Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
James Steel papers, 1864-1985
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Steel, James, 1835-1913
- Title
- James Steel papers
- Dates
- 1864-1985 (inclusive)18641985
1864-1909 (bulk)18641909 - Quantity
- 2.2 cubic feet, (4 document cases)
- Collection Number
- Mss 2922
- Summary
- Financial records of an Oregon pioneer and early business leader of Portland, including account books, cash books, financial journals, and a cash journal of the First Congregational Church of Portland.
- 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
James Steel was an Oregon pioneer and early business leader in Portland. He traveled overland to Oregon from Iowa in 1862, and served as the president of the Willamette Savings Bank and Merchants National Bank until 1890. He built an electric street railway to Oregon City, served as state bank examiner from 1907 to 1910, and was a deacon emeritus of the First Congregational Church in Portland. He is also credited as one of the founders of Tacoma, Washington. His wife was Mary L. Steel.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of James Steel's financial records, including cash books, journals, ledgers, and a household expense ledger. Also included are: a cash book from the First Congregational Church, 1874-1878; articles of incorporation of the Oregon and Washington Fireproofing Company, 1890; data on land claims of the Oregon and California Railroad, 1889-1890; data on Lost Horse land claims, 1867-1869; data regarding the development of Tacoma, Washington; biographical information; and a letter from Ladd and Co. to Mary L. Steel detailing the James Steel estate, 1908.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
James Steel papers, Mss 2922, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
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.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Letter from Ladd & Co. to Mary L. Steel; letter from E. Kimbark MacColl regarding James Steel | 1908 February 20, 1985 January 16 |
| 1 | 2 | Account book | 1884-1900 |
| 1 | 3 | Account book | 1905-1909 |
| 1 | 4 | Cash journal | 1883-1890 |
| 1 | 5 | Cash journal | 1883-1892 |
| 1 | 6 | Cash journal | 1891-1895 |
| 2 | 1 | Cash journal | undated |
| 2 | 2 | First Congregational Church (Portland, Or.)--Cash journal | 1874-1878 |
| 2 | 3 | Household expense ledger | 1871-1875 |
| 2 | 4 | Journal | 1864-1870 |
| 2 | 5 | Journal | 1870-1883 |
| 3 | 1 | Ledger | 1867-1870 |
| 3 | 2 | Ledger | 1871-1890 |
| 3 | 3 | Ledger | 1891-1894 |
| 4 | 1 | Lost Horse land claims on account with M. M. M. McCarver, L. M. Starr, and James Steele; and data on development of Tacoma | 1867-1869 |
| 4 | 2 | Merchants National Bank--James Steel account | 1888-1891 |
| 4 | 3 | Oregon and California Railroad Company land claims | 1889-1890 |
| 4 | 4 | Oregon and Washington Fireproofing Company--Articles of incorporation | 1890 |
| 4 | 5 | Title abstract to property in Richmond Addition, Portland | 1866-1924 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Businessmen--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Steel, James, 1835-1913--Finance, Personal
Form or Genre Terms
- financial records
