Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 18/News and Comment No. 4
NEWS AND COMMENT
THE PIONEER PARK AT CHAMPOEG.
Champoeg, overlooking Willamette River, the place where the Oregon provisional government was founded May 2, 1843, will always be a center of Northwest history, and a marker of National expansion. A pioneer memorial building will rise at the site of Champoeg this year, built with $5,000 state fimds, appropriated by the Legislature at last year's session. The site of this structure is in an enclosure of twelve acres, which was deeded to the State of Oregon in 1913, by Mr. P. H. D'Arcy, of Salem, trustee of numerous fund contributors, who gave the money for purchase of the land. The sum paid was $1,265, and the deed of Mr. D'Arcy's bears date of November 10, 1913. A monument to the provisional government, dedi- cated May 2, 1901, stands in the enclosure.
Purchase of the land for the state and erection of the pioneer building will make complete the long-time plans of members of the Oregon Pioneer Association and the Oregon Historical Society. The architectural plans have been prepared by George M. Post of Salem, for the State Board of Control, consisting of Governor James Withycombe, Secretary of State Ben W. Olcott and State Treasurer Thomas Kay. An advisory com- mittee has consisted of Mr. P. H. D'Arcy, formerly president of the Oregon Pioneer Association and organizer of many annual celebrations at Champoeg, and Mr. George H. Himes, curator and assistant secretary of the Oregon Historical Society.
The Quarterly takes pleasure in announcing the near realization of the plans for the Champoeg memorial and in commending the unselfish work of those who have served in its behalf.
A MONUMENT OF YAKIMA PIONEERS.
Yakima pioneers presented a large monument to the State of Washington in Wenas Valley, near Selah, September 20, 1917, at the farm of David Longmire, member of the 1853
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party that opened the Naches trail to Puget Sound, across Cascade Mountains, and president of the Yakima Pioneers' Association. The site of the monimient is a camping place ef that pioneer party near Yakima. The inscription reads :
Chief OW-Hi's Gardens
First Emigrant Train
From East
Longmire's Train
Encamped Here
Sept. 20, 1853
McClellan's Headquarters
Flag First Unfurled
In Yakima Country
August, 1853
Erected by Yakima Pioneer Ass'n ^
Sept 20, 1917 ^
H. J. Snively acted as chairman of the ceremonies. The Reverend Mr. Lingenfelter, of Selah, delivered the opening prayer. David Longmire made an address reminiscent of pio- neer times. Governor Ernest Lister accepted the monument in behalf of the State of Washington. Other speakers were Professor Edmond S. Meany, of Seattle, and Thomas B. Hill, of Yakima. A committee was named by President Longfmire, to organize a Yakima memorial association, as follows : A. D. Sloan, Fred Parker, Ernest D. Fear, T. B. Hill, F. C. Hall, A. E. Larson, Wallace Wiley, H. Stanley Coffin, Phil Ditter and Fred Chandler.
VALUABLE ARTICLES BY MR. T. C ELUOTT.
The articles appearing in this volume of the Quarterly en- titled, "Where Is Point Vancouver?" and "Log of H. M. S. Chatham," serve to bring to the notice of the present genera- tion the dates and circumstances of the naming of two of our prominent snow peaks : Mount Hood and Mount Saint Helens. It is not commonly known that Saint Helens was named from the deck of a vessel lying off the mouth of the Columbia river; or that Mount Hood was so designated on October 30th, 1792, by Lieutenant Brougbton when standing on the sand bar at the mouth of the Sandy river. The secular press would do well to popularize the3e dates.
PIONEER ROADS ACROSS BLUE MOUNTAINS.
