ohy_mss534.xml Guide to the Frank Williamson Benson papers Benson (Frank Williamson) papers Geoffrey B. Wexler Oregon Historical Society Research Library 2006; revised 2023
1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 Business Number: 5033065204 Business Number: 5033065240 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-11-30. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2023-11-30 Minor revisions to conform to current standard. Oregon Historical Society Research Library Frank Williamson Benson papers Benson, Frank W. (Frank Williamson), 1858-1911 Mss 534 0.45 cubic feet 1 document case 1906-1910 Correspondence of Frank W. Benson (1858-1911), who served as Oregon secretary of state and Oregon governor, relating mostly to political appointments and other local matters. English

Collection is open for research.

Gift of Mrs. Milton B. Steiner, 1965.

Correspondence in the collection is arranged chronologically, with undated letters and other materials last.

Born in San Jose, California, in 1858, Frank W. Benson attended Portland Academy but returned to San Jose to attend the College of the Pacific. Graduating with a master of arts degree in 1882, he moved to Roseburg, Oregon, where he taught school and served as the superintendent of schools for Douglas County. He then held various public offices and served as president of the State Normal School at Drain. In 1896, he was elected as Oregon secretary of state, and in 1909, he acceded to the governorship when Governor George E. Chamberlain took a seat in the U.S. Senate. Resigning in 1910 due to ill health, Benson was re-elected secretary of state, but died in 1911 before the completion of his term. He was married in 1883 to Harriet Ruth Benjamin, and the couple had two sons.

Source: "Dictionary of Oregon History," edited by Howard McKinley Corning (Portland: Binford and Morts, [c. 1956]).

Frank Williamson Benson papers, Mss 534, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Papers of Frank W. Benson consist primarily of correspondence, largely relating to local political appointments and other routine matters. People and subjects represented include Henry Landin Benson, George Earle Chamberlain, Dudley Evans, William David Fenton, Binger Hermann, Francis Anthony Seufert, the Coos Bay Townsite Company, the Crawford Point Land Company, Marshfield, Oregon (now Coos Bay), public lands in Oregon, the Republican Party in Oregon, and Umpqua River development. The collection also contains a small quantity of other material, largely bills, receipts, and ephemera.

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.

 Benson, Frank W. (Frank Williamson), 1858-1911--Correspondence Republican Party (Or.) Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950 Umpqua River (Or.) Governors--Oregon--Correspondence Public lands--Oregon--20th century Secretaries of State (State governments)--Oregon--Correspondence Oregon Politics and Politicians correspondence Correspondence 1906-1907 January 1 1 Correspondence 1907 February 1-15 1 2 Correspondence 1907 February 16-28 1 3 Correspondence 1907 March 1 4 Correspondence 1907 April-May 1 5 Correspondence 1907 June-August 1 6 Correspondence 1907 September-October 1 7 Correspondence 1907 November-December 1 8 Correspondence 1908 January-February 1 9 Correspondence 1908 March-April 1 10 Correspondence 1908 June-August 1 11 Correspondence 1908 September-October 1 12 Correspondence 1908 November-December 1 13 Correspondence 1909 January-February 1 14 Correspondence 1909 March-June 1 15 Correspondence 1909 August-December 1 16 Correspondence 1910 January-April 1 17 Correspondence undated 1 18 Bills, receipts, and ephemera 1907-1908 undated 1 19