Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections & Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-4501
Phone: 541-737-2165
Email: archives@oregonstate.edu
Web:
http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives
Consult repository.
Blackwell, Eva, 1900-1987
Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater
Family Collection
ca.
1874-1955
1895-1931
0.4 cubic ft.
The
materials are housed in two document boxes and one 20x24 oversize box.
The Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater
Family Collection documents the activities of Eva Blackwell and her family,
especially her grandfather, William A. Frater. Blackwell graduated from Oregon
Agricultural College in 1924 and was employed in the Registrar's Office for
more than 40 years. Frater served as postmaster for Roseburg, Oregon from 1898
until 1904 when he was removed from office for misappropriation of postal
funds. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, newspapers and
publications, emphemera, artifacts, and photographs assembled by
Blackwell.
Materials in English.
Biographical Note:
Alumna Eva Blackwell graduated from Oregon Agricultural College (OAC)
in 1924. Blackwell was born March 13, 1900 in Riddle, Oregon and grew up on a
dairy farm in Smith River in the lower Umpqua Valley. She graduated from high
school in Riddle, Oregon in 1918. Blackwell took a 2-week milk testing course
at Oregon Agricultural College and returned to the Gardiner area to work for a
local dairy association testing milk for butter fat content. In 1920, she
enrolled as an undergraduate student at OAC. After her graduation in 1924, she
began working in the Registrar's Office and held various positions, including
Assistant Registrar until her retirement in 1965. In the early 1950s, she was a
member of the College's Archives Committee. She returned to work for the
Registrar's Office in May of each year through 1981 to compile statistical data
for the graduating class. Blackwell died in Benton County, Oregon, in 1987.
Blackwell's maternal grandfather, William A. Frater was born in Ohio in
1843. After serving as a 2nd Sergeant of Company E, 170th Ohio Volunteers
during the Civil War, he operated a livestock business with his brothers in
Ohio. Frater moved to Kansas in 1877 and to Roseburg, Oregon in the late 1870s.
He served as Douglas County Treasurer from 1893 to 1898 and as postmaster in
Roseburg from 1898 until 1903 when he was indicted for misappropriation of
postal funds and removed from office. Frater's daughter, LaAmi Etta Frater,
married Lincoln Blackwell in 1896 and lived in the lower Umpqua River
Valley.
Series I consists of letters to William A. Frater on the topic of his
appointment as postmaster and letters from United States senators regarding
support of bills introduced that affected the state of Oregon. Series II
contains the certificate of appointment as postmaster presented to William A.
Frater, March 8, 1898, signed by President William A. McKinley and the high
school diploma for Ida Isabella Blackwell. The clippings in Series III
represent a variety of topics, many concerning local Roseburg and Douglas
County topics including William A. Frater's indictment and trial for
misappropriation of funds and removal from his position as Roseburg's
postmaster. Series III also includes an 1895 issue of the
Riddle Enterprise. Series IV contains
assorted artifacts and ephemera, including an International Order of the Odd
Fellows badge for the May 1911 meeting in Portland, Oregon. Series V contains
publications, including a book of verse presented by William A. Frater to his
daughter, Etta, on her wedding day. Series VI consists of pocket calendars
recording various daily tasks and events. Series VII includes a photo of Frater
and several unidentified children.
The materials are arranged into seven series: I. Correspondence; II.
Certificate and Diploma; III. Clippings and Newspapers; IV. Artifacts and
Ephemera; V. Publications; VI. Pocket Calendars and Autograph Album; and VII.
Photographs.
Eva Blackwell and William A. Frater Family Collection, Oregon State
University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
This collection was donated by Eva Blackwell in 1979.
Photographs of Eva Blackwell are available in various photographic
collections as well as biographical information in the News and Communications
Records (RG 203) and the Memorabilia Collection.
Blackwell, Eva, 1900-1987.
Frater, William A., 1843-1918.
Frater, William A., 1843-1918.
Douglas
County (Or.)
Roseburg
(Or.)
Umpqua
River Valley (Or.)
Smith River
(Douglas County, Or.)
Postal
service--Oregon--Roseburg
Diaries.
Photographs.
Immortal Treasures of Choice Literature, Masterworks of Art and Superb Songs.
The Tale of Bunny Cotton-Tail.
Umpqua of Gardiner.
Riddle Enterprise.
Oregon
Artifacts
Diaries
Photographs
City and Town
Life
Home and Family
Women
Series I
Correspondence
1897-1900
1
Series II
Certificate and
Diploma
1898-1924
2
apx 20x24 in.
Certificate of Appointment of
William A. Frater as Postmaster of Roseburg, Oregon
1898
1
Diploma to Ida Isabella
Blackwell from Smith River High School, Reedsport, Oregon
1924
Series III
Clippings and
Newspapers
ca. 1874-1931
1
Newsclippings
ca. 1874-1931
2
apx 20x24 in.
Riddle
Enterprise
May 25, 1895
2
apx 20x24 in.
Oregon State
Barometer
November 1, 1930
2
apx 20x24 in.
Oregon State
Barometer
April 1, 1931
1
Series IV
Artifacts and
Ephemera
1898-1930
2 folders
Series V
Publications
1895- ca. 1955
1
Immortal Treasures of Choice
Literature, Masterworks of Art and Superb Songs
1895
Presentation copy to "Etta" from William A. Frater on their
wedding day, December 22, 1896.
1
The Tale of Bunny
Cotton-Tail, by Laura R. Smith
1905
Presentation copy to Eva Blackwell from her teacher, L.A.
Lyster, August 31, 1906.
1
Umpqua of
Gardiner
1917-1918
1
Industrial Club Work of Oregon Boys
and Girls
1918
1
Songs of OSC
ca. 1955
1
Series VI
Pocket Calendars and Autograph
Album
1880-1929
Series VII
Photographs
ca. 1900-1920
3
Two children
ca. 1900
3
Baby
ca. 1900
3
Dairy cow
("Midget")
ca. 1910
3
Postcard print of
K.V. Kruse
ca. 1920
3
William A. Frater
ca. 1900
Photo by H.D. Graves, Roseburg, Oregon.