Oregon Historical
Society, Davies Family Research Library
Research Library
Mss
1509
Diaries and
reminiscences collection
1837-1993
3.5 cubic feet
6 document cases, 2 card file boxes, 2 reels of
microfilm
Collection assembled by the Oregon
Historical Society containing diaries and reminiscences of pioneers and other
residents of Oregon. Includes original hand written diaries, copies of original
diaries, and typed transcripts.
The bulk of the materials are in English.
History of the Collection
From its founding in 1898, the Oregon Historical Society has collected
diaries and reminiscences of Oregon pioneers, early settlers, and other
residents of the state. At one time the Society gathered these materials into a
single collection, regardless of provenance, often separating items from other
collections. The Society discontinued this process around 1994, and now
catalogs such items individually or in conjunction with the collections to
which they belong.
The collection includes original hand written diaries and
reminiscences, as well as copies of original items and typed transcripts.
The collection is arranged alphabetically by author. Items of unknown
origin are grouped under "Anonymous." Small, pocket-sized diaries are
segregated to two card file boxes at the end of the collection, and these are
referenced within the general sequence of folders.
Typescript copies and photocopies of selected items are available
within the collection.
The collection is open to the public. Certain items specified within
the finding aid cannot be used without permission of Oregon Historical Society
Research Library staff.
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the
Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication,
and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library
before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Diaries and reminiscences collection, Mss 1509, Oregon Historical
Society Research Library
Materials were acquired from a variety of sources. See individual
items for accession numbers.
The collection was re-processed in 2006, at which time small
pocket-sized diaries were placed in individual folders within card file boxes.
References to these items were placed in the regular sequence of folders.
Overland passages : a Guide to overland
documents in the Oregon Historical Society / edited by Chris White and
Mary-Catherine Cuthill (Portland : Oregon Historical Society Press,
c1993)
Item listings containing the designation "(card file)" are house in
the card file boxes at the end of the collection.
The collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings:
Adix, Carrie Ladd.
Albright, John F.
Allen, Alisha Barrett, 1823-1894.
Aschoff, Adolph, 1849-1930.
Bean, Robert Sharp, 1854-1931.
Beard, Edward A.
Berilla, Halbert.
Best, Edward H., 1863-1953.
Bewley, Lorinda
Bitte, Frederick Martin, 1883-1972.
Bohlen, E. T.
Brown, Orlando.
Brunk, Harrison.
Butler, Doris T.
Campbell, Florence MacDonald.
Cater, Ruth Seale, 1898- .
Chalmers, W., fl. 1871.
Chandler, Nora Fine.
Clark, Elta Brunson.
Clark, Ransom, 1809-1859.
Compton, Charles Norman.
Cornwall, Joseph Hardin, d. 1919.
Crawford, Elvin John, 1841-1934.
Crawford, Thomas Harrison, 1848- .
Cox, James W., fl. 1766-1850.
Davis, Alvah Isaiah, 1825-1913.
DeSpain, Dancy Eugenia Arabell, 1850-1926.
Denny, Ivan, 1937- .
Diack, Samuel L.
Dugaw, Joseph A., 1892-1972.
Durkheimer, Sylvan F., 1892- .
Eaton, Oscar.
Freese, Louise Morganson.
Fulton, C. G.
Gadwa, William Isaac, 1874-1945.
Gaylord, Orange, b. 1823.
Gill, Sam F.
Haines, Ida Marie.
Hanneman, Lena Mae.
Hart, H. B., fl. 1853-1876.
Harvey, Hester Ann Bolin.
Heath, Joseph, 1805-1849.
Heilner, Sigmund Aron.
Hermann, S. Milton, 1896-1984.
Hopkins, Mary Higley.
Larson, Dewey B.
Love, Lewis, Captain, 1818-1903.
Marquiss, Ollie, 1880-1917.
McAlpin, Henry.
McClay, Pauline Oelo, 1864-1950
McDaniel, Amanda Humes, 1835-1908.
Meeker, Ezra, 1830-1928.
Merrill, George, 1826-1912.
Parker, Inez Eugenia Dams.
Phillips, Fred A., b. 1869.
