Matthew Paul Deady letter to Melvin C. George , 1884 April 11

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Deady, Matthew P. (Matthew Paul), 1824-1893
Title
Matthew Paul Deady letter to Melvin C. George
Dates
1884 April 11
Quantity
0.025 linear feet, (1 folder)
Collection Number
CA 1884 Apr 11
Summary
Matthew Paul Deady (1824-1893) was a lawyer, politician, and judge in the Oregon Territory, who became Oregon's first U.S. District Court judge in 1859, a position he retained until his death. The collection contains a letter dated April 11, 1884, from Deady, of Portland, Oregon to Melvin C. George, of Washington, D.C. regarding the judicial salary bill.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Matthew Paul Deady (1824-1893) was a lawyer, politician, and judge in the Oregon Territory. Deady became Oregon's first U.S. District Court judge in 1859, a position he retained until his death.

Deady, the oldest of five children, was born in Talbot County, Maryland on May 12, 1824. He studied law with William Kennon, Sr. and earned admission to the Ohio State Bar in 1847. In 1849 he moved to Oregon Territory and began practicing law; in 1850 he won election to the territorial legislature and in 1853 was appointed to the territorial supreme court by President Franklin Pierce in 1853. Deady was elected president of the 1857 convention to frame a state constitution; during the convention he defended slavery and the next year ran for state supreme court on a pro-slavery ticket. He won the election but accepted an appointment by President James Buchanan to the federal bench. Deady championed higher salaries for judges; indeed, he found his own salary insufficient and became a correspondent for the San Francisco Bulletin in 1863. He also served on the University of Oregon Board of Regents for 20 years; the University's first building, Deady Hall, was named for him in 1876. Deady's health began to fail in the summer of 1892; he died on March 24, 1893."

[Source: Oregon Encyclopedia]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

In the letter, Deady states that he hopes the judicial salary bill passes, and he comments on public reaction to a measure forfeiting railway grants.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Courts--Officials and employees--Salaries, etc.--United States
  • Judges--Oregon--Correspondence
  • Judges--Salaries, etc.--United States
  • Judges--United States--Correspondence
  • Legislators--Oregon--Correspondence
  • Legislators--United States--Correspondence
  • Railroad land grants--United States--Public opinion
  • Railroad law--United States
  • Railroads--Right of way--United States
  • Railroads--Right of way--United States

Personal Names

  • George, M. C. (Melvin Clark), 1849-1933

Corporate Names

  • United States. District Court (Oregon)

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--Politics and government--1859-1950
  • United States--Politics and government--1881-1885

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence