Alene Phillips served as the personal secretary for three Oregon governors and for Douglas McKay during his term as Secretary of the Interior. She was also a news correspondent for Salem's Capital Journal. Scrapbooks in this collection regard her personal and professional life in Oregon and Washington, D.C., including copies of her news columns and memorabilia from European and Hawaiian trips.

Laurence Gordon Smyth (1902-1960) was a reporter and political editor for the Oregon Journal for 38 years. He also served as assistant for public information to Douglas McKay during McKay's tenure as Secretary of the Interior. Correspondence is primarily to Smyth's wife, Marie Mongrain Smyth, regarding his activities while traveling on Oregon Journal business, working for McKay in Washington, D.C., and personal matters.