John Whiteaker collection

Collection

Identifier: Coll 254

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Materials relating to John Whiteaker, first governor of the state of Oregon. Collection includes a handwritten autobiography, circa 1862-1877, with some diary entries in the early 1860s relating to abolitionists; Whiteaker family bible, with genealogical information; correspondence from the 1950s to Whiteaker's descendants regarding the autobiography; a photograph of Whiteaker at the time of his governorship, with then secretary of state Lucien Heath; Whiteaker family coat of arms; and two portraits of Whiteaker in later life. Also includes a map of Missouri, Arkansas, and the "Indian territory" published by S. Augustus Mitchell in 1848, brought across the Oregon Trail by the Whiteaker family.

Dates

Creation: 1848-1959

Creator

Whiteaker, John, 1820-1902 (Person)

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.

Extent

0.5 Cubic Feet (1 document case and 1 oversize folder in shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Materials relating to John Whiteaker, first governor of the state of Oregon. Collection includes a handwritten autobiography; Whiteaker family bible, with genealogical information; 1950s correspondence to Whiteaker's descendants regarding the autobiography; and a photograph of Whiteaker at the time of his governorship, as well as two portraits of him in later life.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of John Whiteaker, October 2011 and December 2011 (Lib. Acc. 27458).

Separated Materials

Artifacts acquired with the collection were transferred to the Oregon Historical Society museum collections. These are: gun of John Whiteaker; two ceremonial swords; writing desk; ink well; and clock.