Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Joel Palmer papers
Palmer, Joel, 1810-1881
Mss 114
0.95 cubic feet
2 legal document cases; 1 shared reel microfilm
1783-2001
1848-1880
Papers of Joel Palmer (1810-1881) of Dayton, Oregon, and his family, including correspondence, diaries, government documents, and property records. The majority of papers relate to Palmer's roles as commissary general during the Cayuse War, as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory in the 1850s, and as an Indian agent at the Siletz Reservation in the early 1870s. Family papers include correspondence of Palmer's wife, Sarah Ann Palmer (1815-1891), and of Palmer's descendants.
English
French
Collection is open for research.
Materials acquired from multiple sources between 1899 and 2001, including acquisitions logged as Lib. Acc. 13274, Lib. Acc. 15086, Lib. Acc. 16132, Lib. Acc. 20059, Lib. Acc. 23932, Lib. Acc. 24602, RL2025-038-RETRO, RL2025-39-RETRO, RL2025-040-RETRO, and RL2025-041-RETRO.
Collection is viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.
The collection is arranged in three series:
- Series 1: Palmer correspondence and papers relating to Indian affairs
- Series 2: Other professional and personal papers of Joel Palmer
- Series 3: Palmer family papers
Joel Palmer was born in 1810 in Canada and grew up in upstate New York. He received only a few months of formal education, and at age 13 his parents indentured him to a family in Le Ray, New York, where he lived until the age of 17. He then moved to Pennsylvania. In 1830, he married Catherine Coffee. After Coffee's death, he remarried to Sarah Ann Derbyshire (1815-1891) in 1836; the couple had eight children. That same year, they moved near Laurel, Indiana, where Palmer worked as a contractor on a canal-building project and served two terms in the Indiana Legislature.
In 1845, Palmer traveled to Oregon, where he scouted out what would become the Barlow Road on Mount Hood. He described his experiences in a diary that was published in 1847 as "Journals of Travels Over the Rocky Mountains," which served as a guidebook on equipment and routes for emigrants to Oregon. He returned to Indiana in 1846 and then emigrated to Oregon with his family. In 1849, the family took residence in the Yamhill Valley, where Palmer founded the town of Dayton.
In Oregon, Palmer became a political leader who held significant roles in relations between Euro-American emigrants and Native peoples. He was a commissary general of the volunteer militia during the Cayuse War, and then a peace commissioner to the Cayuse. Later, he was territorial superintendent of Indian Affairs, then federal superintendent for Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory from 1853 to 1856, when he resigned. During his three years as superintendent, Palmer negotiated nine treaties, as well as two others in collaboration with Isaac Stevens. He also characterized Euro-Americans as instigators of many conflicts with Native people, which angered some emigrants to the region and led to his resignation.
Initially a Democrat, Palmer was an active Unionist during the U.S. Civil War and had changed his affiliation to the Republican Party by 1862. That same year, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, where he became Speaker. In 1864, he was elected to the Oregon Senate. In 1870, he ran for governor of Oregon, but narrowly lost to Lafayette Grover.
In 1871, Palmer was appointed Indian agent at the Siletz Reservation, but he remained in that role for less than two years before resigning out of frustration with bureaucracy and his inability to assist the Siletz people. He died in 1881.
Source: "Joel Palmer (1810-1881)," by William L. Lang, Oregon Encyclopedia, https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/palmer_joel_1810_1881_/; entry in "Dictionary of Oregon History," 2nd edition, 1989, edited by Howard McKinley Corning, page 190; vital records via Ancestry.com.
Originals of diaries excerpted in Box 1, Folder 8 are located in the Joel Palmer papers, Coll 1083, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Due to fragility, some items in the collection may require assistance to view.
Joel Palmer papers, Mss 114, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
This online collection guide for Mss 114 was originally created by Todd Welch and Geoffrey B. Wexler in 2006. At that time, the guide listed the papers in the order in which they are physically arranged, which is a loosely chronological order based on the time period when the various materials were acquired by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library. These eras of acquisition were represented in the collection guide as five series, which were designated Mss 114, Mss 114-1, Mss 114-2, Mss 114-3, and Mss 114-4. In 2025, Jeffrey A. Hayes revised the guide in order to clarify the scope and content of the collection, but did not change the physical order of materials. Revisions included listing the materials in three series based on subject matter rather than on era of acquisition, and providing additional detail in folder descriptions. The guide was also revised to conform to current standard.
