Benson family photographs collection
Scope and Contents
Collection consists of photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamelia Loomis, including Simon Benson, his sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson Maradudin. Includes baby albums and portraits, as well as photographs depicting travel, boating, Stanford University, California, the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and Benson family residences in Portland as well as their summer cottage, Riverwood, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Also included are unprocessed negatives, some or all of which may correspond to prints in the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1896-1970
Creator
- Benson 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
Simon Benson (1851-1942), a Norwegian immigrant, found success in the timber business, acquiring 46,000 acres of land over two decades and reducing costs through technical innovation in logging and shipping. He also built the Benson and Columbia Gorge Hotels, and, as a strong proponent of the good roads movement, propelled development of the Columbia River Highway. He married twice, and, with his second wife, Pamela Loomis, he had two sons, Gilbert Thereon and Chester Simon. Gilbert Benson died in 1928, well into graduate studies at Stanford University. Chester Benson married Dorothy Logan, and together they raised son Gilbert Thomas and daughter Margaret (later Margaret Maradudin).
Extent
3 Cubic Feet (7 document cases; 2 flat boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs of the family of Portland businessman Simon Benson and his second wife, Pamelia Loomis, including sons Chester Simon Benson and Gilbert Thereon Benson, and grandchildren Gilbert Thomas Benson and Margaret Benson (later Margaret Maradudin).
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: Photographic prints
- Series 2: Photo albums
- Series 3: Unprocessed negatives
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Chester Benson, August 2012 (Lib. Acc. 27705).
Subject
- Benson family -- Photographs (Family)
- Benson, Simon, 1851-1942 -- Photographs (Person)
- Benson, Chester Simon, 1902-1971 -- Photographs (Person)
- Benson, Gilbert Thomas, 1929-2011 -- Photographs (Person)
- Maradudin, Margaret Benson -- Photographs (Person)
- Benson, Gilbert Thereon, 1896-1928 -- Photographs (Person)
- Stanford University -- Photographs (Organization)
- Benson family -- Homes and haunts -- Photographs (Family)
- Title
- Guide to the Benson family photographs collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Shawna Gandy
- Date
- 2014; revised 2024
- 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.
Revision Statements
- 2024-05-03: Minor revisions to conform to current standard.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org