Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Frank Williamson Benson papers, 1906-1910
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Benson, Frank W. (Frank Williamson), 1858-1911
- Title
- Frank Williamson Benson papers
- Dates
- 1906-1910 (inclusive)19061910
- Quantity
- 0.45 cubic feet, (1 document case)
- Collection Number
- Mss 534
- Summary
- Correspondence of Frank W. Benson (1858-1911), who served as Oregon secretary of state and Oregon governor, relating mostly to political appointments and other local matters.
- 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
Born in San Jose, California, in 1858, Frank W. Benson attended Portland Academy but returned to San Jose to attend the College of the Pacific. Graduating with a master of arts degree in 1882, he moved to Roseburg, Oregon, where he taught school and served as the superintendent of schools for Douglas County. He then held various public offices and served as president of the State Normal School at Drain. In 1896, he was elected as Oregon secretary of state, and in 1909, he acceded to the governorship when Governor George E. Chamberlain took a seat in the U.S. Senate. Resigning in 1910 due to ill health, Benson was re-elected secretary of state, but died in 1911 before the completion of his term. He was married in 1883 to Harriet Ruth Benjamin, and the couple had two sons.
Source: "Dictionary of Oregon History," edited by Howard McKinley Corning (Portland: Binford and Morts, [c. 1956]).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Papers of Frank W. Benson consist primarily of correspondence, largely relating to local political appointments and other routine matters. People and subjects represented include Henry Landin Benson, George Earle Chamberlain, Dudley Evans, William David Fenton, Binger Hermann, Francis Anthony Seufert, the Coos Bay Townsite Company, the Crawford Point Land Company, Marshfield, Oregon (now Coos Bay), public lands in Oregon, the Republican Party in Oregon, and Umpqua River development. The collection also contains a small quantity of other material, largely bills, receipts, and ephemera.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Frank Williamson Benson papers, Mss 534, 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
Correspondence in the collection is arranged chronologically, with undated letters and other materials last.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Folder | ||
| 1 | 1 | Correspondence | 1906-1907 January |
| 1 | 2 | Correspondence | 1907 February 1-15 |
| 1 | 3 | Correspondence | 1907 February 16-28 |
| 1 | 4 | Correspondence | 1907 March |
| 1 | 5 | Correspondence | 1907 April-May |
| 1 | 6 | Correspondence | 1907 June-August |
| 1 | 7 | Correspondence | 1907 September-October |
| 1 | 8 | Correspondence | 1907 November-December |
| 1 | 9 | Correspondence | 1908 January-February |
| 1 | 10 | Correspondence | 1908 March-April |
| 1 | 11 | Correspondence | 1908 June-August |
| 1 | 12 | Correspondence | 1908 September-October |
| 1 | 13 | Correspondence | 1908 November-December |
| 1 | 14 | Correspondence | 1909 January-February |
| 1 | 15 | Correspondence | 1909 March-June |
| 1 | 16 | Correspondence | 1909 August-December |
| 1 | 17 | Correspondence | 1910 January-April |
| 1 | 18 | Correspondence | undated |
| 1 | 19 | Bills, receipts, and ephemera | 1907-1908, undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Governors--Oregon--Correspondence
- Public lands--Oregon--20th century
- Secretaries of State (State governments)--Oregon--Correspondence
Personal Names
- Benson, Frank W. (Frank Williamson), 1858-1911--Correspondence
Corporate Names
- Republican Party (Or.)
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950
- Umpqua River (Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
