Samuel R. Thurston and Elizabeth Thurston papers, 1838-1887
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Thurston, Samuel Royal, 1816-1851; Odell, Elizabeth, 1816-1890
- Title
- Samuel R. Thurston and Elizabeth Thurston papers
- Dates
- 1838-1887 (inclusive)18381887
1849-1851 (bulk)18491851 - Quantity
- 0.5 cubic feet, (1 legal document case; 2 reels of microfilm)
- Collection Number
- Mss 379
- Summary
- Papers of Samuel R. Thurston (1816-1851) and his wife, Elizabeth Thurston (1816-1890, later Elizabeth Odell), and a property deed relating to their children, George Henry Thurston (1846-1927) and Elizabeth Blandina Thurston (1849-1904, later Elizabeth Blandina Stowell). Papers include correspondence, Samuel R. Thurston's diary, and speeches by Samuel R. Thurston. Thurston was a delegate from the Oregon Territory to U.S. Congress, and helped pass the Oregon Donation Land Law in 1850; he died en route while returning to Oregon from Washington, D.C., in 1851.
- Repository
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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
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Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
Samuel Royal Thurston was born in 1816 in Monmouth, Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1832, and was admitted to the Maine bar in 1844. He came to Oregon City in 1847, and opened a law office there. In 1848, he was elected to the Oregon provisional legislature, and then was appointed as the Oregon Territory's delegate to the U.S. Congress. As a delegate, Thurston helped pass the Oregon Donation Land Law in 1850. The law allowed white U.S. citizens to claim acreage in the Oregon Territory, the amount determined by whether they arrived before or after 1850. This attracted additional Euro-American emigrants to Oregon who displaced the region's Indigenous peoples.
While serving as a delegate, Thurston recruited Asahel Bush (1824-1913) to publish a newspaper, the Oregon Statesman, with the goal that the newspaper help to further Thurston's political career. Thurston also tasked Bush with organizing the Democratic Party in the Oregon Territory.
In 1845, Thurston married Elizabeth McLench (1816-1890, later Elizabeth Odell, and in some sources spelled as "Elisabeth"). The couple had two children: George Henry Thurston (1846-1927), and Elizabeth Blandina Thurston (1849-1904, later Elizabeth Blandina Stowell).
Thurston died on April 9, 1851, off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico, while traveling back to Oregon from Washington, D.C. Initially buried in Mexico, his body was brought to Oregon and reburied there in 1853.
Sources: Corning, Howard McKinley, editor, "Dictionary of Oregon History," second edition, 1989; "Salem Clique," by Barbara Mahoney, Oregon Encyclopedia, https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/salem-clique/#.Yp9xbqjMIuU; "Oregon Donation Land Law," by William G. Robbins, Oregon Encyclopedia, https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_donation_land_act/#.Yp9zU6jMIuU.
Biographical Note
Elizabeth Odell (1816-1890) was born as Elizabeth McLench (sometimes written as "McClench"). She married Samuel R. Thurston in 1845. After Thurston's death, she remarried to William H. Odell (1830-1922) in 1855. Although most sources spell her first name as "Elizabeth," her gravestone and obituary in the Salem Capital Journal spell it as "Elisabeth."
Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; obituary in the Salem Capital Journal, April 1, 1890.
Content Description
The collection consists of the papers of Samuel R. Thurston, the papers of his wife, Elizabeth Thurston (spelled "Elisabeth" in some sources, and later Elizabeth Odell), and a property deed relating to their children. The bulk of the collection relates to Samuel R. Thurston's political career as a delegate for the Oregon Territory in the U.S. Congress, and includes correspondence from constituents and his speeches. Correspondents include John Adair, Jesse Applegate, Wilson Blain, William P. Bryant, Asahel Bush, Anson Dart, William H. Gray, Lafayette Grover, William Harkness, David Hill, Hezekiah Johnson, William King, Hall J. Kelley, Joseph Lane, Asa L. Lovejoy, James W. Nesmith, Samuel Parker, Josiah L. Parrish, William B. Preston, Nicholas Shrum, Henry H. Spalding, J. Q. Thornton, and others. Thurston's papers also include transcribed versions of his diary entries, his personal correspondence to Elizabeth Thurston, and documents relating to his death in 1851.
The bulk of other family papers in this collection relate to Elizabeth Thurston, and include correspondence, her biography of Samuel R. Thurston, an essay, and a speech. The Thurstons' children, George Henry Thurston and Elizabeth Blandina Thurston (later Elizabeth Blandina Stowell), are represented through an 1867 property deed made out to them.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
The Samuel R. Thurston and Elizabeth Thurston papers are also available on Mss 379 Microfilm, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Preferred Citation
Samuel R. Thurston and Elizabeth Thurston papers, Mss 379, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
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.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
Collection is arranged in two series: Series 1. Samuel R. Thurston papers; Series 2. Elizabeth Thurston papers and children's property deed.