Pike, Vic, 1933-.
Piper, W. R., Mrs.
Powell, Rei Harold
Powers, Mary E., fl. 1856.
Putnam, R. F.
Saul, Bessie Goldbaum.
Smith, Norman R., b. 1857.
Spencer, Frances Jean.
Stephens, Adams.
Stratton, Riley Evans.
Swank, James Washington, b. 1835.
Sykes, Horace.
Talbot, Henry P.
Tartar, Lena Belle.
Trout, Damon, 1903-1980.
Turnidge, Joseph O.
Waldron, Samuel, 1815-1888.
Warnock, Robert, 1871- .
Watt, A. S.
White, Oliver Cromwell.
Whitney, Mercy Partridge.
Wilson, George O.
Wilson, Martha Baker.
Wood, Elizabeth Lambert.
Cornwall family.
Logan family.
McAlpine family.
Perry family.
Stevens family.
Oregon Historical Society.
Oregon -- History.
Overland
journeys to the Pacific.
Pioneers --
Oregon.
Voyages to
the Pacific coast.
Women --
Oregon -- Diaries.
Oregon
Overland Journeys to the Northwestern United
States
Women
Diaries.
Genealogies.
Reminiscences.
Diaries and
Reminiscences
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Item listings containing the designation “(card file)” are house
in the card file boxes at the end of the collection.
A-B
Adair, Irvin M. --
A Union soldier's diary (card file)
1864
A-B
Adix, Carrie Ladd -- Diary (card
file)
1905
January 1-1906 January 12
A-B
Albright, John F. -- Diary --
Expenses (also card file)
1855-1863
A-B
Allen, Elisha B. --
Diary
1862
A-B
Anonymous -- Address
undated
A-B
Anonymous -- Reminiscence of
Willamette River steamboats
circa 1875
A-B
Anonymous (card
files)
1855-1856
1862-1863
1873-1874
1886-1889
1993
undated
10 items.
A-B
Aschoff, Adolph
(1949-1930)
circa 1934
Reminiscences of Aschoff, correspondence, notes, and outline for
biography, and biography by Samuel M. Suwol.
A-B
Barette, Leonore Gale --
Down Flew the Gulls
circa 1952
A-B
Bean, R. S. --
Autobiography
1929
A-B
Beard, Edward A. (b. 1895) --
Reminiscence
1985
A-B
Beeson, Welborn -- Excerpts from
diary
1860-1874
A-B
Bell, Polly McKean --
Evergreen boughs and mince meat pie
1952
A-B
Best, Edward H. (1863-1953) --
Diary
1910
October-1911 February
A-B
Bitte, Frederick Martin (b. 1883)
-- Autobiography
1967
A-B
Blakely, Capt. James (b. 1812) --
Biography
circa 1926
A-B
Bohlen, E. T. -- Reminiscences of
Hayden Island circa 1921
1976
A-B
Booth, Robert (b. 1820) --
Reminiscences
circa 1910
A-B
Boyd, Joseph H. (b. 1842) --
Reminiscences
1924
A-B
Bretherton, Alice --
Diary
1906-1907
A-B
Brown, Alonzo F. (b. 1836) --
Autobiography
1922
A-B
Brown, Orlando --
Reminiscences
1852
A-B
Brown, T. R. -- Ledger (card
file)
1875-1877
A-B
Bruce, Robert --
Three old plainsmen and three other western
stories
1923
A-B
Brunk, Harrison (1812-1895) --
Pictorial Biography
1970
A-B
Bryson, Harriet Darland (b. 1851)
-- Grandma's Story
1935
A-B
Budlong, Caroline Gale
(1856-1939) -- Memories of pioneer
days
1949
A-B
Bushnell, H. H. -- Reminiscences
of 1905-1925; History
1947
A-B
Butler, Doris -- Reminiscences of
Toledo, Or.
circa 1917
C-E
Cable, Maria --
Reminiscence
1851-1853
C-E
Campbell, Florence MacDonald --
Diary: A trip through western Oregon by horse and wagon
1909-1910
C-E
Cardwell, Abbie M. (Mrs. B. P.)
