The Lewis & Rachel Thayer Collection documents two generations of the Rowe/Crabb/Thayer family. The first part of the collection documents Minnie Rowe. Minnie was born in England in 1870 to Mary and Joseph Rowe, who moved to Nebraska in 1872 with Joseph’s two brothers and their families. She graduated from high school in 1886 and taught grade school, eventually becoming the assistant principal of a high school. In 1901 she married Charles Ellsworth Crabb. They lived in Missouri for two years, where they had two children, Rachel and Paul, the former who grew up to marry Lewis Thayer in 1928. Around 1905 moved to New Mexico, where their youngest daughter, Frances, was born. They lived in New Mexico for two or three years, and in Tuttle, Oklahoma for ten years, and in 1918 moved to Deer Lodge, Montana to live on the Willard-Crabb Farms, Co. ranch. In 1925, Charles and Minnie left Montana and moved to Los Gatos, California, where Minnie died in a car accident in 1940. Throughout her life, Minnie was an avid supporter of temperance, and an active member of the Women Christian’s Temperance Union. She wrote a series of children’s books, the Mrs. Gray Bunny books, which taught young children about the importance of good health and the dangers of alcohol. She also wrote a number of short stories, including a semiautobiographical series about Little Nebraska Annie, a girl living in Nebraska in the late 1800s, many poems, and a play. She kept a journal sporadically from the 1890s until 1918, and continued to write fiction and autobiographical stories until her death. In 1940, she was killed by a drunk driver. Her husband, Charles Crabb, continued to live in Los Gatos until he moved in with Frances in 1960, and died in 1965.
The second generation documented in the collection is Minnie's daughter Rachel and her husband Lewis A. Thayer. Rachel was born in Joplin, Missouri on August 15, 1902. She earned a BA at University of Montana and an MA from Stanford University. In 1929 she met and married Lewis A. Thayer at Stanford. Lewis was born on December 25, 1903 in Mercur, Utah. Lewis earned BA and MA degrees in science at Washington State University before enrolling at Stanford to study for a Ph.D. After their marriage, the Thayers lived in Monterey, California, Sacramento, California, and Shreveport, Louisiana, where Lewis worked at the Hopkins Marine Station, Sacramento State University, and Centenary College. In 1946, Lewis accepted a position teaching science at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Rachel also found employment at Lewis & Clark as a librarian. Both worked at Lewis & Clark for over thirty years. The Thayers had for sons: David, Philip, Doug, and Steve. Lewis died in 1993, and Rachel died in 2000.
Includes diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, artifacts, and publications, and documents.
Arranged in a single series of boxes grouped by the family member responsible for creating the material.
This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.
Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special Collections.
The Lewis & Rachel Thayer Collection (OLPb133THA), Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.
Donated to Lewis & Clark College by the Thayer family.
Processed in 2012.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
A ledger book containing Minnie Crabb's journal during the time she was visiting England
A large account book containing Minnie Crabb's diary and other stories/writing selections, including "Southern Missouri Experiences" and "Reminiscences of Old England"
Book containing Minnie Crabb's diary between 1905-1911, in addition to several pages of poetry, written between 1918 and 1925
A one-page essay on tornadoes by Minnie Rowe
Story about hosting soldiers for Thanksgiving dinner
Mrs. Gray Bunny's Health Color Book, Mrs. Gray Bunny's Children, Gray Bunny Children Still Learning, Mrs. Gray Bunny's Birthday Greetings (typed, but not bound or ilustrated), copyright certificates of Gray Bunny books
13-page story
An alphabet poem in which each letter stands for something edible.
Ledger book containing a handwritten play, also including a typed copy
A story about schoolteachers
Book containing a holographic collection of short stories about a small girl living in Nebraska
Original "Teacher's First Grade Certificate," along with several photocopies
Photocopy of the original marriage certificate
Letter to Minnie Crabb from the hedquarters of the WCTU, mostly pertaining to the Mrs. Gray Bunny books
Letters to Charles Crabb from his children
Three newspaper clippings, with photocopies, about Charles and/or Minnie Crabb
A folded piece of construction paper containing a pressed dried flower and a small scrap of paper telling af Minnie Crabb's death by a drunk driver
Songbook of the Women's Christian Temperance Union
Two books of Lithographic prints, one of Southport, the other of "Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford, and Coventry"
Wall calendar from Crabb's Service Station, Los Gatos, CA
Souvenir booklet from the Stockham, NE Centennial
Several copies of Minnie Crabb's WCTU letterhead, and one for Willard-Crabb Farms Co.
