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Eastern Oregon memorabilia, 1860-1978

Overview of the Collection

Compiler
Sturgis, James H. (James Hartman), 1889-1980
Title
Eastern Oregon memorabilia
Dates
1860-1978 (inclusive)
1896-1978 (bulk)
Quantity
0.68 cubic feet, (1 legal document case; 1 slim legal document case)
Collection Number
Coll 1078
Summary
Memorabilia relating to eastern Oregon, including souvenir programs, brochures, and photographs of the Pendleton Round-Up; reminiscences; histories; and clippings. At least some of the materials were compiled by Umatilla County Judge James H. Sturgis (1889-1980).
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

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

James Hartman Sturgis was born in 1889 in Pendleton, Oregon. He advocated for the construction of the Umatilla Bridge across the Columbia River in the 1940s; opponents of the bridge nicknamed it "Sturgis's Folly." He was a Umatilla County judge from 1947 to 1954. He was also on the board of directors of the Pendleton Round-Up and the president of the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce. He died in 1980 in Portland, Oregon.

Sources: Obituary in the Tri-City Herald (Pasco, Washington), February 17, 1980; vital records via Ancestry.com.

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Content Description

The collection consists of memorabilia relating to eastern Oregon. Materials date from the late 19th century to the 1970s. Some of the materials were compiled by Umatilla County Judge James H. Sturgis, as indicated by items stamped with his name, but it is unknown whether he possessed everything in this collection or whether some materials were later added by others.

A significant quantity of the materials relate to the Pendleton Round-Up. These include souvenir programs, brochures, photographs, postcards, publications, and ephemera. The collection also includes reminiscences and histories. Individual and family reminiscences relate to the L. R. Bloom family, the McAlister and Williamson families, Charles W. McClure, Vera Koch Onkto, George Washington Webb, and Dunham Wright. Histories include that of the Mormon Church in Union County, Oregon; of Crystal Rebekah Lodge No. 50 in La Grande, Oregon; of the town of Summerville, Oregon; and of the town of Union, Oregon. Other materials include typescript copies of Benjamin Brown's diary entries from 1860 to 1862; compiled information and documents relating to the McCarty gang, to the execution of Pleasant Strong, and to a monument commemorating Til Taylor; the text of a speech Walter M. Pierce gave at the dedication of a monument in 1934; a book of poems by Buck Wilkerson; a promotional booklet about Umatilla County; assorted photographs and postcards; and commercially produced photographs depicting Native people.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Eastern Oregon memorabilia, Coll 1078, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

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.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Gift of Gayla Krewson, April 2020 (RL2020-020).

Processing Note

During processing of the collection, compiled materials relating to the McCarty Gang and to the execution of Pleasant Strong were removed from their bindings and plastic page coverings for preservation purposes.

Related Materials

Other collections at the Oregon Historical Society with materials relating to the Pendleton Round-Up include the Hamley & Co. photographs and business ephemera, Coll 1037; the Lee Moorhouse photographs collection, Org. Lot 104; a Pendleton Round-Up home movie, MI 11955; the Manners and customs collection, Mss 1522; and the vertical file, Sports - Rodeos - Pendleton Round Up.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cities and towns--Oregon, Eastern--History
  • Rodeos--Oregon--Pendleton
  • Rodeos--Oregon--Pendleton--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Pendleton Round-Up
  • Pendleton Round-Up--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Oregon, Eastern--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • ephemera (general object genre)
  • histories (literary genre)
  • memorabilia
  • photographs
  • reminiscences
  • souvenir programs
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