William Hoffman papers, 1849-1913
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Hoffman, William, 1801-1885
- Title
- William Hoffman papers
- Dates
- 1849-1913 (inclusive)18491913
- Quantity
- 1 cubic feet, (1 document case; 1 flat box; 1 reel microfilm)
- Collection Number
- Mss 537
- Summary
- Papers of William Hoffman (1801-1885), a merchant and county official in Jacksonville, Oregon. Materials include account books, correspondence, a handwritten copy of a journal that Hoffman kept on his overland journey from Indiana to Oregon in 1853, and a scrapbook containing clippings relating to conflicts with Native tribes in Oregon and the organization of the Oregon Rangers.
- Repository
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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
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Collection is open for research.
- Additional Reference Guides
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William Hoffman's journal is described in "Overland passages: a guide to overland documents in the Oregon Historical Society," entry 107, and in "Platte River road narratives," entry 1391.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
William Hoffman was born in Baltimore and was an early pioneer of Jackson County, Oregon. He married Caroline Shafer in 1836; the Hoffmans came overland to Oregon in 1853 and eventually settled in Jacksonville, where Hoffman served as county auditor, county clerk, and notary public. After retiring from public life, he entered the mercantile business. One of his daughters, Julia Elizabeth Hoffman, became the wife of prominent Oregonian Cornelius Beekman, who served as the executor of William Hoffman's estate.
Content Description
This collection of William Hoffman's papers consists of account books, business correspondence, a scrapbook, and a handwritten copy of a journal kept by Hoffman during his overland journey. Typescript and microfilm copies of the journal are also included in the collection. The journal describes Hoffman's journey from Covington, Indiana, starting on April 13, 1853, to Jacksonville, Oregon, October 31, 1853, and includes descriptions of landscapes and trail conditions. Also in the journal is a biographical sketch of Hoffman and an entry, dated 1865, regarding business affairs in Jacksonville. The scrapbook in the collection, dating to approximately 1879, contains clippings of articles, probably from the Jacksonville Sentinel, relating to conflicts with Native tribes in Oregon and to the organization of the Oregon Rangers.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
William Hoffman's journal was published, in part, in "An Accurate Observer: William Hoffman's View of Idaho in 1853," by Arthur S. Taylor and William M. McKinney, Idaho Yesterdays, Volume 8, No. 2 (1964).
Preferred Citation
William Hoffman papers, Mss 537, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative Information
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series:
- Series 1: Account books, 1858-1903
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1849-1904
- Series 3: Journal, scrapbook, and general materials, 1853-1913
Acquisition Information
Origin of the collection is unknown; portions may have come to the Oregon Historical Society after the death of Caroline Hoffman in 1900.
Related Materials
William Hoffman express books are included in the Cornelius Beekman papers, Mss 916, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Series 1: Account books, 1858-1903
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Description: Account books (old volumes 2-3)Dates: 1875-1891; 1891-1903Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Account books (2 volumes, including old volume 4)Dates: 1875-1883; circa 1879-1884Container: Box 1, Folder 2
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Description: Account books (old volumes 6-7, including Wells, Fargo accounts)Dates: 1858-1859Container: Box 1, Folder 3
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Description: Account book (old volume 8)Dates: 1874-1886Container: Box 1, Folder 4
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Description: Account book, estate of William Hoffman (old volume 9)Dates: 1885-1899Container: Box 1, Folder 5
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Description: Account books (old volumes 10, 11, 12, 13)Dates: 1860-1880Container: Box 1, Folder 6
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Series 2: Correspondence, 1849-1904
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Description: CorrespondenceDates: 1849-1863Container: Box 1, Folder 7
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Description: Letters and business papersDates: 1865-1877Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Letters and business papersDates: 1879-1882Container: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: Letters and business papers, including estate materialsDates: 1883-1904Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Series 3: Journal, scrapbook, and general materials, 1853-1913
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Description: Jackson County warrants to Mrs. Kate HoffmanDates: 1910-1913Container: Box 1, Folder 11
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Description: Journal of William Hoffman, and biographical sketch (handwritten copy)Dates: 1853-1886Container: Box 1, Folder 12
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Description: Journal of William Hoffman (typescript copy)Dates: 1853 April 13-1853 July 31Container: Box 1, Folder 13
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Description: Journal of William Hoffman (microfilm)Dates: 1853Container: Reel 1
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Description: Scrapbook of clippingsDates: circa 1879Container: Box 2, Folder 1
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Frontier and pioneer life--Oregon--Jacksonville
- Indians of North America--Wars--1815-1875
- Overland journeys to the Pacific
- Pioneers--Oregon--Jacksonville
- Pioneers--Oregon--Jacksonville--Diaries
Personal Names
- Hoffman, William, 1801-1885
- Hoffman, William, 1801-1885--Correspondence
- Hoffman, William, 1801-1885--Diaries
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Militia
- West (U.S.)--Description and travel
Form or Genre Terms
- account books
- correspondence
- diaries
- scrapbooks
