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Allison H. Dean Papers, 1920-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Dean, Allison H., 1897-
Title
Allison H. Dean Papers
Dates
1920-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 cubic feet, (5 document cases)
Collection Number
Coll 198
Summary
Papers of a real estate developer, architect, and amateur writer of Portland, Oregon, active in 1920s through the 1950s. Includes biographical materials, correspondence, and drafts of fiction and poetry.
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
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Biographical Note

Born in Scituate Harbor, Massachusetts, on February 2, 1897, Allison H. Dean spent his childhood on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada, served in the Royal Air Force, and moved to Portland, Oregon in the mid-1920s to work as a real estate developer and architectural designer. He was a pioneer in the pre-fabricated homes industry starting in the 1940s. As an amateur actor and singer, he was active in local theater productions. He was a writer, working on poetry, autobiographical works, novels, short stories, and articles related to real estate beginning in the1930s. Some writings had success, but most went unpublished.

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Content Description

The collection consists of 5 boxes of material related to both Dean’s professional work in real estate and his endeavors in theater and writing. The collection contains personal and professional correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, original architectural drawings, theater programs, unpublished manuscripts, accounting records, photographs, and the collected writings of Queene B. Ryan (1891-1973), a friend of Dean’s.

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Use of the Collection

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 prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Preferred Citation

Allison H. Dean papers, Coll 198, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series A: Biographical
  • Series B: Correspondence
  • Series C: Writings
  • Series D: Photograph

Acquisition Information

Acquired 2008, Library Accession 26550.

Related Materials

A collection of Allison H. Dean's photographs, including images of houses and house designs, in designated Org. Lot 187; and an oral history with Dean is designated SR 9057 -- both in the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977

    • Description: Career materials

      • Documents regarding new developments in prefabricated homes, circa 1941-1942
      • Documents regarding contracting to government
      • Hand drawn rough architectural plans for residences
      • Fliers for “America’s first low cost factory home, completely furnished and equipped, completely factory built.”
      • Documents for Office of Emergency Management, 1942
      • Federal Housing Administration booklet, “Rental housing for investment.” 1938
      • Materials from National Institute of Real Estate Brokers
      • Photograph of a pre-fabricated home being loaded onto a truck. Caption reads “Tuesday 10 AM. June 24/41, LOADING, Factory Built and Furnished, LOW Cost Union Built. HAUL-A-WAY HOME, Patents Pending, Allison H. Dean, Allison Dean. Investor and Sales Agent, Drake Wyman & Voss Inc. Fabricators, 208 N. Broadway Portland Oregon At 9216”
      • List of companies in manufactured home business, with addresses and notes.
      • Publication, The Canadian Realtor, October 1968, volume 14, number 10
      • Letter from National Institute of Real Estate Brokers for acceptance of an article for publication in Real Estate Today publication, 1969

      Dates: 1938-1969
      Container: Box/Folder 1/1
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Career materials

      • Document, “Declaration of reservations, restrictions, conditions and easements affecting the plat of dean’s park subdivision” 1977
      • Blank form from Executive Office of the President, Office for Emergency Management
      • Envelope with documents, blueprints, plans, and photo related to land development 1941
      • Document, “Guest list – Georgia-Pacific Reception and Dinner – Arlington Club– July 19, 1955”
      • Drawings of architectural feature
      • Handwritten notes, accounting or blank
      • Drawings of architectural plans
      • 1967 zip code informational card
      • Drawing, portrait sketch
      • Clipping of address for Torrey & Dean, Inc., Realtors, 409 U.S. Bank Bldg., Portland, Oregon

      Dates: 1941-1977
      Container: Box/Folder 1/2
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Account Book
      Dates: 1931-1947
      Container: Box/Folder 1/3
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Clippings

      • National real estate journal 12/21/1931 volume 32, number 26
      • National Real Estate Journal 1/5/1931 volume 32, number 1
      • Product documentation, “Bruning Transparent Plastic Scales, Their USE and CARE”
      • Pamphlet, “Guideposts, a practical guide to successful living” April, 1965
      • Miscellaneous collected clippings related to residential architecture and interior design, from popular color magazines circa 1955-1964
      • Sunday Oregonian 7/20/1958 advertising insert for Raleighwood development
      • Blue print magazine insert by Ellis Leigh/designer and Emil a.Schmidlin/architect, east orange new jersey, magazine clipping

      Dates: 1931-1965
      Container: Box/Folder 1/4
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Clippings

      • Leaflet, “the Portland Realtor” 3/18/1959 volume 39, number 11
      • Local newspaper clippings related to theater, circa 1930
      • Page from Sunday Oregonian August 7, 1966
      • 1 stamp sized photo of Allison H. Dean, and duplicate in original leaflet from which it was taken

      Dates: 1930-1966
      Container: Box/Folder 1/5
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Clippings

      • Sunday Oregonian clippings relating to taxation and Dr. John F. Sly, circa 1958-1959
      • Clipping of advertisement with architectural plan image and handwritten notes
      • Columbia Records album liner

      Dates: circa 1958-1959
      Container: Box/Folder 1/6
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Queene B. Ryan collection

      • Photograph, portrait of Queene Bell Ryan, 1891-1973, on horse
      • Clipping of obituary
      • Handwritten 2 page biographical note for Queen B. Ryan, draft for published obituary
      • Collected poems of Queene B. Ryan

      Dates: circa 1920-1973
      Container: Box/Folder 1/7
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977
    • Description: Programs of theater productions

      • 1 handwritten note mounted on a sheet of 81/2 x 11” paper with handwritten caption, signature of actress Pauline Friedrich, 1930-12-6
      • Program from theater production, “The Green Goddess”, Art Theatre Players, circa 1930
      • program from theater production, “Officer 666”, Portland Civic Theater, circa 1930
      • program from theater production, “A Doll’s House”, Portland Civic Theater, circa 1931
      • program from theater production, “The Unseen Guest”, Portland Civic Theater, circa 1930
      • program from theater production, “Dear Brutus”, Portland Civic Theater, circa 1930
      • publication of Dufwin theater, “The Showgoer”, circa 1930

      Dates: circa 1930-1931
      Container: Box/Folder 1/8
      Location: Series A: Biographical materials, 1924-1977

  • Series B: Correspondence, 1930-1990

  • Series C: Writings, 1935-1976

  • Description: Series D: Photograph

    Photograph of two women, tentatively identified as Dean’s daughters.

    Dates: 1950
    Container: Box/Folder 5/18

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors--Oregon.
  • Prefabricated houses--Design and construction--Oregon--Portland.
  • Real estate agents--Oregon--Portland.
  • Theater--Oregon--Portland--History.

Personal Names

  • Dean, Allison H., 1897- --Archives (creator)
  • Ryan, Queene B.

Geographical Names

  • Portland (Or.)--Biography
  • Portland (Or.)--Buildings, structures, etc.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Letters (correspondence)
  • Manuscripts (for publication)
  • Poems

Finding aid prepared by Brian Davis
2011

CC0

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