Collection is open for research.
Gifts of Marie Holst Pottsmith, April 1960 (Lib. Acc. 8747) and Iverna L. Velene February 1988 (Lib. Acc. 18626; Photo Acc. 988D221).
The prints are arranged approximately chronologically, then by location.
Marie M. Holst Pottsmith (1882-1980) was drawn to Oregon from the Dakotas by the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition. She decided to remain in Oregon and taught at Keizer, 1905-1907, to earn tuition for the University of Oregon's teacher training program at Eugene. Pottsmith was advised to teach in a mountain school, where the school year runs from spring through early fall, to make the most of her time before college started. She began her journey to the mountains in March 1908, arriving by railroad at Seaside. From there, she traveled on horseback eight miles to the village of Hamlet.
Hamlet, which was accessible only by pack trail from Necanicum, was populated by Finns. The villagers were homestead farmers who supplemented their incomes with fishing out of Astoria. Pottsmith boarded with the Alfred Hill family and earned $55 per month. She sent for a camera outfit from Salem: an Eastman folding Kodak, a tripod, equipment, and instructions for developing film and making prints. Knowing nothing about photography, she pored over the instructions, used the Andersons' sauna for a darkroom, and set out to document her experience in photographs. She made family portraits and sold the prints for $1 per dozen, giving many family groups in Hamlet their first opportunity to have portraits made.
Marie Holst stayed in Hamlet for eight months and then moved on to the University of Oregon, as planned. After a two-year course, she taught in Fisher, Washington. On June 12, 1912, she married the Rev. William F. Pottsmith, who pastored the Presbyterian Church, which was located next door to the S. W. Fisher School, and the one at nearby Ellsworth, Washington. They started married life living at Ellsworth, and Marie Holst Pottsmith gave up her teaching career.
The Pottsmiths had a daughter, Dorothy, who was born June 8, 1914. In 1915, they moved into a new manse at Whiteson, near McMinnville, Oregon, and also served churches in Carlton and Cove Orchard. In 1917, William Pottsmith returned to the machinist trade in Portland and served some outlying churches. Another daughter, Iverna Louise, was born in 1918.
The negatives in the collection are not available for direct access due to fragility. Researchers are asked to use the access prints or the digitized versions
Marie Holst Pottsmith photographs, Org. Lot 460, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Marie Holst Pottsmith recollections, Mss 1044, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
This collection consists of 119 sheet film negatives taken by Marie Holst Pottsmith, as well as 129 access prints made by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in 1986. Ten of the prints in this collection do not have corresponding negatives.
Pottsmith took many of the images during the eight months in 1908 that she taught in the remote Finnish community of Hamlet, Oregon. These images document the people and community life in Hamlet, including farming, the school, and construction of the first wagon road to Necanicum by residents of the village, as well as a nearby community in Elsie Valley.
Other photographs in this collection document Pottsmith's life as a student at the University of Oregon; visits to family and friends in Portland, Salem, and Woodburn; teaching at Fisher, Washington; and her family life in Ellsworth, Washington, and in Oregon. The collection includes one image made circa 1956, when Pottsmith revisited Hamlet and photographed an abandoned farmstead she had previously photographed in 1908.
Seven of the negatives were published by Pottsmith and are in the public domain:
The remaining images are unpublished and available under the following statement until 2050: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted,
Includes views of valley, Lindgren family, and boy with fawn.
Includes photographs of Mrs. Albert Hill and Henry Hill picking raspberries; Andrew Hill children picking wild berries; and Marie Holst Pottsmith and huckleberries.
Includes photographs of the Albert Hill farm, a horse-drawn reaper cutting grain, and a work horse.
Includes views of Henry Piekkola's stump house and homestead cabin; August Tokola farm; and Harvey Mowick farm.
Includes photographs of fishing, hunting, a Fourth of July celebration, and picnics.
Includes photographs of the Andrew Lampi family; Mrs. Makela (mother of the Hill brothers -- Makela was their Finnish family name); Mrs. Mattson; and the Sarpola family.
Includes views of packing in mattress over trail; building wagon road; and Marie Holst Pottsmith with others in wagon heading out over the newly completed road to Necanicum, Oregon.
Includes photographs of students Alfred Haikura, Alvered Hill, Evelina Hill, Hilma Hill, Eli Lampi, Phemi Lampi, Fred Mattson, Alex Sarpola, and Alma Sarpola, as well as teacher Marie Holst Pottsmith at school and at Albert Hill farm. Includes view of her in her bedroom, preparing lessons, and washing clothes in front of the sauna, which she used as a darkroom.
Includes views of University of Oregon campus (including views with snow); Ellen M. Pennell, assistant dean of women; interior and exterior of Pennell's house; Marie Holst Pottsmith, who boarded at the Pennell House; and April Frolic costume event.
View of Marie Holst Pottsmith photographing herself in mirror at home of Andrew and May Sanner McManus, 249 Cherry St.; May Sanner McManus was Pottsmith's cousin.
Includes photographs taken by Marie Holst Pottsmith during her visits to her uncle, John J. Sanner, and his family.
Includes photographs of Marie Holst Pottsmith visiting college friends, Mabel and Anne Simpson, during threshing time, with Daisy Mulkey and images of threshing machines and crews.
Includes views of S.W. Fisher Schoolhouse, students, teacher Marie Holst Pottsmith, and activities including school garden and picnic; Presbyterian Church and activities; Arnold house; and view of village toward Columbia River.
Includes views of Presbyterian Church and manse; Rev. William Pottsmith in study; sanctuary decorated for Easter; and newlyweds William and Marie Holst Pottsmith in their backyard.
Views of William and Marie Holst Pottsmith during honeymoon trip.
Includes views of William, Marie, and daughter Dorothy Pottsmith in front of new Presybterian manse at Whiteson and a visit to McMinnville.
View of Dorothy Pottsmith participating in Decoration Day (Memorial Day) activities with Virginia and Georgella Hefty.
Includes photocopies of a series of articles titled "Frontier Teacher," from the Oregon Journal newspaper, February 19-22, 1957, as well as a photocopy of "Pioneering Years in Hamlet, Oregon," an account of Pottsmith's life that was published in Oregon Historical Quarterly in March 1960.