Archives West Finding Aid
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Oregon Provisional Government and Territorial Government records, 1841-1916
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Oregon Territory (Provisional government, 1843-1849)
- Title
- Oregon Provisional Government and Territorial Government records
- Dates
- 1841-1916 (inclusive)18411916
- Quantity
- 0.5 cubic feet, (1 slim document case; 2 oversize folders (20x24))
- Collection Number
- Mss 1226
- Summary
- Collection consists of original and transcribed records of the Oregon Provisional Government, which existed from 1843-1849, and of the Oregon Territorial Government, which existed from 1849-1859. Original records include promissory notes, court documents, land claim documents, a tax assessment roll, and a book of laws, while transcribed documents include records and correspondence about legislation, as well as the estate of Ewing Young, whose death without a will highlighted the need for a government in the Oregon Territory.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Oregon Provisional Government was formed with the passing of the Organic Law on July 5, 1843, following the Champoeg meetings that May, where Euro-American emigrants and Hudson's Bay Company employees voted on whether to establish a provisional government for the Oregon country. Euro-American emigrants to Oregon had determined that a governmental structure was necessary to handle issues such as organizing the protection of livestock from predatory animals and settling the estate of Ewing Young, who had died in 1841 without a will.
The Provisional Government consisted of a three-member executive committee, a secretary, a treasurer, and a nine-member legislative committee. In 1845, the three-member executive committee was replaced by a single governor, a role which George Abernethy (1807-1877) filled. The Provisional Government passed laws, instituted taxes, and established a militia in the form of the Oregon Rangers.
In 1848, the United States Congress created the Oregon Territory, and the Provisional Government came to an end in March 1849 with the arrival of Joseph Lane (1801-1881), who had been appointed governor of the Oregon Territory. The Territorial Government lasted until 1859, when Oregon was admitted as the 33rd state of the United States.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes original and transcribed records of the Oregon Provisional Government and Oregon Territorial Government. Original documents include a volume of laws; promissory notes for Joseph Gale, William Holmes, Asa Lovejoy, the Oregon Institute, and Francis Pettygrove; a document appointing David Leslie to administrate the estate of Ewing Young; court notices, summons, receipt, and petition; land claim documents; and tax assessments. Most transcribed records were copied by George R. Schreiber and Esther L. Plumer (later Esther Schreiber McGraw) from materials held at the Oregon State Capitol in 1913 and 1916, and they include a significant amount of correspondence and records regarding Ewing Young and his estate. The transcribed records and correspondence also relate to legislation passed by the Provisional and Territorial governments. Individuals represented in these records include George Abernethy, Joseph Lane, and John McLoughlin.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Oregon Provisional Government and Territorial Government records, Mss 1226, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Tax assessment roll, gift of Henry E. Reed, August 1929 (RL2021-056-RETRO). Transcribed records by George R. Schreiber and Esther L. Plumer were most likely gift of George R. Schreiber in 1914 and in 1916 or 1917 (RL2021-062-RETRO, RL2021-063-RETRO). Oregon Institute promissory note most likely acquired in 1903 (RL2021-064-RETRO). Promissory notes of Joseph Gale, Asa Lovejoy, and Francis W. Pettygrove, as well as Washington County court petition, gift of Richard H. Corning (Lib. Acc. 14294). All other materials most likely acquired in either the late 19th or early 20th century (RL2021-065-RETRO).
Location of Originals
Originals of transcribed documents held in the Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon.
Processing Note
Collection was titled "Oregon Provisional Government records" prior to reprocessing in July 2021.
Related Materials
Copies of records held at the Oregon State Archives are available on microfilm at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library under the title "Oregon Provisional and Territorial Government Records Access Project."
Related Materials
Ewing Young account book, Mss 499, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Bibliography
Scott, Leslie M. "Oregon's Provisional Government, 1843-1849." Oregon Historical Quarterly, Volume 30, No. 3 (September 1929), pages 207-217.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Book of laws passed by the Oregon Provisional Government | 1845 |
| 1 | 2 | Appointment of David Leslie to administrate the estate of Ewing Young | 1841 April 15 |
| 1 | 3 | County court notices, summons, and receipt | 1846-1853 |
| 1 | 4 | Washington County Probate Court petition to construct a road from Portland | 1850 May 7 |
| 1 | 5 | Land claim records | 1846 |
| 1 | 6 | Promissory note of Joseph Gale to H. Burns for $131 | 1844 November 5 |
| 1 | 7 | Promissory note of William Holmes for $1 | 1848 June 7 |
| 1 | 8 | Promissory note of Asa Lovejoy for $10 with 6% interest | 1847 March 25 |
| 1 | 9 | Promissory note from Oregon Institute to Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church for $260 | 1844 |
| 1 | 10 | Promissory note of Francis W. Pettygrove for $28.51 with 6% interest | 1848 May 26 |
| Folder | |||
| Oversize 1 | Tax assessment roll (original) | 1844 | |
| Oversize 2 | Tax assessment roll (preservation copies) | 1844 | |
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 11 | Handwritten transcript of court records dated January 15-17, 1844 | circa 1915 |
| 1 | 12 | Handwritten transcript by George R. Schreiber and second person (likely Esther L. Plumer) of records dated 1838-1879 relating to Ewing Young and his estate | 1916 |
| 1 | 13 | Handwritten transcript by George R. Schreiber of Oregon Provisional Government and Oregon Territorial Government records dated 1844-1857 | 1916 |
| 1 | 14 | Handwritten transcript of Oregon Territorial Government records of 1849 | circa 1915 |
| 1 | 15-16 | Typed transcript by George R. Schreiber and Esther L. Plumer of Oregon Provisional Government and Oregon Territorial Government records dated 1844-1853 | 1913 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Corporate Names
- Oregon Territory. Governor
- Oregon Territory. Legislative Assembly
Geographical Names
- Oregon Territory--Politics and government
Form or Genre Terms
- government records
- promissory notes
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- McGraw, Esther Schreiber, 1892-1957 (transcriber)
- Schreiber, George R. (George Raemer), 1882-1917 (transcriber)
Corporate Names
- Oregon Territory. Governor
- Oregon Territory. Legislative Assembly (creator)