Additional papers of Joel Palmer acquired by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in 2025 are designated Coll 1083.
Other materials at the library relating to Joel Palmer include the Courtney Walker Meade papers, Mss 249; the George Abernethy papers, Mss 929; the Philip Foster papers, Mss 996; "An Arrow in the Earth: Joel Palmer and the Indians of Oregon," by Terence O'Donnell (call number 970.5 O26a); "Joel Palmer and Indian Affairs in Oregon," by Stanley Sheldon Spaid (call number 979.107 P1825); and multiple editions of Palmer's journal about his 1845 journey to Oregon.
Papers of Joel Palmer are also held at the University of Oregon Special Collections and University Archives in Eugene, Oregon, under collection number Ax 057; and at the Indiana University Bloomington's Lilly Library, in Bloomington, Indiana, under collection number LMC1815.
This collection contains papers of and relating to Joel Palmer and his family that were compiled by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library over the course of a century. The papers are a mix of original documents, typescript copies, photocopies, and photostat reproductions.
The majority of the materials relate to Palmer's work as a commissary general during the Cayuse War, as superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory in the 1850s, and as an Indian agent on the Siletz reservation in the 1870s. These papers consist of correspondence; reports, copies, and drafts of treaties with Native peoples; reports; financial disbursements; diary entries; and a later history of the Grande Ronde Military Block House that quotes Palmer's regulations. Many letters are to or from George W. Manypenny; other correspondents include Jesse Applegate, Benjamin Bonneville, George L. Curry, Berryman Jennings, Joseph Lane, R. B. Metcalfe, Nathan Olney, J. L. Parrish, W. W. Raymond, R. R. Thompson, and John Ellis Wool.
Other papers of Joel Palmer in the collection include a diary he kept while traveling from Oregon to Washington, D.C. in 1857; materials relating to his tenure as major general of the Oregon Militia during the U.S. Civil War and to his involvement with the Union League; property and financial records; typescript copies of correspondence and diary entries; a letter from U.S. Senator John H. Mitchell; and a microfilm copy of a day book for a general store in Champoeg, Oregon, that also includes business records of Palmer and his family.
Family papers in the collection primarily consist of correspondence of Palmer's wife, Sarah Ann Palmer, and of his descendants, but also include two poems from the late 18th century and a letter fragment from approximately 1800.
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.
Palmer, Joel, 1810-1881--Correspondence
Manypenny, George Washington, 1808-1892--Correspondence
Manypenny, George Washington, 1808-1892
United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Oregon Superintendency--Records and correspondence
Indian agents--Oregon--Correspondence
Indians of North America--Oregon--Government relations
Indians of North America--Oregon--Treaties
Indians of North America--Wars--Oregon
Pacific Coast Indians, Wars with, 1847-1865
Native Americans
Oregon
Diaries
Pioneers
correspondence
diaries
Palmer correspondence and papers relating to Indian affairs
Series 1
1848-1939
1848-1874
Abstracts of property transfers
1854-1856
2
22
Abstract of disbursements made by S. H. Culver, Indian agent for the Rogue River Valley, for the quarter ending February 10, 1855
1855
1
1
Abstract of disbursements by Joel Palmer (original)
1856 February
2
32
Includes the cost of employees, hiring of special agents, transportation, freights, carriages, and ferriages in the removal of Native people to a reservation, and the general current expenses of the Oregon Superintendency of Indian Affairs.
