Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Ivan L. Collins (1906-1971) was born in Dufur, Oregon and grew up in Wasco County. Operatic aspirations led him to Los Angeles in the 1930s. While in California, in 1935, Collins constructed a "prairie schooner" from a model kit while recovering from an illness. His dissatisfaction with the model's authenticity made him realize that correct knowledge about the design and construction of the entire range of recently "extinct" horse-drawn wagons of the nineteenth century was in danger of being entirely lost. From the late 1930s through the 1940s, while he earned his living constructing models at movie studios and as an aircraft mockup builder at Lockheed, Collins devoted his personal time and resources to researching and constructing wagons. By the end of the 1940s he had completed about forty wagons and had secured a publisher for
Collins moved his family to Eugene in 1950, where he worked as a designer for the University of Oregon physical plant. His ongoing avocation of model wagon building found a home at the University in 1965 when he retired to half time at the Physical Plant and became director and curator of the incipient wagon museum. He continued building and researching until his death in February 1971. Shortly thereafter, his family donated his collection and research to the Oregon Historical Society.
The Ivan Collins papers, 1903-1971, document research, publication and exhibition activities pertaining to Collins' studies, construction and models of horse-drawn vehicles. The collection concentrates on the period from about 1940 to 1971. Much of the collection preserves correspondence between Collins and the other wagon research experts in the United States. Numerous newspaper and magazine clippings reflect Collins' obsession with his topic. Of particular historical interest is both the scale plans of his wagons, which hold specific construction details that are now difficult to find, and the journals, notes and sketches which document how Collins located examples to work from and how he learned to construct historically accurate models.
Included at the end of the collection is a series of reproductions of the Collins drawings, including negatives, for reference use.
Series I.: Model Plans, 1938-1970.
Series II: Model Research, 1908-1970.
Series III: Topical, 1903-1971.
Series IV: Museums and Exhibits, 1946-1971.
Series V: Research and Clippings, 1965-1970.
Series VI: Reference Reproductions, undated.
Reproductions of selected scale drawings from the Ivan Collins papers can be purchased from the Oregon Historical Society Press, 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205, (503) 222-1741.
The collection is open to the public.
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 prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Copyright Statement: Copyright to scale drawings in the Ivan Collins papers is held by the Oregon Historical Society.
Gift of Ivan Collins.
Ivan Collins. Papers, Mss 2012, Oregon Historical Society.
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:
Drawings of wagons, many taken in the field by Collins, arranged by wagon type.
See also boxes 12 & 13 and box 10 folder 29
Blueline with pencil.
See also boxes 12 & 13 and box 10 folder 25
Scale: (1/8":1")
Pencil.
See also boxes 12 & 13 and box 11 folder 13
1 drawing on 1 sheet, 46 x 75 cm.
Duplicates: 2, blackline, 46 x 75 cm.
Scale: (1/4":1')
Blueline.
Newspaper clippings, magazine articles, notes and sketches used by Collins while researching wagons.
Arranged alphabetically by wagon type.
2 newspaper items
sketch of Bain Wagon details by Margaret E. Collins, advertisement, letter.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-15, and box 10 folder 25.
2 newspaper photographs, notes, postcard, letter
3 letters, 5 magazine items, 2 newspaper items, notes, transcript, 3 photographs, 3 drawings.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-9, and box 10 folder 29
newspaper item, magazine item, letter, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-12, and box 10 folder 21.
reprint cover of
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-22, and box 10 folder 6.
Magazine item, magazine photograph
Newspaper item.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-7, and box 10 folder 8.
Notes, 8 letters, sketches of details, wagon price list.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-11, and box 11 folder 14.
Notes, magazine advertisement.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-8, and box 11 folder 24.
2 magazine items.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-6, and box 10 folder 4.
Advertisement, sketches of details, magazine item, newspaper photograph.
