ohy_coll461.xml Guide to the Oregonian Publishing Company records Oregonian Publishing Company records Mathew Brock Oregon Historical Society Research Library 2015; 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 2023-11-07. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2023-11-03 Minor revisions to conform to current standard. Oregon Historical Society Research Library Oregonian Publishing Company records Oregonian (Firm) Coll 461 7.65 cubic feet 18 document cases, 2 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder, and 1 oversize bound volume 1855-2008 Business records of the Oregonian Publishing Company. Includes financial, legal, and organizational documents; subject files covering Oregonian financial interests; reports, studies, and surveys; photographs; in-house publications; and limited correspondence and other documents from Henry Pittock's time as owner and publisher. English

Collection is open for research.

Gift of the Oregonian Publishing Company, care of Therese Bottomly, August 2015 (Lib. Acc. 28286).

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Financial documents Series 2: Henry Pittock documents Series 3: Legal documents Series 4: Organizational documents Series 5: Business interests Series 6: Photographs and reproductions Series 7: Publications Series 8: Reports, studies, and surveys

The Oregonian Publishing Company was established in 1850 as The Weekly Oregonian and was owned and published by W. W. Chapman and Henry W. Corbett. In 1861 ownership passed to Henry Pittock, who changed the name to The Morning Oregonian in 1861. The paper was renamed to its current title, The Oregonian, in 1937. Over the years, the paper has had a number of notable owners and publishers besides Pittock, including Chapman, Corbett, and S.I. "Si" Newhouse. Early notable editors included Thomas J. Dryer, Henry Pittock, and Harvey W. Scott.

The paper's offices and presses were originally housed in a two-story building at the intersection of First Street (now First Avenue) and Morrison Street. In 1892, the paper moved into a new nine-story building at 6th and Alder streets. Like its as its predecessor (and successor), the new building was called the Oregonian Building. It included a clock tower at one corner, and was the tallest structure in Portland until 1911. The newspaper moved again in 1948, to SW Broadway between Jefferson and Columbia streets, where it would remain until 2014. The 1892 building was demolished in 1950. The Oregonian is now located at 1500 SW First Avenue.

Oregonian Publishing Company records, Coll 461, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

The collection contains early records of the Oregonian newspaper, including articles of incorporation, minutes of board meetings, and publication statistics. It also includes documents and records from Henry Pittock's time as owner and publisher, including accounting books and correspondence. Financial papers document employee bonus payments, charitable gifts, and the purchase of Portland city block 215 and construction of Oregonian buildings; other papers relate to Oregonian business interests. In-house publications include copies of the Masthead, Inkling, and Second Takes newsletters. A sizable portion of the collection consists of reports and analysis of public opinion survey data covering topics such as abortion, the spotted owl controversy, local mayoral races, ballot initiatives, and national presidential races. Other items in the collection include a 1955 civil defense memo, a 1916 War Department Industrial Inventory, a memo outlining the Oregonian's position on stereotypes in sports teams, photographs of the Young Oregonians club and the Oregonian building, and a bound volume of the Weekly Oregonian (1858-1859).

Artifacts received with this accession were transferred to museum collections, Oregon Historical Society.

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.

 Oregonian (Firm)--Records and correspondence Oregon--Politics and government--Public opinion--20th century American newspapers--Oregon--Portland Newspaper publishing--Oregon--Pendleton Youth--Oregon--Societies and clubs--Photographs Portland Journalism Media and Communication Businesses and Corporations legal documents financial records newsletters reports public opinion polls photographs Weekly Oregonian (Portland, Or. : 1854) Financial documents Series 1 0.75 cubic feet 2 document cases 1868-2002

Contains documents associated with the early years of the Morning Oregonian, the Oregonian, and the Oregonian Building, as well as assorted other financial documents.

