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John Miller Drake Papers, 1841-1935

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Drake, John Miller, 1830-1913
Title
John Miller Drake Papers
Dates
1841-1935 (inclusive)
1862-1895 (bulk)
Quantity
2 cubic feet, (2 document cases, 2 oversize folders)
Collection Number
Mss 80
Summary
Papers of an officer in the 1st Oregon Cavalry and 1st Oregon Infantry during the Civil War, and later purchasing agent for the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. Materials include records of the 1st Oregon Cavalry, correspondence, copy of Drake's journal describing a campaign against the Snake Indians in 1864, articles, legal papers, business correspondence for the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, private account books, and receipts for the Portland Board of Trade. Also includes genealogical materials for the Parrish family.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

John Miller Drake was born December 31, 1830 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He emigrated to California during the Gold Rush of 1849, relocating in Oregon nine years later, in 1858. He served as an officer in both the 1st Oregon Cavalry and 1st Oregon Infantry volunteer regiments during the Civil War. Following the war, he became the purchasing agent for the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, a post he filled for 17 years. He died in Portland on December 11, 1913.

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Content Description

Papers include: Supply records, orders, and letters (1862-1865) of the 1st Oregon Cavalry; typescript copies of letters (February 23, 1864-March 24, 1865) received by Captain John M. Drake at Fort Dalles; photocopy and typescript copy of Drake's journal (1864) describing a campaign against the Snake Indians in Eastern Oregon; "The Oregon Cavalry" (1906), article written by John M. Drake; building agreements and accounts (1888) for three Portland houses; legal documents (1865-1909); business correspondence (1876-1895) for the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company; private account books (1871-1912); and Portland Board of Trade receipts (1870-1871). Also includes genealogical materials for the Parrish family, compiled in 1935.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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 collection. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

John Miller Drake Papers, Mss 80, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series

  • Series A: First Oregon Cavalry Materials, 1862-1865; 1906
  • Series B: General Materials, 1841-1935
  • Series C: Financial Records, 1867-1912

Location of Originals

Original of Drake's 1864 journal located at Yale University Library, New Haven, Ct.

Acquisition Information

Part of the collection was a gift of Ruth Drake, 1944 Oct. 25

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Finding aid prepared by Geoffrey Wexler
2005

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