Collection is open for research.
Materials found in collection; provenance is unknown.
Gray was born in Fairfield, NY, on September 8, 1810. In 1926, his father died and Gray became apprentice to a cabinetmaker in Springfield, NY. He moved to Utica, NY at age 21. Though there are conflicting accounts as to Gray's educational status, most agree that he was informally trained in medicine and theology. During his medical training, he contracted an incurable disease that left him with a weakened lung. In 1831, Gray joined the Presbyterian Church, in which his brother was a minister. Later, Gray was appointed to the Oregon Mission of the American Board by his friend, Rev. Chauncey Eddy. In 1835, Gray was offered a position with the Whitman party and left his fiancée in Utica to join the Whitmans and Spaldings who had already traveled to Liberty, Missouri, where they gathered supplies. According to accounts from letters, Gray was the motivator in the party and woke everyone up in the early morning to keep the team moving.
Gray, the Spaldings, and the Whitmans arrived at Fort Walla Walla on Oct 2, 1836. It was assumed by Spaldings and the Whitmans that Gray would conduct most of the manual labor, while the more educated men would conduct mission work. Gray, however, did not stay long at the two mission sites and returned east in the spring with a party of four Nez Perce. According to accounts, their party was captured by the Sioux; the guides were killed, and Gray was taken prisoner and removed to Canada. He was rescued by members of the Hudson Bay Company. Upon his return to New York, he married Mary Augusta Dix and they returned west, leading the Walker-Eels party in 1838.
Gray was involved both politically and financially in the establishment of Oregon. Gray remained at the Whitman's Waiilatpu Mission for a time and then moved to Salem, Oregon, where he secured manual employment by building Willamette University. Afterward, Gray moved to Klatsop Plains, just north of Astoria, and built the first Presbyterian Church west of the Rockies. Gray served as the secretary of the Champoeg meetings, the provisional government in pre-state of Oregon. After the establishment of an official government, he served as a member of the territorial legislature. Gray studied transportation engineering and was on the vanguard of river travel. In 1858, he pioneered the Fraiser River in British Columbia with model boats and sloops. From 1860-1861, Gray built a model boat, 91 feet long and 12 feet wide, and piloted it down the entire length of Okanogan River to the Columbia River, where his journey ended near Celilo Falls.
Gray and his family moved to the Dalles in 1864, where Gray build the steamer, Cesadilla. He spent his later life writing the "History of Oregon", and securing funds to erect a monument at Waiilatpu to honor Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. In addition, he was involved in the Pioneer and Historical Society of Oregon, where he served as secretary for a number of years.
His wife, Mary Augusta Dix Gray, died in 1881. Gray's death followed in 1889. William H. and Mary Augusta Dix Gray were buried at Klastop plains, and later their remains were moved to the memorial site of the Waiilitpu mission.
This collection contains correspondence, writings, and manuscripts concerning William H. Gray. Gray's writings reveal some of the political, religious, and social climates during the mid-1800s. Also included are clippings and writings on Gray which were written after his death. The writings and correspondence illuminate "pioneer life" and the resulting attitudes after settlement in the Washington and Oregon Territories.
This series contains William H. Gray's correspondence and one folder of correspondence belonging to his wife, Mary Augusta Dix Gray. The series is divided into outgoing and incoming mail, and arranged by author name. The original processing inventory, which details the writers and descriptions of each letter, can be found in the Miscellaneous series.
This series contains information, plans, and correspondence concerning the creation of the Whitman Monument at Waiilatpu. Gray was active in persuing the construction of such a statue to honor the Whitmans. The plan was completed in 1887 and an agreement was signed between the Whitman Memorial Association and the Niles Vinson Marble Works of Walla Walla. It was completed in 1917.
The Oregon Pioneer and Historical Society was founded in circa 1872, in an effort to record and preserve Oregon history of the late 1800s. W.H. Gray served as secretary to the Pioneer and Historical Society during the 1870s. Included in this series are the Society's records, correspondence, minutes, annual reports, and addresses. Several financial records and library lists are also included.
This series contains writings by W. H. Gray. Gray's manuscript of his published book, History of Oregon, is included; original order is maintained. Gray also wrote on a variety of other subjects including religious, political, and social commentaries. He was particularly concerned in differentiating between Catholic and Protestant religious activities and his writings reflect his adamant distrust of Catholic teachings. Gray wrote a number of well-organized reviews of books and speeches. Also included are Gray's speeches and lectures, and prolific letters to the editor which appeared in a number of local papers.
This series contains miscellaneous clippings, photographs, and artifacts associated with W.H. Gray and the Gray family. Especially salient are Gray's original church recommendation, photographs of the Grays, and information concerning the exhumation of the Gray's bodies to Wailitpu monument. Also included is biographical information written by Myron Eells and W.D. Lyman.