Oscar F. Cooke family papers, 1856-1971

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Cooke, Oscar F.
Title
Oscar F. Cooke family papers
Dates
1856-1971 (inclusive)
1886-1971 (bulk)
Quantity
8.8 cubic feet, (15 document cases, 3 flat boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
Coll 44
Summary
Papers and photographs of the family of Oscar F. Cooke of Portland, Oregon, including records of the West Hills Winery, records of the estates of Oscar and Ella Cooke, papers of Mary Lepper, Helen Lovin, and other relatives, and family photographs. Most of the materials, which date largely from the late 1880s to the early 1960s, are financial in nature and involve real estate holdings and estate litigation. Winery records include details on wine making operations and floor plans of the winery building.
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

The collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding for additional processing and revisions to this finding aid was provided by the OHS Wine Archives fund.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Oscar F. Cooke was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1869, the son of Herman and Matilda Cooke. He came to Portland from San Francisco with his parents, at the age of 7, but the family relocated to a land claim in Idaho and later settled near Fort Walla Walla. One of Cooke’s brothers, Hermon, became a lawyer, settling first in Tenopah, Nevada, and later in Reno. Another brother, James Daniel ("Dan") Cooke, was a farmer near Hillsdale, Oregon. Oscar Cooke returned to Portland in 1896 and started a general store at Sylvan. He became part owner of the Sylvan Brick Company, and later was a building contractor, farmer, and owner of numerous rental properties. He owned property throughout Multnomah and Washington Counties in Oregon, as well as in the City of Portland and southern Washington State. He began the West Hills Winery in the late 1930s and ran the enterprise until the early 1950s. He died in Portland in 1955.

Cooke was married in 1901 to Ella Marie Gateley (1877-1957), daughter of John Gateley (an Oregon pioneer of 1859), but the couple had no children. Ella’s sister, Mary Gateley Lepper (d. 1947), married John Lepper (d. 1915), and their daughter, Helen Lepper, married Clarence Lovin, who worked for a time for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation.

After the death of Oscar and Ella Cooke, Ella’s niece, Helen Lepper Lovin, served as the executrix of the estate with the assistance of Portland attorney John Woerndle. There were many legal issues involved, including a conflict with John Vermillion, who had worked for the Cookes in the winery and who claimed to have been promised a portion of their legacy. Due to this and other problems, the estate was not settled until the mid 1960s.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Cooke family papers consist primarily of business and real estate records, papers relating to the estates of Oscar and Ella Cooke, personal papers and family photographs, and records of the West Hills Winery. The winery records are largely financial in nature, but forms submitted to state and federal authorities provide details of the wine-making operation in the late 1930s and 1940s. Also included among the winery records are floor plans of the buildings, submitted as part of an application to install storage vats.

The papers relating to the Cooke estate document real estate holdings and transactions, primarily for properties in the city of Portland and in Washington County, Oregon. Much of the estate material was created by lawyer John Woerndle. Also included among the papers of Mary Lepper and Helen Lovin are records relating to real estate holdings in San Francisco.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Preferred Citation

Oscar F. Cooke family papers, Coll 44, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series A: West Hills Winery records, 1930-1957
  • Series B: Oscar F. Cooke papers, 1898-1966
  • Series C: Ella Cooke papers, 1889-1971
  • Series D: Other family members' papers, 1856-1946
  • Series E: Photographs, circa 1870-1952

Custodial History

Much of the collection was preserved by Helen Lepper Lovin in the course of litigating the estate of Oscar and Ella Cooke. The materials were eventually gathered by Mrs. Lovin's son, James Marsh, who donated them to the Oregon Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Library Accession nos. 26030, 26545, and 27301.

Processing Note

Much of the collection originally consisted of loose and unorganized papers. In processing, rough categories were created based on provenance, but some overlap remained, especially among the papers of the various estates.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series A:  West Hills Winery records, 1930-1957Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1
Accounts ledger
1938-1946
1/2
Accounts ledger
1941-1944
1/3
Cash ledger with fragmentary accounts
1938-1940
1/4
Correspondence and documents re: Federal label approval, insurance, and inspections
1936-1948
1/5
Financial journal
1939-1947
1/6
Financial notes and correspondence
1930-1957; undated
Invoices from letter box
Box/Folder
1/7
A-B
1944-1945
1/8
C-D
1941-1945
1/9
E-M
1937-1945
1/10
N-P
1941-1945
1/11
R-Z
1939-1945
Box/Folder
2/1
Invoices, general
1946-1948
2/2
Labels for bottles
circa 1940
16/4
Ledger
1941-1948
2/3
Ledger, receipts and disbursements
1945-1954
2/4
Privilege tax audits
1938-1948
Box
2/5
Record books
1948; undated
Box/Folder
2/6
State Highway Commission--Correspondence re: moving buildings
1947-1953
2/7
Stationary
undated
2/8
Storage tank applications
1938
Oversize Folder
Storage tank application--Blueprints and plans of winery
1936-1938
2/9
Tax statements
1943-1944
2/10
Wine approval forms, State of Oregon
1939-1948
17/1-4
Winemaker's reports to Federal Government
1937-1948

