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Loran LaSells Stewart Papers, 1927-1982

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stewart, Loran LaSells, 1911-
Title
Loran LaSells Stewart Papers
Dates
1927-1982 (inclusive)
Quantity
16 cubic feet, (15 records cartons, 1 flat oversize box and 1 loose volume)
Collection Number
Mss 1748 (collection)
Summary
Papers of an Oregon businessman and leader in the lumber industry who served as a representative from Lane County in the Oregon State Legislature and in various state agencies from the 1950s to the 1980s. The papers cover the period 1927 to 1982 and include correspondence, minutes, reports, financial and legal records, diaries, newsclippings, photographs and government bills. The collection covers Stewart's industrial, political and personal activities and focus mostly on his business activities, and involvement in lumber related associations and politics.
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.

The collection is stored off-site. Researchers must contact the repository a minimum of one week in advance of use. Arrangements can be made by calling 503-306-5241 or sending email to libreference@ohs.org.

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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Biographical Note

Loran LaSells Stewart, known as "Stub," was born on January 10, 1911 in Lane County, Oregon. He was the first child of LaSells "Sell" Stewart and his wife, the daughter of Jasper Hills. Loran's sister Dorothy was born 1913 December 30 and his brother Faye was born 1915 December 11. The Stewart children grew up in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Loran Stewart attended Oregon State College from 1928 to 1932, majoring in Logging Engineering. He then worked for the U.S. Forest Service during the 30's and served in the Army during World War II. In 1946 Bohemia Lumber Company was incorporated and control passed from Stub to Loran, his brother Faye and Larry Chapman. However, Loran's business interests went beyond his partnership in Bohemia Lumber Company. He was also a partner in Abar TV Cable Company of Eugene (incorporated in 1955) and Western States Development Co. (incorporated in 1969). He served on the board of directors of the Western Timber Industry Publishing Co. and held stock in a wide variety of businesses.

Stewart's interests, however, were not confined to business and he was also actively involved in Oregon politics. From 1951 to 1955 he served as the representative from Lane County in the House of Representatives. During that time he became chairman of the Taxation Committee and served on the Forestry Committee. From 1955 to 1980 Stewart served on the Boards of a range of State agencies, including the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, Oregon State University and Oregon State Parks and Recreation Division. He also remained involved with the Republican Party and Oregonians for Responsible State Government.

Stewart was also a prominent member of several industry related associations including West Coast Lumberman's Association, the Western Wood Products Association, the Industrial Forestry Association, and the Associated Forest Industries of Oregon, which he helped form. He was also actively involved with the Boy Scout Movement and Eugene Chamber of Commerce, was involved in several fraternal organizations, and in 1977 became the First Citizen of Eugene.

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Content Description

Loran Stewart's papers cover the period 1927 to 1982 and include correspondence, minutes, reports, financial and legal records, diaries, newsclippings, photographs and government bills. The papers cover his industrial, political and personal activities.

The papers focus mostly on his business activities, and involvement in lumber related associations and politics. In particular, there are records on the wide variety of Stewart's business interests, notably Abar TV Cable Company, Air Oregon and Bohemia Lumber Company. The collection contains records dealing with his participation in many industry associations including the National Lumber Manufacturer's Association, the West Coast Lumberman's Association and International Woodworker's of America. The collection also covers his membership of the Oregon State Legislature, involvement in the Republican Party, and participation in Oregon State Government organizations.

The collection also contains personal papers of interest. These include personal correspondence, financial and legal records, speeches, college transcripts and army records. Subjects covered include family matters, politics, the lumber industry and his personal involvement in fraternal organizations and philanthropic activities.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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 of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Loran La Sells Stewart papers, 1927-1982, Mss 1748, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following series

  • Series 1: Personal Documents, 1928-1981.
  • Series 2: Legislative Papers, 1951-1981.
  • Series 3: Correspondence and subject files, 1927-1982.
  • Series 4: Scrapbooks, 1952-1974.

Acquisition Information

Loran La Sells Stewart gave his papers to the Oregon Historical Society in two installments, one in November 1985 (accession number 17485) and another in March 1987 (accession number 18074).

Processing Note

Processing of the collection was completed in January 1990, and the collection was cataloged in August 1990. Photographs that were a part of this collection were transferred to the Photos Department (Org. lot 400), materials originally in ring binders were transferred to folders and newspaper clippings were removed and placed in separate folders. The collection was received in good condition, but not in order. The papers were therefore arranged in series, and alphabetically or chronologically within series.

Related Materials

Photographs received with this collection are now part of the Oregon Historical Society's photographic collections as Org. Lot 400.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Contents List

Finding aid encoded by Geoffrey Wexler, March 2003
2003

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