Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
J.H. Horner papers, 1889-1985
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Horner, J. H., 1870-1953
- Title
- J.H. Horner papers
- Dates
- 1889-1985 (inclusive)18891985
- Quantity
- 0.9 cubic feet, (2 document cases)
- Collection Number
- Mss 6031
- Summary
- Papers of a Wallowa County, Oregon, official and amateur historian, consisting primarily of a manuscript of his unpublished book "Wallowa River and Valley," as well as correspondence with Otis Halfmoon and other documents.
- 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
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
John Harland Horner (1870-1953) was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Enterprise, Oregon, in 1911. He served as Wallowa County's deputy assessor from 1918 to 1924, before being elected county assessor in 1924. Horner also had a long-standing interest in the history of Wallowa County. For more than thirty years, he collected historical information and interviewed most of the early emigrants to the area and local Native people. His research resulted in an unpublished manuscript of more than 1,500 pages. Horner committed suicide on July 13, 1953, at the age of 83.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection consists principally of J. H. Horner's unpublished manuscript, "Wallowa River and Valley," dealing with regional history, as well as the history and cultural traditions of the Nimiipuu (Nez Percé) people. Other papers include correspondence (circa 1889-1985); legal documents (1898-1931); patents for window construction (1921-1922); and manuscript materials (undated). Horner's main correspondent is Otis Halfmoon of the Nimiipuu people, who collaborated on Horner's manuscript. The collection also includes a list of other contributors who assisted Horner in his research.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Digitized version of "Wallowa River and Valley" is viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
J. H. Horner papers, Mss 6031, 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
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series: Series A. Correspondence and general papers; Series B. Manuscript of "Wallowa River and Valley."
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A: Correspondence and general papers, 1889-1985Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Otis Halfmoon correspondence |
1926-1952 |
| 1 | 2 | Deeds, notes, and legal documents |
1898-1931 |
| 1 | 3 | General correspondence |
circa 1889-1985 |
| 1 | 4 | Window construction patents |
1921-1922 |
| 1 | 5 | List of acknowledgements for book |
undated |
Series B: Manuscript of "Wallowa River and Valley", undatedReturn to Top
"Wallowa River and Valley" details the history of the Wallowa Valley region in northeastern Oregon from approximately 1805 through 1950. The document includes extensive details on the origins of many place names in the region. The manuscript also includes a history of the Nimiipuu (Nez Percé) people and their cultural traditions, which Horner wrote in collaboration with Otis Halfmoon. Topics covered in the manuscript include Chief Joseph and the events of the Nez Percé war of 1877, settlement of the Wallowa Valley region, and local participation in World War I and World War II.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 6 | Pages 1-100 |
undated |
| 1 | 7 | Pages 101-200 |
undated |
| 1 | 8 | Pages 201-300 |
undated |
| 1 | 9 | Pages 301-400 |
undated |
| 1 | 10 | Pages 400-500 |
undated |
| 1 | 11 | Pages 501-600 |
undated |
| 1 | 12 | Pages 601-700 |
undated |
| 2 | 1 | Pages 701-800 |
undated |
| 2 | 2 | Pages 801-900 |
undated |
| 2 | 3 | Pages 901-1000 |
undated |
| 2 | 4 | Pages 1001-1100 |
undated |
| 2 | 5 | Pages 1101-1200 |
undated |
| 2 | 6 | Pages 1201-1300 |
undated |
| 2 | 7 | Pages 1301-1400 |
undated |
| 2 | 8 | Pages 1400-1500 |
undated |
| 2 | 9 | Pages 1501-1561 |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Names, Geographical--Oregon--Wallowa County
- Nez Percé Indians
Personal Names
- Halfmoon, Otis--Correspondence
- Horner, J. H., 1870-1953--Correspondence
- Joseph (Nez Percé Chief), 1840-1904
Geographical Names
- Wallowa County (Or.)--History
- Wallowa Lake (Or.)
- Wallowa Mountains (Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
- histories (literary works)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Halfmoon, Otis
