William A. Langille papers , 1891-1955

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Langille, W. A., 1858-1956
Title
William A. Langille papers
Dates
1891-1955 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.5 linear feet, (1 container)
Collection Number
Ax 635
Summary
William A. Langille (1869-1956) came with his family to Hood River, Oregon in 1882. The Langille family operated the Cloud Cap Inn on Mt. Hood. Langille was a prospector in the Klondyke gold fields and Alaska state forester; eventually he was appointed forest manager for the Oregon State Parks Department. This collection contains correspondence, short stories, articles and reports that focus on his time in Alaska, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Oregon.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

William A. Langille was born in 1869 in Nova Scotia. In 1882, he came to Hood River, Oregon where the Langille family was associated with the construction and operation of the Cloud Cap Inn. Construction began in 1889 and they operated the inn from 1891 until 1906. William and his brother, Harold D. "Doug" Langille, were early climbers and guides on the mountain. In 1897 William went prospecting in the Klondyke gold fields. A few years later, in 1903, he was appointed forester of Alaska. Many of the manuscripts and some of the diaries in this collection reflect on his time spent in that area. Due to his association with Alaskan lumber companies, he was hired in 1912 by the Paulista Lumber Company to report on the Brazilian forest. After World War I, Langille worked for the forest service and the Oregon State Parks Department.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The William A. Langille papers consist of scattered diaries, letters, and historical articles on Alaska and Oregon, and photographs (mainly of Brazil). In Series I: Correspondence, the major correspondent is Samuel H. Boardman, the first Oregon Parks superintendent. Among the manuscripts found in this collection is a biography of Boardman. Langille and his younger brother, Harold D. Doug Langille corresponded most of their adult life. This collection includes correspondence received from Doug and his correspondence to William. With the W.A. Langille papers are the papers of Harold D. Langille (1874-1954), a forester and engineer. His papers include letters to his brother, William, written between 1935 and 1953 from mining areas in western Idaho and Sonora, Mexico. There are also 72 letters written from France, 1917-1919, when Doug was a major in the 505th Engineer Service Brigade.

Series II: Reports, Manuscripts, Publications, contains two short stories about Alaska and numerous papers covering forestry topics concerning Alaska and Oregon. The diaries in this collection focus mainly on Langille's life in Oregon but also include a diary from his four months spent in Sao Paulo, Brazil. During his stay in Brazil, Langille was an avid photographer and this collection includes a large portion of photographs and 2.5x5 black and white negatives of this area. These photographs document Brazilian native life and natural environment. Other subjects include Alaska and Oregon. The final series includes Langille mementos, awards, citations, and photographs.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Foresters--Alaska
  • Forests and forestry--Alaska
  • Forests and forestry--Brazil
  • Forests and forestry--Oregon
  • Prospecting--Yukon--Klondike River Valley

Personal Names

  • Boardman, Samuel Herbert, 1874-1953
  • Langille, H. D. (Harold Douglas), 1874-1954

Corporate Names

  • Cloud Cap Inn (Parkdale, Or.)
  • Oregon. State Parks and Recreation Division

Geographical Names

  • Alaska--Photographs
  • Brazil--Photographs
  • Oregon--Photographs
  • Säao Paulo (Brazil)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Diaries
  • Photographs