Burnham family photographs

Collection

Identifier: Org. Lot 6

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of 135 black and white glass negatives and 11 black and white film negatives that belonged to Howard J. Burnham. The photographs were taken circa 1908; the photographer is unknown but may have been related to the Burnham family. Also included are 34 black and white photographic prints made from negatives in the collection and a typed list of descriptions for each print. The list of descriptions is believed to have come from Burnham. Primary subjects depicted in the collection include Allison Burnham and Ella Burnham and their children, Howard and Myrtle; an expedition to climb Mount Hood; and mining and homesteading in the unincorporated community of Mountain in Josephine County, Oregon. The collection includes interior and exterior views of homestead cabins. This collection may be of interest to individuals researching photography, mining, and homesteading in Oregon.

Dates

1908-1909

Creator

Burnham, Howard J., 1901-1985 (Compiler, 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

In 1908, Allison Burnham (approximately 1866-1939) became the first postmaster in the unincorporated lumbering community of Mountain in Josephine County, Oregon. Mountain was located just southeast of Sexton Mountain and a few miles north of Grants Pass, at or near the location of the Lucky Queen Mine. The post office in Mountain was closed and consolidated to Threepines in 1913. Allison Burnham and his wife, Ella Whipple Burnham (1868-1927), had two children, Howard J. Burnham (1901-1985) and Myrtle C. Burnham (1902-1992). By 1910, the Burnham family had moved to Vancouver, Washington. Allison Burnham started Clark County Title and Abstract Company in Vancouver in the early twentieth century. Howard J. Burnham owned and operated the company from 1926 to 1968.

Sources: "Howard J. Burnham," Oregonian, January 29, 1985; Oregon Geographic Names, Lewis A. McArthur and Lewis L. McArthur, 7th edition, 2003, page 679 (Portland and Seattle: Oregon Historical Society Press; distributed by University of Washington Press).

Extent

0.6 Cubic Feet (1 document case; 1 slim document case; 2 folders in a shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection consists of negatives, taken circa 1908, that belonged to Howard J. Burnham and depict homesteading in Oregon and an expedition to climb Mt. Hood. Also included are photographic prints made from the negatives, and typed descriptions for each print. The photographer is unknown but may have been related to the Burnham family. Allison Burnham (approximately 1866-1939) was the first postmaster in the unincorporated lumbering community of Mountain in Josephine County, Oregon, and later started the Clark County Title and Abstract Company in Vancouver, Washington. His son Howard J. Burnham (1901-1985) subsequently owned and operated the company.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Glass plate negatives are not available for direct access due to fragility. Researchers are asked to use digitized copies viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.