Archives West Finding Aid

The Ben Westlund Papers document Westlund's political career in Oregon as State Legislator and State Senator from central Oregon and as State Treasurer. The Papers includes a variety of materials including appointment calendars, artifacts, CDs, certificates, correspondence, DVDs, floppy disks, flyers, newspaper clippings, notes, phone message books, photographs, plaques, scrapbooks, speeches, and videotapes. The materials reflect Westlund's legislative activities, his 2006 campaign for Oregon Governor, his mid-career switch from the Republican to Democratic Party, and his brief tenure as State Treasurer of Oregon. Legislative issues addressed in the Papers include healthcare reform, civil unions for same-sex couples, state foreclosure laws, the creation of the Oregon Cultural Trust, and protection and preservation of the Metolius River.

The photographs (140 prints and 39 negatives) include portrait photographs of Westlund and depict parties given in Westlund's honor, outreach events at the State Capitol, Westlund in legislative session, and Westlund visiting the OSU Cascades campus in Bend. Eleven CDs include digital images. The video recordings include 35 VHS videotapes, 54 DVDs, 82 mini-DV digital videotapes, and 6 Betacam videotapes. The videos depict campaign advertisements for television as well as recordings of public speeches by Westlund, legislative sessions, and Westlund appearing as a guest on the Community Cook television program. Sound recordings of radio advertisements and interviews are available on 8 CDs. The artifacts include campaign memorabilia, buttons, decals, pens, a banner, pennants, and wall decorations.

The collection includes some materials that pre-date Westlund's political career -- notes, an appointment calendar, and a journal.