Since its founding in 1898, the Oregon Historical Society has collected ephemera of all kinds, most of it documenting the history of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. In the mid-20th century, librarians at the Society began organizing these materials into what became known as “Topical Collections.” One such collection, the Politics Collection, collated various items related to political activity in Oregon. The collection is continually expanding as materials are added.
The collection covers national, state, and local politics, though most of the content originates from Oregon and the Portland metro area. Materials include but are not limited to brochures, flyers, programs, invitations, campaign stickers, election tickets, voter pamphlets, sample ballots, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and general ephemera. The majority of the collection relates to campaigns at all levels of government and local political measures. A significant portion of material is also dedicated to political groups and causes that are not directly linked to any specific campaign or individual.
The collection is arranged in three series:
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 the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.
Politics Collection, Mss 1513, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
The Oregon Historical Society assembled the collection from a variety of sources.
Materials are added to the collection from time to time
The collection was reorganized in July of 2011
This 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.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Materials missing? Only one item in folder.
Missing?
(Missing?)
Includes Playboy interview, Aug. 1971
Includes "Come to the Renaissance Faire," and McGovern public plan for peace - slide show, footnotes, and background information.
Oregon committee to re-elect President Ford in 1976. Papers. Files, campaign literature and information about the candidates. Includes material concerning Victor Atiyeh and Jimmy Carter.
Lists the names of members for all "State Officers, State Boards, Commissions, Schools and Colleges, State Insitutions, Circuit Judges, District Attorneys, and County Officers," as well as Oregon's United States Senators and Representatives as of July 1, 1900.
Includes program for swearing-in of Kate Brown, 2015.
Printed ephemera and miscellaneous manuscript materials relating to senatorial primaries, campaigns, candidates, and elections in Oregon.
See also Belknap Imprints for printed matter before 1870.
Includes note from Jeff Merkley, 20015.
Includes menus from the Senate Restaurant signed by Richard L. Neuberger, 1958; pass to the Senate gallery, signed by Neuberger; and Neuberger's business card.
Printed ephemera and miscellaneous manuscript materials relating to Oregon (U.S.) congressional primaries, campaigns, candidates and elections.
See also Belknap Imprints for materials prior to 1871.
Copy of speech autographed by Neuberger 1955 August 12.
Printed ephemera and miscellaneous manuscript materials relating to state campaigns, candidates and issues. See also Mss 1226: Provision and territorial papers of Oregon, and Mss 1235: Oregon, state of - misc.
Seymour wrote “Capitol Picture” for Salem
Includes campaign card for O. P. Coshow, running for reelection to the Oregon Supreme Court, circa 1930.
Printed ephemera and miscellaneous manuscript materials relating to local campaigns, candidates, and issues. See also: Mss 1285: Oregon, Counties - Misc., and Mss 1286: Portland, City of - Misc.
Two posters from Terry Schrunk's 1952 campaign to be re-elected as Multnomah County Sheriff.
John W. Hobbs, born in Indiana in 1856; came to Oregon in 1882; served as County Clerk of Yamhill County and represented Yamhill County in state legislature.
Contains records of Yamhill County Republican Central Committee, 1892-1900; newsclippings concerning Yamhill County Republican politics, 1888-1909; news clippings about Oregon and national politics, ca. 1900-1912, and clippings on miscellaneous subjects, compiled by J. W. Hobbs.
Miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials concerning general and specific issues, e.g., birth control, crime and justice, drugs, environment and ecology, fluoridation, medical care, nerve gas controversy, old age, religion in government, roads (including Good Roads associations), schools (including taxes, school controversy bill, sex education, temperance, prohibitions, vaccination and innoculation, welfare, etc. Also materials concerning general and specific economic issues, including agriculture, consumerism, mining (bimetalism, free silver), taxation, etc. See other categories in this collection for specific groups and individuals concerned with these and other issues.
Includes Grange power bill, 1936, Oregon. Refurnishing hydroelectric energy via transmission from Bonneville Dam. 13 pp. mimeograph; “Reasons why Grange power bill 1936 should not pass.” by B. T. McBain. 6 pp. mimeograph; General election, November 3, 1936. Personal commentary and memoranda against passage of proposed Grange Power Bill. 3 pp. mimeograph.
Miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials concerning civil rights organizations and issues, including minority, ethnic and religious groups, slavery, voting rights, etc. Includes material both pro and con. See also Issues - Health, Education and Welfare; Radical Groups; Women and other categories in this collection. See also Mss 1505: Labor - Misc. and Mss 1521 - Ethnology - Misc.
Includes material concerning ballot measure 9, an act to regulate nuclear power plant construction approval, 1976. Information supporting and opposing the measure.
Includes – “Washington’s Birthday in England – I cannot tell a
Lie, mother”; “Bomb explodes in Lloyd George home in London”, cartoon &
news story on suffragette activities in Great Britain from
See also specific candidates in Series A and B in this collection, other political groups in definite political organizations (e.g. Democratic and Republican parties), and Ms 1522: Manners and Customs, Mss 1511: Associations for additional temperance materials.
See also other collections held by the Oregon Historical Society relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenered issues. Most of these are designated with the prefix "Mss 2988."
Miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials mostly concerning the Vietnam War, but also including materials, pro and con, on military preparedness, and peace movements during and between wars. See also other relative categories in this collection.
Miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials concerning pressure groups and minor political parties or other organizations commonly considered at a given time to be conservative or ultra conservative or patriotic, immoderate, pro status quo, anti progressive movements, right of center, etc., e.g., American Party, John Birch Society, Ku Klux Klan, Nazi Party, anti-communist, anti-semitic, etc.
Also includes miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials concerning pressure groups and minor political parties or other organizations commonly considered at a given time to be liberal, immoderate, anti-establishment, left of center, etc.; e.g., Communism and Socialism, Populist and Progressive movements and parties, Technocracy, Students for a Democratic Society. Includes misc. issues such as movements for the Direct Primary, Initiative and Referendum, world government, etc. See also Civil Rights groups; Women; Peace and Conflict; other categories in this collection, especially in Series C.
A local Portland manifestation of the "Occuply Wall Street" activism that began in New York City in the fall of 2011. Events included marches through the city and camping out on Chapman and Lownsdale Squares.
Miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials concerning activities of Democratic Party, including conventions and primaries, campaigns and elections, social and political affairs, party platforms, tickets and miscellaneous material by and about party leaders (e.g., Presidents, elected government officials, local party members, etc.). See also Series A and B.
Miscellaneous manuscript and printed materials concerning activities of the Republican party, including conventions and primaries, campaigns and elections, social and political affairs, party platforms, tickets and miscellaneous materials by and about party leaders (e.g. Presidents, elected government officials, local party members, etc.). See also Series A and B.
Missing?
Chicago, miscellaneous records and ephemera of E. L. Meyers, secretary of Oregon delegation.
Governor's statement on convention reforms, and reports by various committees and agencies.
Pamphlets, tally sheets, committee reports, and delegate summary sheets.