Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Oregonian Publishing Company records, 1855-2008
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Oregonian (Firm)
- Title
- Oregonian Publishing Company records
- Dates
- 1855-2008 (inclusive)18552008
- Quantity
- 7.65 cubic feet, (18 document cases, 2 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder, and 1 oversize bound volume)
- Collection Number
- Coll 461
- Summary
- Business records of the Oregonian Publishing Company. Includes financial, legal, and organizational documents; subject files covering Oregonian financial interests; reports, studies, and surveys; photographs; in-house publications; and limited correspondence and other documents from Henry Pittock's time as owner and publisher.
- 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
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Oregonian Publishing Company was established in 1850 as The Weekly Oregonian and was owned and published by W. W. Chapman and Henry W. Corbett. In 1861 ownership passed to Henry Pittock, who changed the name to The Morning Oregonian in 1861. The paper was renamed to its current title, The Oregonian, in 1937. Over the years, the paper has had a number of notable owners and publishers besides Pittock, including Chapman, Corbett, and S.I. "Si" Newhouse. Early notable editors included Thomas J. Dryer, Henry Pittock, and Harvey W. Scott.
The paper's offices and presses were originally housed in a two-story building at the intersection of First Street (now First Avenue) and Morrison Street. In 1892, the paper moved into a new nine-story building at 6th and Alder streets. Like its as its predecessor (and successor), the new building was called the Oregonian Building. It included a clock tower at one corner, and was the tallest structure in Portland until 1911. The newspaper moved again in 1948, to SW Broadway between Jefferson and Columbia streets, where it would remain until 2014. The 1892 building was demolished in 1950. The Oregonian is now located at 1500 SW First Avenue.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains early records of the Oregonian newspaper, including articles of incorporation, minutes of board meetings, and publication statistics. It also includes documents and records from Henry Pittock's time as owner and publisher, including accounting books and correspondence. Financial papers document employee bonus payments, charitable gifts, and the purchase of Portland city block 215 and construction of Oregonian buildings; other papers relate to Oregonian business interests. In-house publications include copies of the Masthead, Inkling, and Second Takes newsletters. A sizable portion of the collection consists of reports and analysis of public opinion survey data covering topics such as abortion, the spotted owl controversy, local mayoral races, ballot initiatives, and national presidential races. Other items in the collection include a 1955 civil defense memo, a 1916 War Department Industrial Inventory, a memo outlining the Oregonian's position on stereotypes in sports teams, photographs of the Young Oregonians club and the Oregonian building, and a bound volume of the Weekly Oregonian (1858-1859).
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Oregonian Publishing Company records, Coll 461, 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: Financial documents
- Series 2: Henry Pittock documents
- Series 3: Legal documents
- Series 4: Organizational documents
- Series 5: Business interests
- Series 6: Photographs and reproductions
- Series 7: Publications
- Series 8: Reports, studies, and surveys
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Financial documents, 1868-2002Return to Top
Contains documents associated with the early years of the Morning Oregonian, the Oregonian, and the Oregonian Building, as well as assorted other financial documents.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Bonus memo |
1951 |
| 1 | 2 | Charitable gifts |
1926-1998 |
| 1 | 3 | Employee bonus payment receipts |
1950-1952 |
| 1 | 4 | Pioneer Broadcasting Company |
1952-1954 |
| 1 | 5 | Rosemary - Frey Trust |
1952 |
| 1 | 6 | S.I. Newhouse Jr. special account |
1953 |
| 1 | 7 | Wells Fargo Bank documents |
2002-2004 |
| 2 | 1 | Insurance documents |
1915-1925 |
| 2 | 2 | Lease documents |
1912-2012 |
| 2 | 3 | Loan documents |
1911-1925 |
| 2 | 4 | Pittock Block |
1916 |
| 3 | Receipt book |
1868-1869 |
Series 2: Henry Pittock documents, 1909-1936Return to Top
Contains documents originating from, or associated with, Henry Pittock's time as owner and publisher of the Oregonian.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 8 | Incoming correspondence - Pittock |
1888-1918 |
| 1 | 9 | Henry L. Pittock bank book |
1914-1919 |
| 1 | 10 | Oregonian Comparative Statistics |
1909-1912 |
| 1 | 11 | Henry Pittock estate |