Acquisition Information
A significant portion of this collection was gift of the Alfred W. Stowell estate between 1906 and 1913 (RL2022-072-RETRO). Some of Thurston's speeches were acquired from 1901 to 1908 (RL2022-073-RETRO, RL2022-078-RETRO, RL2022-079-RETRO).
Location of Originals
Original of Elizabeth Odell's biography of Samuel R. Thurston is held at the Bancroft Library, Berkeley, California. Originals of August 25, 1850 letter from William H. Gray and October 21, 1850 letter from J. Quinn Thornton are held at the University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, Seattle, Washington.
Processing Note
Collection was reprocessed in 2022. Materials were rearranged, the collection and folders were given new titles, and description was updated to conform to current standard. Collection was previously titled "Thurston family papers."
Related Materials
Other collections at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library that relate to Samuel R. Thurston or include his papers are: Samuel R. Thurston letters to Wesley Shannon, Mss 161; McLench family papers, Mss 206; J. Quinn Thornton papers, Mss 371; Eugene Franklin Skinner letters, Mss 594; Samuel R. Thurston letters to Wilson Blain, Mss 628; Letters to the editor of the Oregon Spectator, Mss 943; Philip Foster papers, Mss 996; and the vertical file Biography - Thurston, Samuel Royal.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Series 1: Samuel R. Thurston papers, 1838-1852, (bulk 1849-1851)
The bulk of this series concerns Samuel R. Thurston's political career as a delegate in U.S. Congress, and includes correspondence from constituents in the Oregon Territory.
Frequent topics of discussion in correspondence are the Oregon Donation Land Law; current events in the Oregon Territory; the legal status of John McLoughlin's claim in Oregon City, and of lots sold from McLoughlin's claim to Euro-American emigrants; and the Oregon Statesman and Oregon Spectator newspapers. Other notable correspondence includes a letter from Peter H. Burnett, relating his role in the formation of the California state government; letters from William P. Bryant concerning his resignation as chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court; and a letter from Henry H. Spalding about his position as postmaster and the execution of five Cayuse men for the Whitman killings.
Thurston's political activities are also represented through his speeches to Congress, most of which concern the Oregon Territory and the Oregon Donation Land Law. These speeches include derogatory language and sentiments towards John McLoughlin, Indigenous peoples, and Black Americans.
Other papers in this series include personal correspondence, particularly Thurston's letters to his wife, Elizabeth; transcribed diary entries detailing his travel to and work in Washington, D.C.; Thurston's notes and writings; receipts and promissory notes; agreements; a commission as a notary public in Maine; and documents relating to his death.
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Description: Agreement between Thurston, A. W. Stockwell, and Henry Russell to supply the newspaper Oregon Statesman with a printing pressDates: 1850 March 11Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Commission of Thurston as a notary public for Cumberland County, MaineDates: 1843 October 17Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Information regarding a contract dated November 16, 1847 between U.S. Navy Secretary John Y. Mason and Arnold Harris for the construction and equipping of four mail steamersDates: circa 1848Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Correspondence from John Adair, Nathaniel Albertson, and Jesse ApplegateDates: 1850 February 15-1851 February 28; circa 1850Container: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Correspondence from E. H. Billinger, Wilson Blaine, and William P. BryantDates: 1849 October 23-1851 February 10Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Correspondence from Peter H. Burnett, Asahel Bush, and J. A. CornwallDates: 1849 November 20-1851 January 17Container: Box 1, Folder 6
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Description: Correspondence from Anson Dart, William H. Davidge, Mitchell P. Gilliam, William H. Gray, R. C. Greer, J. S. Griffin, and L. F. GroverDates: 1849 December 20-1850 December 14Container: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: Correspondence from William C. Hall, William B. Harkness, W. J. Herren, David Hill, W. H. Hubbard, Hezekiah Johnson, and William M. KingDates: 1849 December 12-1851 June 17Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Correspondence and petitions from Hall J. KelleyDates: 1850 April 9-1851 February 5Container: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: Correspondence from Joseph Lane, William V. Leet, Alonzo Leland, David T. Lenox, Asa L. Lovejoy, and D. H. LownsdaleDates: 1849 November 19-1851 January 22Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: Correspondence from Mailler & Lord, M. M. McCarver, James M. Moore, James W. Nesmith, Samuel Parker, J. L. Parrish, and T. P. PowersDates: 1850 February 12-December 16Container: Box 1, Folder 11
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Description: Letter from U.S. Treasury Secretary W. M. Meredith about a British ship's alleged violation of U.S. law, with note by ThurstonDates: 1850 January 14; undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 12
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Description: Correspondence from William H. Safford, A. S. Sawyer, Nicholas Shrum, Benjamin Simpson, James R. Snowden, Henry H. Spalding, Alfred J. Stone, and John SwitzerDates: 1849 November 19-1851 February 8Container: Box 1, Folder 13
