The Columbia, also known as the Columbia Rediviva, was a three-masted sailing ship of 212 tons owned by Joseph Barrell of Boston, Massachusetts. It was built in 1773 by James Briggs. In its first voyage to the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia, captained by John Kendrick, was accompanied by the sloop Lady Washington, captained by Robert Gray. The Columbia left Boston on September 30, 1787, reaching Nootka Sound in the summer of 1788. After wintering in the area, Captain Gray took the Columbia to China via the Hawaiian Islands in the summer of 1789, continuing on to circumnavigate the globe and returning to Boston on August 9, 1790. In September of that year, Gray took the Columbia on its second voyage, reaching the Pacific Northwest in 1792. He was credited with discovering the entrance to the Columbia River, which bore the name of his ship, and he also gave his name to Grays Harbor. He continued to Canton and around the world again, reaching Boston on July 20, 1793.
The collection consists of correspondence, journals, ship logs, administrative records, and ink sketches relating to the ship Columbia Rediviva. A mix of original materials and reproductions are present. Among the originals are: the journal of John Hoskins, written during the Columbia's journey around the world in 1791-1792; the journal of George Barrell, 1806, written on board the brig Venus from Boston to Malaga, and on the schooner Louisiana from Malaga to New York; Barrell's account of stores on board the Columbia, 1792-1793; letters of Joseph Barrell to Samuel Webb, 1785-1801, and to John Hoskins, 1790; letters from Colburn Barrell and Robert Haswell, 1801; owner's accounts, 1787-1793; accounts of the Columbia and Lady Washington, 1787-1790; receipts; and four ink sketches by George Davidson depicting incidents in the voyages of the Columbia.
The reproductions held in this collection include the journals of Robert Haswell and Owen Smith, 1787-1789; and a file of receipts and other papers concerning outfitting of the Columbia, 1790 (on microfilm). Also included are publications of Robert Gray's wife Martha's petition to congress for a pension and memorial, 1848-1852.
Collection is open for research.
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Columbia Rediviva collection, Mss 957, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
A portion of the collection was purchased in April 1966 with the Margaret Bates Memorial Fund (Acc. 10234).
Journal of John Hoskins is also available on microfilm as Mss 957 Microfilm at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Originals of Robert Haswell journal, the Ship Columbia Log, and the records of the outfitting of the Columbia Rediviva are held at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
On cover, in hand: "all the Ship Coumbias [sic] Papers / Mary Barrell / Millburn, N.J."
Includes: Columbia account of stores, 1792 June 23-1793 May 27; Journal from Boston to Malaga in the brig Venus, George Barrell, master, 1806 July 13-September 14; Journal from Malaga to New York in the schooner Louisiana, Thomas Davis, master, 1806 September 23-November 30
Includes: Report of claim for pension made by Martha Gray, widow of Captain Robert Gray, U.S. Congress, House, 1848 April 26; report from U.S. Senate on claims to lands purchased from Indian tribes in the northwestern U.S., by Martha Gray and others related to the Columbia voyage, 1852 August 11.