Abstract of disbursements by Joel Palmer (photocopy)
1856 February
1
2
Notice from Palmer regarding his visit to the land claim of Klikatat man, Dick Johnson
1854 December 4
1
11
Letter from Jesse Applegate to Palmer relating to the use of "wheat notes" in payment for supplies during the Cayuse War
1848 April 27
1
13
Letter from Benjamin Bonneville to Palmer, inviting Palmer and his guests to visit Fort Vancouver (original)
1855 March 27
2
30
Letter from Benjamin Bonneville to Palmer, inviting Palmer and his guests to visit Fort Vancouver (photocopy)
1855 March 27
1
14
Letter from Joseph Lane to Palmer about elections and Lane's intention to secure payment from U.S. Congress for the Cayuse War
1851 May 26
1
18
Letter from George W. Manypenny to Palmer, with enclosed handwritten copy of 1855-1856 correspondence about Palmer
1856 April 1
1
20
Letter from O. C. Pratt to Palmer about Congressional appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Oregon Territory (typescript copy)
1853 May 20
1
22
Fragment of letter from Palmer to Samuel H. Culver discussing Euro-American violence against Native people
circa 1855
1
25
Letter from Palmer to William Holmes, asking him to accompany Native people being sent from Oregon City to the Grand Ronde Reservation
1856 April 1
1
26
Letter from Palmer to Berryman Jennings on the necessity for furnishing men and supplies in the Cayuse War (original)
1848 April 1
2
27
Letter from Palmer to Berryman Jennings on the necessity for furnishing men and supplies in the Cayuse War (photocopy and typescript copy)
1848 April 1
1
27
Letter from Palmer to George W. Manypenny concerning a treaty with the Tualatin band of Kalapuya people (written as Calipooia)
1854 March 27
1
28
Draft of report from Palmer to George W. Manypenny regarding Indian Agent S. H. Culver
1856 October 14
1
29
Portion of handwritten copy of letter from Palmer to R. B. Metcalfe about removing Native people to a reservation as a means of establishing peace in southern Oregon
1856 May 13
1
30
Handwritten copy or draft of letter from Palmer to Nathan Olney about hostilities between Native peoples and Euro-Americans in Oregon
1854 September 28
1
31
Letter from Palmer to W. H. Reese, regarding supplies in the Cayuse War
1848 January 28
1
32
Letter from Palmer to R. R. Thompson regarding issues with Indian agents
1855 December 10
1
33
Letter from Palmer to an unidentified recipient regarding treaties with Native peoples and Congressional appropriations
1855 July 3
1
34
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts), including Jesse Applegate, George W. Manypenny, and Lot Whitcomb
1850-1853
1
48-49
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts) relating to Palmer's work as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory; draft of treaty with the Kalapuya Tribe (written as Calapooia)
1854 January-June
1
50
Correspondents include U.S. Secretary of the Interior Robert McClelland, J. L. Parrish, W. W. Raymond, and John Ellis Wool.
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts) relating to Palmer's work as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory
1854 July-December
1
51
Correspondents include S. H. Culver, George L. Curry, Matthew P. Deady, George W. Manypenny, Nathan Olney, and R. R. Thompson.
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts) relating to Palmer's work as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory; estimate of funds for defraying expenses
1855
1
52-53
Correspondents include George H. Ambrose, George L. Curry, George W. Manypenny, R. B. Metcalfe, and Isaac Stevens.
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts) relating to Palmer's work as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory
1856 January-May
1857 May 17
2
1-4
Correspondents include George H. Ambrose, George L. Curry, George W. Manypenny, R. B. Metcalfe, J. P. Nichols, O. C. Pratt, and John Ellis Wool.
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts) relating to Palmer's work as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory
1856 June-December
2
5-10
Correspondents include George Abernethy, J. L. Parrish, George L. Curry, William S. Ladd, George W. Manypenny, R. B. Metcalfe, James Willis Nesmith, Nathan Olney, W. W. Raymond, and R. R. Thompson.
Correspondence (including handwritten copies and drafts) relating to Palmer's work as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory, including with George W. Manypenny
1857
2
11
Handwritten copy of letter from Palmer to James Willis Nesmith regarding payment
1858 February 6
2
12
Correspondence relating to Palmer's work as Siletz Reservation agent
1871-1874
2
14-19
Correspondence relating to Indian affairs
1857 March 10
undated
2
21
Typescript copies of Palmer's diaries for 1854 and 1856, with biographical information, by Gertrude Palmer
1939
1
6
Typescript excerpts from diaries
1853-1854
1872
1
8
Originals of these diaries are located in the Joel Palmer papers, Coll 1083, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Land survey of reservation for Native people
circa 1856
2
25
Handwritten copy of report from Joseph Lane to the U.S. Secretary of War or the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
1849
2
28
Includes reports by Robert Newell, J. Quinn Thornton, and George Preston concerning number and condition of Native tribes in the Oregon Territory, and a report by William Bryant about a trial of Native people charged with the murder of a Euro-American man named Wallace in the Puget Sound area.
