early Settlers
53	Newspapers - Index and Location
54	Newspapers - Clippings and Miscellaneous
55	Newspapers - Miscellaneous
56	Klamath County
57	Historical Klamath County
58	Swamp Land
59	Klamath Falls - Linkville
60	Buildings - Klamath Falls
61	Klamath County - Poems, Miscellaneous
62	Klamath Falls - Miscellaneous
63	City Information: Yanix, Bly, Beatty, Sprauge River
64	History of Area Before Settlement
65	Fremont
66	Redmond Spokesman Clippings
67	Diary - Richard M. May
68	Bonanza, Langell Valley
69	Unused - Bonanza
70	Scrapbook - Modoc Country
71	Merrill
72	Pokegama
73	Malin
74	Keno
75	Chiloquin
76	Crater Lake
77	Fort Klamath
78	Modoc County
79	Sherman County
80	Siskiyou County
81	Cook County
82	Lake County - Hart Mountain
83	Arizona
84	Oregon Geography
85	Eva Adams
86	Laws and Calavan Fued
87	Lewis and Clark
88	Adam's Dredge
89	Jessie D. Carr
90	Frain Family
91	Mrs. Helfrich
92	Ben Pickett
93	Brown Family - History at Crystal Creek
94	W. H. Wagner	1859
95	Applegate History
96	T. H. Jefferson
97	George Nurse
98	John H. Benson
99	Abbot Williams
100	Bruffs
101	Interviews
102	Modoc War/ Captain Jack
103	Indian
104	Court of Claims
105	Miscellaneous Modoc War
106	Bloody Point
107	Presettlement - Indian History
108	Missions
109	Newspaper Clippings
110	Klamath Falls Creamery
111	Geology - Klamath Basin
112	School
113	Miscellaneous Political History of Klamath County
114	Central Klamath Basin
115	Klamath County History - Fir Trade
116	Churches - Klamath County
117	Land Laws and Early Settlers of Oregon
118	Deeds - Klamath County - Notebook
119	Railroads - Land Grants
120	Deeds
121	Staging
122	Irrigation
123	Boats
124	Lumber
125	Logging
126	Electricity and Water
127	Miscellaneous Transportation
128	Cartridges
129	Baseball	1876
130	Livestock
131	Fencing Brochures
132	Scrapbook - Irrigation
133	Scrapbook - Railroad History
134	Bly and Strahorn Railroad
135	Postal History
136	Newsletters
137	Documents
138	Pamphlets
139	Brochures
140	Insurance Papers
141	Maps
142	Maps
143	Maps
144	Maps
145	Maps
146	Wild Flowers and Barbed Wire
147	Western Drawings
148	The Overland Emigrant Trail to California
149	Applegate Trail Travels of 1846
150	Blue Bucket Cutoff
151	Southern Emigrant Route
152	Roads
153	Grave - Lloyd Dean Shook
154	Oregon Trail
155	Southrn Oregon Wagon Trail
156	California Trail - Truckee Route
157	Elliott Cutoff
158	Yreka Trail
159	Military Pass
160	Wagon Trails
161	Crossroads of the Pioneers
162	Roads Miscellaneous of Eastern Oregon
163	Guidebook of the Western U. S

Series II: ImagesReturn to Top

22 boxes, 12 linear feet

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Klamath Falls Images 1-124
2	Klamath Falls, Rodeos, Fairs, Parades, Camping Images 125-278
3A	Other Towns Images 279-408
3B	Other Towns Images 409-533
4	Boats Images 534-629
5	Boats Images 630-753
Box/Folder
5/1	North American Indians with Boats Images 744-749
6	Rivers and Lakes Images 754-893
Box/Folder
6/1	Crater Lake Images 754-774
6/2	Lakes Images 775-810
7	People - Identified Images 894-1048
8	People - Unidentified Images 1049-1190
9	Farming and Ranching Images 1191-1263
10	Transporation Images 1264-1406
11	Railroads Images 1407-1527
12	Logging Images 1528-1657
13	Logging Camps, Mill Equiptment, Loggers Images 1658-1748
Box/Folder
13/1	Mill Equiptment Images 1658-1671
13/2	Logging Camps Images 1672-1688
13/3	Loggers Images 1689-1748
14	Lumber Mills Images 1749-1897
15	Landscapes, Roads, Animals, Signs, Graves, Wildlife, Interior Rooms Images 1898-2026
Box/Folder
15/1	Landscape Images 1898-1946
15/2	Roads Images 1947-1957
15/3	Animals/Wildlife Images 1958-1976
15/4	Signs/Graves Images 1977a-2004
15/5	Interior of buildings/rooms Images 2005-2026
16	Oregon Trail Images 2027-2148
Box/Folder
16/1	Trail Marking Trips (1/2) Images 2083-2113
16/2	Trail Marking Trips Continued (2/2) Images 2114-2145
16/3	Inventory of Historic Site Images 2146-2148	1976
17	Oregon Trail Images 2149-2223
18	Miscellaneous Structures, General Images 2224-2304
Box/Folder
18/1	Miscellaneous Structures Images 2224-2265
18/2	Miscellaneous General Images 2266-2304
19-21	Glass Negatives
22	Film Negatives

Series III: MapsReturn to Top

24 boxes

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Untitled
2	Untitled
3	Untitled
4	Untitled
5	Untitled
6	Untitled
7	Untitled
8	Untitled
9	Untitled
10	Untitled
11	Klamath County, Oregon	1908-1959
12	Oregon	1926-1975
13	Oregon	1926-1975
14	California
15	California
16	Nevada	1909-1969
17	Nevada	1909-1969
18	Wyoming
19	Idaho
20	Utah and Colorado
21	Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Missouri
22	National Forests
23	Western Trails and Emmigrant Routes
24	Miscellaneous Maps

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

Helfrich, Devere--Archives

Geographical Names

Applegate Trail—History
Klamath Basin (Or.)—History
Klamath County (Or.)—History

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Helfrich, Helen (creator)

Archives West Finding Aid

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