Oregon Provisional Government and Territorial Government records
Scope and Contents
The collection includes original and transcribed records of the Oregon Provisional Government and Oregon Territorial Government. Original documents include a volume of laws; promissory notes for Joseph Gale, William Holmes, Asa Lovejoy, the Oregon Institute, and Francis Pettygrove; a document appointing David Leslie to administrate the estate of Ewing Young; court notices, summons, receipt, and petition; land claim documents; and tax assessments. Most transcribed records were copied by George R. Schreiber and Esther L. Plumer (later Esther Schreiber McGraw) from materials held at the Oregon State Capitol in 1913 and 1916, and they include a significant amount of correspondence and records regarding Ewing Young and his estate. The transcribed records and correspondence also relate to legislation passed by the Provisional and Territorial governments. Individuals represented in these records include George Abernethy, Joseph Lane, and John McLoughlin.
Dates
- 1841-1916
Creator
- Oregon Territory (Provisional government, 1843-1849) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing 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.
Historical Note
The Oregon Provisional Government was formed with the passing of the Organic Law on July 5, 1843, following the Champoeg meetings that May, where Euro-American emigrants and Hudson's Bay Company employees voted on whether to establish a provisional government for the Oregon country. Euro-American emigrants to Oregon had determined that a governmental structure was necessary to handle issues such as organizing the protection of livestock from predatory animals and settling the estate of Ewing Young, who had died in 1841 without a will.
The Provisional Government consisted of a three-member executive committee, a secretary, a treasurer, and a nine-member legislative committee. In 1845, the three-member executive committee was replaced by a single governor, a role which George Abernethy (1807-1877) filled. The Provisional Government passed laws, instituted taxes, and established a militia in the form of the Oregon Rangers.
In 1848, the United States Congress created the Oregon Territory, and the Provisional Government came to an end in March 1849 with the arrival of Joseph Lane (1801-1881), who had been appointed governor of the Oregon Territory. The Territorial Government lasted until 1859, when Oregon was admitted as the 33rd state of the United States.
Extent
0.5 Cubic Feet (1 slim document case; 2 oversize folders (20x24))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection consists of original and transcribed records of the Oregon Provisional Government, which existed from 1843-1849, and of the Oregon Territorial Government, which existed from 1849-1859. Original records include promissory notes, court documents, land claim documents, a tax assessment roll, and a book of laws, while transcribed documents include records and correspondence about legislation, as well as the estate of Ewing Young, whose death without a will highlighted the need for a government in the Oregon Territory.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Tax assessment roll, gift of Henry E. Reed, August 1929 (RL2021-056-RETRO). Transcribed records by George R. Schreiber and Esther L. Plumer were most likely gift of George R. Schreiber in 1914 and in 1916 or 1917 (RL2021-062-RETRO, RL2021-063-RETRO). Oregon Institute promissory note most likely acquired in 1903 (RL2021-064-RETRO). Promissory notes of Joseph Gale, Asa Lovejoy, and Francis W. Pettygrove, as well as Washington County court petition, gift of Richard H. Corning (Lib. Acc. 14294). All other materials most likely acquired in either the late 19th or early 20th century (RL2021-065-RETRO).
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals of transcribed documents held in the Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon.
Publication note
Processing Information
Collection was titled "Oregon Provisional Government records" prior to reprocessing in July 2021.
Creator
- Oregon Territory (Provisional government, 1843-1849) (Organization)
- Oregon Territory. Governor (Organization)
- Oregon Territory. Legislative Assembly (Organization)
- Schreiber, George R. (George Raemer), 1882-1917 (Transcriber, Person)
- McGraw, Esther Schreiber, 1892-1957 (Transcriber, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Oregon Provisional Government and Territorial Government records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Revised by Jeffrey A. Hayes
- Date
- 2012; revised 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2021: Revised to conform to current standards and to more accurately describe the collection's contents.
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