-- Reminiscences of early Portland churches and schools
1849-1853
C-E
Cater, Ruth Seale (b. 1888) --
Childhood memories (card file)
1974
C-E
Chalmers, William --
Letters on a journey to the west; with an account of his
land purchase in Washington County, Oregon, U.S.
1871
C-E
Chandler, Nora Fine --
Reminiscence of William Anson Fine
1962
C-E
Chapman, Lorinda Bewley
(1820-1899) -- Diary excerpts
1847
Most sources cite the first name as "Lorinda," however the typed
heading for the photostatic copy contained in this collection uses
"Lucinda."
C-E
Charlton, Joseph J. --
Reminiscence of launch of the Lot Whitcomb, first
Willamette River steamer
1896
C-E
Clark, Elta Brunson -- The Diary
of Elta Brunson Clark, edited by Howard Brunson
1987
C-E
Clark, Ransom (1809-1859) --
Biographical sketch of Clark, wife (Lettice Jane Millican), sons (Charles
Webster Clark and William Spencer Clark) and daughter (Lizzie Clark
Baker)
undated
C-E
Colnett, James --
The journal of Captain James Colnett, 1789 by F.
W. Howay
1939
C-E
Compton, Charles Norman -- Diary
of hiking trip with Gordon Gowdy in Olympic National Park
circa 1927
C-E
Cone, Sarah A. (b. 1837) --
Reminiscence by E. A. M. Cone on the occasion of Sarah A. Cone's 84th
birthday
1921
C-E
Cornwall (Rev. J. A.) family --
Cornwall Family History and Emigration Record (1900, 1926, 1927-60, 1940,
1992), edited by R. T. Cowley
1992
C-E
Crawford, E. J. (Elvin John)
(1841-1934) -- Autobiography (copied/typed 1966)
1905
C-E
Crawford, T. H. --
Reminiscences of the Eastern Oregon Bar, Address delived
by T. H. Crawford at Banquet of Pendleton Bar, May 2, 1922
1922
C-E
Davis, Alvah I. -- Diaries (card
file)
1851, 1854
C-E
Denney, Ivan (b. 1937) --
Ivan Denney: The life of an Oregon farm worker,
edited by Gordon Quinlan
undated
C-E
DeSpain, Nancy Eugenia Arabell
(Howard) (1850-1926) -- Village Days in
Pendleton
undated
C-E
Diack, Samuel L. --
A Summer in Alaska in 1923 (diary)
1923
C-E
Dodd, Charles H. -- Diary of a
trip to Europe (card file)
1910
C-E
Dore, Benjamin --
Journal of Benjamin Dore 1849-1850
1923
C-E
Dugaw, Joseph A. (1892-1972) --
Memories of Yesteryear
1962
C-E
Durkheimer, Sylvan F. (b. 1893)
-- Echoes out of the past
1976
C-E
Eaton, Oscar -- Diary and
letters
1862-1863
C-E
Eaton, Oscar -- Diary and
letters
1864-1865
C-E
Eliot, Thomas Lamb --
Reminiscence of, by grandson
undated
F-Mc
Fisher, Charles Coggill --
Diary on board the ship William H. Starbuck of New York
on her first voyage from New York to Portland, Oregon
May
27, 1882
F-Mc
Freese, Louise Morganson --
Memories of Tygh Valley (also obituary of Mrs.
Fanny Van Duyn)
1975
F-Mc
Fulton, C. G. -- Diary of drive
from The Dalles to Fairbanks
1913
F-Mc
Gadwa, William Isaac (1874-1945)
-- Autobiography
1945
F-Mc
Gilbert, W. B. -- Diary (card
file)
1867
F-Mc
Gill, Sam F. --
Odds and ends of diaries in years from 1880 to
1900 (1880 August 29-1901 December 16)
1904
F-Mc
Gill, Sam F. -- Photocopies of
published portions of "log book" from 1875 to 1882
undated
F-Mc
Griffin, John B. (b. 1853) --
Reminiscences
1931, 1939
F-Mc
Haines, Ida Marie (b. 1870) --
Diary
1889-1891
F-Mc
Hamblet, Mary Patricia (b. 1906)
-- Reminiscence
undated
F-Mc
Hanneman, Lena Mae --
Crossing the plains from Kansas to
Oregon
undated
F-Mc
Harvey, Hester Ann Bolin (b.