Progress of highway improvement across Blue Mountains has brought to many minds remembrance of the ox team route of the pioneers, and desire to mak^ that remembrance perma- nent. The state highway commission of Oregon has been re- quested to designate the pioneer road "Old Oregon Trait" The road of heavy travel for o^ teams, but not the early route, was that by way of Lee'f Encampment [Meacham], and this later was an active trade highway in the gold mining period, beginning about 1862. But an earlier route passed near Elgin, Weston and Milton, and this became later the favorite trade route of Walla Walla merchants. It came to be known as the Toll Gate road, as contrasted with the Meacham-Uraatilla road of the ox team immigrants. It was also the route of the Thomas & Rucklis's stage. It began as an Indian trail, con- necting the valleys of Walla Walla and Grande Ronde rivers, and was used by fur traders in 1819-34, between Fort Walla Walla [Wallula] and the Snake River Country. When J. C. Fremont came to Oregon in 1843 he followed the large emi- gration of that year, and his printed report, together with the map of the route afterwards published as drawn by hi§ engi- neer, Preuss, furnishes the best data available for research concerning this earlier route of the Old Oregon Trail across Blue Mountains. Improvement of this route for automobile service is now proposed, so as to reach the mountain summit by easy grades from both Weston and Milton, Oregon, for the traffic of Walla Walla, Umatilla and Grande Ronde val- leys. The Meacham road of today, following the general course of the ox team road was changed ^d improved in the gold mining period. It will be improved again according to
300 News and Comment
the general plan of highway betterment in this state and desig- nated "Old Oregon Trail" by the Oregon Highway CcHnmis- sion. From the confluence of Umatilla River with the Colum- bia, the highway will pass through Hermiston, Stanfield, Echo, Pendleton, Meacham, Kamela, Hilgard and La Grande. The older trail via Milton, Elgin and La Grande is listed for con- sideration as a forest road by the highway. commissiwi.
Officers of the Oregon Historical Society.
Ten years as president of the Oregon Historical Society, and beginning his eleventh, Mr. Frederick V. Holman has served longer than any of his predecessors. Harvey W. Scott was the first president, 1898-1901. Charles B. Bellinger was head of the society, 1901-05; William D. Fenton, 1905-07. Mr. Holman followed in 1907 and has held the post continu- ously since. His latest term began at the annual meeting of the society, held at Portland in the new city Auditorium, October 27 last. Leslie M. Scott was re-elected vice-president ; F. G. Yotmg, secretary ; George H. Himes, assistant secretary and curator; Charles H. Carey and S. B. Huston, directors. Mr. Huston succeeded William D. Fenton. The society adopted resolutions of sympathy on account of the ill health of Mr. Fenton.
New Quarters of the Society.
The society, at last, is housed in a fireproof building — the Auditorium of the City of Portland. Rooms have been per- manently assigned for the society's uses by Mayor George L. Baker and members of the city commission. Authority comes from the electors of the city by popular vote. The floor space awarded is some 8000 square feet, on the south side of the Auditorium. The main rooms are. on the second floor. Re- moval from the old quarters in Second Street, south of Taylor, was effected in October, directed by Mr. George H. Himes. The Legislature appropriated funds for removal last Winter. Other funds from the Legislature will be expended for new furniture^ chiefly filing cabinets. The new establishment
News AND Comment 301
marks a notable advance for the society. More space could be used to good advantage for the displays. The society dwells in hope of occupying, some day, its own commodious building.
The Work of the SoaExv. Twenty years of historical work in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest will be the record of the Oregon Historical Society at the end of the current year, which the society began last month. One of the most permanent productions has been the Quarterly, which began in March, 1900, and is now in its eighteenth volume. The society has made a great collection of pioneer and Indian relics, newspapers, letters and "original sources." It may be said that this collection is surpassed no- where in the West. Among the classifications may be noted the following: Newspapers (not bound), 197,000; newspaper files (boimd), 297; documentary pieces, 14,038; pamphlets, 20,000; letters, 27,881; books of reference, 14,267; account books, 358; maps and charts, 352; relics of pioneer days, 13,065; Indian relics (chiefly stone), 1,937; Indian pioneer and scenic pictures, 7,000; lantern slides, 889.
