Lulu Donnell Brown Crandall (1854-1931) was the daughter of a pioneer homesteader and merchant of The Dalles, Oregon. In the 1890s she developed an interest in local and Northwest history, apparently stimulated by a desire to prove that the youthful Northwest did have a history and traditions. From that time until her death, she collected information about Northwest history, especially the history of the Columbia Gorge area. Her interests were often anecdotal and filio-pietistic and her research depended heavily on uncertain reminiscences and memories, all of which were common among local historians active in her time. She was also involved in the organization of historical societies, in the preservation of historic buildings and in the collection of historical materials. Her correspondence indicates an acquaintance with many of the figures of the first generation of professional northwest historians, as well as the local amateurs with whom she shared most of her activities.
Lulu Crandall's papers consist of the correspondence, notes, drafts, transcripts and collected materials which she used in her various local history projects. A large portion of these materials are newspaper clippings, on which she often relied for information. Additionally there are many stories authored by Mrs. Crandall. Photographs of sites and structures and copies of documents also appear among Mrs. Crandall's papers. Although scant, there is some correspondence with persons who were prominent in the Northwest in the 19th century, such as Louis Scholl, Joseph M. Cataldo and Charlotte Haller McKee, and historians of Mrs. Crandall's generation such as T.C. Elliott, Frank Gill, Edmond Meany and William Lyman.
Lulu D. Crandall's papers are arranged in a subject-based system which places the various materials she collected under sixteen general headings and several sub-headings. These subject headings are ordered alphabetically. Each heading may consist of one or two folders. Typewritten transcripts of most items were prepared in the 1940s and have been retained adjacent to the original items.
This collection is open for research use.
[Item Description]. Cage 249, Lulu Donnell Crandall Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The papers of Lulu D. Crandall of The Dalles, Oregon, were collected by the Historical Records Project of the Works Progress Administration about 1935 and transfered to Washington State University a few years later.
For a more complete biography of Lulu Crandall, see
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.
Newspaper stories and notes relative to early farms and orchards in Oregon; also several items relative to the first flouring mills in Oregon
Newspaper stories, notes, and correspondence relative to the life of Frederick H. Balch, author of the novel Bridge of the Gods; to the placing of a memorial at his grave; and a biographic sketch written by his sister, Gertrude Engles
Correspondence and notes of Russell Bankson of Spokane, a nephew of Lulu Crandall, relative to local history
Personal papers including memberships in Oregon Historical Society (1901), National Geographic Society (1916), a portrait (ca. 1920), two printed letters relative to trip to California (ca. 1905), and letter from the D.A.R. (1921).
Story written in several installments for The Dalles Chronicle. Includes Lulu Crandall's reminiscences of The Dalles in the 1860s and 1870s and several articles on the history of the temperance movement in The Dalles
Correspondence, notes, photographs, and newspaper stories relative to information about Fort Dalles, especially its founding and the effort to preserve the remaining structure
Correspondence, notes, and newspaper stories relative to Louis Scholl, architect for the buildings at Fort Dalles; included are several installments of Scholl's reminiscences and several items of correspondence with Scholl
Notes and newspaper stories concerned with Thomas Jordan, Commandant of Fort Dalles and later a general officer in the Confederate Army. Many of the stories are copies of Jordan's Oregon letters
Correspondence, notes, and newspaper stories about Major Haller, both at Fort Dalles and in his later life in Washington; also several items of correspondence with Charlotte Haller McKee
Newspaper and journal articles about a number of historical topics outside the Northwest, such as the American Revolution, Louisiana Purchase, John Brown, and history of various states
Newspaper stories and notes which reproduce parts of Fremont's journals
Notes and transcripts of articles about William (Buffalo Bill) Cody and his father
