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Richard H. Engeman collection on Oregon food history

 Collection
Identifier: Coll 1069

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of cookbooks, menus, postcards, ephemera, and other materials relating to cooking and to eating establishments in Oregon. The collection was compiled by historian Richard H. Engeman, and its contents date from the late 19th century to the early 21st century. The collection also includes a volume of printouts of blog posts about Oregon food history that Engeman wrote in the 2010s and early 2020s.

Dates

  • Creation: 1889-2021

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Richard H. Engeman retains copyright for blog posts included in this collection. Copyright to other materials in the collection has not been determined, and use may require authorization from copyright holders.

Biographical Note

Richard H. Engeman is a retired archivist and historian. He earned degrees from Reed College, the University of Oregon, and the University of Washington, and had several jobs at the Oregon Historical Society, including public historian. Published works by Engeman include "Wooden Beams and Railroad Ties" (2005); "The Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of the Useful, the Curious and the Arcane" (2009); "Eating It Up in Eden: The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Cookbook" (2009); and numerous articles for the Oregon Encyclopedia. Engeman also wrote a series of blog posts on Oregon historical topics on his website, Oregon Rediviva.

Sources: "Richard Engeman," Oregon Encyclopedia, https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/about/authors/302/; "Contributors," Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. 107, No. 2 (Summer 2006), page 320; Oregon Rediviva, https://oregonrediviva.com/

Extent

12.34 Cubic Feet (7 record cartons; 3 legal document cases; 4 letter document cases; 1 flat box (14x18); 1 flat box (16x20); 1 card file box (12x8x5); 1 card file box (12x6x4))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Collection of Oregon-related cookbooks, menus, postcards, and ephemera. The collection was compiled by historian Richard H. Engeman of Oregon, and also includes a printouts of blog entries that he wrote about Oregon food history.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged in two series:

  • Series 1: Books and pamphlets
  • Series 2: Blog posts, ephemera, menus, and postcards

Other Finding Aids

Each box in Series 1 includes a printed inventory that lists publishing information, Library of Congress classification number, and Richard Engeman's notes and observations for each work in the box. Complete lists of the individual menus and ephemera items in Series 2 are available in Box 15, Folder 9. Searchable spreadsheet versions of the lists are also available by request.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Richard H. Engeman, December 2022 (RL2022-165).

Related Materials

Other materials at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library relating to cooking and to eating establishments in Oregon include: The menu collection, Mss 2942; the Manners and customs collection, Mss 1522; and the Business collection, Mss 1510.

Title
Guide to the Richard H. Engeman collection on Oregon food history
Status
Completed
Author
Jeffrey A. Hayes
Date
2025
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