Sketches of bundle rack details, newspaper item, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-14.
postcard, 5 letters, pamphlet
Fabric sample, sketches of details, newspaper item, note
Notes, 4 pamphlets, newspaper item, letter, sketches of details, magazine advertisement, 2 magazine items
Notes, magazine item
3 postcards, illustration, newspaper illustration, newspaper items, excerpt from French publication, magazine illustrations, magazine article, notes
Letter, 11 newspaper items, 4 magazine items, flyer
2 magazine illustrations, newspaper item
Photograph, 6 letters
Letter, notes, magazine item, report, 8 newspaper reprints.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-25, and box 10 folder 28.
3 magazine illustrations
Magazine item, excerpt from French publication
Booklet, notes, 2 magazine items, 2 letters.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-2, and box 10 folder 22.
2 magazine items, sketches of details, notes, map of Washington state, letter.
Sketches of details, newspaper item, notes.
advertisement/postcard, magazine illustration.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-19.
Notes, magazine article, 2 illustrations.
Notes, 2 letters, receipt, 2 magazine items.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-27, and box 10 folder 12.
Newspaper item, 2 advertisements, 2 magazine items.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-16, and box 11 folder 8.
Newspaper photograph, sketches of detail, magazine photograph, letter.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-13, and box 10 folder 26.
Sketches of details, article, letter, 2 magazine illustrations.
2 newspaper cartoons, 2 magazine articles, notes, sketches of details, magazine photograph, report.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-53, and box 10 folder 5.
Magazine photograph, letter.
Notes, advertisement, sketches of details.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-26.
Sketches of details, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-28, and box 10 folder 13.
Sketches of details.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-29, and box 10 folder 17.
Sketches of details, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-29, and box 11 folder 17.
Sketches of details.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-31, and box 11 folder 12.
2 magazine articles, sketches of details, 5 letters.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-17.
3 advertisements, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-36, and box 10 folder 17.
transcripts, sketches of details, 2 letters, pamphlet, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-34, and box 10 folder 17.
7 letters, catalog—McCabe-Powers Body Co., article.
Advertisement, transcript, notes.
2 magazine articles, magazine cartoon, sketches of wagon details.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-55, and box 11 folder 12.
Notes
Notes, transparency, gear cards, display title card.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-38, and box 11 folder 13.
Sketches of details, paint samples, notes, essay, 3 letters, newspaper item.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-37.
Magazine photograph.
Notes, article, newspaper item, drawing, sketches of details, 2 letters.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-39, and box 10 folder 23.
Notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-3, and box 11 folder 22.
Notes, 3 essays, article.
2 magazine photographs, 2 newspaper items, publication—
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-46, and box 10 folder 8.
Sketches of details.
Sketches of details, magazine illustration, magazine advertisement.
Newspaper item, photograph, price list, magazine article, 17 letters, illustration, description.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-42, box 11 folder 5, and box 2 folder 30.
Note.
Notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-41, box 11 folder 25, and box 2 folder 36.
Sketches of details, magazine photograph, 2 magazine articles, photograph.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-47, and box 10 folder 6.
12 letters, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-48, and box 11 folder 6.
Transcript, plan of detail.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-43, and box 10 folder 27.
Captions from exhibit, catalog excerpts, notes, sketches of
details, publication—
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-42, box 11 folder 5, and box 2 folder 24.
Photographs of wagons mounted on cards with descriptions.
Newspaper item, notes, letter, magazine article.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-52, and box 11 folder 20.
Newspaper item.
Newspaper item, magazine photographs, 2 newspaper articles, postcard, sketches of details, essay, letter, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-48, box 11 folder 6, and box 2 folder 28.
2 newspaper items, notes, caption, photograph, letter.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-65, and box 11 folder 21.
Magazine photograph, newspaper item, magazine advertisement.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-41, box 10 folder 20, and box 2 folder 26.
2 newspaper items, newspaper article, 3 letters,
magazine—
Photograph, 2 postcards, 2 newspaper items, telegram, advertisement, speech, 6 letters, 2 reports, 3 magazine articles, illustration, pamphlet, essay.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-1, and box 11 folder 19.
