Eva C. Meyer was born in 1888 in Michigan and moved to Portland, Oregon in 1911. She married Fred G. Meyer in 1919 and they were married for 41 years until her death in 1960. She was the Secretary-Treasurer of Fred Meyer, Inc. from its beginning and was very active in the company's marketing, purchasing and expansion decisions. An avid philanthropist, she was named Soroptimist of the Year in 1943 and in 1949 the Portland Women's Forum chose her as Woman of the Year. Eva Meyer was the primary photographer of these films, though others also acted as cameraman.
Fred G. Meyer, her husband, was born in 1886 and founded Fred Meyer, Inc., a chain of grocery stores with locations throughout the Northwest. They lived primarily in Portland, Oregon, but they also had a home on Mt. Hood in the town of Wemme, Oregon which they called "Eve's Eden." Their extended family would often gather at Eve's Eden and many of the films take place there.
Eva Meyer's son, Earle A. Chiles, figures prominently in these films as do his wife, Virginia, and son, Earle Meyer Chiles. Earle A. Chiles worked for Fred Meyer, Inc. for over 40 years and was president of the company for much of that time.
Mary Jayne Carter, the donor of this collection, was Eva Meyer's niece and also appears in many of these films along with her children Cathy and Bill (William Hale Carter III), and her mother, Mary A. Boyle, Eva Meyer's sister. For over 30 years Mary Boyle worked next to Eva in the original Fred Meyer corporate offices (called "Executive Row") above the store at SW 4th and Yamhill Streets. She was the head clothing and millinery buyer for the firm and later managed the operations of the test kitchen. She retired at the age of 73, five years after Eva's death in 1960. Other people appearing in these films include: Everett Chatfield, Eva's brother; Jack and Vera Fisher, the groundskeepers at Eve's Eden; Peter Mudie, a local radio personality; and Sophie Wright, Fred Meyer's sister.
The films are shot on silent 16mm film and are mostly color, though some of the earliest films are in black and white.
The films depict special occasions and daily life. Family gatherings and celebrations figure prominently as do recreational activities, especially skiing, fishing, hunting and sledding. The Meyers also traveled extensively and many of these films document their trips. Some locations include Alaska, California, Mexico, San Francisco and Hawaii.
A few of the films in the collection are commercially produced films meant for consumers' at-home viewing. These films include documentaries about the volcanic eruptions in Hawaii, National Parks and general news features.
The collection is arranged in the following series:
Collection is open for research.
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.
Film is not available for direct access. Contact library staff for assistance.
Moving Image collection, Carter Collection, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
The films in this collection were held by Mary Jane Carter after Eva Meyer's death in 1960. Mary Jane Carter donated the collection to the Oregon Historical Society in 1994.
Acquired 1994, Library Accession 18052
The films in this collection were cleaned, inspected, repaired, moved to 3-inch cores and archival quality film cans. Films in the collection were transferred to BetaSP videotape and DVD copies.
The Fred Meyer, Inc. Collection (Coll 199) consists of photographs, newletters, annual reports, memos and more from the Fred Meyer Corporation from 1922-2010.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Scenes of visiting and picnicking in Maryhill, Oregon (circa 1940); Modeling Day at the Soroptimist Club (circa 1935); dinner and entertainment for the Soroptimist club involves many costumed dancers (circa 1935); a hike up Emigrant Hill in Eastern Oregon (circa 1943); a visit to Wenatchee, Washington (circa 1943).
Clips from a commericially produced film about the New York World's Fair; Scenes from the Meyers' cruise to Hawaii including the ship's launch, shots of the coast, a hula and music demonstration, a poi-making demonstration.
Scenes from the San Francisco World's Fair; Jack Fisher moves a beehive at Eve's Eden; Bryce Canyon, Utah; Grand Coulee Dam; geysers, landscape and wildlife at Yellowstone Park; visit to San Luis Rey Mission in California; driving in the snow in Los Angeles; an Old West covered wagon rides around an empty lot with a comedic man playing a pioneer.
