Both of E. E. Wilson's parents were Oregon pioneers. Rozella Jane Russell was born in Missouri on January 19, 1850. The Russell family left Missouri and arrived in Oregon in 1851 and took a donation land claim in Benton County located four miles northeast of the future site of Corvallis. Lewis Fenton Wilson was born in Illinois in 1836 and moved to Missouri when three years old. In his teens his family traveled by wagon with Captain Meeker on the Oregon Trail where Lewis' father died after crossing the Rocky Mountains in Idaho. The Wilson family arrived in Oregon in 1852 and Lewis' mother took a donation land claim near Bellfountain (Corvallis Gazette-Times, Feb. 14, 1927, E. E. Wilson Papers, OSU Archives).
Rose Russell attended Corvallis College (later Oregon State University) and Lewis went to college in McMinnville for a year. They married in December 1868, and their only child, Eddy Elbridge Wilson, was born in October 1869. The family moved to Prineville in 1877 where Lewis worked in the mercantile business, returning to Benton County in 1879 (Corvallis Gazette-Times, April 23, 1938, E. E. Wilson Papers, OSU Archives). Both parents then remained in Corvallis for the rest of their lives.
Lewis Wilson was the first brick maker in Benton County and supplied materials for local buildings, such as Philomath College, the original Oregon Agricultural College administration building (now Benton Hall), and for the Benton County Courthouse. For 26 years the family lived in a home which was located immediately north of the present site of OSU's Waldo Hall, moving to a Monroe Street location around 1910. Lewis was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 48 years, and had been active in the Corvallis Fire Department (Corvallis Gazette-Times, Feb. 14, 1927, E. E. Wilson Papers, OSU Archives). Rose was credited with being a leader in the preservation of pioneer history through her affiliation with Masonic organizations. She was founder of the local St. Mary's chapter of the Eastern Star and served in various official capacities throughout her life, including service as Grand Matron. She began a women's literary group when in Prineville, and was active in the establishment of a city library in Corvallis. In 1883 she organized and served as the first president of the Corvallis Firemen's Coffee Club, forerunner to the Corvallis Women's Club. She was also a charter member and second president of the College Folk Club (Corvallis Gazette-Times, April 23, 1938, E. E. Wilson Papers, OSU Archives).
Eddy Elbridge Wilson was born October 23, 1869, when Corvallis had only been incorporated for 12 years. Unlike his pioneer parents, E. E. Wilson never strayed far from Corvallis, where he lived most of his life and where he died in 1961 at the age of 92. Wilson began his college career at Corvallis College when it was located in downtown Corvallis. Before he graduated, the college had been renamed State Agricultural College of the State of Oregon and moved out of downtown to the present location of Benton Hall on the OSU campus. At this land grant institution, he was one of the first students to receive an education that combined science with classical subject matter. In 1889 at age 20, he completed a bachelor of science from the college, one of 14 people in the graduating class (1889 Commencement Program, OSU Archives).
After graduation, Wilson "fiddled around" for two years. He hoped to become a doctor, but could not finance the education. A job working for a year at the Benton County Courthouse led him to a career in law. He continued his education in 1891 at University of Oregon Law School, then located in Portland, receiving his degree in 1893. That same year Wilson set up a law practice in Corvallis. From the beginning of Wilson's career he was involved in local government. He twice served as Corvallis City Attorney, from 1910-1915, and 1917-1919, and a short term in 1913 as Benton County District Attorney. In his first term as city attorney, he drew up the city's first assessment procedures as Corvallis began approving paved streets and sewer installation.
In 1925 Wilson became president and then board member of the First National Bank of Corvallis. He worked with the bank until 1940 when it was sold to U. S. National Bank of Portland. Starting in 1940 he worked as the manager of Benton County Abstract Company, a firm he set up in 1918 with two other partners, until it was sold to Title and Trust & Company in 1946 (Corvallis Gazette-Times, October 23, 1959, E. E. Wilson Papers, OSU Archives). As an attorney who specialized in land acquisition and disposition, Wilson participated in many investment opportunities which led to the development of the local community. He was also involved with local, state and regional politics. Many letters addressed to Wilson indicate that he recommended people for elected and appointed positions within the Democratic Party and participating in poll watching activities. Included in his memorabilia is an invitation to lunch with the President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson in Portland in 1919, as well as an invitation to the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C. in 1961 (Personal/Family Records, E. E. Wilson Papers, OSU Archives).
