ohy_orglot1206.xml Guide to the Benson family photographs collection Benson family photographs collection Shawna Gandy Oregon Historical Society Research Library 2014; 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 2024-05-03. Finding aid is written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2024-05-03 Minor revisions to conform to current standard. Oregon Historical Society Research Library Benson family photographs collection Benson family Org. Lot 1206 3 cubic feet 7 document cases; 2 flat boxes 1896-1970 Photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamelia Loomis, including sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson (later Margaret Maradudin). English

Collection is open for research.

Gift of Chester Benson, August 2012 (Lib. Acc. 27705).

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series 1: Photographic prints Series 2: Photo albums Series 3: Unprocessed negatives

Simon Benson (1851-1942), a Norwegian immigrant, found success in the timber business, acquiring 46,000 acres of land over two decades and reducing costs through technical innovation in logging and shipping. He also built the Benson and Columbia Gorge Hotels, and, as a strong proponent of the good roads movement, propelled development of the Columbia River Highway. He married twice, and, with his second wife, Pamela Loomis, he had two sons, Gilbert Thereon and Chester Simon. Gilbert Benson died in 1928, well into graduate studies at Stanford University. Chester Benson married Dorothy Logan, and together they raised son Gilbert Thomas and daughter Margaret (later Margaret Maradudin).

Benson family photographs collection, Org. Lot 1206, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

A small collection of the Benson family papers, Mss 2352, is also held at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Collection consists of photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamelia Loomis, including Simon Benson, his sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson Maradudin. Includes baby albums and portraits, as well as photographs depicting travel, boating, Stanford University, California, the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and Benson family residences in Portland as well as their summer cottage, Riverwood, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Also included are unprocessed negatives, some or all of which may correspond to prints in the collection.

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, Simon, 1851-1942--Photographs Benson, Chester Simon, 1902-1971--Photographs Benson, Gilbert Thomas, 1929-2011--Photographs Maradudin, Margaret Benson--Photographs Benson, Gilbert Thereon, 1896-1928--Photographs Stanford University--Photographs Benson family--Photographs Benson family--Homes and haunts--Photographs Portland (Or.)--Photographs Columbia River Gorge (Or. and Wash.)--Photographs Pacific Coast (Or.)--Photographs Oregon--Description and travel--Photographs California--Description and travel--Photographs Buildings--Photographs Boats and boating--Photographs College students--California--Social life and customs--Photographs Children--Oregon--Photographs Photographs Oregon California Home and Family photograph albums photographs Photographic prints Series 1 1.1 cubic feet 3 document cases; 1 oversize folder 1896-1970 Mr. & Mrs. Simon Benson portraits 1896 undated 1 1 Aerial views undated 1 2 Airplanes, airport undated 1 3 Automobiles 1920s 1 4 Babies circa 1910-1970 1 5 Benson Place (Riverwood House) undated 1 6 Boating undated 1 7 Boats undated 1 8 Boats and airplanes 1920s 1 9 Buildings 1920s 1 10 Buildings, unknown Southwest locations undated 1 11 Cabins undated 1 12 Children circa 1920-1970 1 13 Christmas 1967 1 14 Columbia Gorge Hotel (Hood River, Oregon) 1921 July 8 1 15 Columbia River Gorge 1920 August 1 16 Death Valley circa 1930 1 17

Stock photos and photo postcards from Frashers Foto - Pomona.

 Gardens undated 1 18

Related to Benson Place (Riverwood House) photographs in Box 1, Folder 6.

 Hawaii 1920s or 1930s 1 19 Horses - jumping and racing undated 1 20 House interiors undated 1 21 Houses undated 1 22 People 1920s 2 1 People and pets undated 2 2 Pets circa 1920s-1970 2 3 Photo booklet 1961 October 2 4 Photographs developed in Paris 1920s 2 5 Photo strips undated 2 6 Sailboats undated 2 7 Seaside bath house undated 2 8 Southwest Indian ruins and other photos 1960 July 2 9 Tintype (cased) - portrait of unidentified woman undated 2 10 Travel album: Quebec, Mt. Rainier, and other scenes 1940s 2 11 Unidentified photos 1960 May 2 12 Views and miscellaneous objects circa 1920s 2 13 Wildlife undated 2 14 Yosemite undated 2 15 Portraits removed from frame 1914 May 3 1 Scenic views circa 1920s 3 2 Unidentified people 1920s-1970s 3 3 Unidentified portraits circa 1900-1950 3 4 Unidentified photos circa 1910s-1950s 3 5 Letter to Chester Benson from Betty (Honolulu, Hawaii), with photographs 1925 May 1 3 6 Photo postcards 1940 undated 3 7 Business and membership cards 1971 undated 3 8 Selected negative envelopes and inserts circa 1920-1960 3 9 Oversize portraits (includes Chester Benson) circa 1940 8 1 Photo albums Series 2 1.72 cubic feet 3 document cases; 2 flat boxes 1899-1940 Album 2 - Chester Benson 1915-1920 4 1 Album 3 - Unidentified circa 1939 4 2 Album 4 - Gilbert Thereon Benson - Riverwood House (Lake Oswego, Oregon) 1919-1921 4 3 Album 5 - Gilbert Thereon Benson - Stanford, California, and Pacific Northwest scenes 1918-1921 5 1 Album 6 - possibly Margaret Benson circa 1940 5 2

Photographs were removed from album for preservation purposes, and album was discarded.

 Album 7 - Gilbert Thomas Benson - Baby album 1929-1932 5 3 Album 8 - probably Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson - Baby album approximately 1929-1935 6 1 Album 9 - Chester Benson 1920s 6 2 Album 10 - Cabinet card portraits 1899 undated 6 3

Photographs were removed from album for preservation purposes and numbered to retain order. Empty album was retained and is located in Box 7.

 Album 10 - empty 1899 7

Photographs were removed from album for preservation purposes and are located in Box 6, Folder 3.

 Album 1 - Chester Benson family, including Gilbert Thomas Benson circa 1930-1940 8 Album 11 - Riverwood House (Lake Oswego, Oregon) - includes Chester Benson and others possibly 1920s 8 Unprocessed negatives Series 3 0.18 cubic feet 1 document case circa 1920s undated

The negatives that make up this series are unprocessed. Some or all may correspond to prints in Series 1 and Series 2.

Researcher access to negatives is limited for preservation purposes. Contact library staff for assistance.

 Roll of nitrate negative film undated 9 1 Assorted negatives undated 9 2 Assorted negatives circa 1920s 9 3 Assorted negatives circa 1920s 9 4 Best of S.L.C. undated 9 5 Boating undated 9 6 Grandma's, 295 Front St. circa 1920s 9 7