ohy_mss66.xml Guide to the Benjamin Selling papers Selling (Benjamin) papers Geoffrey B. Wexler Oregon Historical Society Research Library 2005; revised 2024
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 2024-07-12. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2015 Revised to reflect updates to best practices. 2024 Revised to conform to current standard. Oregon Historical Society Research Library Benjamin Selling papers Selling, Benjamin, 1852-1931 Mss 66 2 cubic feet 1 document case, 2 flat boxes 1869-1933 Papers of a Jewish American clothier and philanthropist of Portland, Oregon. Includes personal account books, scrapbooks containing correspondence and clippings, and some materials relating to Selling's business activities. Most materials relate to Selling's unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 1912 and to his charitable activities. English

Collection is open for research.

One account book (1900-1910), nomination certificate, and one scrapbook, gifts of Mrs. Laurence Selling in June 1959 (Lib. Acc. 8054), November 1959 (Lib. Acc. 8270), and April 1971 (Lib. Acc. 11894).

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series 1: General materials, 1869-1933 Series 2: Letterpress copybooks, 1883-1887

Benjamin Selling, the son of German Jewish parents, was born in San Francisco, California, on April 29, 1852. After migrating with his family to Portland, Oregon, in 1862, Selling attended Portland Academy and worked for a number of years in his father's general merchandise store. He later established several successful businesses of his own, including Akin, Selling & Company (a wholesale boot and shoe business), Moyer Clothing Company, and Ben Selling, Clothier. Selling went on to serve in the state Legislature and was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1912. He was also known for extensive philanthropic work.

Source: "Ben Selling (1852-1931)," by Elaine S. Friedman, Oregon Encyclopedia, https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/selling_ben_1852_1931_/

Benjamin Selling papers, Mss 66, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Papers of Benjamin Selling include three letterpress copybooks (1883-1887), which contain copies of Selling's business correspondence; two account books (1891-1892, 1900-1910); a scrapbook (1881-1925) containing letters that concern Selling's candidacy for U.S. Senate in 1912, a war relief campaign, and his Jewish Relief Committee work and other philanthropic activities; a scrapbook of newspaper clippings pertaining to Selling's U.S. Senate campaign; personal and political letters, including a pledge of support for Selling from members of the state Legislature for the position of House speaker, and a subscription list for support of the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian relief; and a 1912 certificate of nomination as a candidate for U.S. Senate.

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.

 Selling, Benjamin, 1852-1931 Akin, Selling & Company Moyer Clothing Company Ben Selling, Clothier (Firm) Republican Party (Or.) Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950 Jews--Oregon--Portland Jewish businesspeople--Oregon--Portland Jewish philanthropists--Oregon--Portland Clothing trade--Oregon--Portland Jewish businesspeople--Oregon--Portland--Correspondence Political candidates--Oregon Jews in public life--Oregon Jews--Oregon--Charities Charities--Oregon Oregon Jewish Americans letterpress copybooks correspondence scrapbooks General materials Series 1 1869-1933 Correspondence and miscellany 1869-1933 1 1 Personal account book 1891-1892 1 2 Personal memorandum (accounts) 1900-1910 1 3 Scrapbook containing correspondence, clippings, and memorabilia 1881-1925 1 4 Scrapbook containing news clippings on senatorial campaign 1912 3 1 Letterpress copybooks Series 2 1883-1887 Letterpress copybook 1883 January-1884 September 16 2 1 Letterpress copybook 1884 September-1886 2 2 Letterpress copybook 1886 March-1887 February 2 3