Newspaper item, 3 newspaper articles, 3 magazine articles, 2
pamphlets, notes, 2 magazine illustrations, report, journal—
4 newspaper items, magazine illustration, 3 article excerpts, illustration, letter.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-63, and box 10 folder 10.
2 newspaper items, notes, sketches of details, 12 letters.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-45, and box 11 folder 1.
2 newspaper items, logos, 2 magazine photographs, advertisement, 2 essays, magazine article, sketches of details, notes, 15 letters, advertisement, photograph.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-44, and box 11 folder 18.
Notes, magazine advertisement, 5 newspaper articles, magazine photograph, magazine illustration, 2 magazine articles, letter, 2 transcripts.
Newspaper item, 2 magazine photographs, 2 magazine illustrations, photograph, essay.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-54, and box 11 folder 23.
2 newspaper items, newspaper photograph, essay, sketches of mail wagon details, notes, 3 magazine photographs, 2 magazine articles.
Magazine article, plans.
3 newspaper items, newspaper article, magazine article, advertisement, magazine illustration, notes.
3 newspaper items, sketches of details, sketch of lumberjack, magazine advertisement, 2 magazine photographs, notes.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-33, and box 10 folder 14
Notes, sketches of details, 7 letters, newspaper item, pamphlet.
Notes, newspaper item, sketches of details, receipt, letter, exhibit label.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-51, and box 10 folder 32.
3 newspaper items, receipt, 8 letters, sketches of details, business card.
Newspaper item, 3 printed photographs, report, sketches of details
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-30, and box 11 folder 25.
Newspaper item, letter.
Newspaper item, notes, 5 letters, magazine illustration, 2 pamphlets, 2 articles, sketches of details.
3 newspaper items, catalog excerpts, notes, sketches of details, photograph, 2 letters.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-23, and box 10 folder 15.
Newspaper item, magazine article, sketches of details, magazine illustration.
Magazine—
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-32, and box 11 folder 3.
7 newspaper items, sketches of details, 4 photographs, notes, 6 letters, receipt, magazine photograph, magazine article.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-24, and box 11 folder 4.
Advertisement, newspaper item, notes, sketches of details, letter.
See also boxes 12 & 13, oversize 2012-20, and box 10 folder 11.
Correspondence with other wagon experts and researchers, interviews, information about creating exhibits and miscellaneous information.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
2 newspaper items, magazine article.
Newspaper item, playbill, pamphlet, blank sheet of stationery, 4 magazine illustrations.
3 letters, notes, 2 commercial flyers
2 newspaper items
4 letters, sketch of gun cart details
3 receipts
Notes, 6 exhibit title cards, pamphlet
8 newspaper items, 5 carriage prints, almanac, notes, 4 magazine photographs, postcard
Newspaper item, postcard booklet, pamphlet, 5 postcards, informational flyer, copy of South Dakota Historical Society's monthly bulletin
2 letters, 3 published photographs
Promotional flyer, notes, sketch
List of items, notes
2 newspaper items, 5 magazine articles, 2 pamphlets, notes, 5 letters, calendar
7 newspaper items, 11 magazine articles, pamphlet, 4 letters
18 cards with descriptions and mounted photographs, sketch of express wagon detail
Newspaper item, notes
Door plaque, 60 business cards, 2 Carriage Association of America membership cards, mock certificate, letter, magazine article
27 letters, newspaper item, sales flyer
32 letters
36 letters
10 letters
14 letters
Notes, 4 pamphlets
2 magazine articles, report
Notes, magazine article, letter
3 magazine articles, 6 newspaper items, pamphlet and price list, 2 postcards, dissertation abstract
Notes, pamphlet, lists of sale items, business card, photograph, 45 letters, newspaper item
Thesis index
2 postcards, 40 newspaper items, notes, 2 photographs, advertisement, 51 magazine items, letter, dictionary clippings
Sketches, receipt, 2 magazine photographs, photograph
Notes, sketches, 2 newspaper items
5 letters, notes, essay
3 newspaper items, magazine article, pamphlet
Newspaper item, notes
Appraisal lists, notes, 17 letters, insurance policy, memorandum, removal permit, receipt
Notes, 6 letters, interview transcript
Notes, 2 letters, 4 transcripts
Inventories
21 letters
90 letters, photostat, 3 photographs, 2 newspaper items
