Failing family papers, circa 1862-1872
Scope and Contents
The papers include correspondence, photographs, wedding announcements, bills of sale, family memorabilia and ephemera relating to numerous Portland families related by ties of descendancy and marriage. A majority of the materials were created and used by the Robertson family, including numerous photographic albums, personal correspondence, and diaries. Two Robertson family world trips, from circa 1907 and 1910-1912, are documented with photographs, postcards, and correspondence with family in Portland. A small amount of materials relate to the business dealings of specific individuals, including Walter John Burns and members of the Robertson family. Also included are tickets and ephemera for the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland.
Other families represented include: Adams, Burns, Corbett, Couch, Failing, Lewis, Reed, Warren, Wilson, and Wood. Often, the inclusion of these materials is related to Robertson connections, in the form of marriage or other family relationships.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1862-1872
Creator
- From the Collection: Robertson family (Family)
- From the Collection: Robertson, William Edie, 1854-1939 (Person)
- From the Collection: Butler, Mary Couch, 1915-2008 (Person)
- From the Collection: Burns, Mary Caroline, 1857-1950 (Person)
- From the Collection: Hull, Ma'Carry Webster, 1917-2003 (Person)
- From the Collection: Robertson, Thomas, 1817-1900 (Person)
- From the Collection: Robertson, Kathleen, 1881-1970 (Person)
- From the Collection: Failing, Emily Phelps, 1836-1870 (Person)
- From the Collection: Robertson, Thomas, 1881-1924 (Person)
- From the Collection: Robertson, Jack Wood, 1894-1956 (Person)
- From the Collection: Robertson, Mary Corbett, 1891-1986 (Person)
- From the Collection: Corbett, Henry W. (Henry Winslow), 1827-1903 (Person)
- From the Collection: Warren, Nan Wood, 1885-1928 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Henry Failing, his father Josiah, and younger brother John arrived in Portland in 1851 from New York. The Failings opened a small mercantile store, J. Failing & Co. on SW Front (now Naito Parkway) near Oak Street. They were later joined by Josiah’s wife, Henrietta, and their three other children in 1853. The business was a rapid success, and Josiah Failing was elected in 1853 to serve as Portland’s fourth mayor. Henry Failing later became majority owner of the business, focusing on hardware and iron supplies. In 1871, Henry Failing and Henry Winslow Corbett consolidated their hardware businesses, forming Corbett, Failing & Co. This business in turn would be consolidated in 1893 with Foster & Robertson to form Corbett, Failing, and Robertson.
In 1858, Henry Failing married Emily Phelps, the sister of local businessman Henry Winslow Corbett. Through Emily’s sister Mary Freeland, the Failing family thus gained ties with the Robertson family, who owned Robertson Heavy Hardware. The grandson of Mary Freeland, Thomas Robertson (1881-1924) married Kathleen Burns in 1910, gaining ties to the prominent Couch family.
Extent
From the Collection: 9.46 Cubic Feet (13 legal size document cases, 5 oversize boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org