Throughout his life he maintained close connections to the community, especially with his alma mater. Wilson twice served on the college's Board of Regents from 1906-1915 and 1924-1929; he served as the Board's Secretary from 1907-1915 and 1924-1929. He served on the college Memorial Union Board of Governors from 1925-1961. He was a charter member of the Corvallis Country Club, as well as a member of five Masonic organizations, including a short affiliation with the Native Sons of Oregon as a local organizer in 1900. He also served on the Corvallis Planning Commission from 1931-1941, the Corvallis Water Commission from 1932-1940, and was a member of the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he was active in the Izaak Walton League, the Corvallis Men's Garden Club, and the University Club in Portland.
Wilson is best known for his work on the State Game Commission from 1935-1949. He served when the Commission's activities expanded in response to growing numbers of hunters and fishers coupled with decreasing numbers of game. He worked to promote science in policy formation, and the inclusion of professional scientists on the staff during this expansion. He acted as a liaison between Oregon State College and the Commission, encouraging collaboration between Commission staff and OSC faculty on individual research projects, as well as encouraging joint support for the Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.
Expansion of services rendered by the Game Commission was affected by worldwide events: the Great Depression at the beginning of Wilson's service, and World War II at the end of his membership. These events led to restrictions on funds for building materials, gasoline, tires and personnel for fieldwork. At the same time, growing numbers of hunters and fishers called for increased availability of game. Wilson attempted to reconcile the Game Commission's mandate with scientific evidence, public demands, and political initiatives.
Wilson never married and had no children, but his work has been memorialized in three different manners. Before he died, Wilson set up an undergraduate scholarship at Oregon State University for Benton County residents; in 1954 the State Game Commission dedicated the E. E. Wilson Game Management Farm north of Corvallis to commemorate Wilson's work with wildlife issues; and Wilson Hall on the OSU campus was named after him in 1961. Excerpts from the plaque on Wilson Hall read, "Pioneer in Scientific Wildlife Management," "Respected and Noble," and "Gentleman of the Old School," (E. E. Wilson Memorabilia Collection, OSU Archives). E. E. Wilson and his parents are buried at Crystal Lake Cemetery, Corvallis, Oregon.
Four boxes house Wilson's books, and three boxes hold his personal papers and early memorabilia. Included in the collection are three boxes of papers and memorabilia from other members of his family. Many items belonged to his mother, Rose Wilson, and a few from his father, Lewis Wilson. The bulk of the book series is from the mid 19th to the early 20th centuries.
Seven boxes hold material relating to Wilson's public service activities. Four boxes pertain to his 14-year connection with the Oregon State Game Commission from 1935-1949. One box includes material from his service on the Oregon Agricultural College Board of Regents in 1906-1915 and 1925-1929, and material from his service on the Oregon State College Memorial Union Board of Governors in 1925-1961. The Board of Regents materials include correspondence from 1907- 1912 with other regents, such as B. F. Irvine, Clara Waldo, Walter Pierce, and James K. Weatherford; and with state officials, such as Oswald West and Ben Olcott. Two boxes hold papers from Wilson's involvement with local development issues.
Ten boxes are real estate records, many from the Benton County Abstract Company, and comprise five series. One series consists of complete title abstracts; another contains title correspondence and search notes, arranged by city addition or township. Most of the real estate records cover the years 1901-1925 and are largely unprocessed.
The remainder of the collection, 17 boxes, consists of legal records from Wilson's law practice. All of these records are restricted until non-confidential materials are identified and processed.
More detailed descriptions of selected subgroups and series are included within the collection inventory.
Organized into 6 subgroups: 1. Personal/Family Records; 2. OSU Work; 3. Local Development Issues; 4. Game Commission; 5. Business/Real Estate Records; and 6. Legal Records.
E. E. Wilson Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
The OSU Library acquired Wilson's papers after his death, and they were transferred to the Archives in 1979.
The E. E. Wilson Memorabilia Collection file and the E. E. Wilson Photograph Collection (P 101) complement Wilson's papers. The papers of Roland E. Dimick and William L. Finley dovetail with many of Wilson's conservation work. The institutional records of the Oregon Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit (OCWRU), included as part of the Fisheries and Wildlife Dept. Records (RG 190), expand on the OCWRU materials in the Wilson Papers. Other related records include the records of the Board of Regents (RG 8), the Office of the President (RG 13), and the Memorial Union Records (RG 99). Records of the State Game Commission are located at the Oregon State Archives in Salem.
Invitation for Luncheon with the President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.
Contain obituaries of Rose Wilson's mother.
Listed below in chronological order of publication dates are personal books from Wilson's collection. Many of the books appear to have been originally owned by someone other than E.E. Wilson; inscriptions are noted. Some books appear to have been Rose Wilson's from when she attended college. When a book could be confirmed as a Corvallis College text, it is noted by an asterisk (*). In addition, a list of Wilson's books no longer available through the Archives is included in the first box of books.
