Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Mary Peters Papers, 1856-1995
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Siletz Culture Department
- Title
- Mary Peters Papers
- Dates
- 1856-1995 (inclusive)18561995
1923-1994 (bulk)19231994 - Quantity
- 0.2 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- OrSlTCC Peters
- Summary
- Collection materials follow the life of “Indian Mary” Peters and her daughters, Rosetta Farlow and Lillian Fairfield. A majority of the collection focuses on the inheritance and sale of Mary's homestead near Grants Pass.
- Repository
-
Confederated Tribes of the Siletz, Tribal Cultural Collections
402 Government Hill Rd
Siletz, OR
97380
Telephone: 5414442450
robertk@ctsi.nsn.us - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- Collection materials are in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for preparing this finding aid was provided through a grant rewarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
“Indian Mary” Peters was the daughter of Umpqua Joe, a Grave Creek tribal member who warned miners and settlers of an approaching attack. Umpqua Joe operated a ferry that transported miners and supplies across the Rogue River until his death during a shoot-out with his son-in-law on November 13, 1886. On November 30, 1886, Peters filed a homestead claim for her father's land and received the title to the 72.34 acre property in 1894. Peters continued to operate the ferry until 1894 when she moved her family to Grants Pass. Of Mary's five children, two daughters survived to adulthood, Rosetta Farlow and Lillian Fairfield. Both daughters attended the Siletz Agency School. In 1920, Peters moved to Salem to live closer to her daughters and passed away in 1921. In 1958, Josephine County purchased Peter's former homestead and created the Indian Mary Park.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection follows the life and family of “Indian Mary” Peters and the creation of the Indian Mary Park from her former homestead. Correspondence and interviews discuss the inheritance of Mary's homestead and its subsequent owners.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Allotment of land--Oregon
- Parks--Oregon--Josephine County
Geographical Names
- Grants Pass (Or.)
- Salem (Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Articles
- Correspondence
- Newspaper clippings
- Photocopies