Series B:  Oscar F. Cooke papers, 1898-1966Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Personal papers
Box/Folder
2/11
Address book
circa 1950
2/12
Boats and ships
1927-1933
2/13
Business correspondence
1951-1956
2/14
Contracts, general
1913-1949
2/15
Correspondence with L. B. Sandblast re: suit involving city
1930
17/6
Enders, John E.--Life insurance policy
1921
2/16
International Protective Association letter
1911 June 16
2/17
Lang Syne Society
1954-1955
2/18
Letters from J. H. Neilson, Oakland, Calif.
1953-1955
2/19
Obituary of Oscar F. Cooke
1955
2/20
O. F. Cooke General Merchandise, Sylan, Oregon--Receipts
1904; 1908
2/21
Personal correspondence
1942-1955
2/22
Time books for employees
1922; undated
Land and real estate records
Box/Folder
12/1
Abstract, Almira, block 8, lot 2 (City of Portland)
1927
12/2
Abstract, City View Park, block 15, lot 3 (City of Portland)
1946
12/3
Abstract, Couch's Addition, block 182, lots 3 and 6 (City of Portland)
1911
12/4
Abstract, Greenway, block L, extend lot 26 (City of Portland)
1932
12/5
Abstract, Katherine, block 27, lot 3 (City of Portland)
1920
21/6
Abstract, Montgomery Park, block 3, lot 4(City of Portland)
1920
12/7
Contract of Sale and Memorandum of Payment, Peck's Addition, block 6, lot 5 (City of Portland)
1925 February 20
12/8
Abstract, Portland Heights, Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (City of Portland)
1909
12/9
Abstract, Smith's Addition, block A, Lot 9(City of Portland)
1926
13/1
Abstract and Contract, Whelpley Terrace, block 2, lots 2, 3, and 4 (City of Portland)
1923; 1955
13/2
Abstract, Washington County, Hall D.L.C.
1908
13/3
Abstract, Yamhill County, Stephens D.L.C.
1923
13/4
Abstracts, Richmond District, block 74 (portion of outside land, San Francisco)
1900-1907
13/5
Contract of sale, property in Clark County, Washington
1930 February 27
3/1
Bigelow, Edith and Howard--Quit claim deed, A.T. Allen Real Estate
1950-1951
3/2
Bungalow sales materials, E.W. Stillwell & Co., Los Angeles
1909
Oversize folder
House plans, E. W. Stillwell and Company, Los Angeles
circa 1915
3/3
Collville, Washington property
1933; 1954
3/4
Correspondence and invoices, general (regarding real estate)
1908-1956
3/5
Court documents
1931-1941
3/6
Garber, Roy F. and May--Property transaction
1950
3/7
Gilliam County mortgage papers
1917
3/8
House specifications, Western Construction Co. (Portland), Laurelhurst, block 58, lot 14
undated
3/9
Karstens, Theodore--Contracts
1942-1948
3/10
Land descriptions--Skyline Boulevard, Canyon Road, and Hyde Park No. 2
undated
3/11-12
Legal documents, general
Primarily documents for mortgages held by Oscar and Ella Cooke.
1909-1952
4/1
Legal documents, general
Primarily documents for mortgages held by Oscar and Ella Cooke.
1909-1952
4/2
Letters from Helen Smith re: payments
1952
4/3
Memo books (4 books)--Primarily rent accounts
circa 1928-1949
4/4
Multnomah County property documents
1901-1928
4/5
Nevada property documents
1906
4/6
Notebook with accounts for rentals
circa 1923-1938
4/7
Plat maps
1924-1948; undated
Oversize folder
Plat map of "Parkside" subdivision in Portland; and plat of Washington County properties
undated
4/8
