View XML QR Code

Records, 1883-1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast
Title
Records
Dates
1883-1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.2 cubic feet, (3 document cases, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
Mss 364
Summary
Records of an organization that worked to secure pensions for veterans of Indian wars in the Pacific Northwest. Includes organizational records, minutes of meetings, membership rosters, and correspondence of Henry H. Woodward, head of the Umpqua Camp. Also includes records and correspondence of the Sons and Daughters of Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Return to Top

Historical Note

Founded in 1885, the Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast stated its objective as follows: "To keep alive the memories of trials of pioneer life, to encourage friendship and benevolence among those who have acted as the vanguard of civilization, to transmit a true history of the Indian wars of the North Pacific Coast, and to impress ourselves and our posterity with that true patriotism which protects our homes free from all evils both by war and peace." Individual camps were organized around Oregon and Washington, including the Umpqua Camp at Roseburg and the Multnomah Camp at Portland. The group's "Grand Encampment" was held once a year, often in Portland. In 1887 M. R. Hathaway became the Grand Adjutant. Later T. A. Wood became the Grand Commander.

One of the main goals of the organization was to secure government pensions for men who had fought in the Indian wars. The culmination of this effort came in February of 1913 when President Taft signed a bill giving the veterans a pension of $20 per month. The organization continued until circa 1941, by which time most of the original Indian war veterans had died. An associated organization, the Sons and Daughters of Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast (known as the McMillan Camp after 1941), continued in existence until 1972.

Return to Top

Content Description

The collection contains fragmentary records of the main organization of the Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast, plus records of two subsidiary groups, the Umpqua Camp No. 6 and the Multnomah Camp No. 2. Also included are records of the Sons and Daughters of Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast, primarily the McMillan Camp. Included are minutes of meetings, financial records, correspondence, membership rosters, membership applications, printed materials and ephemera. Of particular interest is the extensive correspondence, circa 1885-1910, of the Umpqua Camp Commander Henry H. Woodward, headquartered at Roseburg, Oregon, which includes many letters from Grand Adjutant, M. R. Hathaway, and Grand Commander Thomas Alexander Wood. Subjects include organizing meetings, raising funds, and lobbying the U.S. Congress for pension benefits.

Records of the Sons and Daughters group includes membership applications providing biographical and genealogical information on members. Also included is a humorous essay by Oregon Historical Society Director Thomas Vaughan concerning the final meeting of the organization in 1974.

Return to Top

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 of the materials in the collection. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast Records, Mss 364, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series A: Records of the Main Organization
  • Series B: Records of Subsidiary Groups
  • Series C: Records of the Sons and Daughters Group

Acquisition Information

Gifts of: The Estate of Georgia Smith Ringland, May 1972, Library Accession 12261; and Sons and Daughters of Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast, c/o Susan M. Hill, January 27, 1959 and Nov. 1972, Library Accessions 7840 and 12394.

Related Materials

Pension files compiled by the Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast are designated Mss 364-1, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Return to Top

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

  • Pacific Coast Indians, Wars with, 1847-1865
  • Veterans--Oregon--Associations, institutions, etc.

Personal Names

  • Kleeman, Otto
  • Wood, Thomas Alexander--Correspondence
  • Woodward, Henry H., fl. 1886-1910

Corporate Names

  • Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast (creator)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Minutes

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Sons and Daughters of Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast

Finding aid prepared by Geoffrey B. Wexler
2005

CC0

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...