Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 37/New Portrait of Dr. McLoughlin
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Dr . John McLOUGHLIN
(From a daguerreotype recently found ) NEW PORTRAIT OF DR. MCLOUGHLIN
By T. C. ELLIOTT
WITH DESTRUCTION of the state house at Salem the large oil painting of Doctor John McLoughlin, which hung in the senate chamber, went up in smoke. In due time the state will, no doubt, replace that portrait with another. When that occurs the artist will have for study another picture of this grand old man who is now widely honored as the Father of Oregon. The face most familiar to Oregonians is that with the beautifully kept and luxuriant white hair flowing down to the shoulders, the chin resting on the old style stock, the eyes without distinctive color, and without lines indicating age or sternness. The expression is suggestive of a rather strong light. The daguerreotype process of picture making was in use when the picture was taken. The name of the maker and date is not known, but it was probably made at Oregon City in the early fifties. Dr. McLoughlin resided there from 1845 until his death in 1857 at the age of seventy-three years.
It happens that another daguerreotype, presumably taken at the same time, has come to light. In this one the head and bust are a trifle smaller, indicating a little further distance from the operator, the eyes are not as prominent and the expression that of mingled sadness and sternness, indicative of the sorrowful state of mind in which he passed his last years. There is more dignity and naturalness in pose perhaps, though both are very much alike.
This second daguerreotype has come from the far-away state of Maine, and is in the possession of the great-granddaughters of Doctor McLoughlin, the Misses Myrick, of Portland. Their father was a native of Maine. A daughter of his sister sent this to the Misses Myrick, and the Oregon Historical Society has been permitted to copy it for publication.
This brief comment offers opportunity for another, which is quite pertinent. In recent years, since 1900, because of his striking figure and snow-white hair, Doctor McLoughlin has been dramatically referred to as the White Headed Eagle. The authority for this description is contained in a letter in the files of the Oregon Historical Society, written April 10, 1892, by David McLoughlin, son of the Doctor, then living at Port Hill, Idaho, as follows: "The Indians called him Pee-kin—the White Headed Eagle of the Whites.” Whether the Indians of the lower or of the upper Columbia are referred to the writer does not know. (The name does not appear in Chinook dictionaries). But during research of the last forty years he has had occasion to read a great many letters written at Fort Vancouver by associates of Dr. McLoughlin there, and also reports by visitors there, official and otherwise, and has no recollection of seeing this name mentioned therein. It seems reasonable to assert that such designation was not in common use during the fur trade period and has found place in Oregon literature only during late years.