 Bonus memo 1951 1 1 Charitable gifts 1926-1998 1 2 Employee bonus payment receipts 1950-1952 1 3 Pioneer Broadcasting Company 1952-1954 1 4 Rosemary - Frey Trust 1952 1 5 S.I. Newhouse Jr. special account 1953 1 6 Wells Fargo Bank documents 2002-2004 1 7 Insurance documents 1915-1925 2 1 Lease documents 1912-2012 2 2 Loan documents 1911-1925 2 3 Pittock Block 1916 2 4 Receipt book 1868-1869 3 Henry Pittock documents Series 2 0.4 cubic feet 4 folders 1909-1936

Contains documents originating from, or associated with, Henry Pittock's time as owner and publisher of the Oregonian.

 Incoming correspondence - Pittock 1888-1918 1 8 Henry L. Pittock bank book 1914-1919 1 9 Oregonian Comparative Statistics 1909-1912 1 10 Henry Pittock estate 1936 1 11 Legal documents Series 3 0.75 cubic feet 2 document cases 1855-1975

Includes original articles of incorporation for the Oregonian Publishing Company, subpoenas to the House Un-American Activities Committee, and trademark and copyright documents.

 Copyright, "Making the Day Begin" 1975 1 12 Macnaughton agreement 1951 1 13 Oregonian's Special Ownership Committee documents 1938 1 14 Subpoenas from Senate committee 1957 1 15 Trademark, "Heart to Heart Talks" 1927 1 16 Articles of incorporation 1873-1932 2 5 Miscellaneous court documents 1909-1957 2 6 Oregonian Building Block 185 1978 2 7 Oregonian vs. O'Neill Transfer Company 1946-1951 2 8 Property deeds 1855-1970 2 9 Organizational documents Series 4 1.15 cubic feet 5 document cases 1873-1979

Contains documents associated with the day-to-day operations of the Oregonian.

 Oregonian Publishing Company Board of Directors meeting minutes 1873-1877 2 10 Civil defense memo 1955 4 1 Classified advertising rates 1937-1995 4 2 Hong certificate of residence 1892 4 3 Incoming correspondence - Oregonian 1888-1925 4 4 Industrial inventory 1916 4 5 L. H. Gregory letter 1927 4 6 Maria Sweney letters 1911 4 7 Miscellaneous ephemera 1903-1977 4 8 Oregonian switchboard log 1979 4 9 Oregonian switchboard log 1980 4 10 Sports team stereotype memo 1992 4 11 Telephone records 1951-1971 5 1 Telephone records 1971-1976 5 2 Telephone records 1979-1982 5 3 Oregonian Publishing Records, Volume 2 1893-1939 5 4 Business interests Series 5 0.75 cubic feet 2 document cases 1906-1932 Bank of Kennewick 1914 2 11 Clearwater Irrigation, Power, and Boom Company 1906-1923 2 12 Crown Willamette Paper Company 1923 2 13 Portland Trust Company 1910-1932 2 14 Portland Lumber Company 1910-1913 2 15 Baldwin Sheep Company 1928-1931 4 12 Baldwin Sheep Company 1916-1932 4 13 Mecca Investment Company 1911 4 14 Photographs and reproductions Series 6 0.72 cubic feet 4 document cases 1912-1959

Contains manipulated and edited production photographs of members of the Young Oregonians group from the 1930s-1950s. Also includes photographs of the Oregonian building.

 Photos: Young Oregonians - "1930s" 1930s 6 1 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #1 1940s" 1940s 6 2 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #2 1940s" 1940s 6 3 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #3 1940s" 1940s 6 4 Photos: Young Oregonians - "1950s" 1950s 6 5 Photos: "Aaron Fausett, Mike Hood, and John McKay" 1955 7 1 Photos: Young Oregonians - untitled undated 7 2 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Interesting Fotos" undated 7 3 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #1" undated 7 4 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #2" undated 7 5 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #3" undated 7 6 Photos: Young Oregonians - "Env #4" undated 7 7 Oregonian Building and Portland Hotel, matted photographs undated 19 3 Oregonian Building photographs 1912 1927 19 4 Assorted Oregonian photographs (depicting various activities) undated Oversize 1 Publications Series 7 0.54 cubic feet 2 document cases 1858-2007

Contains newsletters and other internal publications, as well as special publications and a bound volume of the Weekly Oregonian newspaper.

