Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
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 ft., (7 document cases and 2 flat boxes)
- Collection Number
- Org. Lot 1206
- Summary
- Photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamela Loomis, including sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson 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
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Simon Benson (1851-1942), a Norwegian immigrant, found considerable success in the innovative management of his substantial timber holdings. 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. His second marriage, to Pamela Loomis, produced two sons, Gilbert Thereon and Chester Simon. Gilbert died in 1928, well into graduate studies at Stanford University. Chester married Dorothy Logan, and together they raised son Gilbert Thomas and daughter Margaret (Maradudin).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection consists of photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamela 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, Oregon Coast, Columbia River Gorge, and Benson family residences in Portland as well as their summer cottage, Riverwood, in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
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
Benson family photographs collection, Org. Lot 1206, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series A: Photographic prints
- Series B: Photo albums
- Series C: Unprocessed Negatives
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series A: 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,
Or.) |
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) photos in 1/6.
|
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 B: 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, Or.) |
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 removed from album for preservation purposes. Album
discarded.
|
circa 1940 |
| 5/3 | Album 7 - Gilbert Thomas Benson -
Baby album |
1929-1932 |
| 6/1 | Album 8 - probably Gilbert Thomas
Benson & Margaret Benson - Baby album |
approx. 1929-1935 |
| 6/2 | Album 9- Chester
Benson |
1920s |
| 6/3 | Album 10 - Cabinet card
portraits
Photographs removed from album for preservation purposes.
Numbered to retain order. Empty album stored in Box 7.
|
1899; undated |
| Box 7 | Album 10 (empty)
See note for 6/3.
|
1899 |
| Box 8 | Album 1 - Chester Benson family,
including Gilbert Thomas Benson |
circa 1930-1940 |
| Box 8 | Album 11 - Riverwood House (Lake
Oswego, Or.) - includes Chester Benson, et al |
possibly 1920s |
Series C: Unprocessed Negatives, circa 1920s, undatedReturn to Top
This box is stored offsite. Access is restricted and requires special arrangements with library staff.
These negatives are unprocessed. Some or all may correspond to prints in Series A and B.
| 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, structures, etc. -- Photographs
- Children--Oregon--Photographs
- College life--Photographs
- Voyages and travels -- California--Photographs
- Voyages and travels -- Oregon--Photographs
Personal Names
- Benson family--Photographs
- 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
Geographical Names
- Columbia River Gorge (Or.and Wash.)--Photographs
- Lake Oswego (Or.).--Photographs
- Pacific Coast (Or.)--Photographs
- Portland (Or.)--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photograph albums
- Photographic prints
