Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 31/In Memory of Albert Hawkins
IN MEMORY OF ALBERT HAWKINS
By Ben Hur Lampman
To many of the readers of The Oregon Historical Quarterly the name of Albert Hawkins, as a historian, is sufficiently familiar—since in the very nature of inclinations and contacts they were brought into communion with the writer who for so many years, but always with careful effacement of self, contributed historical articles to the editorial page of The Oregonian. Beyond these, however, the man and his important work remain unknown—as he, indeed, preferred—but it is not an idle tribute to say of him that no historian ever has written more authoritatively, brilliantly and interestingly of the Oregon country, or with a more unselfish concept of true service.
The recent death of Mr. Hawkins is regarded, among those who knew him, as a distinct loss to what may be styled the historical cause of Oregon. As an editorial writer on The Oregonian he followed, in this respect, the footsteps of the late Harvey W. Scott, conceiving not only that history is the recorded drama of humanity—and comedy, as well—but that it should be made familiar to all, to the end that all may know the origins of their dwelling places, and the true story of their predecessors and forebears. Doubtless he would have been inclined to the study and analysis of history in any other region, had he been placed there, but certainly he found in the history of Oregon that significance and vitality which unfailingly inspired him.
Apart from his historical contributions to The Oregonian, over a long period, the work of Mr. Hawkins in this field was relatively restricted. It is true that he collaborated with Charles H. Carey in the preparation of data for Carey's History of Oregon, and that the labor and research incidental to this task were of great proportions. It also is true that he contributed occasionally to The Oregon Historical Quarterly and other similar northwestern publications, and that his counsel was often sought by institutes of learning. But these excursions from the beaten path of his career were, as contrasted with the whole, no more than occasional, as their product was minor, whatever its volume or importance, when compared with the uncollected mass of historical writings under his authorship which are scattered throughout the files of The Oregonian.
His passion for Oregon history—or, as he would have it, the history of the Oregon country, a term he loved—was reflected in his recreational life. This is by no means a random surmise, although it was never confirmed by his admission. Recreation, aside from social and intellectual contacts, was to him a lonely journeying in the forest or the mountains—and the more difficult and hazardous the undertaking, the better it pleased him. These he called his "walking trips," and toward them he looked with eagerness, planning through the year against the annual vacation. He camped alone and contentedly far from any house, in any weather, and to be lost in the rugged coast country he found enjoyable. To none of his more intimate associates were these solitary adventurings successfully disguised. He was, in effect, living for a period of a few days or weeks the life that the trail-blazers lived, and the mountain men, and the map-makers. But this he would indignantly have denied. It may be added that his favorite hero was the almost unknown, in any popular sense, Jedediah Smith.
His private collection of Oregoniana is exceptionally interesting, complete and valuable, and it was characteristic of him that he should instruct Mrs. Hawkins, in the event of his death, that it was not to be sold, save under necessity, but eventually bestowed as a gift to some small university or college. Such as have the real interest in history will realize how important to him was the discovery or purchase of an old and tattered volume on his favorite theme. He was an indefatigable collector of works which treat of Oregon history, of works and of isolated facts. A tremendous amount of material, of his own preparation, gleaned from thousands of sources, was in process of final arrangement and indexing at the time of his death. It was largely from this, one understands, he had intended to prepare a text book of the Oregon country. And that he was prevented, by the final urgency, from carrying out this work, cannot be too greatly regretted.
The self-effacement of Albert Hawkins undoubtedly was the one factor that denied him widespread recognition during his life. In a sense, it was unfortunate that the very able newspaperman did not desert journalism and embrace history as his calling. Had he done so his reputation as a historian would have been assured, and he might even have attained to renown. Yet in all likelihood his service as historian was more general in effect, by virtue of his journalistic contributions, than ever it could have been had he applied himself exclusively to the preparation of books. He himself would declare that he chose wisely, when he elected to talk with frequency and interest, to an audience of newspaper readers, scarcely any of whom were aware of his identity. It contented him. And beyond question the public knowledge of northwestern history must have obtained considerable advantage from his contributions to The Oregonian. His was an easy, direct and tolerant instruction.
A year from now, a score of years from now, and for long after, the files of The Oregonian will be sought by students and writers for the materials he introduced. It will constitute no small recognition of his worth.