Archives West Finding Aid

The Ellmaker family papers collection contains material that documents the life of Oregon Trail pioneer Enos Ellmaker and the lives of his decedents in Lane County, Oregon. This collection also contains some 18th century documents related to the Ellmakers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Material includes personal papers of members of the Ellmaker family; maps, drawings, and photographs; artifacts; books and periodicals; and genealogical research and resources.

The personal papers series contains a variety of written and graphic materials created by Enos Ellmaker, his son Amos, Ulysses Ellmaker and his wife Ruth La Van Ellmaker, as well as Elaine Ellmaker Clark and her husband Gordon. A small number of documents attributed to other members of the Ellmaker family have been described in this series as other family papers.

The maps, drawings, and photographs series contains maps and surveys of the Ellmaker ranch and the Lane County area; 19th and early 20th century family and class portraits; 20th century family photo albums; as well as architectural plans and drawings of Ellmaker family properties.The artifacts series contains sentimental items collected by members of the Ellmaker family including common household and personal items, such as spoons and shaving razors, homespun samples, and keepsake locks of hair.

The books and periodicals series consists of works published in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Publications include religious writings, children's textbooks, novels, poetry compilations, and works focused on Oregon and the Pacific Coast. The genealogical research and resources series contains materials used and generated by Michael Ellmaker while writing his family history, The Ellmaker Chronicles. Items include photocopies and transcripts of primary sources, published memoirs and family histories, and correspondence.