6 pamphlets, notes, business card, 2 postcards, magazine, 12 newspaper items, 4 negatives (b/w), 33 letters
Notes
4 archival-preservation articles
Bibliographies, envelope, letter
Notes, catalogs
Exhibit description card, 5 letters, 3 fruit crate labels, list of gifts
Magazine article
Product specification for a pump, 2 order lists
Newspaper advertisement directory
10 letters
Technical leaflet
Notes, memo
3 magazine articles, 6 wagon illustrations
Newspaper item, 2 playing cards, letter, photograph, catalog page, postcard
4 newspaper items, 3 pamphlets, magazine article, receipt,
guest list, magazine—
7 technical leaflets
2 journals, 4 program guides, 2 pamphlets, 2 letters, receipt
2 press releases, 7 UO news bulletins, label, 6 pamphlets, 10 magazine items, 24 newspaper items
Catalog, magazine, pamphlet, price list, business card, 10 magazine items, illustration, 14 newspaper items
Article
7 newspaper items, notes
Narrative, teaching suggestions, school contact list, children's worksheets, notes, 11 letters, map, 2 newspaper items, wagon illustration
notes
Letter, newspaper item
Notes, sketches, 13 newspaper items, book cover, menu, flyer, 9 illustrations, 40 magazine items, photograph, booklet
Notes, letter, flyer, speeches, collection overview, speech
Notes
Notes, magazine article
3 magazine items, printed photograph
Notes, product information pamphlets
Catalog excerpts
Index
Sketches of wagon details
Museum catalog, 3 reports
Information from various museums which exhibited wagons and notes, logistics, plans and promotion for exhibits of Collins' wagons.
Questionnaire
Catalog
Greeting card, article reprint, postcard, 16 letters, notes, flyer, annual report, magazine, magazine illustration
Newspaper item, 6 letters
Newspaper item, membership form, notes, 14 letters, magazine, 6 museum guides and pamphlets
Exhibit description card, business card, list of wagons, 2 letters, news flyer, 18 newspaper items
Typed draft, list of publishers contacted, galley copy, vocabulary test, notes, radio script and announcement, 2 newspaper items, preliminary printed section of book, Trail's End publishing catalog, 23 letters re publishing book, receipt
Notebook, loose notes
Press release, 4 pamphlets, envelope, 3 receipts, mailing labels, 11 letters
Sketches of wagon details, flyer, magazine article, issue of
Para-Tone catalog
Railroad ticket, notes, 3 receipts, 3 newspaper items, 27 letters
See also oversize 2012-60
9 newspaper items, exhibit flyer, notes, calendar, catalog, exhibit plans, 26 letters
See also oversize 2012-61
Exhibition layout, business card, 6 letters
Exhibit layout sketches, magazine, newspaper item, exhibit description card
Notes, magazine, 4 newspaper items, event schedule, 7 letters
See also oversize 2012-57
Exhibit layout sketches, logistical information, newspaper item
See also oversize 2012-57
Magazine, magazine article, 6 newspaper items, notes, 5 postcards, collection description, 2 receipts, business card, flyer, press release, 11 letters, pamphlet, promotional card
Notes, lecture, 7 magazine items, 3 newspaper items, sketches of display details, plan of exhibit, calendar, 6 letters
Notes, newspaper item, 5 television scripts, elementary education guide, 7 letters
Notes, printed photograph, 2 magazine items
Newspaper items
2 vouchers, receipt, requisition, 4 pamphlets, letter, notes, essay
Airline ticket, notes, letter, travel reimbursement request, 2 travel authorization worksheets
Survey of museums, draft of survey of museums, greeting card, newspaper item, 4 letters
Questionnaire, notes, 2 pamphlets, letter
Legislative mandate, letter, newspaper item
Notes
Graph, chart, notes, explanation
Postcard, notes, book dust cover, definition, newspaper item, magazine item, 3 reports
Filmstrip guide, radio commentary transcript (excerpt), letter, list of Collins' reviews and publications
List, 4 pamphlets, 18 letters
guide
2 guides, 3 pamphlets, notes, printed photograph, postcard, 3 letters
2 pamphlets, note, business card, 32 letters, seminar schedule, OHS information sheet
Magazine, newspaper item, 3 magazine items
Notes, postcard, 2 magazine items, 3 newspaper items, 10 pamphlets, 24 letters
Magazine article
Postcard, letter
3 pamphlets, brochure, magazine item, Dufur pioneer meeting notice
Postcard, notes, 19 brochures
6 letters, note
Pamphlet, letter
Inventory, 3 pamphlets, 3 newspaper items, acquisition form, Wesley Jung biographical data
Pamphlet, journal, essay, general Collins information
2 newspaper items, 3 newsletters, 10 letters
Cooperstown seminar guide
Magazine item
Stationery (Lane County Historical Society), envelope, 9 newspaper items, 4 letters, 2 survey forms, committee minutes, "visual appraisal", report, agenda, urban design study