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Description: Correspondence from Wesley ShannonDates: 1850 March 10-December 12Container: Box 1, Folder 14
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Description: Correspondence from J. Quinn Thornton, Thomas Upham, A. Van Dusen, C. M. Walker, and Elam YoungDates: 1849 October 13-1851 January 22Container: Box 1, Folder 15
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Description: Letter from Asa Walker with enclosed letter to the Oregon Spectator praising ThurstonDates: 1851 January 1Container: Box 1, Folder 16
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Description: Correspondence from Thurston to J. Butterfield, J. Kelley Hall, the Indiana Delegation, and William B. PrestonDates: 1849 December 24-1851 March 5Container: Box 1, Folder 17
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Description: Letter from Thurston to Samuel Parker and Wesley Shannon about Judge Orville C. Pratt's decision concerning the Oregon Organic Law and interpretations of the Oregon Organic Act (last part missing)Dates: 1850 August 31Container: Box 1, Folder 18
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Description: Correspondence from Samuel R. Thurston to his wife, Elizabeth ThurstonDates: 1849-1851Container: Box 1, Folder 19
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Description: Correspondence from Thurston to unidentified recipientsDates: 1838 May 25; 1850 June 7-1851 February 28Container: Box 1, Folder 20
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Description: Extract from Thurston's diary regarding traveling from Portland, Oregon to Jamaica (handwritten transcript)Dates: 1849 August 7-November 4Container: Box 1, Folder 21
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Description: Diary covering Thurston's travel to Washington, D.C. and his work in Congress (typescript copy)Dates: 1849 November 21-1850 August 28Container: Box 1, Folder 22
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Description: Notes by Thurston relating to his political work, including handwritten copies of government correspondence and bills relating to OregonDates: circa 1848-1851Container: Box 1, Folder 23
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Description: Receipts and promissory notesDates: 1846-1850Container: Box 1, Folder 24
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Description: Report about roads in OregonDates: 1850 May 24Container: Box 1, Folder 25
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Description: Speech delivered to the freshman class at Dartmouth CollegeDates: 1840 July 4Container: Box 1, Folder 26
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Description: Speeches (printed and typescript copies)Dates: 1850-1851Container: Box 1, Folder 27
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Description: Speeches (handwritten)Dates: circa 1850-1851Container: Box 1, Folder 28
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Description: Testimony of Jason Wheeler regarding Thurston's treatment of himDates: 1849 April 2Container: Box 1, Folder 29
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Description: Writings, including essaysDates: circa 1840-1851Container: Box 1, Folder 30
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Description: Materials relating to Thurston's death: inventory of estate; resolution of condolence by International Order of Odd Fellows, Megenenu Camp No. 4; act to bring Thurston's body to Oregon (typescript copy)Dates: 1851 April 9; 1851 June 4; 1852 December 21Container: Box 1, Folder 31
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Series 2: Elizabeth Thurston papers and children's property deed, circa 1840-1887
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Description: Biography of Samuel R. Thurston by Elizabeth Odell (formerly Elizabeth Thurston) (typescript copy)Dates: 1879Container: Box 1, Folder 32
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Description: Correspondence to Elizabeth Thurston from John Adair, Sarah E. Bartlett, Josephine M. Dyar, and Lizzie SherbuneDates: 1850 January 6-1852 August 7Container: Box 1, Folder 33
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Description: Letter from U.S. Postmaster General Nathan K. Hall to Elizabeth Thurston about the status of Samuel R. Thurston's mailDates: 1851 November 6Container: Box 1, Folder 34
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Description: Correspondence to Elizabeth Odell (formerly Elizabeth Thurston)Dates: 1887; undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 35
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Description: Essay by Elizabeth McLench (later Elizabeth Thurston)Dates: circa 1840Container: Box 1, Folder 36
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Description: Elizabeth Odell speech to the Linn County Sanitary Aid Society about the U.S. Civil WarDates: circa 1864Container: Box 1, Folder 37
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Description: Property deed for Samuel R. Thurston and Elizabeth Thurston's children, George Henry Thurston and Elizabeth Blandina ThurstonDates: 1867 January 25Container: Box 1, Folder 38
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American newspapers--Oregon--19th century
- Legislators--Oregon--19th century
Personal Names
- McLoughlin, John, 1784-1857
- Odell, Elizabeth, 1816-1890
- Thurston, Samuel Royal, 1816-1851
Corporate Names
- United States. Congress (31st, 1st session : 1849-1850)
Family Names
- Thurston family
Geographical Names
- Oregon Territory--Politics and government
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
- diaries
- speeches (documents)
