University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
0309
Luark, Michael Fleenen, 1818-1901
Michael Fleenen Luark papers
1846-1998
2.6 cubic feet (7 boxes) plus
15 microfilm reels and 1 vertical file
Collection materials are in
English.
Diaries and
buiness records of a Washington pioneer, farmer, lumberman
Michael Fleenen Luark was born on July 24, 1818 in Washington County,
Virginia. In 1853, Luark and his brother, Patterson F. Luark, left their
residences in Indiana and settled in Washington Territory. Throughout his life,
Michael Luark worked as a logger, prospector, and farmer. In 1869, he built his
own saw mill, the Sylva Mill Company, which he ran until 1885. Luark was an
active Democrat and temperance advocate. He died on January 21, 1901 in Grays
Harbor County, Washington. His diaries provide a valuable source for
understanding pioneering in the 19th century, and particularly frontier life in
the Chehalis River Valley.
Organized into 3 accessions.
- Accession No. 0309-001, Michael Fleenen Luark papers,
1846-1900
- Accession No. 0309-002, Michael Fleenen Luark papers, circa
1878
- Accession No. 0309-003, "From the Old Northwest to the Pacific
Northwest; the 1853 Oregon Trail Diaries of Patterson Fletcher Luark and
Michael Fleenen Luark" papers, 1998
Diaries (26 volumes) describing two overland journeys (1853 and 1861)
of Luark and his brother Patterson F. Luark, the daily routine of a pioneer
farmer-logger in western Washington Territory, Farm life in Indiana, Illinois
and Iowa, the life of a prospector-worker in the Colorado goldrush (1860), and
the return trip to Indiana via Nicaragua, with a six week stopover in
California (1855-56). Also included are a journal of the Sylvia Mill Company,
Montesano, Wash. with portions of a diary containing journal entries, and a
notebook with miscellaneous poems and recipes.
Entire accession reproduced on microfilm (UW 1967). May be borrowed
through Interlibrary Loan. Accession includes photocopies of diaries 1, 3 and 7
in addition to the original diaries.
The Oregon Trail diary of Michael Luark (1853) has been edited and
published by the Oregon-California Trails Association, Independence, Mo, 1998.
"From the Old Northwest to the Pacific Northwest : the 1853 Oregon Trail
Diaries of Patterson Fletcher Luark and Michael Fleenen Luark." Edited by
Howard Jablon and Kenneth R. Elkins.
Open to all users.
Request at UW
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Grays Harbor County (Wash.)--History--Sources
Sylvia Mill Company (Montesano, Wash.)
Luark, Patterson Fletcher, 1814-1901
Luark, Michael Fleenen, 1818-1901--Archives
Luark, Michael Fleenen, 1818-1901--Diaries
Frontier and pioneer life--Washington Territory
Agriculture--Washington (State)--Grays Harbor County
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Grays Harbor County (Wash.)--Social life and customs
West (U.S.)--Description and travel
Diaries
Pioneers
Diaries
Overland Journeys to the Western United States
Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Accession No. 0309-001: Michael Fleenen Luark papers, 1846-1900
2.39 cubic feet (6
boxes)
10 microfilm reels :
positive ; 35 mm.
5 microfilm reels :
negative ; 35 mm.
Scope and Content:
Diaries (26v.) describe two overland journeys (1853 and 1861) of
Luark and his brother Patterson F. Luark, the daily routine of a pioneer
farmer-logger in western Washington Territory, Farm life in Indiana, Illinois
and Iowa, the life of a prospector-worker in the Colorado goldrush (1860), and
the return trip to Indiana via Nicaragua, with a six week stopover in
California (1855-56). Also included are a journal of the Sylvia Mill Company,
Montesano, Wash. with portions of a diary containing journal entries, and a
notebook with miscellaneous poems and recipes.
Restrictions on Access:
Open to all users. Due to condition issues, users should use
microfilm instead of originals.
Restrictions on Use:
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info:
Donated by Mrs. Dean Perry, 11/30/1962; Diary vol. 26 (1900)
donated by Sharon Wilder Crandall, 1/16/2018 .