Holiday meal with Eva Meyer, Fred Meyer and Mr. Chatfield (Eva's father) in attendance among other; snowy landscape around Eve's Eden; scenes of walking around and playing on the grounds of Eve's Eden, including Earle and Virginia Chiles, walking by the river.
Scenes from a trip to Alaska the Meyers took in 1941. Includes scenes of the landscape, traveling through icy waters, coastal towns, fishing, bears and other wildlife, a tour of a commercial fishing vessel.
Scenes from Eve's Eden including gardening, bear hunting, playing in the snow, sledding.
Scenes hunting; football; Cannon Beach; Weed, California and Mt. Shasta; Spanish Missions; Celilo Falls; Christmas present opening; playing at Camp Arrah Wanna on Mt. Hood; Earle, Jr. playing at Laurelhurst Park; Earle, Jr. playing at Eve's Eden and at the beach.
Scenes from 3 different years of the Pendleton Round-Up. Includes scenes of the parade through town, the Indian Village and parade, calf roping, horse racing and bucking.
Scenes from Meyers' trip to South Carolina in 1938 and Florida in 1940. Includes scenes of historic buildings, gardens, boat trips, beaches, the St. Petersburg Peacock Farm, a grapefruit orchard and the winter home of the Ringling Bros. Circus in Sarasota, Florida.
Scenes of: Christmas dinner; playing around the grounds of Eve's Eden; Fred Meyer company picnic; opening Christmas presents; snowy views of Portland from the Meyers' apartment on SW Vista Avenue; panorama of California Coast; picnicking in Monterey; berry-picking.
Scenes from the Ice Capades perfomances in Portland; bicycle riding in Eve's Eden; a visit to Niagara Falls; a visit from Arthur and Sophie Wright (Fred's sister); family at Diamond Lake, Depoe Bay and Oregon Caves.
Includes scenes of the family (including a toddler Earle, Jr.) at Camp Arrah Wanna in Welches, Oregon. Scenes at Eve's Eden: playing in the pool; a birthday party; Neil and Peter Mudie visit; flowers in bloom around the grounds; Eva and Fred on a tandem bike; peacocks. Also includes scenes of skiing and playing in the snow on Mt. Hood.
Scenes of the family at Eve's Eden: playing in the pool, gardening, picnicking, peacocks. Also includes sequence of Jack Fisher and Fred Meyer felling a large tree on the property.
Scenes of the family at Eve's Eden: the Carter children play with Earle, Jr.; Memorial Day 1945 at a picnic for servicemen; Earle, Sr. and Fred washing out pots and cleanng up; Eva and Fred mug for the camera; Jack Fisher and transports a recently killed elk; riding "Doodlebug," a motorized scooter; playing at the pool and on seesaws; Neil and Peter Mudie visit.
Scenes from Eve's Eden: playing in swimming pool; Eva in a wheelbarrow; hiking in the woods; a forest fire near the property.
Scenes from Rose Festival parades from different years. Includes a very good shot of the exterior of the Fred Meyer store on 6th Avenue.
This film illustrates the procedures necessary to move logs around a logging site. It features a shay locomotive and a steam donkey at work. A locomotive brings workers to the logging area. The logs are moved from forest floor to staging area and then back to town by locomotive.
Scenes of family dinner at Christmas time; skiing and playing in the snow; football game; a fish market (maybe in Astoria); a trip to San Francisco; a large family gathering with lots of cake.
Scenes from a trip to California (possibly Mexico, too). Scenes from Spanish Missions. Also includes scenes from Eve's Eden: clearing land and planting trees.
A commercially produced film on the eruption of Mauna Loa in Hawaii in 1950.
A commercially produced film on the eruption of Kilauea in Hawaii in 1952.
Produced by Castle Films. A brief travelogue film about Glacier National Park.
Produced by Castle Films. A brief travelogue film about Yosemite National Park.
A newsreel of the year's events including stories about Amelia Earhart, Hitler, Mussolini and more.