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George H. Himes papers, 1852-1952

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Himes, George H., 1844-1940
Title
George H. Himes papers
Dates
1852-1952 (inclusive)
Quantity
17.65 cubic feet, (28 document cases, 1 card file box, 10 flat boxes, 4 custom boxes)
Collection Number
Mss 1462
Summary
Papers of George H. Himes of Portland, Oregon, first curator of the Oregon Historical Society and a printer by trade. The collection consists primarily of detailed diaries kept throughout Himes's life, plus records of his printing business and a small amount of correspondence and other documents. Diaries include information on daily activities, Oregon pioneers, local events, family members, and the development of the Oregon Historical Society.
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
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Biographical Note

Historian, curator, and printer George Henry Himes was born on May 18, 1844 in Troy, Pennsylvania, and he came overland to the Oregon Territory with his family in 1853. They settled near Olympia, Washington, where Himes's father Tyrus took up farming. George attended rural schools and learned the printing trade, eventually working for the Washington Standard in Olympia. Coming to Portland in the mid-1860s, he was employed first by the Oregonian and later by printer William D. Carter, with whom he formed the company Carter & Himes. In 1870 Himes bought out Carter and continued in business as "Himes the Printer." Among his publications were the Daily Bee and the illustrated West Shore magazine, as well as H.O. Lang's History of the Willamette Valley, which sent his firm into bankruptcy in 1885. After a subsequent printing business failed, Himes devoted the rest of his life to documenting the history of Oregon. Always active in the Oregon Pioneer Association and other organizations, he helped to found the Oregon Historical Society in 1898. The following year he began work as the Society's first curator (precursor to the position of executive director), and he continued to operate the institution until 1938.

Himes was married in 1866 to Anna F. Riggs, and he eventually fathered 11 children. He began keeping a personal diary in 1858 and continued, with occasional gaps, until 1939, a year before his death. He was a deeply religious man and an active temperance advocate. Among his many historical writings was a history of Oregon written for the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition -- an event he helped to organize. He died in Portland in 1940 at the age of 96.

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Content Description

The papers of George Himes consist primarily of two groups of materials: Himes's extensive diaries, dating from 1858 to 1939, and records of Himes's printing businesses from the late 19th century. Also included are drafts of historical writings, reminiscences of Himes's childhood, reminiscence of Suzukie Kinzo, first Japanese American in Oregon, scrapbooks, lists of Oregon pioneers, minutes of the Portland Historical Society, minutes of the Native Sons of Oregon, and a small amount of general correspondence.

The diaries are most complete from the 1890s to the early 1930s. Entries often include information on local events, personal activities, notes on Oregon pioneers, activities involving the Oregon Historical Society, and accounts of travels. Also included are occasional reflections on history and on Himes's own life. Business records are largely financial in nature, but letterpress copybooks provide detailed information on day-to-day activities from 1870 to 1892. Also included are a small sample of printing examples.

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Use of the Collection

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.

Any publications based on the diaries in the collection must be reviewed by the descendants of George Himes prior to publication. Requests for review of publications can be submitted to the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Preferred Citation

George H. Himes papers, Mss 1462, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series A: General and biographical papers, 1859-1952
  • Series B: Diaries, 1858-1939
  • Series C: Business ledgers and other bound volumes, 1852-1944
  • Series D: Additional personal papers, 1869-1935

Custodial History

The diaries of George Himes were kept by his daughter, Faye Albrecht, prior to donation.

Acquisition Information

Includes Library Accessions 25588, 26054, and 29252.

Related Materials

Correspondence and other papers of George H. Himes can be found in the Institutional Archives of the Oregon Historical Society.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Historians--Oregon
  • History--Societies, etc.--Oregon
  • Pioneers--Oregon
  • Printers--Oregon--Portland
  • Printing--Oregon--Portland
  • Publishers and publishing--Oregon--Portland

Personal Names

  • Himes, George H., 1844-1940--Archives
  • Himes, George H., 1844-1940--Correspondence
  • Kinzo, Suzukie

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Historical Society
  • Himes the Printer (Portland, Or.)

Family Names

  • Himes family

Geographical Names

  • Olympia (Wash.)--History
  • Oregon--Description and travel
  • Portland (Or.)--History
  • Washington (State)--Description and travel

Form or Genre Terms

  • Autobiographies
  • Diaries
  • Ledgers
  • Letterpress copybooks

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Carter & Himes (Portland, Or.) (creator)
    • Native Sons of Oregon (creator)
    • Oregon Pioneer Association (creator)
    • Portland Historical Society (Or.) (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Geoffrey B. Wexler
2007

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