Rose Russell, Wilson's mother, attended Corvallis College in 1866 as a preparatory student.*
Front cover missing. Includes discussion and criticism. Signed by Rose J. Wilson.
Partial book.
Includes a letter,
As an attorney who specialized in land acquisition and disposition, Wilson became involved in many local development issues. Wilson's interest in water usage began when he served as the city's attorney in the dispute between the Corvallis Water Company vs. the City of Corvallis from 1897-1901. Additionally, documents from 1913-1920 indicate he was actively involved in protecting the Mary's Peak watershed, the drainage that supplied the city's water. Wilson served on the Corvallis Water Commission from 1932-1940 and encountered a water shortage in 1938 which led to expansion of the city's reservoirs. The transportation series consists primarily of legal records documenting Wilson's representation of clients in actions involving railroads and other transportation companies.
E.E. Wilson served on the Oregon State Game Commission from 1935-1949, and was chair of the Commission from 1939 until his separation from the Commission in 1949. The Game Commission was charged with preserving wildlife in the state for hunters and fishers (the Oregon State Fish Commission protected and propagated fish for commercial purposes during these years). It operated fish hatcheries for the artificial propagation of trout and salmon, and game farms for the propagation of game birds. In addition, the group made policy regarding big, medium and small game animals.
His papers provide primary source documents from a variety of perspectives. The Commission's efforts are reflected in the radio broadcasts presented from 1941-1943, in Wilson's speeches and correspondence, and may also be found in Game Commission reports and in the minutes of monthly meetings. He personally researched topics relative to Game Commission issues and left an extensive group of reference material on wildlife practices from the late 19th century through the 1940s. Papers from his service on the Game Commission consist of 10 series:
This series includes Game Commission biennial reports, minutes from monthly meetings, historical information, and the reports of the Legislative Interim Committee, the group that investigated the ability of the Game Commission to deal with the state's game problems in 1948.
Titles, Leases, Police Reports, Court Summons, Correspondence.
As increasing numbers of people emigrated to the state and fisheries declined, the propagation of trout and salmon became major projects for the Commission. This series includes files on the Commission's attempts to secure Eel Lake as a brood lake for coastal streams, the lake and stream survey detailing Oregon's inland water resources, records on the Rogue River Coordination Board and the effects of placer mining on fisheries, and reports on the Willamette Valley Project which promoted high dams and increased numbers of fish hatcheries on the tributaries of the Willamette River.
Loss of habitat, pollution and other human perturbations challenged Oregon's bird populations as well as fish populations. The Game Commission ran farms to support artificial and natural propagation programs to supply game birds for hunters. This series documents the establishment of a game farm on Camp Adair, a former World War II training camp (which has been dedicated to and named after Wilson), documentation of the Sauvies Island project, history of the introduction of the Ring-Necked China Pheasant, and two book manuscripts by 'Gene Simpson, the Game Commission's first Superintendent of Game Farms.
Documents from this series illustrate the conflicts between deer and elk hunters contrasted with the interests of ranchers who herd cattle and sheep in Eastern Oregon. The Game Commission became involved in the long standing conflict during World War II by attempting to mitigate issues of grazing interests, forest service practices and hunting regulations.
Starting in 1941 the Game Commission produced 15 minute radio spots broadcast bi-monthly over KOAC, the local public broadcasting radio station. These spots utilized members of the Game Commission and the staff as spokespeople who highlighted projects and issues the Commission addressed. The spots continued until 1944 when the Commission suspended the broadcasts due to a lack of materials and personnel that had been devoted to the war effort.
Over 20 speeches, mostly given by Wilson from 1937-1948, that address topics such as
The Game Commission was one of four groups that contributed to the establishment of the Unit in 1935 to address practical field problems and basic research in game management. This series documents the Unit's planning and implementation, and includes various quarterly reports from 1940-1959.
The annual meetings of the Oregon Wildlife Conference and the Western Association of State Game and Fish Commissioners are documented with this series, as well as various other meetings Game Commission staff attended. Programs and some proceedings are included from 1936-1949.
The Oregon Wildlife Conference was held yearly on the Oregon State College campus.
This series includes documentation regarding the Game Commission's participation with the federal Pittman-Robertson wildlife restoration projects in Oregon from 1939-1947, the Kueny Land donation which involved a 28,600 acre private land grant in SE Oregon, and the Post-War Readjustment Program.
Wilson collected professional articles and books, as well as conservation magazines from different states to educate himself on the science of wildlife management from the late nineteenth century to the 1940s. This material covers game fish, birds and animals, and includes some classic works like David Starr Jordan's,
Includes Wilson's article,
Restricted