Resignation as superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon Territory, addressed to U.S. President Franklin Pierce
1854 March 6
1
37
Treaty with the Kalapuya Tribe (written as Calipooia)
1854 March 25
1
39
Treaty with the Walla Walla and Wasco Tribes (photostat reproduction)
1855 June 25
1
40
Printed copy of treaty between the United States and the bands of the Rogue River tribe
1855
2
31
Handwritten extracts from articles of treaty made at Port Orford, Oregon, between Superintendent of Indian Affairs Anson Dart, Henry Spalding, and others
1857 January 9
2
33
Vouchers to S. H. Culver
1855
1
43
Voucher for W. R. Spratt
1856 August 15
1
41
Voucher to the Steamer Enterprise for transportation of Native people and baggage en route to Coast Reservation (typescript copy)
1856 July 12
1
42
Booklet, "History of the Grand Ronde Military Block House," including text of regulations written by Palmer
1911
2
37
Other professional and personal papers of Joel Palmer
Series 2
1849-1939
1849-1880
Appointment of Palmer as major general of the Oregon Militia (typescript copy)
1862 October 16
1
3
Articles of incorporation for the Columbia River Rail Road Company (original and typescript copy)
1862 November
1
4
Authorization for Palmer to establish the Union League at Belpassi, Oregon (typescript copy)
1864 January
1
5
Typescript copies of Palmer's diaries for 1860-1861, with biographical information, by Gertrude Palmer
1939
1
6
Diary of Palmer's trip from Oregon City to Washington, D.C., by way of the Panama Isthmus
1857
1
7
Biographical interview of Palmer by Hubert Howe Bancroft (typescript coy)
1878
1
9
Letter from Daniel Harvey to Palmer regarding John McLoughlin's land claim (typescript copy)
1862 October 9
1
10
Letter from Benjamin Alvord to Palmer, quoting letter from Frank Cooper to A. C. Gibbs (original and typescript copy)
1864 November 8
1
12
Hand-drawn map showing Mt. Hood, Columbia River tributaries, cities in Oregon Territory, Barlow Trail, and path labeled "My route" (original)
circa 1855
2
35
Hand-drawn map showing Mt. Hood, Columbia River tributaries, cities in Oregon Territory, Barlow Trail, and path labeled "My route" (photocopy)
circa 1855
1
14
Letter from W. B. Bonney to Palmer, expressing concern about progress of projects and the welfare of mutual friends (original)
1850 January 17
2
29
Letter from W. B. Bonney to Palmer, expressing concern about progress of projects and the welfare of mutual friends (photocopy)
1850 January 17
1
15
Letter from A. C. Gibbs to Palmer about the appointment of Cris Taylor as an officer (typescript copy)
1864 August 19
1
16
Letter from J. M. Keeler to Palmer relating to Keeler's work as a teacher
1852 May 15
1
17
Letter from U.S. Senator John H. Mitchell to Palmer about political matters (original)
1876 January 9
2
34
Letter from U.S. Senator John H. Mitchell to Palmer about political matters (photocopy and typescript copy)
1876 January 9
1
19
Letter from Palmer's brother, E. Palmer, about military enlistments in McMinnville (original and typescript copy)
1864 November 2
1
21
Letter from N. P. Robinson to Palmer about construction of a warehouse (typescript copy)
1864 November 29
1
23
Letter from R. R. Thompson to Palmer about political matters (typescript copy)
1855 March 18
1
24
Handwritten copy of letter to C. Lafollet relating to politics and an issue between Lafollet and Palmer
1870 March 9
2
13
Letter from M. B. Nichols (in French)
1880 November 7
2
20
Typescript copies of Palmer's correspondence and diary entries
1849-1864
1
47
Notice of the formation of the Union League council at Belpassi, Oregon, and a roster of members (original and typescript copy)
1864 February 6
1
35
Petition to establish a Masonic lodge in Dayton, Oregon (typescript copy)
1869 August 21
1
36
Abstract of title for property in Dayton, Oregon
1866-1903
1
38
Promissory notes and other financial and property documents (includes some items relating to Palmer's role as Superintendent of Indian Affairs)
1854-1860
2
23
Contracts and licenses (includes some items relating to Palmer's role as Superintendent of Indian Affairs)
1855-1859
undated
2
24
Microfilm copy of day book for general store in Champoeg, Oregon, bound with business accounts, blacksmithing and beef sales of Joel Palmer and family (microfilmed from original at Linfield University)
1852 May-December
1858-1870
1
Palmer family papers
Series 3
1783-2001
Poem, "Morris County"; receipts
1783
1859-1890
1
44
Sarah Palmer correspondence
1856-1896
1
45
Correspondence of Palmer's descendants and related materials
1854-1982
1
46
Poem, "Verses of Miss B_d, g__d" (original and typescript copy), and related note by Martin L. Goodwin
1784
2001
2
26
Fragment of love letter (original and typescript copy), and related note by Martin L. Goodwin
circa 1800
2001
2
36