Charles Emil Smith family photographic collection

Collection

Identifier: Org. Lot 627

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Fifteen black and white photographs, circa 1863-1912, of Charles Emil Smith, Hedwig Smith, and family; family events; and the interior and exterior of the Smith house on the site of what is now Lair Hill Park in Portland, Oregon, between SW 2nd Avenue, SW Hooker Street, and SW Woods Street.

Dates

circa 1863-1912

Creator

Smith, Charles E., 1839-1912 (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.

Biographical note

Charles E. Smith (1839-1912) was born in Switzerland and came to Portland, Oregon, in 1863, where he established the Smith Brothers Iron Works with his brother Ferdinand. He married Hedwig Hansen in Hamburg, Germany (1851-1940). They had seven children: Alfred, Walter, Percy, Stanley, Herman, Elsa and Helen. The Smiths were industrialists and prominent businesspeople and founded the Congress Hotel. In the 1880s, Charles E. Smith and Hedwig Smith hired architect Justus F. Krumbein to design a home for them on land between SW 2nd Avenue, SW Hooker Street, and SW Woods Street. The house later served for a time as the Multnomah County Hospital; after the hospital moved, the house was demolished and the site became Lair Hill Park.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (5 folders in shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Fifteen black and white photographs of Charles Emil Smith, Hedwig Smith, and family; family events; and the Smith house on the site of what is now Lair Hill Park in Portland, Oregon, between SW 2nd Avenue, SW Hooker Street, and SW Woods Street. Charles E. Smith (1839-1912) was born in Switzerland and came to Portland, Oregon, in 1863, where he established the Smith Brothers Iron Works with his brother Ferdinand. The Smith family also founded the Congress Hotel.