Several pages of printed material on Llandudno, Wales, and one page on the Pavonia, a ship that sailed out of Liverpool
Scraps of paper containing information on family history, a newspaper article about the 1920 census
Biography of John Melville Crabb, Charles Crabb's father, Civil War veteran
The Children's Birthday Book, and the Floral Birthday Book
Diary kept by Charles Crabb when he was in his early teens
Small bound book with addresses
Letters among the children of Charles and Minnie Crabb after their father's death; the will of Charles Crabb; other letters pertaining to his estate
Receipts, bills, checks and bank statements belonging to Charles Crabb
A book, entitled,"'Sweetness and Light," with Rachel Crabb's name written in the cover
Invitation to the wedding of Lewis Thayer and Rachel Crabb
Historical and biographical information on Minnie Rowe Crabb collected from her own writings and other sources. Includes DVD copy of collected material, printed copy, and an index to family photos (found on the DVD and in the collection).
Green and pink album containing portraits of Minnie and Charles's relatives (mostly from the Crabb side of the family)
Black album containing images of the Crabbs' family, homes, and friends
John Melville Crabb: 1st Sergeant Civil War photo
Harriet, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, and Minnie Rowe
Bertha Allen and children (of unknown parentage), in England
Two pictures of the Allen family
Two copies of a portrait of Minnie Rowe Crabb, in her wedding dress
Two copies and the original photo of the Crabbs with their daughter Rachel
Pictures of the Crabb family from Magdalena, New Mexico (5 pictures)
Miscellaneous unmounted photos of the Crabb family
Photo of Eugenie Allen, photo of Bertha Allen (here called Margaret)
Photo of Bertha/Margaret Allen
Framed portraits of Minnie and Charles Crabb, Los Gatos
Framed portrait of Minnie Crabb
Miscellaneous mounted photos of the Crabb family
Two copies of an image of Charlotte Crabb, approximately 2-3 years old
Photo of Pete Rowe, photo of a house and car, photo of the Crabb family
Portrait of Rowe family, with notes on indentifying the members, prior to Minnie Rowe's marriage
Portraits of Charles and Minnie Crabb
Portrait of Minnie Crabb
Portrait of Paul Crabb at a desk
Box containing Civil War vetran's of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) encampment medals and ribbons. Includes 1903, Nat'l Encampment, San Francisco, Cal., round medal with twisted metal border and three ribbons; GAR San Francisco 1903, Mother-of-pearl canteen suspended from eagle pin; Souvenir, 37th National Encampment, San Francisco, August 1903, star in ring suspended from bear pin reading "Souvenir"; round medal with flag ribbon and photograph; Rectangular blue pin with border and two leaves; metal canteen with orange felt; GAR, 37th National Encampment, Aug 17-24, San Francisco, Cal., 1903, gold metal with eagle on top; Iron Brigade, 2nd Wis, 6th Wis, 7th Wis, Mich 24, Ind 19th, star hanging from a ribbon; GAR 23rd, red and blue ribbons hanging from gold pin; Souvenir, GAR, 30th National Encampment, St. Paul, Minn, Sep 1-4, 1896, gold star hanging from pin reading "Souvenir"; Thirtieth Annual Encampment, St. Paul, Minn, Sept 1-4, 1896. Grand Army of the Republic, round medallion w/eagle hanging from red, white, and blue ribbon; On the record of our years/Abra'm Lincoln's name appears/Grant and Logan and our tears, Illionois~Illinois, Official Souvenir, Chicago Encampment, GAR 1900, medal with embossed pictures on a star; 34th National Encampment, GAR, Chicago, ILL, Aug, 1900, round medal with red, white, and blue ribbons; National Encampment, Milwaukee Wis., red square of ribbon; Iron Brigade, St. Paul, Sept. 1896, tan ribbon; 5th Annual Encampment, GAR 2nd Division, Southwestern Minnesota, Morton, June [dates illegible], light green ribbon; Minnesota, yellow ribbon; Wisconsin, Chicago, 1900, yellow ribbon; Minnesota, yellow ribbon; tan ribbon with the story of the Iron Brigade; Seventh Annual Encampment, 2d Division, S.W. Minn, GAR Association, Redwood Falls, Min, June 16, 17, & 18th, light yellow ribbon.
