Archives West Finding Aid
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Benson family photographs collection, 1896-1970
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Benson family
- Title
- Benson family photographs collection
- Dates
- 1896-1970 (inclusive)18961970
- Quantity
- 3 cubic feet, (7 document cases; 2 flat boxes)
- Collection Number
- Org. Lot 1206
- Summary
- Photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamelia Loomis, including sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson (later Margaret Maradudin).
- 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
Simon Benson (1851-1942), a Norwegian immigrant, found success in the timber business, acquiring 46,000 acres of land over two decades and reducing costs through technical innovation in logging and shipping. He also built the Benson and Columbia Gorge Hotels, and, as a strong proponent of the good roads movement, propelled development of the Columbia River Highway. He married twice, and, with his second wife, Pamela Loomis, he had two sons, Gilbert Thereon and Chester Simon. Gilbert Benson died in 1928, well into graduate studies at Stanford University. Chester Benson married Dorothy Logan, and together they raised son Gilbert Thomas and daughter Margaret (later Margaret Maradudin).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection consists of photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamelia Loomis, including Simon Benson, his sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson Maradudin. Includes baby albums and portraits, as well as photographs depicting travel, boating, Stanford University, California, the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and Benson family residences in Portland as well as their summer cottage, Riverwood, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Also included are unprocessed negatives, some or all of which may correspond to prints in the collection.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Benson family photographs collection, Org. Lot 1206, 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
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: Photographic prints
- Series 2: Photo albums
- Series 3: Unprocessed negatives
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Photographic prints, 1896-1970Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Mr. & Mrs. Simon Benson portraits |
1896; undated |
| 1 | 2 | Aerial views |
undated |
| 1 | 3 | Airplanes, airport |
undated |
| 1 | 4 | Automobiles |
1920s |
| 1 | 5 | Babies |
circa 1910-1970 |
| 1 | 6 | Benson Place (Riverwood House) |
undated |
| 1 | 7 | Boating |
undated |
| 1 | 8 | Boats |
undated |
| 1 | 9 | Boats and airplanes |
1920s |
| 1 | 10 | Buildings |
1920s |
| 1 | 11 | Buildings, unknown Southwest locations |
undated |
| 1 | 12 | Cabins |
undated |
| 1 | 13 | Children |
circa 1920-1970 |
| 1 | 14 | Christmas |
1967 |
| 1 | 15 | Columbia Gorge Hotel (Hood River, Oregon) |
1921 July 8 |
| 1 | 16 | Columbia River Gorge |
1920 August |
| 1 | 17 | Death Valley
Stock photos and photo postcards from Frashers Foto - Pomona.
|
circa 1930 |
| 1 | 18 | Gardens
Related to Benson Place (Riverwood House) photographs in Box 1, Folder 6.
|
undated |
| 1 | 19 | Hawaii |
1920s or 1930s |
| 1 | 20 | Horses - jumping and racing |
undated |
| 1 | 21 | House interiors |
undated |
| 1 | 22 | Houses |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | People |
1920s |
| 2 | 2 | People and pets |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Pets |
circa 1920s-1970 |
| 2 | 4 | Photo booklet |
1961 October |
| 2 | 5 | Photographs developed in Paris |
1920s |
| 2 | 6 | Photo strips |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Sailboats |
undated |
| 2 | 8 | Seaside bath house |
undated |
| 2 | 9 | Southwest Indian ruins and other photos |
1960 July |
| 2 | 10 | Tintype (cased) - portrait of unidentified woman |
undated |
| 2 | 11 | Travel album: Quebec, Mt. Rainier, and other scenes |
1940s |
| 2 | 12 | Unidentified photos |
1960 May |
| 2 | 13 | Views and miscellaneous objects |
circa 1920s |
| 2 | 14 | Wildlife |
undated |
| 2 | 15 | Yosemite |
undated |
| 3 | 1 | Portraits removed from frame |
1914 May |
| 3 | 2 | Scenic views |
circa 1920s |
| 3 | 3 | Unidentified people |
1920s-1970s |
| 3 | 4 | Unidentified portraits |
circa 1900-1950 |
| 3 | 5 | Unidentified photos |
circa 1910s-1950s |
| 3 | 6 | Letter to Chester Benson from Betty (Honolulu, Hawaii), with photographs |
1925 May 1 |
| 3 | 7 | Photo postcards |
1940; undated |
| 3 | 8 | Business and membership cards |
1971; undated |
| 3 | 9 | Selected negative envelopes and inserts |
circa 1920-1960 |
| 8 | 1 | Oversize portraits (includes Chester Benson) |
circa 1940 |
Series 2: Photo albums, 1899-1940Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 4 | 1 | Album 2 - Chester Benson |
1915-1920 |
| 4 | 2 | Album 3 - Unidentified |
circa 1939 |
| 4 | 3 | Album 4 - Gilbert Thereon Benson - Riverwood House (Lake Oswego, Oregon) |
1919-1921 |
| 5 | 1 | Album 5 - Gilbert Thereon Benson - Stanford, California, and Pacific Northwest scenes |
1918-1921 |
| 5 | 2 | Album 6 - possibly Margaret Benson
Photographs were removed from album for preservation purposes, and album was discarded.
|
circa 1940 |
| 5 | 3 | Album 7 - Gilbert Thomas Benson - Baby album |
1929-1932 |
| 6 | 1 | Album 8 - probably Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson - Baby album |
approximately 1929-1935 |
| 6 | 2 | Album 9 - Chester Benson |
1920s |
| 6 | 3 | Album 10 - Cabinet card portraits
Photographs were removed from album for preservation purposes and numbered to retain order. Empty album was retained and is located in Box 7.
|
1899; undated |
| 7 | Album 10 - empty
Photographs were removed from album for preservation purposes and are located in Box 6, Folder 3.
|
1899 | |
| 8 | Album 1 - Chester Benson family, including Gilbert Thomas Benson |
circa 1930-1940 | |
| 8 | Album 11 - Riverwood House (Lake Oswego, Oregon) - includes Chester Benson and others |
possibly 1920s |
Series 3: Unprocessed negatives, circa 1920s, undatedReturn to Top
The negatives that make up this series are unprocessed. Some or all may correspond to prints in Series 1 and Series 2.
Researcher access to negatives is limited for preservation purposes. Contact library staff for assistance.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 9 | 1 | Roll of nitrate negative film |
undated |
| 9 | 2 | Assorted negatives |
undated |
| 9 | 3 | Assorted negatives |
circa 1920s |
| 9 | 4 | Assorted negatives |
circa 1920s |
| 9 | 5 | Best of S.L.C. |
undated |
| 9 | 6 | Boating |
undated |
| 9 | 7 | Grandma's, 295 Front St. |
circa 1920s |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Boats and boating--Photographs
- Buildings--Photographs
- Children--Oregon--Photographs
- College students--California--Social life and customs--Photographs
Personal Names
- Benson, Chester Simon, 1902-1971--Photographs
- Benson, Gilbert Thereon, 1896-1928--Photographs
- Benson, Gilbert Thomas, 1929-2011--Photographs
- Benson, Simon, 1851-1942--Photographs
- Maradudin, Margaret Benson--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Stanford University--Photographs
Family Names
- Benson family--Homes and haunts--Photographs
- Benson family--Photographs
Geographical Names
- California--Description and travel--Photographs
- Columbia River Gorge (Or. and Wash.)--Photographs
- Oregon--Description and travel--Photographs
- Pacific Coast (Or.)--Photographs
- Portland (Or.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- photograph albums
- photographs
