Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 6/The Historical Conference
THE HISTORICAL CONFERENCE.
The historical congress arranged for through the cooperation of the Oregon Historical Society and the Pacific Coast branch of the American Historical Association with the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Committee on Congresses held sessions at Portland on August 21, 22, and 23. As a Pacific Coast meeting it had the great good fortune to secure the presence and participation in its deliberations of Professor E. G. Bourne of Yale University, Dr. R. G. Thwaites of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Professor Benjamin F. Shambaugh of Iowa University, and Mr. James K. Hosmer of Minneapolis. Principal William I. Marshall of Chicago was also in attendance and participated in the discussions.
The first session was held on the evening of the 21st in the First Presbyterian Church. The Honorable William D. Fenton, acting-president of the Oregon Historical Society, presided. In a paper on "The Unity of History," Honorable H. W. Scott, editor of the Morning Oregonian, discussed the meaning and use of history. These he held to consist in the relation of cause and effect between events. The two main factors that determine the ordered course of evolution in the history of mankind are "characteristics of race and variation of physical circumstances." While "every great man is a product of his time and of times preceding his own" and "works in conditions and upon materials that he finds round about him," yet he is capable of starting "great changes," accelerating "every movement about him," giving "force and direction to unorganized activities" and hurrying "forward to results tendencies of the age or time." Using these ideas the author gave characteristic interpretations of some of the great epochs in the history of the race.[1]
The second paper of the evening was given by Professor Bourne, who discussed some of the salient facts in Oregon history prior to 1840. After some keen characterization of the earlier movements of exploration of the Pacific Northwest, in relation to the general movement of exploration of the continent and pointing out of parallels between the occupation of Oregon and the settlement of the Atlantic Coast, he developed the part Congressman John Floyd of Virginia had in bringing the interests of the United States in the Oregon Country to the attention of Congress. Professor Bourne was inclined to give Mr. Floyd the credit for taking the initiative in the agitation of the Oregon Question that has more commonly been assigned to Hall J. Kelley. It was Floyd who first applied the name "Oregon" to this region. It before had been used to designate only a river. For these services of Floyd Professor Bourne thought him deserving of more prominent recognition among the makers of Oregon. The expression which conveys the idea of a saving of Oregon Professor Bourne thought originated with Senator Thomas H. Benton, but he took the ground that there was never a condition of fact warranting its application.[2]
Mr. Hosmer reviewed the points of significance in the exploration of Lewis and Clark, using the Greek myth of the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, to indicate the distinctive character, exploits, and methods of Lewis and Clark among American explorers.
The sessions of the second day were taken up with a conference on the "organization and development of historical activities on the Pacific Coast." Mr. Thwaites was in charge and had the conference take on an informal and round-table character from the start. Professor Sharnbaugh, who as a me-mber of the special committee of the American Historical Association investigating this subject had been assigned the societies west of the Mississippi River, reported on the condition and prospects of these organizations. He distinguished the different types of state societies to be found and developed generalizations as to the leading lines of activities essential to a normally constituted state historical society. These functions were, he thought, the collection of historical materials, the publication of historical contributions, and the supervision of research work. In a natural organization of activities local societies work in harmony with the state society and the latter would coördinate its work with that of the American Historical Association. Probably the most pressing need in the work of the state historical societies is that of a critical appreciation of sources and the prosecution of lines of critical investigation. For this reason the state societies should keep in touch with colleges and universities. In conclusion Professor Sharnbaugh spoke of the special work characteristic of some of the leading societies of the West. As George W. Martin, secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, was present, he was called upon by Doctor Thwaites to explain the special methods, aims, and successes of the Kansas society.
As the Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration was inspired by the Oregon Historical Society, and this congress was largely under its auspices, it was natural that the Oregon society should receive special attention. It had been concerned to get the counsel of specialists on its problems. There was a statement of the conditions in its field affecting its work and an outline of its plans for the future. The plasticity still retained by the social organization of the Far West gave special warrant for an emphasis on ideals. The exigent need of the best light of experience for the solution of state problems called for an active and intimate connection of the work of the society with the life of the commonwealth.
The assets out of which the society had developed its strength were the great wealth of pioneer sentiment and special charm of an heroic past in its community's life. On these it had grafted an appreciation of the importance of the collection and publication of contemporary records. It was not confronted by any rivals. But owing to the separation of the center of population from the State capital and the home of the State University, an ideal location for the society was impossible. This space problem is, however, recognized as a matter of diminishing importance in library activity. That the society might become the center of vigorous historical activities in the State, it was held, that it must build up a library of research, maintain meetings from which the largest benefits of association and coöperation are derived, must supervise the archives of the State, and conduct administrative and legislative reference library for the commonwealth. The assumption of these functions in the life of the Oregon commonwealth would be in harmony with the widest application of the principle of cooperation among the agencies for the promotion of the higher interests of its people; it would bring into largest and most effective play scientific methods and principles for the shaping of the future of Oregon; and would at the same time result in the best selection of data for future history and provide for the highest utilization of them from day to day.