Property at 1444 Division Street, Portland--Sales agreement
1930
4/9
Real estate deed, Canyon Road property, Portland
1900
4/10
Rent records (from 3-ring binder)
1948-1949
4/11
Sylvan School property purchase
1952
4/12
Warranty deeds (envelope labeled "Mrs. Foster's old deeds to 1 ac. Wash Co.")
1922-1928
4/13
Washington County property documents
1902-1911
4/14
Washington County surveys
1955; 1957
4/15
Washington County--Wedgewood Homes
circa 1955-1962
4/16
Yamhill County survey
1908
Financial records
Box/Folder
4/17
Account journal
Includes rental accounts and produce purchases
1932-1937
4/18
Account ledger
1941-1949
Oscar F.Cooke Estate papers
Box/Folder
5/1
Anderson, Lottie
1961
5/2
Bean, Richard O. and Gladys F.
1955-1956
5/3
Bell, Rural W. and Mary S.
1951-1955
5/4
Cairncross, Lloyd and Lottie
1956-1956
5/5
Cherry, Emmet and Mildred
1955-1958
5/6
Cole, Samuel and Verena
1954-1955
5/7
Craig, Kenneth and Elizabeth
1953-1957
5/8
Elliot, Levin J. and Hattie
1945-1958
5/9
Ernst, George C. and Catherine
1953-1956
5/10
Forsman, Ralph G. and Rose T.
1950-1955
5/11
Grace, Charles
1955-1959
5/12
Gregson, Gerald and Marjorie
1948-1956
5/13
Grigg, Parley and Florence
1947-1955
5/14
Houston, Samuel and Virgie
1952-1955
5/15
Jennings, Fay M. and Marriam N.
1950-1955
5/16
Johnson, Estes M. and Betty
1952-1955
5/17
Johnson, Lucille
1955-1959
5/18
Lamar, Benjamin L. and Jeane
1954-1955
5/19
Marcus, Irwin and Irene
1958-1962
5/20
Martinez, Jose and Elsie M.
1952-1956
5/21
Mayfield, Richard K. and Sarah
1950-1956
6/1
McClurg, Bruce and Marjorie
1945-1955
6/2
McDowell, Charles and Florence
1955-1956
6/3
McDowell, Roy, Neil and Virginia
1953-1963
6/4
McKinney, Mary
1955
6/5
Price, Floyd and Ena; Auburn, William W.
1953-1965
6/6
Rayburn, Jonas W. and Martha L.
1950-1959
6/7
Robertson, Fay and Gladys
1955-1959
6/8
Sannes, Stanley and Arletnia
1951-1956
6/9
Shine, Frank E.
1951-1955
6/10
Sleeman, Marshall A. and Phyllis K.
1955
6/11
Smith, Helen P.
1948-1956
9/12
Sweem, Jack and Lillie
1951-1965
6/13
Taraldson, Emil and Nellie
1954-1955
6/14
Union City--Wirrer, Baltaser and Elisabeth; and Woerndle, Joseph and C.
1949-1955
6/15
Weaver, Jack and Mildred
1952-1955
6/16
Woerndle, John - Cooke estate income taxes; estate planner - scout patrol planning
circa 1954-1964
6/17
Wrede, G. D. and Vivian; and John Leffelman (?)
1953; 1955
6/18
Yaeger, C.E. and Lena
1951-1952
6/19
Bank statements and cancelled checks
circa 1954-1962
6/20
Contents of safe deposit box, list of sales
1955-1956
6/21
Correspondence re: real property
1955-1959
6/22
Estate record book
1959-1964
6/23
Financial records, general
1950-1963
7/1
Payment records: Harrison, Gilroy, and Hearn
1952-1955
7/2
Portland Mortgage and Investment Company
1941-1968
7/3
Properties--Notes and tabulations
1955
7/4
State of Oregon
1954-1963
7/5
Swinton lots--Legal papers
1949-1958
7/6
U.S. Department of Internal Revenue
1956-1962
7/7
Utz Park property documents
1951-1957
7/8
Washington Investment Company, Satori Building
1948-1961
7/9
Will of Oscar F. Cooke and other legal documents
1952-1966
7/10
General file
1948-1962
8/1-4
General files (designated file #8210 by attorney's office)
1948-1964