1845) -- Things that I remember
(remininiscence),
circa 1920
F-Mc
Heilner, Sigmund Aron --
Diary
1859
December 12-1862 January 25
F-Mc
Heisling, Harry --
Reminiscence
1898-1902
F-Mc
Hermann, S. Milton --
Reminiscence
1974
F-Mc
Hopkins, Mary Higley (b. 1853) --
True story of a flood as told to her daughter
Grace (Champoeg flood, 1861)
undated
F-Mc
Howeattle, Arthur (or Howiattle)
-- Legends of the Quillayute Indians
undated
F-Mc
Howell, Joseph -- Diary (card
file)
1854
F-Mc
Jackson, Clarence F. (b. 1862) --
Reminiscence
1955
F-Mc
Jones, Enoch -- Diary from time
of enlistment
1862
August 10-1863 June 18
F-Mc
King, Estelle -- Diary (card
file)
1850-1870
F-Mc
Klebingat, Captain Fred --
Christmas at Annabelle's
1968
F-Mc
Larson, Dewey B. --
Forty Years in the Gas Business
(memoir)
1983
F-Mc
Latham, Ralph -- Memorandum of
diary
1917-1978
F-Mc
Leaman, James Charles (1874-1960)
-- Diaries, letters and notes regarding acquisition (also card
file)
1899-1902
F-Mc
Lee, George H. -- Diary (card
file)
1898-1899
F-Mc
Logan Family -- Diary and
letters
1860s-1870s
F-Mc
Love, Captain Lewis (1818-1903)
-- Reminiscence (and acquisition documents)
1899
F-Mc
McArthur, L. L. -- Reminiscence
of Mr. Ladow
undated
F-Mc
McClay, Pauline Oelo (1864-1950)
-- Diary of trip to Lewis and Clark Exposition
1905
Includes information on author and Barker family by Aileen
Barker Rickard, 1975.
F-Mc
McDaniel, Amanda Humes
(1835-1908) -- Diary
1889, 1895
F-Mc
McFarland, Isaac (1917-1869)
(subject, author unknown)
undated
F-Mc
McGraw, Edward Walker (b. 1837)
-- Reminiscence
1917
M-Rei
Marquiss, Ollie M. (1880-1917) --
Diary of a Student Nurse (original in card
file)
1910-1903
M-Rei
Meeker, Ezra --
Story of the Lost Trail to Oregon (card
file)
1915
M-Rei
Merrill, George -- Diaries (card
file)
1864
February-1865 February
1912 January-1912 August
M-Rei
Newell, A. H. -- Ledger (card
file)
1913-1914
M-Rei
Nobert, Minna -- Diary (card
file)
undated
M-Rei
Oliver, Helen V. --
Diary
1905
July 1-August 27
M-Rei
Ott, Frank (b. 1875) --
Reminiscence
1969
M-Rei
Parker, Hollon (b. 1832) --
Lessons and incidents from the life of Holon Parker of
Walla Walla, Washington
undated
M-Rei
Parker, Inez Eugenia Adams (b.
1845) -- Early recollections of Oregon pioneer
life
undated
M-Rei
Pease, George H. -- Reminiscence
of trip in summer of 1855
1900
M-Rei
Phillips, Fred A. (b. 1869) --
Reminiscence
1963
M-Rei
Piper, A. -- Diary
1860
M-Rei
Piper, Mrs. W. R. --
Mr & Mrs W. R. Piper's trip to Oregon
1889
undated
M-Rei
Pottsmith, Mary M. --
The story of my life
1950
(Pt. 1)
1953
(Pt. 2)
M-Rei
Powell, Joab (b. 1799) --
Rev. Joab Powell, 1852 (author
unknown)
undated
M-Rei
Powell, R. Harold -- Reminiscence
(of Prineville)
undated
M-Rei
Powers, Mary E. (b. 1858) --
Journal of a trip across the plains to California in
1856
undated
M-Rei
Putnam, R. F. --
Voyage from San Francisco, California to Vancouver's
Island, British Columbia and Portland, Oregon
1863
M-Rei
Reed, L. Belle --
The life of my mother, Frances Dragoo Reed while
pioneering in Eastern Oregon
1962
M-Rei
Reisacher, John F. --
Reminiscences
undated
4 items.