The afternoon session of the 22d was taken up with reports by representatives of the different States and sections of the Pacific Coast. The Hon. C. B. Bagley, president of the Washington State University Historical Society, though unable to be present, had sent a statement on the Washington historical activities. He spoke of the important early individual work of Elwood Evans and James G. Swan. The "Washington State Historical Society" was organized at Tacoma in 1891. Owing to indifferent support and failure to receive State aid it had about lapsed. However, its present secretary, Mr. Edwin Eells, was in attendance on the conference, and reported the steps taken to merge with the recently organized Washington State University Historical Society. Mr. T. C. Elliott represented the Walla Walla country, and Mr. Trimble from Spokane expressed strong interest in the prospects of cooperation among the Coast societies. Ezra Meeker, a pioneer who came across the plains in 1852, spoke of his plans to retrace the "Old Oregon Trail" and mark its location at points of interest. This was to be the first step to secure some action to perpetuate its memory. Professor J. R. Robertson of Pacific University, one of the small band of investigators in Oregon, spoke enthusiastically of the opportunities that the field afforded in all lines of research. Professor C. A. Duniway of Stanford University described what was being done by societies engaged in historical activities in California. The pioneer associations had done good work in gathering some valuable memoirs. The Native Sons had assisted in this work and the Landmarks League was rendering good service in preserving and marking historical sites in the State. Professor Duniway urged such organization of the societies of the Pacific Coast as would secure an annual meeting for the discussion of papers and the promotion of research.
Governor Prince of Sante Fé president of the historical society of New Mexico, gave a very interesting talk on the wealth of historical material in the Territory of New Mexico. There were three distinct epochs of history there, the present epoch reaching back to the time of the American occupation of the country, from that to the beginning of the Spanish dominion of the country, and prior to that there were the centuries when a marvelous civilization held sway.
Professor E. G. Bourne spoke from the standpoint of an Eastern student who had had occasion to investigate closely some phases of Oregon history. He counseled cooperation and the encouragement of private collectors. Miss Mary Frances Isom of the Portland Public Library told of the collection of Oregoniana that had been made by that institution. Active efforts in this line had been interrupted, but they were to be resumed. Mrs. Eva Emery Dye argued that the race of people found on this coast by the first white men were descendants of Asiatic races through stray shiploads stranded on these shores and had retrograded from higher planes of civilization. Mr. George H. Himes, whose duties as assistant secretary of the Oregon society has given him large experience as a collector of historical material, spoke of some of the conditions met with in that work.
The degree of isolation that the historical organizations of the Pacific Coast have to contend with deprives them of the advantages of division of labor and cooperation, of the aid of mutual suggestion, and the stimulus of emulation. It was proposed through federation to obviate these disadvantages as. much as possible. A committee was appointed, consisting of Professor F. G. Young of Oregon, Professor C. A. Duniway of California, Professor E. S. Meany of Washington, Professor E. M. Hulme of Idaho, and Professor ____ of Utah. This committee is to devise and put into operation such a plan of union of the historical societies, state and local, of the Pacific Coast, and apply for such affiliation with the American Historical Association as will secure the largest measure of cooperation and thus promote activities of collection of sources and of prosecution of historical research.
The session of the third day was under the auspices of the Pacific Coast Branch of the Americal Historical Assoelation. Professor Joseph Schafer of the University of Oregon presented a paper on "The Location of the Sources of the History of the Pacific Northwest." He pointed out the principal epochs in the development of this region, and gave a critical estimate of the value of the different sources of the history of each epoch. He used as a nucleus bibliography, to be segregated and supplemented, the lists given in H. H. Bancroft's volumes on the "Pacific Northwest" and "Oregon." A general statement of the contents of each of the principal collections on the coast was then given.
The last paper of the congress was read by Professor C. A. Duniway. His subject was "Slavery and the Negro Question in California." He showed that, notwithstanding the formation and adoption of a constitution excluding slavery, almost immediately decidedly pro-slavery leanings were exhibited by the judicial, administrative, and legislative authorities in the State. Not a few slaves were held in the State until freed by the Lincoln's proclamation and the adoption of the thirteenth amendment. The State passed several laws denying equal civil and political rights to the freedmen. These facts were elicited from court records, manumission papers, and interviews with colored people who had been held in bondage, as well as from contemporary newspapers.
A pleasant social feature of the congress had been the daily gathering around the history tables for luncheon at the American Inn. The spirit and enthusiasm of the congress had a fitting culmination at the banquet tendered on the evening of the third day at this Inn by Mr. and Mrs. William D. Fenton to the speakers at the congress and others in attendance from abroad. The social and historical success of the congress was strongly in evidence in the sentiments expressed by our honored guests from beyond the mountains and the plains.
- ↑ This address of Mr. Scott's is given in full as the first paper of this number of the Quarterly.
- ↑ This address of Professor Bourne's is given in full as the second paper of this number of the Quarterly.