J.H. Horner papers, 1889-1985

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Horner, J. H., 1870-1953
Title
J.H. Horner papers
Dates
1889-1985 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.9 cubic feet, (2 document cases)
Collection Number
Mss 6031
Summary
Papers of a Wallowa County, Oregon, official and amateur historian, consisting primarily of a manuscript of his unpublished book "Wallowa River and Valley," as well as correspondence with Otis Halfmoon and other documents.
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

John Harland Horner (1870-1953) was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Enterprise, Oregon, in 1911. He served as Wallowa County's deputy assessor from 1918 to 1924, before being elected county assessor in 1924. Horner also had a long-standing interest in the history of Wallowa County. For more than thirty years, he collected historical information and interviewed most of the early emigrants to the area and local Native people. His research resulted in an unpublished manuscript of more than 1,500 pages. Horner committed suicide on July 13, 1953, at the age of 83.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Collection consists principally of J. H. Horner's unpublished manuscript, "Wallowa River and Valley," dealing with regional history, as well as the history and cultural traditions of the Nimiipuu (Nez Percé) people. Other papers include correspondence (circa 1889-1985); legal documents (1898-1931); patents for window construction (1921-1922); and manuscript materials (undated). Horner's main correspondent is Otis Halfmoon of the Nimiipuu people, who collaborated on Horner's manuscript. The collection also includes a list of other contributors who assisted Horner in his research.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Digitized version of "Wallowa River and Valley" is viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

J. H. Horner papers, Mss 6031, 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 two series: Series A. Correspondence and general papers; Series B. Manuscript of "Wallowa River and Valley."

Acquisition Information

Gift of C.N. Gaylord, October 1991 (Lib. Acc. 20491).

Separated Materials

Photographs were separated to photograph collections, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series A:  Correspondence and general papers, 1889-1985Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Otis Halfmoon correspondence
1926-1952
1 2
Deeds, notes, and legal documents
1898-1931
1 3
General correspondence
circa 1889-1985
1 4
Window construction patents
1921-1922
1 5
List of acknowledgements for book
undated

Series B:  Manuscript of "Wallowa River and Valley", undatedReturn to Top

"Wallowa River and Valley" details the history of the Wallowa Valley region in northeastern Oregon from approximately 1805 through 1950. The document includes extensive details on the origins of many place names in the region. The manuscript also includes a history of the Nimiipuu (Nez Percé) people and their cultural traditions, which Horner wrote in collaboration with Otis Halfmoon. Topics covered in the manuscript include Chief Joseph and the events of the Nez Percé war of 1877, settlement of the Wallowa Valley region, and local participation in World War I and World War II.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 6
Pages 1-100
undated
1 7
Pages 101-200
undated
1 8
Pages 201-300
undated
1 9
Pages 301-400
undated
1 10
Pages 400-500
undated
1 11
Pages 501-600
undated
1 12
Pages 601-700
undated
2 1
Pages 701-800
undated
2 2
Pages 801-900
undated
2 3
Pages 901-1000
undated
2 4
Pages 1001-1100
undated
2 5
Pages 1101-1200
undated
2 6
Pages 1201-1300
undated
2 7
Pages 1301-1400
undated
2 8
Pages 1400-1500
undated
2 9
Pages 1501-1561
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Names, Geographical--Oregon--Wallowa County
  • Nez Percé Indians

Personal Names

  • Halfmoon, Otis--Correspondence
  • Horner, J. H., 1870-1953--Correspondence
  • Joseph (Nez Percé Chief), 1840-1904

Geographical Names

  • Wallowa County (Or.)--History
  • Wallowa Lake (Or.)
  • Wallowa Mountains (Or.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • correspondence
  • histories (literary works)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Halfmoon, Otis