Journal, museum guide, 8 letters
9 letters, notes
Letter
Magazine item
Pamphlet, catalog, inventory, 3 letters, label, advertisement
Bound volume including loose sheet with graph of construction and some business cards
Text for Collins' book, Horse Power Days
Notebooks containing contact addresses, record of wagon constructions, sketches and notes. Index cards, arranged alphabetically, with wagon details and specifications.
Contents of scrapbook
Notes
2 photographs, 3 letters, sketches of display details, 3 page narrative, store scrip, 2 magazine articles, 2 exhibit description cards
See also oversize 2012-6, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 11
See also oversize 2012-53, boxes 12 & 3, and box 2 folder 1
See also oversize 2012-47, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 27
See also oversize 2012-46, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 21
See also oversize 2012-63, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 3
See also oversize 2012-20, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 22
See also oversize 2012-27, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 30
See also oversize 2012-28, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 4
See also oversize 2012-33, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 10
See also oversize 2012-23, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 18
See also oversize 2012-36, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 9
See also oversize 2012-34, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 10
See also oversize 2012-41, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folders 26 & 36
See also oversize 2012-12, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 5
See also oversize 2012-2, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 25
See also oversize 2012-39, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 18
See also oversize 2012-22, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 16
See also oversize 2012-15, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 2
See also oversize 2012-13, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 32
See also oversize 2012-43, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 29
See also oversize 2012-25, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 22
See also oversize 2012-9, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 4
See also oversize 2012-40 and boxes 12 & 13
See also oversize 2012-51, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 13
See also oversize 2012-10 and boxes 12 & 13
See also oversize 2012-45, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 4
See also oversize 2012-32, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 20
See also oversize 2012-24, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 21
See also oversize 2012-42, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folders 24 & 30
See also oversize 2012-48, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folders 28 & 33
See also oversize 2012-55, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 13
See also oversize 2012-16, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 28
See also oversize 2012-35 and boxes 12 & 13
See also oversize 2012-21 and boxes 12 & 13
See also oversize 2012-7, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 8
See also oversize 2012-31, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 7
See also oversize 2012-38, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 15
See also oversize 2012-11, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 9
See also oversize 2012-18 and boxes 12 & 13
See also oversize 2012-29, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 5
See also oversize 2012-44, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 5
See also oversize 2012-1, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 1
See also oversize 2012-52, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 32
See also oversize 2012-65, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 6
See also oversize 2012-3, boxes 12 & 13, and box 2 folder 19
See also oversize 2012-54, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 7
See also oversize 2012-8, boxes 12 & 13, and box 1 folder 10
See also oversize 2012-30, boxes 12 & 13, and box 3 folder 15
Index cards.
Index cards.
2012-1 through 2012-8, 2012-9
2012-11 through 2012-20
2012-21 through 2012-30
2012-31 through 2012-40
2012-41 through 2012-50
2012-51 through 2012-55, 2012-65
2012-1(4), 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26(2), 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 65