1/1
0309-001
Diary
May 28, 1853-June 28, 1853
1/2
0309-001
Diary of overland journey, Indiana to Olympia,
Washington
1853
1/3
0309-001
Diary, vol. 1 (photocopy)
February 3, 1846-April 7, 1850
1/4
0309-001
Diary, vol. 2
April 7, 1850-March 16, 1853, November 12, 1854, July 9,
1860-August 18, 1860
1/5
0309-001
Diary, vol. 3 (photocopy)
March 1853-May 1856
1/6
0309-001
Diary, vol. 3 (photocopy)
March 1853-May 1856
1/7
0309-001
Diary, vol. 4
May 15, 1856-May 18, 1857
1/8
0309-001
Diary, vol. 5
June 1857-December 1858
1/9
0309-001
Diary, vol. 6
1859-1861
1/10
0309-001
Diary, vol. 7 (photocopy)
1861-1862
2/1
0309-001
Diary, vol. 7 (photocopy)
1862-1863
2/2
0309-001
Diary, vol. 8, with business entries
1864
2/3
0309-001
Diary, vol. 9
1865-1866
2/4
0309-001
Diary, vol. 11
January 1878-June 1880
2/5
0309-001
Diary, vol. 12
1880-1881
2/6
0309-001
Diary, vol. 13
November 1881-July 1883
3/1
0309-001
Diary, vol. 14
July 1883-December 1884
3/2
0309-001
Diary, vol. 15
January 1885-August 1885
3/3
0309-001
Diary, vol. 16
August 1885-September 1886
3/4
0309-001
Diary, vol. 17
September 1886-September 1887
3/5
0309-001
Diary, vol. 18
October 1887-April 1888
3/6
0309-001
Notes
undated
4/1
0309-001
Diary, vol. 19
May 1888-December 1888
4/2
0309-001
Diary, vol. 21
November 1890-July 1893
4/3
0309-001
Diary, vol. 22
July 1893-December 1893
4/4
0309-001
Diary, vol. 23
January 1894-August 1895
4/5
0309-001
Diary, vol. 24
September 1895-April 1899
4/6
0309-001
Diary, vol. 25
May 1899-December 1899
4/7
0309-001
Business records
1862-1879
4/8
0309-001
Other writings: poetry, recipes (photocopy)
undated
4/9
0309-001
2 photographs: portrait of Patterson F. Luark, and
portrait of Michael F. Luark
undated
5/1
0309-001
Diary, vol. 1 (fragile, photocopy is in box
1)
February 3, 1846-April 7, 1850
5/2
0309-001
Diary, vol. 3 (fragile, photocopy is in box
1)
March 1853-May 1856
5/3
0309-001
Diary, vol. 7 (fragile, photocopy is in boxes 1 and
2)
1861-1863
5/4
0309-001
Other writings: poetry, recipes (fragile, photocopy is
in box 4)
undated
6
0309-001
Diary, vol. 10
1866-1877
6
0309-001
Diary, vol. 20
January 1889-November 1890
6
0309-001
Diary, vol. 26
January 1900-October 1900
Accession No. 0309-002: Michael Fleenen Luark papers, circa
1878
1 document (7 p.)
Scope and Content:
Family history (1878 or later) transcribed by Michael Luark's
great-granddaughter Bonita M. Luark in 1993.
Restrictions on Access:
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use:
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of
Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info:
Donated by Bonita Luark, 10/1/1993.
Accession No. 0309-003: "From the Old Northwest to the Pacific Northwest; the 1853 Oregon Trail Diaries of Patterson Fletcher Luark and Michael Fleenen Luark" papers, 1998
.21 cubic foot (1
box)
Scope and Content:
Published diaries, edited by Howard Jablon and Kenneth R.
Elkins.
Restrictions on Access:
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use:
Copyright retained by Oregon-California Trails Association.
Acquisition Info:
Donated by Oregon-California Trails Association, 12/28/1998.