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Portland collection., 1849-1998

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Title
Portland collection.
Dates
1849-1998 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.75 cubic feet (3 document cases, 1 oversize folder, 1 microfilm reel )
Collection Number
Mss 1286
Summary
Collection assembled by the Oregon Historical Society containing documents and ephemera relating to the history of Portland, Oregon. Includes view booklets, promotional brochures, as well as published city government documents and city planning information and other documents issued to Portland residents. Also includes a scrapbook of clippings relating to the vice investigations of 1956 and data on the Bull Run water system in 1926.
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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Historical Note

Portland, Oregon, began as a clearing on the west bank of the Willamette River in 1844. The original land claim was filed by William Overton and Asa Lovejoy, but Overton sold his share to Francis W. Pettygrove of Portland, Maine, who, after winning a coin toss with Lovejoy, gave the town site the name of his native city. The new city was incorporated in 1851 and prospered because of its advantageous location near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, among other factors. Its growth was spurred by flourishing agriculture in the Willamette Valley, the California gold rush, the Indian wars of the 1850s, and gold discoveries in eastern Oregon and Idaho in the 1860s. By the Civil War, Portland was the principal metropolis of the Pacific Northwest with a population of around 3000. The arrival of the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads in 1883 and 1884 contributed to a new boom in prosperity, and in 1891 the city annexed the municipalities of Albina and East Portland on the east side of the Willamette. Residential growth was most dramatic in the eastern districts after 1900, and expansion was especially rapid after the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905. By 1910 Portland's population was over 207,000, and it continued its rapid growth up to the 1930s. Concern over the city's water supply led to the development of the Bull Run Reserve, with a dam built at Bull Run Lake in 1915, and reservoirs established in Mt. Tabor and Washington parks. Another boom was precipitated by World War II, which greatly stimulated shipbuilding and related industries. Postwar growth was most dramatic in outlying suburbs, especially in Washington County to the west. But along with "big city" status came accompanying ills, such as the vice scandal which surfaced in 1956 and involved organized crime and official corruption. The 1960s brought a heightened interest in urban planning, and considerable effort was made to revitalize the downtown area and to improve mass transit.

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Content Description

The Portland collection was assembled by the Oregon Historical Society from a variety of sources. It pertains to government and history of the city of Portland, Oregon, including: the charter revision of 1927; city hall account sheet for 1896; report of the city planning commission of 1927; a report and listing of gambling houses and saloons, undated; appointments and ordinances; and the chairman's report of Public Docks Commission, 1929 December 1. Also included are illustrated view books from the late 19th and early 20th centuries; a copy of The greater Portland plan by Edward H. Bennett and Marshall N. Dana; specifications for street paving and lighting fixtures; a report on the municipal water system, 1922, by Lawrence S. Kaiser; documents relating to water shortages and the Bull Run water supply in 1926; clippings relating to the vice investigations of 1956; a scrapbook; pamphlets; and ephemera.

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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 before any publication use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Portland collection, Mss 1286, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series A: Illustrated view books, 1883-1918

Series B: Promotional brochures and pamphlets, 1920-1998

Series C: City records, 1849-1988

Series D: City planning materials, 1912-1998

Series E: General materials, 1867-1988

Acquisition Information

The collection was assembled by the Oregon Historical Society from a variety of sources, including Library Accessions 19433, 19230, and 19881.

Separated Materials

A few items from the collection were transferred to the City of Portland Archives in 2009 and are indicated by the presence of a removal notice in the appropriate folder.

Related Materials

Promotional brochures and other pamphlets relating to the city of Portland can be found in the Pacific Northwest Promotional Brochures, Mss 6000, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Series A: Illustrated view books, 1883-1918

  • B: Promotional brochures and pamphlets, 1920-1998

  • Series C: City Records, 1849-1988

    • Description: Bonds--Harbor facilities
      Dates: 1944
      Container: Box/Folder 2/10
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Bonds--City of Portland, $500 gold coin
      Dates: 1886
      Container: Box/Folder 2/11
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Bonds--Municipal grain elevator
      Dates: 1917
      Container: Box/Folder 2/12
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Bull Run Reservoir--Water shortage materials

      Charts, diagrams, clippings, notebook and correspondence relating to drought in Portland, August 1926, and subsequent shortage in water supply, Bull Run Reservoir.

      Dates: 1926
      Container: Box/Folder 2/13
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Pamphlet on Bull Run water by Ralph C. Clyde
      Dates: 1941
      Container: Box/Folder 2/14
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Bureau of Environmental Services, brochures on mid-county sewer project
      Dates: 1987
      Container: Box/Folder 2/15
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Charter revision proposal

      Proposed amended, charter, special municipal election, June 28, 1927; proposed charter for abolishing commission form of government, 1930; charter amendments and recommendations, 1930.