BiNGER Hermann's Reminiscences of Southern Oregon. Pioneer beginnings of the Umpqua-Rogue River country were narrated at the latest annual meeting October 27, 1917, by Mr. Dinger Hermann, formerly Commissfoner of the Gen- eral Land Office. The society was glad of the opportunity afforded by Mr. Hermann to review the history of the Southern Oregon region. The title of the address was "Southern Ore- gon, Incidents and Actors In Its History." The Quarterly will reproduce the narrative in the next ntunber. The gold activities of the Northwest, which started its progress, began in the valleys of Rogue and Umpqua rivers. Mr. Hermann came of a pioneer family and his narrative feels the pioneer spirit.
Death Roll of the SoaETY.
»
Death carried off eighteen members of the society in 1917.
309 iijm.9 4m OmuMiit
Tbe Oregop Pion^r Associatipp recoi-ded 368 (kaths of pio- neers in the Northwest betwc^en June 1, 1916, an4 May 31, 1917, of yfhom 300 bad never eproUed in the association. This necrology is printed annually in the association Transactions* That of the Oregc^n Historical Society may be noted as fol- lows for the year 1917 :
Anderson, Thomas M. — Bngadier-geneir^l U. S. A.; died May 8, 1917 ; served in civil war and Philippine war.
Breyman, Werner — Died November 20, 1916 ; pioneer mer- chant of Salem; came to Oregon, 185Q.
Brents, Thomas H.— Died October 23, 1916; delegate to Congress fxqm Washington Tierrjtory ; came to Oregon, 1852.
Butterfield, Horace S. — ^Died April 4, 1917 ; merchant jew- eler of Portland; invoitor of the Butterfield azimuth chro- nometer, used in navigation.
Cardwell, Dr. James R. — ^Died November 5, 1916; pioneer dentist of Portland; came to Oregon, 1852.
Craig, David Watson — Dutd December 17, 1916; pioneer journalist; came to Oregon^ 1853.
De Hart, Edward J. — ^Died November 18, 1916; pioneer hardware merchant of Portland ; came to Oregon, 1855.
Heilner, Sigmund A. — ^Died September 17, 1917; |Moneer merchant of Baker City; came to Oregon, 1852.
Isaacs, Mrs. Lucia Fulton — Died November 20, 1916; daughter of James Fulton, pioneer of Wasco County; came to Oregon, 1847.
Jackson, James — ^Brigadier-general U. S. A. ; died October 21, 1916; distinguished in Modoc Indian war, 1873.
Keady, William P.— Died September 16, 1917; formerly State Printer of Oregon ; frequent member of the Oregon Ltg- islature.
Lane, Harry— Died May 23, 1917; United States Senator from Oregon; bom in €>r^;oa, 1855.
Luckey, Mrs. Eunice Waters Robins — Died January 21, 1917; worker in early Indian schools.
Packwood, WiUiam H.— Died September 21, 1917; last sur
News and Comment 303
vivor of the Oregon Constitutional Convention of 1857 ; came to Or^;on, 1850.
Peaslee, George Livingston— Died March 30, 1917; many years an employing printer of Portland.
Schrdber, George R.— Died May 14, 1917; teacher.
Splawn, Andrew Jackson — Died March 2, 1917; formerly mayor of North Yakima; came to Oregon, 1852.
Wbealdon, Nathan — ^Died June 15, 1917; frequent member of Oregon Legislature; bom in Oregon, 1850.
STATE fflSTORICAL ACTIVITIES
Several states to which Oregon naturally looks for suggest tions are exhibiting interesting new developments in the organization and the work of their historical agencies. Thor- ough and systematic surveys are being conducted for locating and listing the source materials of their local and state his- tory ; and movements are started that will insure the safe-keep- ing and the use of the newly disclosed means to a more ade- quate history.