 In Pursuit of Excellence circa 2002 8 1 Second Take index 1989-2001 8 2 Second Takes 1989 8 3 Second Takes 1990 8 4 Second Takes 1991 8 5 Second Takes 1992 8 6 Second Takes 1993 8 7 Second Takes 1994 8 8 Second Takes 1995 8 9 Second Takes 1996 8 10 Second Takes 1997 8 11 Second Takes 1998 9 1 Second Takes 1999 9 2 Second Takes 2000 9 3 Second Takes 2001 9 4 The Oregonian Goes to Press undated 9 5 The O's Class of '08 Yearbook 2008 9 6 Inklings newsletter 2004-2007 19 1 Masthead newsletters 1989-2007 19 2 Circulation record (2 bound volumes) 1922-1925 1934-1935 19 150th Anniversary Special (2 copies) 2001 May 20 Weekly Oregonian newspapers (bound volume) 1858-1859 1 Reports, studies, and surveys Series 8 3.06 cubic feet 9 document cases 1983-1998

Contains statewide survey data on a variety of issues, including U.S. presidential election races, statewide ballot initiatives, and local mayoral races.

 ABC Audit Report: Newspaper 1983 10 1 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 January 10 2 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 January 10 3 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 January 10 4 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 April 10 5 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 April 10 6 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 May 11 1 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1995 November 11 2 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 April 11 3 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 April 11 4 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 April 11 5 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 October 12 1 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1994 October 12 2 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 January 1996 March 12 3 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 April 12 4 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 April 12 5 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1996 September 12 6 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1997 April 13 1 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1997 May 13 2 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide 1997 May 13 3 Davis & Hibbitts - OR statewide transcripts 1997 June 13 4 Griggs Anderson - General Election I 1988 September 14 1 Griggs Anderson - General Election II 1988 October 14 2 Griggs Anderson - Portland Mayor's Race 1988 October 14 3 Griggs Anderson - Portland Public Officials Survey 1989 April 14 4 Griggs Anderson - Portland Public Officials Survey 1989 April 14 5 Griggs Anderson - Forest Products and Spotted Owl Controversy 1989 June 14 6 Griggs Anderson - attitudes toward abortion 1989 July 14 7 Griggs Anderson - Primary Election I 1990 February 15 1 Griggs Anderson - Forest products and spotted owl controversy 1990 May 15 2 Griggs Anderson - Statewide Election Supplemental 1990 May 15 3 Griggs Anderson - General Election Survey I 1990 August 15 4 Griggs Anderson - General Election Survey II 1990 October 15 5 Griggs Anderson - General Election Survey III 1990 October 16 1 Griggs Anderson - General Election Daily 1990 November 16 2 Griggs Anderson - Attitudes toward taxation 1990 December 16 3 Griggs Anderson - Portland issues / mayor's race 1992 April 16 4 Griggs Anderson - Family poll 1992 April 16 5 Griggs Anderson - Primary Election Statewide Survey 1992 April 16 6 Griggs Anderson - Mayor's Race 1992 May 17 1 Griggs Anderson - Statewide Primary Wave II 1992 May 17 2 Griggs Anderson - District I / primary election 1992 May 17 3 Griggs Anderson - Fall mayor's race 1992 October 17 4 Griggs Anderson - Fall statewide issue poll 1992 October 17 5 Griggs Anderson - General election 1992 November 17 6 Griggs Anderson - General Election Wave II 1992 November 17 7 Griggs Anderson - General election / mayor's race 1992 November 17 8 North American Newspaper Alliance report 1930 18 1 Oregon Taxpayers United Annual Supplemental 1995 September 18 2 Oregon Taxpayers United 1st and 2nd Pre-Special 1997 May 18 3 Oregon Taxpayers United Special Election 1997 July 18 4 Oregon Taxpayers United Supplemental 1997 September 18 5 Oregon Taxpayers United Final Report 1997 November 18 6 Oregon Taxpayers United - Bill Sizemore 1998 18 7 Oregon Taxpayers United - Measure 53 1998 18 8 TH Research 1993 September 18 9 TH Research 1993 September 18 10 TH Research 1993 October-November 18 11