Rem-Tres
Richardson, J. A. --
History; Beauties of
nature; and Wandering thoughts
undated
Rem-Tres
Riddle, George W. --
Early days in Oregon
1920
Rem-Tres
Ridgeway, Charles --
Through the Golden Gate (card file)
undated
Rem-Tres
Saul, Bessie Goldbaum --
Reminiscence
1985
Rem-Tres
Shull, Frank L. -- Diaries (card
file: 1931, 1937, 1942-1946)
1925
1932-1933
Rem-Tres
Smith, Grace Ruth --
Reminiscence
1973
Rem-Tres
Smith, Norman R. --
Victory
1933
Rem-Tres
Spencer, Frances Jean --
Reminiscences of the Felt & Tarrant Co.'s comptometer
school by Frances Jean Spencer, former student, operator &
instructor
1984
Rem-Tres
Starker, T. J. --
Early forestry experiences (1909-1917)
1973
Rem-Tres
Stearns, Daniel Warren (b. 1821)
-- Recollections
undated
Rem-Tres
Stephenson, J. -- Diary (card
file)
1858
Rem-Tres
Stout, Ray L. --
The Mehama story; I remember
it well: epoch two; and I remember it well: epoch
three
undated
Rem-Tres
Stratton, Riley E. --
Diary of a trip from New York to the Umpqua
Valley
1856
Rem-Tres
Stroud, Melissa Clawson
(1848-1930) -- Hardships of pioneer
life
undated
Rem-Tres
Swank, James Washington --
Journal
1860
Rem-Tres
Sykes, Horace --
A trip with a surveying party (circa
1903)
undated
Rem-Tres
Talbot, Henry P. -- Diary (card
file)
1877-1881
Rem-Tres
Talbot, Theodore --
Lincoln County lore: from the journal of Lieut. Theodore
Talbot, U. S. A. on his journey through Lincoln County and along the Oregon
coast in 1849
1948
Rem-Tres
Tartar, Lena Belle (1884-1984) --
Lena Belle Tartar reminisces
1981
Rem-Tres
Thibodo, Dr. Augustus J. --
Diary of Dr. Augustus J. Thibodo of the Northwet
exploring expedition, 1859
1940
Rem-Tres
(Trescott, the ship) Anonymous -- Excerpts from diary of
a passenger
1849
Tro-Z
Trout, Damon J. (1903-1980) --
Reminiscences
undated
Tro-Z
Turnbull, Capt. William --
Journal
1867-1870
Tro-Z
Turnidge, Joseph -- Letter
(reminiscence)
1932
Tro-Z
Valk, James S. (b. 1920) --
The California experiences of James S.
Valk
1907
Tro-Z
Vanaudenhaegen, Charles and
Louise -- Oral history
1973
Tro-Z
Waldron, Samuel (1815-1888) --
Daily log
1850-1857
Tro-Z
Walker, Mary Richardson (b. 1811)
-- The diary of Mary Richard Walker, June 10-December 21,
1838
1931
Tro-Z
Wallace, R. C. --
A few memories of the first battle of Bull Run -- after
52 years; A trip to Libby;
The Kilpatrick raid on Richmond;
The Trevilian raid and valley campaign;
A skirmish on the Rapidan; Some memories of the wilderness campaign; and
From the valley of Appomattox;
Early days in mountains
circa 1913
Tro-Z
Warnock, Bob (b. 1871) --
"The Kingfish" Bob Warnock by Elsie
Warnock,
circa 1941
Tro-Z
Warren, Helen M. --
Early episodes of Siletz and Lincoln
County
undated
Tro-Z
Watt, A. S. --
Reminiscence
undated
Tro-Z
Watt, Joseph -- Family
history
undated
Tro-Z
White, O. C. (b. 1846) --
Narrative
1922
Tro-Z
Whitney, Mercy -- Journal
(excerpts)
1837
1840
1848-1852
Tro-Z
Wilson, Martha Baker --
Alaska gold rush diary
1898-1899
This diary is RESTRICTED.