      Dates: 1927-1930
      Container: Box/Folder 2/16
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: City government--lists of people, dates, meetings
      Dates: circa 1911-1913
      Container: Box/Folder 2/17
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: City license to the Evening Journal
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Box/Folder 2/18
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Department of Public Works--Construction standards for streets and related equipment

      Includes "Standard method of laying bricks and blocks on street intersections," 1923 May 1, illustrated.

      Dates: 1914-1925
      Container: Box/Folder 2/19
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Documents--Early ordinances, appointments

      Includes list of voters in Portland, probably dating from the early 1850s; and documents from the 1850s relating to maintenance of the levee.

      Dates: 1850-1884
      Container: Box/Folder 2/20
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Documents relating to city labor and schools (photostatic copies)

      Articles of agreement, 1849, Portland school and meeting house, between William Warren, William M. King and Stephen Coffin; agreement for removal of bodies from city cemetery by William James, dated November 16, 1857; contract for convict labor, June, 1860.

      Dates: 1849-1860
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize Folder/Items 4-8
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Harbormaster regulations
      Dates: 1908
      Container: Box/Folder 2/21
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Mill Ends Park--Letter from Mayor Terry Schrunk to Dick Fagen
      Dates: 1968
      Container: Box/Folder 2/22
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Financial statement
      Dates: 1930
      Container: Box/Folder 2/23
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: The municipal water system of Portland, Or.: historical, descriptive, statistical (typescript, carbon, 55 pages), by Lawrence C. Kaiser
      Dates: 1922
      Container: Box/Folder 2/24
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Organizations--Political and local groups

      • Contains:
      • Poll book, polling place 38, 1914 December 8 (photocopy)
      • Notice of appointment as clerk, 1903 May 13
      • Printed copy of Ordinance No. 51743, requiring removal of weeds and debris, 1927 March 24
      • Printed copy of Resolution No. 22003, commending the 41st Division, Ninth Army Corps, 1941 July 17
      • Permit from office of City Engineer, 1908 November 11
      • Notice of Public Involvement Opportunity relating to scenic views ans sites inventory, 1987 September

      Dates: 1907-1987
      Container: Box/Folder 2/25
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Portland Fire Department--Widow's pensions
      Dates: 1919
      Container: Box/Folder 2/26
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Portland-Guadalajara sister city history
      Dates: 1983-1992
      Container: Box/Folder 2/27
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988
    • Description: Urban services of the city of Portland
      Dates: circa 1987
      Container: Box/Folder 2/28
      Location: Series C: City Records, 1849-1988

  • D: City planning materials, 1912-1998

  • Series E: General materials, 1867-1988

    • Description: Coming of the white man

      "Coming of the white Man," a supplement to the Oregon Journal, September 3, 1907. Photographs and text on Portland businesses, manufacturing opportunities, recreational facilities, etc. No pagination.

      Dates: 1907
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize Folder/Item 10
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Council Crest broadsides
      Dates: 1902
      Container: Oversize:folder /Items 1-2
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Ephemera, general
      Dates: 1883-1988
      Container: Box/Folder 3/10
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Panorama view of Portland Oregon, postcard
      Dates: circa 1910
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize folder / Item 12
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Multnomah County civilian defense, organizational chart
      Dates: circa 1941
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize folder/Item 11
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Multnomah county vice crimes (clippings)

      Clippings regarding corruption and vice in Multnomah County, April 19-Nov. 18, 1956. Compiled by Teamsters, Portland. 2 folders

      Dates: 1956
      Container: Box/Folder 3/11-12
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Pioneer Courthouse dedication ceremony
      Dates: 1973 May 1
      Container: Box/Folder 3/13
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Property used for immoral purposes

      Rominger, H. V. Committee report to the Ministerial Association of Portland on ownership of property in Portland devoted to immoral purposes. [Committee members are H. V. Rominger and H. P. Wallace, prepared ca. 1891-93]. Includes list of property owners. 12 pp. Holograph.

      Dates: circa 1893
      Container: Box/Folder 3/14
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Scrapbook

      Scrapbook containing clippings regarding Portland's history, including articles about bridges, Bull Run, Columbia River Scenic Highway, and many others.

      Dates: 1945-1965
      Container: Box/Folder Oversize folder/Item 3
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: Theodore Roosevelt statue unveiling
      Dates: 1922
      Container: Box/Folder 3/15
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988
    • Description: The great northwest

      The Great Northwest; proceedings of a meeting of the people of the City of Portland, Or. on the subject of the Pacific Rail Roads and Oregon Rail Roads: with the report and resolutions adopted Dec. 18, 1867. A. G. Wailing & Co. Printers, 1867. 17 pp. 14 x 22. 5 cm. [Belknap Imprint 1044].

      Dates: 1867
      Container: Box/Folder Microfilm
      Location: Series E: General materials, 1867-1988

Collection processed by Trudy Williams and Geoffrey Wexler, 2006
2006

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