Cornell family papers, circa 1848-1941
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Cornell family
- Title
- Cornell family papers
- Dates
- circa 1848-1941 (inclusive)18481941
- Quantity
- 0.5 cubic feet, (1 legal document case; 1 oversize folder (16x20) in shared flat box)
- Collection Number
- Mss 2136
- Summary
- Papers of the Cornell family and related families, including family correspondence; letters from Bertrand Cornell (died 1852) describing his journey to Oregon; and letters and newspaper articles by Wilbur F. Cornell (1841-1911) describing Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Methodist minister William Cornell (1812-1891) and his cousin Bertrand Cornell emigrated to Oregon in 1852; Bertrand died soon after the journey. William Cornell brought his family to Oregon in 1854.
- Repository
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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
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Collection is open for research.
- Additional Reference Guides
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Letters of and about Bertrand Cornell are described in Platte River road narratives, entry 1141.
- Languages
- English
Biographical Note
In 1852, Methodist minister William Cornell (1812-1891) and his cousin Bertrand Cornell emigrated to Oregon; Bertrand died soon after reaching Portland. In 1854, William Cornell sent for his wife, Emily Cornell (1820-1888), and their children, Samantha Almira Cornell (later Samantha Almira McAlister, 1839-1896), Wilbur Fisk Cornell (1841-1911), Edward William Cornell (1842-1904), Emma Julia Cornell (later Emma J. Royal, 1850-1940), and Mary Celestia Cornell (later Mary C. Gardner, 1852-1890). The couple had previously had a son, Orlando Castle Cornell (1846-1848) who died in childhood; they later had a fourth son, Holly Austin Cornell (1857-1911).
In addition to his work with the Methodist Episcopal Church, William Cornell worked as a road supervisor, and was in charge of building Cornell Road in Portland. He was also a member of the Oregon Legislature from 1874 to 1876. After coming to Oregon, members of the Cornell family primarily lived in either Portland or Salem, though Wilbur F. Cornell went to Alaska in the 1890s and lived there and in the Yukon Territory, Canada, until his death.
Sources: Articles in the Oregonian and Oregon Journal, 1894-1940; vital records on Ancestry.com; "William Cornell's Journal, 1852, with His Overland Guide to Oregon," by Karen M. Offen and David C. Duniway, Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 79, No. 4, 1978; "Emigrants to Oregon in 1852, Surnames A-I," compiled by Stephanie Flora, oregonpioneers.com, http://oregonpioneers.com/1852_AI.htm.
Content Description
The collection consists of the papers of the Cornell family and related families. The bulk of the collection consists of family correspondence, particularly letters sent to Emma J. Royal, daughter of William Cornell and Emily Cornell, as well as some letters that Royal wrote. Other correspondents include Edward W. Cornell, Wilbur F. Cornell, William Cornell, Emily Cornell, S. A. McAlister, Mary McCalister, W. W. Gardner, Mary A. Gardner, and Carrie Royal. The Castle and Parmenter families are also represented. Most correspondence discusses family members' health and activities, though some letters discuss family history, and some letters from Wilbur F. Cornell describe his time in Alaska and Yukon Territory.
The collection also includes photostatic reproductions and typescript copies of the letters of Bertrand Cornell, who emigrated to Oregon in 1852 with his cousin William Cornell and William Cornell's family; these letters describe his journey to Oregon. Also included is a letter to Bertrand Cornell's father, informing him of Bertrand Cornell's death.
Other materials in the collection include certificates, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera; newspaper clippings containing Wilbur F. Cornell's observations about Alaska and the Yukon Territory; genealogical notes; photographs; religious writings; and obituaries.
Use of the Collection
Preferred Citation
Cornell family papers, Mss 2136, 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 Information
Acquisition Information
Gifts of Oregon State Archives, care of David C. Duniway, in March 1974; Karen Offen in October 1978; and Susannah L. Sherman in July 1981 (Lib. Acc. 12845; RL2022-158-RETRO; Lib. Acc. 15567).
Processing Note
Initially processed in 2008 or earlier; reprocessed in 2022. Reprocessing included some changes to the collection's arrangement, and the removal of staples from original letters. Includes materials previously designated Mss 2136-1.
Related Materials
William Cornell's diary from his overland journey to Oregon is designated Mss 290, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Description: Correspondence from Bertrand Cornell; letter from George Wright about Bertrand Cornell's death (photostatic reproductions and typescript copies)Dates: 1852; 1853 January 5Container: Box 1, Folder 1
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Description: Family correspondenceDates: 1859-1941Container: Box 1, Folder 2-7
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Description: Newspaper clippings with Wilbur F. Cornell's observations about Alaska and the Yukon TerritoryDates: 1894-1898Container: Box 1, Folder 8
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Description: Certificates, newspaper clippings, and promissory noteDates: 1859-1913Container: Box 1, Folder 9
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Description: Diploma for Samantha Cornell (later Samantha McAlister) from Portland Academy and Female SeminaryDates: 1859 March 18Container: Folder Oversize 1
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Description: Genealogical notesDates: circa 1900Container: Box 1, Folder 10
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Description: PhotographsDates: circa 1885-1900Container: Box 1, Folder 11
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Description: Religious writings; poemDates: 1872-1873; undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 12
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Description: Poem dedicated to a dead child, most likely Orlando Castle Cornell, with lock of hairDates: circa 1848Container: Box 1, Folder 13
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Description: ObituariesDates: 1864-1904; undatedContainer: Box 1, Folder 14
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Families--Oregon
- Overland journeys to the Pacific
- Pioneers--Oregon
Personal Names
- Cornell, Bertrand, -1852--Correspondence
- Cornell, E. W. (Edward William), 1842-1904--Correspondence
- Cornell, Emily B. (Emily Bostwick), 1820-1888--Correspondence
- Cornell, Wilbur F. (Wilbur Fisk), 1841-1911--Correspondence
- Cornell, William, 1812-1891--Correspondence
- McAlister, S. A. (Samantha Almira), 1839-1896--Correspondence
- Royal, Emma J., 1850-1940--Correspondence
Family Names
- Cornell family
Geographical Names
- Alaska--Description and travel
- Yukon--Description and travel
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
