Robertson, Burns, and Failing families papers

Collection

Identifier: Coll784

Staff Only

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

1786-1988
Majority of material found within 1850-1985

Creator

Robertson family (Family)

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

Many of Portland's early settling families created long-lasting ties with one another through marriage and business relationships. Often leaving areas such as New England and San Francisco, the first generation of transplants found Portland to be a small town of new opportunities for trade and business from 1840-1855. Family relationships, such as those seen between the Robertson, Corbett, and Failing families beginning in the 1850s, often lasted for generations. Starting with the joint venture between Henry Winslow Corbett and brother-in-law Thomas Robertson (1817-1900), multiple other partnerships were later formed, including Robertson Heavy Hardware, Corbett, Failing and Company, Foster and Robertson and Corbett, Failing, and Robertson.

The Robertson family represented a crossroads of Portland familial relationships. Beginning with the arrival of Thomas Robertson and his wife Mary Freeland (Corbett) Robertson, from New York, multiple generations of the Robertson family went on to marry into different branches of other old Portland families, such Couch, Lewis, and Reed. Through these relationships, they also gained ties with several family lineages from the East Coast. Individuals in these families later attended elite schools, traveled widely and participated in family businesses to great success. They also contributed to Portland's civic life, becoming city or state officials, and serving as early supporters for institutions such as the Portland Art Museum and Reed College.

Extent

9.46 Cubic Feet (13 legal size document cases, 5 oversize boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Materials related to several old Portland families, primarily, Robertson, Burns, Couch, Failing, Corbett, and Wood. Also included are Adams, Lewis, Reed, Warren, and Wilson. Photographs document individuals, family groups, and activities. Numerous photographic albums are also included. The documents are primarily made up of correspondence between individuals, as well as ephemera and diaries.

Arrangement

The series are arranged by overarching family groups, followed by subseries representing individuals with significant materials. Many individuals were related to several families represented at the series levels, but have been placed in a single family group for convenience.

General material relating to families as a whole are included at the end of each series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by William Latimer Failing Jr. to the Oregon Historical Society on September 26, 2008 (Acc. 26599)

Existence and Location of Copies

See digitized selections at OHS Digital Collections.

Related Materials

Related collections held by the Oregon Historical Society include: Robertson Family Collection, Coll 558; Couch Family Papers, Mss 952; Caroline Couch Hoffman papers, Mss 2546; Corbett Family Collection, Coll 592; Henry Winslow Corbett Papers, Mss 1110; Henry Failing Papers, Mss 650.