Oppenheimer Family Papers, 1862-1903
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Oppenheimer family
- Title
- Oppenheimer Family Papers
- Dates
- 1862-1903 (inclusive)18621903
- Quantity
- 8 in.
- Collection Number
- MsSC 145
- Summary
- Merchants, of Marcus, Wash. Collection includes items related to the Oppenheimer brothers' mercantile activities, contracts for shipping during the Indian Wars (1877-1879), real estate and mining enterprises, reminiscence of Ben Burgunder (1845-1925), and family correspondence.
- Repository
-
Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture)
2316 W. First Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
archives@northwestmuseum.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is not restricted.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
Nolan, Edward W. A Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the Eastern Washington State Historical Society (Spokane, WA: Eastern Washington State Historical Society, 1987).
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
The Oppenheimer brothers (Joseph, 1832-1885; Marcus, 1833-1901; Samuel, 1829-1882), were pioneer merchants in Stevens County, W.T. during the 1860s and 1870s. All three were born in the state of Baden, Germany. Joseph and Marcus crossed the Plains together with Ben Burgunder in 1862. Later that year, the three brothers were in partnership in a mercantile business at what is now Marcus, WA. From this business they freighted military supplies from Walla Walla for the U.S. Army during the Indian campaigns, 1877-1879, furnished supplies for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and were an important supply depot for miners and farmers in the Marcus and Colville areas.
Content Description
The collection consists of correspondence, financial records, legal documents, notebooks, and ephemeral items relating to the Oppenheimer brothers and their mercantile activities in the 1870s. Much of the material details the government contracts for shipping during the Indian Wars, 1877-1879; claims for payment, explanation for delays in shipping, and descriptions of travel conditions. Other materials relate to their real estate and mining enterprises in a very fragmentary way. Included also is a typed autobiographical reminiscence by Ben Burgunder (1845-1925), who carried supplies to the Canadian gold fields on French Creek on the Steamer “49”, the first steamer to navigate the upper Columbia. Some correspondence from Joseph Oppenheimer’s family is also included.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Use
Publication RightsCopyright has not been assigned to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Museum Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher
Preferred Citation
Oppenheimer Family Papers (MsSC 145), Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, Spokane, WA.
Administrative Information
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Freight and freightage--Columbia River
- Freight and freightage--Washington (State)
- Frontier and pioneer life--Washington (State)
- General stores--Washington (State)
- Gold mines and mining--British Columbia
- Gold mines and mining--Canada
- Indians of North America--Wars--1866-1895
- Inland water transportation--Freight
- Military supplies
- Mines and mineral resources--Washington (State)
- Railroads--Canada
- Railroads--Equipment and supplies
- Railroads--Washington (State)
- Real property--Washington (State)
- River steamers--Columbia River
- Steamboats--Columbia River
- Voyages and travels
Family Names
- Oppenheimer family--Archives
Geographical Names
- British Columbia--Mines, mining, and mineral resources
- Canada--Mines, mining, and mineral resources
- Canada--Transportation--Railroads
- Columbia River--Steamboats
- Colville (Wash.)
- Marcus (Wash.)
- Revelstoke (B.C.)
- Stevens County (Wash.)--Business, industries, and trades--General stores
- Stevens County (Wash.)--Frontier and pioneer life
- Walla Walla (Wash.)--Business, industries, and trades--Freight and freightage
- Washington (State)--Indians
- Washington (State)--Land
- Washington (State)--Transportation--Railroads
- Washington (State)--Transportation--Steamboats
- Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades--Freight and freightage
- Washington (State)--Business, industries, and trades--General stores
- Washington (State)--Description and travel
- Washington (State)--Frontier and pioneer life
- Washington (State)--Mines, mining, and mineral resources
Form or Genre Terms
- Reminiscences
Occupations
- Merchants--Washington (State)