Series C:  Ella Cooke papers, 1889-1971Return to Top

Some materials in the series also pertain to Mary Lepper

Container(s) Description Dates
General files
Box/Folder
8/5
Autograph album
1889-1892
9/1
Memorial program- Ella Cooke
1955
9/2
Mortgage documents
1986-1943
9/3
Multnomah County, Oregon, Taxes - paid under protest
1925-1941
9/4
Pacific Title Abstract Company--Nathan Jones DLC
1938-1941
9/5
Property deed, Shoals Ferry Road
1928-1932
9/6
Quitclaim document, Multnomah County
1927
9/7
Sierra Club--Roster
undated
Ella Cooke Estate Papers
Box/Folder
9/8
General estate documents
1957-1958
9/9
General estate documents
1959
9/10
General estate documents
1960
9/11
General estate documents
1961
9/12
General estate documents
1962
9/13
General estate documents
1963
9/14
General estate documents
1964-1967
9/15
General estate documents, including wills
1946-1966
10/1
Estate records books
1957-1967
10/2
Inventories
1962-1964
10/3
Larson, John O. and Bonnie Jean
1955-1960
10/4
Papers found together
1955-1966
10/5
Papers found together
1955-1966
10/6
Reynolds, Hueston A. and Shirley--Deed transaction
1960
10/7
Spring Street House (2104 SW Spring Street, Portland)
1957-1961
10/8
Woerndle, John--Papers found together, re: property litigation
1966-1971
10/9
Wolf Creek Water District--Proposed sale and easement (includes photographs)
1963-1966

Series D:  Other family members' papers, 1856-1946Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
11/1
James Daniel ("Dan") Cooke business and financial papers
1895-1940
11/2
James Daniel ("Dan") Cooke personal papers
1893-1933
11/3
Letters from Hermon Cooke to his mother, Matilda Cooke
1909-1912
11/4
General family papers
1898-1924; undated
11/5
John W. Lepper, Contractor and Builder (Portland and San Francisco) - account ledger
Includes specifications for Kraft house, Woodlawn Heights block 2 lot 18
1892-1897
10/10
Laurelhurst (Portland) property
1945-1946
11/6
Account ledger
Appears to have been used later to record household accounts and social events. Author unknown.
1877-78; 1901; 1907
11/7
Account ledger, Portland Bridge Company
1900-1903
11/8
David Gully papers
1856 September 4; 1885 August 8; 1900 July 10

Series E:  Photographs, circa 1870-1952Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Cooke Family photographs
Box/Folder
14/1
Oscar Cooke
circa 1880-circa 1940
14/2
probably Oscar Cooke and Ella Gately
circa 1898
14/3
Cooke Family
circa 1900
14/4
probably Cooke Family- tintypes
circa 1870-1898
14/5
probably Herman Cooke
circa 1870-1900
14/6
Hermon Cooke and Family
Includes Eulalie (Lalie) Cooke
circa 1900-1920
14/7
probably James Daniel Cooke (Dan)
1900
14/8
probably Matilda Cooke
circa 1875
14/9
Richard Cooke
1947; 1952
14/10
probably Ella and Mary Gately
circa 1890
14/11
possibly John, Mary, and Helen Lepper
1892; 1899
14/12
sent to Mary Lepper
1937
14/13
Mary Lepper family and friends
circa 1940
14/14
Helen Lepper schoolmates
circa 1927
15/1
probably Lovin family
circa 1930-1945
15/2
Lovin Family Christmas card photos
1930s
15/3
Helen Lovin
circa 1935
Photo albums, oversize photos, and certificates
Box/Folder
18/1
Cooke Family photo album (disbound)
circa 1880-1925
16/1
Oversize portraits of Oscar Cooke, Hermon Cooke, and Hermon Cooke with his children
approx 1915-1940; circa
16/2
Confirmation certificates, Honora and Mary Gateley
1897 May 19
16/3
Cooke Family photo album (disbound)
circa 1890-1945

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Land tenure--Oregon--Portland
  • Land tenure--Oregon--Washington County
  • Real estate business--Oregon--Portland
  • Wine and winemaking--Oregon

Personal Names

  • Cooke, Oscar F.--Archives
  • Cooke, Ella Gateley--Archives

Family Names

  • Cooke family

Geographical Names

  • Portland (Or.)--History
  • Washington County (Or.)--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • Blueprints
  • Invoices
  • Ledgers (accounts)
  • Photographs

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Lepper, Mary--Archives (creator)
    • Lovin, Helen--Archives (creator)
    • Vermillion, John (creator)
    • Woerndle, John (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • West Hills Winery (Portland, Or.) (creator)
    Family Names
    • Lepper family (creator)
    • Lovin family (creator)