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Charles Linza McNary papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 2749

Scope and Contents

This collection of papers of and relating to Charles L. McNary consists of professional documents, correspondence, and ephemera; family materials, primarily correspondence; and scrapbooks. Evidence of McNary's work as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, in addition to his support for construction of the Bonneville Dam, can be found among the scrapbooks and professional documents, which include reports from the Federal Farm Board and the Farmers National Grain Corporation. Microfilm in the collection consists of copies of the scrapbooks from 1918-1944.

Dates

  • Creation: 1874-1988
  • Creation: 1874-1944

Creator

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 Linza McNary (1874-1944) served on the Oregon Supreme Court from 1913-1915, and as a U.S. senator from Oregon (1917-1944). He was the Senate Minority Leader from 1933-1944. In 1940, he ran for U.S. president, and later that year became the Republican vice presidential candidate, although he was unsuccessful. During his political career, McNary assisted in passing legislation that facilitated construction of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and served on the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

McNary was married twice, first to Jessie Breyman (1876-1918) until her death. He remarried, to Cornelia W. Morton (died 1966). In 1935, they adopted a daughter, Charlotte.

Extent

5 Cubic Feet (3 document cases, 6 flat boxes, 2 reels microfilm)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Documents, correspondence, scrapbooks, and ephemera relating to the public service and personal life of U.S. Senator Charles Linza McNary of Oregon.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into three series:

  1. Series 1: Professional papers
  2. Series 2: Family papers
  3. Series 3: Scrapbooks

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Charlotte M. Limerick in December 1986 (Lib. Acc. 18013), April 1988 (Lib. Acc. 18742), and April 2009 (Lib. Acc. 26747).

Related Materials

Other materials of or relating to the McNary family at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library include: Charles Linza McNary papers, Mss 2749; Charles L. McNary letter to J. Tracy Barton, Mss 1500; Charles McNary speech accepting vice presidential nomination, SR 1182, which is available online in OHS Digital Collections; and a vertical file, Genealogy - McNary family.

Related Materials

Additional papers of Charles Linza McNary are held at the University of Oregon Library Special Collections, Ax 049, Eugene, Oregon, and at the Library of Congress, 0625X, Washington, D.C.

Separated Materials

Photographs were separated to Org. Lot 819, a collection of photographs of Charles L. McNary and his family, at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Processing Information

Collection includes material previously designated Mss 2749-1. Covers from many of the reports in Series 1 were excessively soiled, and were removed and discarded during processing. Covers of two of the scrapbooks in Series 3 were removed and discarded during initial processing due to mold.

Collection guide was revised in August 2023 to correct errors and conform to current standard.

Title
Guide to the Charles Linza McNary papers
Status
Completed
Author
Jessica Gorton and Shawna Gandy
Date
2013; revised 2023
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.

Repository Details

Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240