Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Clarence A. Barton papers, 1861-1968
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Barton, Clarence A., 1910-1967
- Title
- Clarence A. Barton papers
- Dates
- 1861-1968 (inclusive)18611968
1905-1967 (bulk)19051967 - Quantity
- 2.9 cubic feet, (2 legal document cases; 2 flat boxes (20x24); 1 slim letter document case; 1 oversize folder (30x42))
- Collection Number
- Coll 836
- Summary
- Papers and memorabilia relating to Clarence A. Barton (1910-1967) and his family, including photographs and Barton's newspaper column, "From Where I Sit." Barton was a lawyer, a Democratic representative for Coquille in the Oregon Legislature, and was speaker of the House for the 1963 legislative session.
- 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
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Clarence Atkinson Barton was born in 1910 in Coquille, Oregon. He graduated from the law school at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, in 1934. He served as a Democratic representative for Coquille in the Oregon Legislature from 1957 to 1964, and was House speaker for the 1963 legislative session. He did not run for re-election in 1964, but ran again, unsuccessfully, in 1966. Also in 1966, Barton wrote an opinion column in the Coquille Valley Sentinel titled, "From Where I Sit."
Barton was president of the West Coast Title Company, which he sold in 1965. He married Mae Helene Groshens (1909-2001) in 1937; the couple had no children. Clarence A. Barton died in February 1967 in Portland, Oregon. Following his death, the Oregon Legislature passed a joint resolution honoring him.
Sources: Articles in the Oregonian and Coquille Valley Sentinel, 1966-1967; vital records on Ancestry.com
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of papers, photographs, audio recordings, and memorabilia relating to Clarence A. Barton's life, his career in the Oregon Legislature, and his family. Materials include copies of Barton's speeches and his newspaper column, "From Where I Sit"; invitations, booklets, photographs, and ephemera from his legislative career, particularly from his time as House speaker in 1963; condolence letters, clippings, and resolutions following Barton's death; a photograph of President John F. Kennedy with an inscription to Barton; and diplomas and certificates awarded to Barton. Other items of note are: a photocopy of Edward Egan's diary that had been given to Barton's grandfather, Clarence M. Barton; newspaper inserts and special sections; histories and other materials relating to Morrow County, where Barton's wife was originally from; volumes of early 20th century legislative caricatures by Wade Murray and Harry Murphy; a spring 1963 issue of Willamette Alumnus; and a framed photograph and a Cirkut print of the Barton family farm.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Clarence A. Barton papers, Coll 836, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series: Series 1. Legislative career; Series 2. Newspaper columns and speeches; Series 3: Death and memorials; Series 4. Other photographs and memorabilia.
Acquisition Information
Gift of the Mae Barton Estate, January 2003 (Lib. Acc. 24903).
Separated Materials
Original copy of Edward Egan diary was separated from this collection and designated Coll 57, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Artifacts were separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
Separated Materials
Artifacts relating to Barton's grandfather, Clarence M. Barton, were transferred to the Washington State Historical Society, Tacoma, Washington.
Preservation Note
Audio recordings in the collection require specialized equipment for listening. Contact library staff for assistance.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Legislative career, circa 1957-1965Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Booklet about Oregon; booklets about the Oregon Legislature |
1957-1963 |
| 1 | 2 | Caricature sketch for Eugene Register-Guard profile of Barton, note sent with sketch, and clipping of published profile |
1961 |
| 4 | 1 | Political cartoon about Barton opposing sales tax |
circa 1963 |
| 1 | 3 | Invitations for dinner at Illahe Country Club hosted by Barton and his wife |
1963 April |
| 1 | 4 | Design transparency for Illahe Country Club dinner |
1963 April |
| 1 | 5-6 | Photographs |
circa 1961-1965 |
| 4 | 2 | Photograph of Clarence A. Barton as House speaker; photograph of woman (likely Mae Barton) with Wayne Morse and Harry S. Truman |
1963; undated |
| 4 | 3 | Portrait of John F. Kennedy with inscription to Barton |
circa 1963 |
| 1 | 7 | Photographs of 4-H Conference, and possibly other events |
1963 |
| 5 | 1 | Recording of first joint session of Oregon Legislature for 1963 1 audiotape reel
|
1963 |
| 1 | 8 | Slides |
1963 May |
| 1 | 9 | Unsorted papers and ephemera |
1963; undated |
Series 2: Newspaper columns and speeches, 1938-1966, (bulk 1963-1966) Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 10-14 | "From Where I Sit" columns and related correspondence |
1966 February-November |
| 1 | 15 | Typescripts of "From Where I Sit" columns and related correspondence |
1966 February-August |
| 1 | 16 | Speeches given about the Legislature |
1938; 1963; undated |
Series 3: Death and memorials, 1967Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 1 | Condolence correspondence |
1967 February-March |
| 2 | 2 | Clippings about Barton's death sent to Mae Barton |
1967 |
| 2 | 3 | Legislative resolutions, statements, and eulogy draft |
1967 |
| 5 | 2 | Recording of Oregon House of Representatives joint resolution memorializing Barton 1 audiotape reel
|
1967 February 20 |
Series 4: Other photographs and memorabilia, 1861-1968, (bulk 1905-1966) Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 4 | 4 | Harry Murphy's legislative sketches for Oregon and Washington |
1905 |
| 2 | 4 | Murray Wade cartoons of Oregon Legislature |
1913; 1935 |
| 2 | 5 | Certificates - Sigma Phi Epsilon; Phi Delta Phi |
1928 January 23; 1963 April 20 |
| 4 | 5 | Willamette University Law School diploma |
1934 June 11 |
| 2 | 6 | Photocopy of Edward Egan's Civil War diary given to Clarence M. Barton |
1861-1862 |
| 2 | 7 | Histories of Morrow County |
1959; 1968 |
| 2 | 8 | Issue of Heppner Gazette-Times |
1918 December 26 |
| 4 | 6 | Coos Bay Times golden jubilee special |
1928 |
| 2 | 9 | Insert for Coquille Valley Sentinel concerning opening of new post office in Coquille, Oregon; clippings about post office |
1966 February |
| 1 | 10 | Photo album relating to Mae Barton's furniture business |
1958 April |
| Folder | |||
| Oversize 1 | Cirkut print of Barton family farm |
undated | |
| Box | |||
| 3 | Framed photograph of Barton farm |
undated | |
| Folder | |||
| 2 | 11 | Mounted photograph of Coquille Bank building |
undated |
| 2 | 12 | Spring issue of The Willamette Alumnus |
1963 |
| 2 | 13 | Unsorted clippings and ephemera |
1951-1966; undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American newspapers--Sections, columns, etc.
- Legislators--Oregon
Personal Names
- Barton, Clarence A., 1910-1967
Corporate Names
- Oregon. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
- photographs