1936 |
Series 3: Legal documents, 1855-1975Return to Top
Includes original articles of incorporation for the Oregonian Publishing Company, subpoenas to the House Un-American Activities Committee, and trademark and copyright documents.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 12 | Copyright, "Making the Day Begin" |
1975 |
| 1 | 13 | Macnaughton agreement |
1951 |
| 1 | 14 | Oregonian's Special Ownership Committee documents |
1938 |
| 1 | 15 | Subpoenas from Senate committee |
1957 |
| 1 | 16 | Trademark, "Heart to Heart Talks" |
1927 |
| 2 | 5 | Articles of incorporation |
1873-1932 |
| 2 | 6 | Miscellaneous court documents |
1909-1957 |
| 2 | 7 | Oregonian Building Block 185 |
1978 |
| 2 | 8 | Oregonian vs. O'Neill Transfer Company |
1946-1951 |
| 2 | 9 | Property deeds |
1855-1970 |
Series 4: Organizational documents, 1873-1979Return to Top
Contains documents associated with the day-to-day operations of the Oregonian.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 10 | Oregonian Publishing Company Board of Directors meeting minutes |
1873-1877 |
| 4 | 1 | Civil defense memo |
1955 |
| 4 | 2 | Classified advertising rates |
1937-1995 |
| 4 | 3 | Hong certificate of residence |
1892 |
| 4 | 4 | Incoming correspondence - Oregonian |
1888-1925 |
| 4 | 5 | Industrial inventory |
1916 |
| 4 | 6 | L. H. Gregory letter |
1927 |
| 4 | 7 | Maria Sweney letters |
1911 |
| 4 | 8 | Miscellaneous ephemera |
1903-1977 |
| 4 | 9 | Oregonian switchboard log |
1979 |
| 4 | 10 | Oregonian switchboard log |
1980 |
| 4 | 11 | Sports team stereotype memo |
1992 |
| 5 | 1 | Telephone records |
1951-1971 |
| 5 | 2 | Telephone records |
1971-1976 |
| 5 | 3 | Telephone records |
1979-1982 |
| 5 | 4 | Oregonian Publishing Records, Volume 2 |
1893-1939 |
Series 5: Business interests, 1906-1932Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 2 | 11 | Bank of Kennewick |
1914 |
| 2 | 12 | Clearwater Irrigation, Power, and Boom Company |
1906-1923 |
| 2 | 13 | Crown Willamette Paper Company |
1923 |
| 2 | 14 | Portland Trust Company |
1910-1932 |
| 2 | 15 | Portland Lumber Company |
1910-1913 |
| 4 | 12 | Baldwin Sheep Company |
1928-1931 |
| 4 | 13 | Baldwin Sheep Company |
1916-1932 |
| 4 | 14 | Mecca Investment Company |
1911 |
Series 6: Photographs and reproductions, 1912-1959Return to Top
Contains manipulated and edited production photographs of members of the Young Oregonians group from the 1930s-1950s. Also includes photographs of the Oregonian building.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 6 | 1 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "1930s" |
1930s |
| 6 | 2 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #1 1940s" |
1940s |
| 6 | 3 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #2 1940s" |
1940s |
| 6 | 4 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #3 1940s" |
1940s |
| 6 | 5 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "1950s" |
1950s |
| 7 | 1 | Photos: "Aaron Fausett, Mike Hood, and John McKay" |
1955 |
| 7 | 2 | Photos: Young Oregonians - untitled |
undated |
| 7 | 3 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Interesting Fotos" |
undated |
| 7 | 4 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #1" |
undated |
| 7 | 5 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #2" |
undated |
| 7 | 6 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #3" |
undated |
| 7 | 7 | Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #4" |
undated |
| 19 | 3 | Oregonian Building and Portland Hotel, matted photographs |
undated |
| 19 | 4 | Oregonian Building photographs |
1912; 1927 |
| Folder | |||
| Oversize 1 | Assorted Oregonian photographs (depicting various activities) |
undated | |
Series 7: Publications, 1858-2007Return to Top
Contains newsletters and other internal publications, as well as special publications and a bound volume of the Weekly Oregonian newspaper.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 8 | 1 | In Pursuit of Excellence |
circa 2002 |
| 8 | 2 | Second Take index |
1989-2001 |
| 8 | 3 | Second Takes |
1989 |
| 8 | 4 | Second Takes |
1990 |
| 8 | 5 | Second Takes |
1991 |
| 8 | 6 | Second Takes |
1992 |
| 8 | 7 | Second Takes |
1993 |
| 8 | 8 | Second Takes |
1994 |
| 8 | 9 | Second Takes |
1995 |
| 8 | 10 | Second Takes |
1996 |
| 8 | 11 | Second Takes |
1997 |
| 9 | 1 | Second Takes |
1998 |
| 9 | 2 | Second Takes |
1999 |
| 9 | 3 | Second Takes |
2000 |
| 9 | 4 | Second Takes |
2001 |
| 9 | 5 | The Oregonian Goes to Press |
undated |
| 9 | 6 | The O's Class of '08 Yearbook |
2008 |
| 19 | 1 | Inklings newsletter |
2004-2007 |
| 19 | 2 | Masthead newsletters |
1989-2007 |
| 19 | Circulation record (2 bound volumes) |
1922-1925; 1934-1935 | |
| 20 | 150th Anniversary Special (2 copies) |
2001 May | |
| Volume | |||
| 1 | Weekly Oregonian newspapers (bound volume) |
1858-1859 | |
