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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)
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
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Biographical Note

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]).

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Content Description

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.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Correspondence in the collection is arranged chronologically, with undated letters and other materials last.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mrs. Milton B. Steiner, 1965.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1906-1907 January
    Container: Box 1, Folder 1
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 February 1-15
    Container: Box 1, Folder 2
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 February 16-28
    Container: Box 1, Folder 3
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 March
    Container: Box 1, Folder 4
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 April-May
    Container: Box 1, Folder 5
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 June-August
    Container: Box 1, Folder 6
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 September-October
    Container: Box 1, Folder 7
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1907 November-December
    Container: Box 1, Folder 8
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1908 January-February
    Container: Box 1, Folder 9
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1908 March-April
    Container: Box 1, Folder 10
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1908 June-August
    Container: Box 1, Folder 11
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1908 September-October
    Container: Box 1, Folder 12
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1908 November-December
    Container: Box 1, Folder 13
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1909 January-February
    Container: Box 1, Folder 14
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1909 March-June
    Container: Box 1, Folder 15
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1909 August-December
    Container: Box 1, Folder 16
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: 1910 January-April
    Container: Box 1, Folder 17
  • Description: Correspondence
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 18
  • Description: Bills, receipts, and ephemera
    Dates: 1907-1908; undated
    Container: Box 1, Folder 19

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
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