Minnie Crabb's purse; wooden box with cord; Charles Crabb's rubber address stamp; roll of microfilm; box containing beaded mat, beaded headband, and a perfume bottle; recipe box belong to "Grandma Crabb"; two smoke- or ink-stained rectangles of red leather or linoleum
Miscellaneous documents, and publications collected by L. Thayer
Large collection of programs, fliers, and personal mementoes collected by L. Thayer from the State College of Washington and Pullman high school.
Copies of newsletters produced at the State College of Washington by students. L. Thayer was the Hornet newsletter purser.
Miscellaneous documents and publications collected by L. Thayer
Bryan Niel, botany thesis, images, and bibliography presented to L. Thayer.
Academic announcement calendar including class schedule for L. Thayer, and note by R. Thayer on his appointment at the Sacramento Junior College.
Miscellaneous documents and publications collected by L. Thayer
Copy of publication and research materials relating to L. Thayer paper published by Louisiana Academy of Sciences.
Collection of reports, scripts, speeches and miscellaneous documents from L. Thayer regarding his work at the Lewis and Clark College.
Correspondence, programs, clippings, and miscellaneous documents relating to L. Thayer and the Lewis and Clark overseas program.
Correspondence, committee information, and miscellaneous documents relating to L. Thayer and his work with Portland school district #1, and City Club of Portland.
Certificates of completion, and photographs relating to L. Thayer and the Civilian Defense.
Passports, personalized name plate, prescription information, vaccinations, credit and membership cards belonging to L. Thayer.
Service program, notecards, and documents collected from L. Thayer's memorial service by R. Thayer.
A collection of drawings and essays by Rachel Crabb Thayer from the University of Montana
Small portfolio containing early drawings by Rachel Crabb Thayer.
Programs, announcements, and miscellaneous documents collected and notated by R. Thayer from Lewis and Clark College and the Watzak Library.
Class syllabus for creative writing class at Portland Community College.
Handwritten and typed script copy of short story.
Handwritten notes and a typed script for the short story "Before the Covered Wagon Pt. 3" by R. Thayer.
Copies of news bulletin and original manuscripts by R. Thayer.
Information regarding the Thayer's involvement with the Oregon Historical Society and the Heritage Quilts Exhibition.
Titled "outline for writing" R. Thayer details the events in her life from 1902-1929 in timeline form.
Passports, personalized name plate, resume, vaccinations, credit and membership cards belonging to R. Thayer.
Service program, copy of obituary, guest book, and Sunday service program collected from R. Thayer's memorial Service.
Personal documents and information relating to R. and L. Thayer and their four children Steve, David, Phil, and Doug Thayer.
Rachel and Lewis Thayer diplomas from Leland Stanford University, State University of Montana, and State College of Washington.
Last will and testaments, and trust agreements for Rachel and Lewis Thayer.
Miscellaneous documents, programs, and information relating to organizations sponsored by Rachel and Lewis Thayer.
Invitations, cards, rosters, and miscellaneous documents relating to Thayer family events.
Programs, newsletters, and miscellaneous documents relating to the Thayer's association with the church. Includes report on church committee planning and mission of the church.
Bills, payments, and other personal account information.
Newspaper clippings and miscellaneous documents relating to Thayer travel events.
Miscellaneous newspaper clippings and papers collected by R. Thayer. Many include personal notes on events, people, and places.
Specifications and construction folio for the erection of a residence at 125 Albert St. Shreveport, Louisiana.
Contracts, mortgage papers, and receipts for their Portland, Oregon house. Includes Willamette View brochure depicting their house.
Includes Lewis Thayer, Recognition of Service Award, 1969; Lewis Thayer, diploma to Sigma XI, 1929; Rachel Thayer, teacher poster, 1925.
Books, journals, and articles containing essays by L. Thayer.
Box containing paper crafts, illustrations, art works, scrapbook, and other childhood mementos of L. Thayer.
Powell county high school, Dear Ridge, Montana, 1920 Yearbook.
State University of Montana 1924 yearbook.
Collection of notes and transcriptions of personal memories.
Miscellaneous personal notes on daily Thayer events, and thought on a variety of subjects.
Two photograph Christmas cards from the St. Johns family. One depicting Snake Rive, Geneva Bar, Oregon., and one South Baldy, Washington.
Collection of postcards collected by the Thayer's during their various travels.
Books are housed with Special Collections rare book collection and in the general library collections.
DVD containing transcripts of R. Thayer stories, notes, and diaries.
An account of an auto trip from Pullman, Washington to Pawnee City, Nebraska, in the summer of 1923. Written by Maude Thayer. On the trip with her were Lewis (age 19), Frances (age 18) and Mary (age 14). The trip was made in a Dodge touring car.
Thayer, Lewis Atkinson, "The Morphology of Certain Washington Ferns". Thesis (Master of Science). State College of Washington. 1926; “The Gametophytic Development of Certain Ferns: Polypodium Vulgare Var. and Pellaea Densa”, by F.L. Pickett and Lewis A. Thayer. (reprinted in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club)
"The League of Nations and the Greek Refugees". Thesis (Master of Arts). Stanford University.
Card from the Sheldon family; calling cards from Mrs. Lewis Marion Montgomery, Miss Mary Katherine Thayer, Mrs. Leabitt R. Cadwell, Carolyn May Spohn, Flora Simmons Reynolds, Miss Frances T. Thayer, Eva Simmons, Mr. and Mrs. Roland K. Abercrombie; letter to Mrs. C.C. Crabb regarding the use of the Stanford Chapel for the ceremony on 30 June 1929; letter from Maude Thayer to Rachel; the invitation and wedding rice; copy of marriage license
Yellowstone (research trip following their honeymoon in Carmel-by-the-Sea); LAT doing research on blue-green algae for the Carnegie Institute Geophysical Laboratory. File includes newspaper clipping on a talk LAT presented; newspaper cartoons; dried flowers; 4 Correspondence to REC from her mother; and a ltr to REC from Dana (?)
Letters into October are LAT to family. Including correspondence relating to the move to Shreveport, La. where Lewis Thayer began teaching at Centenary College.
Includes correspondence of Charles E. Crabb; Maude Thayer; Minnie Rowe Crabb; Francis T. Thayer; Frances Crabb Luske; Lewis G. Thayer and Lewis A. Thayer
Includes correspondence of Charles E., and Minnie Crabb; Alice Spann Crabb (Healdsburg, Ca.); Maude Thayer (Wilderville, Or.); Minnie Rowe Crabb; Francis T. Thayer; Frances Crabb Luske; Lewis G. Thayer and Lewis A. Thayer. Mary Thayer George (Minneapolis);
Minnie Rowe Crabb – material relating to her death resulting from and automobile accident; telegram, dried asters Rachael collected from Minnie Crabb’s garden; includes notes made by Rachael relating to her mother’s death
Includes letters from the boys (Philip and Doug to Rachel when they were in Grants Pass. At the end of this summer Lewis and family moved to Portland.
This poll was taken by Lewis Thayer regarding where Rachel and the boys wanted to go for vacation
Most of the correspondence is from David L. Thayer to “folks”. Letters are from Iowa where David began graduate studies in physics
Includes letters from David and Marcia nee Belsher who were married in September; Philip and Carol nee Stanford married in June; and, Douglas who in in graduate school at the University of Oregon. Also included are letters from C.E. Crabb
Undated believed to be 1957 because in with Correspondence in an envelope post marked 1957; or, by general subject matter
From Rachel and Lewis Thayer while they were with the Lewis & Clark College Overseas Study in Turkey
Rachel and Lewis travel to England in September /October
Includes telegram from State Department regarding Marcia’s death in Ireland; newspaper death announcements; correspondence, travel arrangements; sympathy cards
Materials relating the trip – tickets, hotel stationary, notes on tour sites; notes on purchases, credit card receipts
Rachel Thayer’s accident at hotel where she broke her hip; medical reports (in Chinese); hospital bills on return to United States
Lewis Thayer writings and stories about travel in China and Rachel’s accident