Series 8: Reports, studies, and surveys, 1983-1998Return to Top
Contains statewide survey data on a variety of issues, including U.S. presidential election races, statewide ballot initiatives, and local mayoral races.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 10 | 1 | ABC Audit Report: Newspaper |
1983 |
| 10 | 2 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 January |
| 10 | 3 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 January |
| 10 | 4 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 January |
| 10 | 5 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 April |
| 10 | 6 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 April |
| 11 | 1 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 May |
| 11 | 2 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1995 November |
| 11 | 3 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 April |
| 11 | 4 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 April |
| 11 | 5 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 April |
| 12 | 1 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 October |
| 12 | 2 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1994 October |
| 12 | 3 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 January; 1996 March |
| 12 | 4 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 April |
| 12 | 5 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 April |
| 12 | 6 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1996 September |
| 13 | 1 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1997 April |
| 13 | 2 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1997 May |
| 13 | 3 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide |
1997 May |
| 13 | 4 | Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide transcripts |
1997 June |
| 14 | 1 | Griggs Anderson - General Election I |
1988 September |
| 14 | 2 | Griggs Anderson - General Election II |
1988 October |
| 14 | 3 | Griggs Anderson - Portland Mayor's Race |
1988 October |
| 14 | 4 | Griggs Anderson - Portland Public Officials Survey |
1989 April |
| 14 | 5 | Griggs Anderson - Portland Public Officials Survey |
1989 April |
| 14 | 6 | Griggs Anderson - Forest Products and Spotted Owl Controversy |
1989 June |
| 14 | 7 | Griggs Anderson - attitudes toward abortion |
1989 July |
| 15 | 1 | Griggs Anderson - Primary Election I |
1990 February |
| 15 | 2 | Griggs Anderson - Forest products and spotted owl controversy |
1990 May |
| 15 | 3 | Griggs Anderson - Statewide Election Supplemental |
1990 May |
| 15 | 4 | Griggs Anderson - General Election Survey I |
1990 August |
| 15 | 5 | Griggs Anderson - General Election Survey II |
1990 October |
| 16 | 1 | Griggs Anderson - General Election Survey III |
1990 October |
| 16 | 2 | Griggs Anderson - General Election Daily |
1990 November |
| 16 | 3 | Griggs Anderson - Attitudes toward taxation |
1990 December |
| 16 | 4 | Griggs Anderson - Portland issues / mayor's race |
1992 April |
| 16 | 5 | Griggs Anderson - Family poll |
1992 April |
| 16 | 6 | Griggs Anderson - Primary Election Statewide Survey |
1992 April |
| 17 | 1 | Griggs Anderson - Mayor's Race |
1992 May |
| 17 | 2 | Griggs Anderson - Statewide Primary Wave II |
1992 May |
| 17 | 3 | Griggs Anderson - District I / primary election |
1992 May |
| 17 | 4 | Griggs Anderson - Fall mayor's race |
1992 October |
| 17 | 5 | Griggs Anderson - Fall statewide issue poll |
1992 October |
| 17 | 6 | Griggs Anderson - General election |
1992 November |
| 17 | 7 | Griggs Anderson - General Election Wave II |
1992 November |
| 17 | 8 | Griggs Anderson - General election / mayor's race |
1992 November |
| 18 | 1 | North American Newspaper Alliance report |
1930 |
| 18 | 2 | Oregon Taxpayers United Annual Supplemental |
1995 September |
| 18 | 3 | Oregon Taxpayers United 1st and 2nd Pre-Special |
1997 May |
| 18 | 4 | Oregon Taxpayers United Special Election |
1997 July |
| 18 | 5 | Oregon Taxpayers United Supplemental |
1997 September |
| 18 | 6 | Oregon Taxpayers United Final Report |
1997 November |
| 18 | 7 | Oregon Taxpayers United - Bill Sizemore |
1998 |
| 18 | 8 | Oregon Taxpayers United - Measure 53 |
1998 |
| 18 | 9 | TH Research |
1993 September |
| 18 | 10 | TH Research |
1993 September |
| 18 | 11 | TH Research |
1993 October-November |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American newspapers--Oregon--Portland
- Newspaper publishing--Oregon--Pendleton
- Youth--Oregon--Societies and clubs--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Oregonian (Firm)--Records and correspondence
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Politics and government--Public opinion--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- financial records
- legal documents
- newsletters
- photographs
- public opinion polls
- reports
Titles within the Collection
- Weekly Oregonian (Portland, Or. : 1854)
