Isaac Hodgson, Jr. architectural illustrations, 1891

Overview of the Collection

Architect
Hodgson, Isaac, Jr.
Title
Isaac Hodgson, Jr. architectural illustrations
Dates
1891
Quantity
0.25 cubic feet, (1 oversize folder (30x42); 1 oversize folder (16x20))
Collection Number
Mss 3055
Summary
Lithographic and watercolor illustrations depicting buildings in Portland, Oregon, designed by architect Isaac Hodgson, Jr., who worked in Portland during the early 1890s. The watercolors and one of the lithographs depict the Chamber of Commerce building; the other lithograph depicts the entrance to a proposed United Bank building.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Isaac Hodgson, Jr., was an architect who came to Portland, Oregon, in 1890 from Omaha, Nebraska, after winning a competition to design the Chamber of Commerce Building in Portland. After several delays, the building was completed in September 1893. Multnomah County then asked Hodgson to design a new courthouse, but soon became displeased the potential cost of Hodgson's design, as Portland was experiencing an economic downturn. After unsuccessfully suing the county to receive payment that he said was owed him, Hodgson moved back to the U.S. Midwest.

Source: "Lost Portland, Oregon," by Val C. Ballestrem, 2018.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of two lithograph illustrations and two watercolor illustrations of buildings in Portland, Oregon, designed by architect Isaac Hodgson, Jr. The watercolors depict the entrance and the tower for the Chamber of Commerce building, one lithograph depicts the Chamber of Commerce building between SW 3rd Avenue and SW 4th Avenue, and one lithograph depicts the entrance to a proposed United Bank building. The United Bank lithograph is from a drawing by W. E. Donovan, while all other works were drawn or painted by J. Anderson. Both lithographs were printed by the Heliotype Printing Company of Boston, Massachusetts, and appeared in the September 26, 1891 and August 27, 1892 issues of "American Architect and Building News."

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Lithograph of Chamber of Commerce building and watercolor of the building's entrance are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

Isaac Hodgson, Jr. architectural illustrations, Mss 3055, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

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.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Lithographs purchased in 1984 and 2006 (RL2022-013-RETRO, Lib. Acc. 25888); watercolors most likely acquired in the mid- or late 20th century (RL2022-012-RETRO).

Processing Note

Includes materials previously designated Mss 3055-1, Mss 3055-2, Mss 3055-3, and Mss 3055-4. Collection was titled "Isaac Hodgson, Jr. architectural papers" prior to 2022.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Architects--Oregon--Portland
  • Architecture--Oregon--Portland
  • Buildings--Oregon--Portland--Pictorial works

Corporate Names

  • Portland Chamber of Commerce (Or.)--Buildings--Pictorial works

Form or Genre Terms

  • lithographs
  • watercolors (paintings)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Anderson, J. (delineator)
    • Donovan, W. E. (delineator)
    Corporate Names
    • Heliotype Printing Co. (lithographer)