Tro-Z
Wilson, William W. --
First white wedding in Klamath Falls
1972
Tro-Z
Wood, Elizabeth Lambert
(1871-1962) -- Diary
1884-1885
Diaries and Reminiscences in Card
File Boxes
Arranged alphabetically by author.
Many of the items in the following card file boxes are also listed
above in the regular sequence of folders.
A-Mc
Adair, Irvin M. --
A Union soldier's diary
1864
A-Mc
Adix, Carrie Ladd --
Diary
1905
January 1-1906 January 12
A-Mc
Albright, John F. -- Diary --
Expenses
1855-1863
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary
1856
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Daily
diary
1867
January 1-1867 October 17
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary daily
entries
1874
A-Mc
Anonymous
1862, 1863
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary
1873
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Daily
diary
1881
November 1-1883 October 6
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary
1887
January 1-1887 December 31
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary
1886-1889
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary
1893
January 1-1893 July 18
A-Mc
Anonymous -- Diary
undated
A-Mc
Brown, T. R. --
Ledger
1875-1877
A-Mc
Cater, Ruth Seale (b. 1888) --
Childhood memories
1974
A-Mc
Davis, Alvah I. --
Diaries
1851
1854
A-Mc
Dodd, Charles H. -- Diary of a
trip to Europe
1910
A-Mc
Gilbert, W. B. --
Diary
1867
A-Mc
Howell, Joseph --
Diary
1854
A-Mc
King, Estelle --
Diary
1850-1870
A-Mc
Leaman, James Charles (1874-1960)
-- Diaries
1900-1901
A-Mc
Leaman, James Charles (1874-1960)
-- Diaries
1899-1900
A-Mc
Leaman, James Charles (1874-1960)
-- Diary
1900
A-Mc
Lee, George H. --
Diary
1898-1899
A-Mc
McKelvey, Merle --
Diary
1904
December 30-1905 December 31
M-Z
Marquiss, Ollie M. (1880-1917) --
Diary of a Student Nurse
1910-1903
M-Z
Meeker, Ezra --
Story of the Lost Trail to Oregon
1915
M-Z
Merrill, George --
Diary
1864
February-1865 February
M-Z
Merrill, George --
Diary
1912
January-1912 August
M-Z
Newell, A. H. --
Ledger
1913-1914
M-Z
Nobert, Minna --
Diary
undated
M-Z
Pike, Vic --
"An Oregon Boy During World War II"
circa 1975
Reminiscences about Pike's childhood in Portland preceding and during World War II.
M-Z
Ridgeway, Charles --
Through the Golden Gate
undated
M-Z
Shull, Frank L. --
Diaries
1931
M-Z
Shull, Frank L. --
Diaries
1937
M-Z
Shull, Frank L. --
Diaries
1942-1946
M-Z
Stephenson, J. --
Diary
1858
M-Z
Talbot, Henry P. --
Diary
1877-1881
Diaries and Reminiscences on
Microfilm Reels
1
Berilla Halbert, scrapbooks
relating to Adam Stephen family of Haysville, Or.
circa 1888-1889
1942-1945
Loaned by Mrs. Lulu D. King, Salem, Or.
1
McAlpin (Henry) family genealogy
by Mrs. A. J. Simpson
circa 1934
10 pages, typescript.
Loaned by W. E. Savage, Salem, Or.
1
Stephen Chadwick Perry family
genealogy
1920
Loaned by Garrett family, Dunsimuir, [Or.?].
2
H. B. Hart account
records
1853-1876
Loaned by R. R. Stuart, San Leandro, Calif.
2
James W. Cox memoirs and family
genealogy
1766-1850
Loaned by Chester H. Cox, Salem, Or.
2
Orange Gaylord, level book, and
trip across the plains
1853
March 7-August 25
undated
Loaned by Mrs. John Conklin, San Jose, Calif.