Several newspaper stories relative to the Hudson's Bay Company, especially Fort Vancouver and John McLoughlin. Also reminiscences of settlers from The Dalles who worked at the McLoughlin flour mill at Oregon City
Newspaper stories about Indians, especially in early years of white contact; copies of Indian treaties
Newspaper stories and notes about the Lewis and Clark expedition, about the appearance of new Lewis and Clark manuscript materials and about the centenary commemoration
Newspaper stories and notes relative to the Methodist mission at The Dalles in the 1830s and 1840s. Included are copies of several letters of Jason, Daniel and Annamaria Lee, extracts of Lee's account of the mission, materials relative to placement of a marker at Pulpit Rock and material relative to various persons connected with the mission, such as Rev. John Flinn and Rev. James Gerrish
Copy of an item purported to be a portion of the journal of Henry Bridgeman Brewer, in which he describes the Dalles Mission, Mt. Adams, hot springs in the Cascade mountains, and Mt. St. Helens in eruption. Transcribed by Mrs. Crandall from a Sunday school book where it was presented as the later part of Brewer's journal
Newspaper stories and notes relating to the Spalding mission and the Spalding family, including portraits of Henry Hart Spalding
Correspondence, newspaper stories, and notes relative to Catholic missions in the Willamette Valley, at The Dalles and in north Idaho. Includes a letter of Joseph M. Cataldo (1903) in which he discusses the history of the Sacred Heart Mission at Cataldo, Idaho
Correspondence and notes related to the history of the first denominational congregation at The Dalles. Items include reminiscences of Rev. John Tenny, his correspondence with Mrs. Crandall and Mrs. Crandall's mother, Mrs. Camilla Donnell. Transcripts only.
Newspaper stories and notes relative to several Oregon history subjects: first legislature, first capitol, first prison and prominent figures in the second third of the 19th century, such as David Douglas and Joe Meek
Correspondence, notes, drafts of reminiscences, newspaper stories containing reminiscences, and biographic sketches. Persons involved, most of whom were from The Dalles area, include Justin Chenowith, Jonathan Jackson, Judge John Fulton, Carson Masiker, and Sam Houston Borland
Newspaper stories of women in 19th century Northwest, including Rosaria Romero Brune, Mrs. Carter, Sacajewea, Emily Olney Martin, Elizabeth Laughlin Lord, Frances E. Willard, Martha Spalding Wigle, Annamaria Pittman Lee and others
Correspondence, notes, drafts of speeches, and newspaper stories relative to the history of The Dalles, including items on the origins of place names, on public schools, and on local events, such as a bull-fight held in the 1850s
Correspondence, notes, newspaper stories, and drafts of speeches relative to the history of Wasco County, Oregon, including the history of the court house, of county boundaries, and of some local areas outside the city of The Dalles
Correspondence, notes, newspaper stories, and drafts principally about the origin of the name of Celilo Falls. Correspondents include several persons familiar with the area in the 1850s and historian William D. Lyman
Prints of photographs of The Dalles and surrounding region. Included are some photos of Fort Dalles buildings, of the city, of water front facilities, of a flood on the Columbia River, and of a men's club.
Newspaper stories, notes, drafts, and ephemeral materials about riverboat travel on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Included is a pencil copy of a pilot's guide to landings from Celilo to Lewiston, Idaho; material relative to early steamboats and steamboaters, photographs, and material related to the opening of the Dalles-Celilo Locks
Draft of an article by Frank Gill, "Steamboats on the Columbia" (which later appeared in Oregon Historical Quarterly, 38 (1937) 1-43, 300-322, 398-410; 39 (1938) 5064, co-authored by Dorothy Johansen)
Correspondence, notes and newspaper stories relative to old wagon roads and trails in The Dalles region
Correspondence, notes, and drafts relative to early railroads in the Columbia River valley. Most items are related to an article by Frank Gill,
A series of articles written by Mrs. Crandall about the Yakima War, in which she reproduces accounts of Ulysses Grant and Phillip Sheridan, as well as several local accounts including Lawrence Coe's of the battle of Bradford's Store, Mrs. S. E. Joslyn's of her escape from the battle, and George Hunter's recollections of the volunteer campaign and the capture of Peo-Peo-Mox-Mox
Correspondence, note, and drafts used to compile the biographies of the United States Regular Army soldiers involved in the Yakima War at Fort Dalles (which appeared in Mrs. Crandall's article