California Historical Survey Commission — Our neigh- bor on the south, California, has provided a historical survey commission to investigate the documents in local depositories and in the possession of private individuals and other sources of original information on the early history of the state. A scientific record will be made of all sources thus disclosed. This commission began its work in October, 1915. It is composed of three members. One was nominated by the regents of the University of California and one by the board of general officers of the Order of Native Sons of the Golden West. An advisory committee of eight members, composed of persons "of recog- nized ability and experience in dealing with materials of Cali- fornia history," is co-operating with the commission. A sec- retary and archivist has general supervision of its field work.
The preliminary report of this historical survey commission was issued in March, 1917. In it the commission protests emphatically that it is not writing a history of the state, nor is it engaged in the collection of historical documents. Its work is simply "to investigate documents and to compile and keep a report of such information as may be found in local depos- itories, in the possession of individuals and elsewhere, relating to the early history of the state."
It began its survey with the records of the various county archives and expects to extend its activities to the archives of the state and to the local federal offices. It is also listing
306 F. G. Young
the collections of public libraries, historical societies and other institutions, as well as documents in the possession of private individuals, as fast as its time and resources permit. Early newspaper files, the records of religious and social institu- tions and of business concerns are not being overlooked.
In connection with its work on the county archives it is concerned with determining their historical value and in indi- cating how they may be used by the student of the social sci- ences. It is applying the principles of archive science toward securing the best form and filing of records in the public offices, but also to make sure of their preservation. "While it is a felony for an official to destroy any public record en- trusted to his care, an investigation of the courthouses will show that many records of value to the research worker, often involving even such vital matters as land titles, are being crowded into damp basements, dusty, mice-infested attics, or into outbuildings used for wood, oil and even gasoline."
At the time of making its preliminary report the commission had about finished its work on the county archives and in- tended to turn to newspaper files and other lines of investiga- tion, mainly the records of the United States land offices and other local federal offices. Documents in private hands and in local public libraries have also been listed. It did not con- sider that such important collections as those in the State Library at Sacramento, the Bancroft collection at Berkeley, the Sutro collection, and that of the Golden Gate Park needed its immediate attention. They were ^afely housed and fairly well known. Nor ha4 it the me^ns to undertake so large a task.
The commission uses the second part of its preliminary report to give an historical analysis of tl^e archives of the county clerk. This is done for the purpose of illustrating one typical phase of the work connected with the survey of the county archives. In the third part a full report on the archives of Humboldt County is given as a sample of what the commis- sion will have for its final report, and also as an example of well preserved county archives.
State Histoucal Activities 307
As the commission has already discovered many documents of unique value in possession of private individuals and in local depositories, the suggesition of tiie publication of the texts of these naturally arises, in order that the results of the commis- sion's labors may be brought to full fruition.
Historical Field Work in the Middle West — ^The his- torical survey activity as conducted by the California commis- sion is but historical field work toned up to desirable standards of efficiency, thoroughness and continuity. The historical agencies of Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota have been active in recent years with this up-to-date field work. Instead of intermittent forays in search of materials, regular and sus- tained campaigns have been in progress in these states. Field work has been transformed into org^ized effort "to exhaust all practical possibilities" having "to do with the thoroughgoing conservation of the vast, yet unexplored and neglected histor- ical resources which abound, widely scattered, in every com- munity." The immediate object of this new systematized field work is to make known and permanently accessible, preferably in public depositories, all discoverable materials of history in a community. The ultimate aim must be to arouse the interest and to secure the co-operation of the community itself. The ideal conditions are achieved when each community is placed in permanent possession of all its historical treasures and is made permanently mindful of their value.
