Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.
Thomas Allen McBride (1847-1930) became an attorney, served in the Oregon House of Representatives, as a District Attorney, as a Clatsop County Circuit Court judge, and from 1909 till 1930, served as an Oregon Supreme Court Justice.
After working as an attorney, MacBride was elected to represent Columbia County in the Oregon Legislature in 1876. Beginning in 1882 he served as District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District (at the time, Washington, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, and Wasco counties) until 1892 when he became a Circuit Court judge for Clatsop County.
In 1909, the governor appointed McBride to the state supreme court, and in 1914 until 1930 McBride continually won reelection. He served as chief justice of the court five times. McBride died in office on September 9, 1930.
The collection contains correspondence, speeches, publications, certificates, clippings, and photographs.
Correspondence includes a letter from Oregon Senator Charles McNary.
Newspaper clippings consist of reprinted speeches by McBride, pictures, biographical information and a section of clippings regarding the career of McBride's brother, George McBride.
Photographs are mostly portraits of McBride, the McBride family, and Oregon homes. The photographs were removed from their original placement in the collection and are stored separately for preservation reasons, under the call number PH165.
Certificates and other documents (1876-1926) include deeds, McBride's nomination to the Oregon Supreme Court, admission to the Bar, etc.
Publications include books, and an article in the Oregon Law Review titled "Reminiscences of the Oregon bar" (1923).