Physical condition of the scrapbook may preclude photocopying.
Nettie Spencer was born near Corvallis in 1861 to Oregon pioneer parents. She graduated from Corvallis College in 1882, and spent the next several years teaching and studying at various places in the U.S. and abroad, including Portland, Davenport College (North Carolina), Berlin, Paris, London and India. She returned to Oregon in 1916 and taught at Eugene and Roseburg High Schools. Spencer received a masters degree in sociology from Oregon State in 1928. She was a charter member of the Mazamas, a Portland mountain climbing club, and in 1935 was elected president of the Oregon State Women's Press Club. Spencer died in Portland in 1953.
The papers consist of two series. Series one contains letters written to Nettie Spencer by William Barrett, a sailor on the bark Carrie Winslow. The letters describe Barrett's experiences on board the ship and at ports of call. They also describe the relationship between Spencer and Barrett. Several were written in 1884 and chronologically arranged; others are undated but were probably written at about the same time. Series two is a small scrapbook that contains programs of drama productions, musical and literary events, teachers institutes, Corvallis College commencements (1881 & 1882), and meetings of organizations. Most are from Corvallis and Portland and date from 1878 to 1897.
Collection open for research.
Nettie Spencer Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.
The letters were donated to the Horner Museum in 1992 via James S. Witzig from the estate of Frances Witzig Milne, a niece of Nettie Spencer. They were transferred to the University Archives in August 1996. The scrapbook was donated by Spencer to the Oregon State College Library in 1951 and was ultimately made part of the University Archives holdings after its establishment in 1961.
Additional biographical information on Nettie Spencer can be found in her Memorabilia Collection file. Photographs of Spencer are located in Harriet's Collection #718, #1519 and #1593.