A changing conception of history and of their functions is impelling the historical agencies in these Middle West states to adopt this more scientific and intensive method with their field work. If history is to portray "the vast ongoing common life" of a community, no phase of community life, whether it be political, social, economic or otherwise. Can be overlooked. The realization of the ideal history of any community can be expected only after the accumulation, or at least tfie bringing to light, of all discoverable materials relating to the life of that community. Much as the increased demand for metals and the improved processes of ore reduction make profitable the use of low percentage and refractory ore beds, previously
308 F. G. Young
regarded as without value, so the broader conceptions of his- tory and the keener powers of interpretation of sources have developed a sense of need for this intensive and exhaustive field work. Regularly organized campaigns of search and education in the field in Middle West states are in progress in pursuance of this new appreciation of historical sources.
In Minnesota the work is still in its initial stages. A field agent of the state historical society is to visit each county and make an inventory of the county archives. He is also to search for material of historical value in private hands, securing the same for the society whenever possible, and finally he is to encourage in every possible way local historical activity. The more definite task of this field agent is to inventory the county archives ; his attention to other objects depends upon develop- ments in the field. These are reported as most encouraging. A guide book to the county records will be realized Condi- tions of the records, of keeping and preserving them, are noted, with the view of effecting improvements and enhancing their usefulness for administration and for historical pur- poses.
A definite effort is made also to enlist the interest of some one person in each locality, who will agree to keep on the look- out for material ; one who will either take steps to secure such material, or inform the society about it ; one, in short, who will act as a sort of representative of the society in his community.
In Illinois this line of investigation has attained a more advanced stage. In 1915 a volume on County Archives of the State of Illinois, as Vol. 12 of the Illinois Historical Collec- tions, was issued. The Illinois Historical Survey has the work in charge.
In Michigan the historical commission is placing special reliance upon county and other local historical societies in carrying out the purposes of systematic field work. Under an elaborate system of accrediting county historical societies will be invited to co-operate in collecting manuscripts and printed materials now widely scattered in private homes. The first issue of the Michigan Historical Magazine, dated July, 1917, includes extensive reports on the organization and activities of county and other local historical societies, and on the his- torical work of local chapters of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution.
In line with this general campaign to make available the materials relating to Michigan history, the historical commis- sion has nearly completed a bibliography of the printed mate- rials. This was accomplished in co-operation with the local libraries in the state and with the Library of Congress. This bibliography, with the index planned for it, will enable the user to find readily all material relating to any event in the life of the state. The entries will show in what libraries the specific items may be consulted.
The first publication of the University series of the commis- sion's publications is Economic and Social History of Michi- gan. It is a careful study of settlement of the lower peninsula during the territorial period, 1806-1837.
The Indiana Centennial of Statehood— To promote the proper observance of the centennial of Indiana's admission to the Union the Indiana Historical Commission was created in 1915. The formal celebration took place at Indianapolis on December 11, 1916. The centennial address was delivered by James A. Woodbum of the department of history of the State University, on the theme, "The Foundation of the Com- monwealth." A centennial ode was read by William D. Foulke. The permanent tangible results of the commission's work are appearing in a series of bulletins and in a series of volumes containing documentary material relating to different phases of the state's history. These include one on Indiana as Seen by Early Travelers, a collection of reprints from books of travel, letters and diaries, prior to 1830. Two of these volumes constitute a set on Constitution Making on Indiana, a source book of constitutional documents with historical introduction and critical notes. The material centers about the two constitutions under which Indiana has been governed in the course of one hundred years— the constitution of 1816 and that of 1857. Two additional volumes are planned to include the message of the governors from territorial days to 1851.
Plans for the Illinois Centennial Celebration—Three historical agencies in Illinois are concentrating their energies on the preparation for the celebration of the statehood centennial anniversary in 1918. A general state-wide and local celebrations are planned. Episodes in Illinois history will be staged by suitable pageantry. A centennial history of five volumes has been contracted for. The preliminary volume surveying Illinois conditions in 1818 is published. The centemfial memo- rial building commission has raised the $100,000 to be added to the $125,000 appropriated by the geneial assembly Idr the erection of a montmient to the state's progress in tl^ la^ one hundred years.