View XML QR Code

Oral history interview with Omar C. Palmer, 1982 December 6

Overview of the Collection

Interviewee
Palmer, Omar C. (Omar Clyde), 1908-2003
Title
Oral history interview with Omar C. Palmer
Dates
1982 December 6
Quantity
.1 cubic feet, (1 audiocassette (54 min., 30 sec.))
Collection Number
SR 70
Summary
Oral history interview with Omar C. Palmer conducted by Terence O'Donnell on December 6, 1982, as part of research for O'Donnell's book "An Arrow in the Earth: General Joel Palmer and the Indians of Oregon." Omar C. Palmer was a descendant of Joel Palmer, superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory from 1853 to 1856.
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

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Digitization funded by the James F. Miller Endowment.
Return to Top

Biographical Note

Omar Clyde "Slug" Palmer was born in St. John, Washington, in 1908. He was a descendant of Joel Palmer, superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory from 1853 to 1856. In 1934, he and Constantine "Connie" L. Baker were married; they later had one child. He served on the Oregon Fish Commission. He died in 2003.

Return to Top

Content Description

This oral history interview with Omar C. Palmer was conducted by Terence O'Donnell on December 6, 1982. The interview was conducted as research for O'Donnell's book "An Arrow in the Earth: General Joel Palmer and the Indians of Oregon."

In this interview, Palmer discusses his ancestor Joel Palmer, who served as superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Oregon Territory from 1853 to 1856. He reads from family documents, letters, and newspaper articles regarding Joel Palmer's life and career and talks about treaties with Native Americans that Joel Palmer helped to negotiate. He discusses the Native American reservation system, and Joel Palmer's role in its formation. He talks about Palmer family history, particularly the overland journey of Joel Palmer to Oregon on the Barlow Road in 1847. He also briefly discusses his own early life in eastern Washington and southern Idaho.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

Oral history interview with Omar C. Palmer, by Terence O'Donnell, SR 70, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Papers of Joel Palmer, Mss 114, are held by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library and are viewable online at https://digitalcollections.ohs.org/us-ohy-mss-114.

Bibliography

This interview was conducted as research for the book "An arrow in the earth: General Joel Palmer and the Indians of Oregon," written by Terence O'Donnell and published by Oregon Historical Society Press, Portland, Oregon, 1991.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Interview session 1
    Dates: 1982 December 6
    Container: Cassette 1

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Indian agents--Oregon
  • Indians of North America--Oregon--Treaties
  • Overland journeys to the Pacific

Personal Names

  • Palmer, Joel, 1810-1881
  • Palmer, Omar C. (Omar Clyde), 1908-2003

Corporate Names

  • United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Oregon Superintendency

Form or Genre Terms

  • interviews

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • O'Donnell, Terence, 1924-2001 (interviewer)
Loading...
Loading...