Papers of John M. Shively (1804-1893), an emigrant to Oregon and first postmaster of Astoria. Papers include correspondence, legal documents related to land sales, an 1853 diary, historical essays and other writings, genealogical materials, information on the U.S-British controversy over the Oregon Territory, and papers of Shively's son, Charles W. Shively.

Papers of Alvin T. Smith (1802-1888), including his diaries, and records and correspondence relating to his tenure as postmaster at Tualatin, Oregon Territory (later Forest Grove, Oregon). Smith emigrated to the Oregon Territory in 1840 as a lay missionary, and moved to what would become Forest Grove in 1841. He served as postmaster in the 1850s, and was one of the founders of Tualatin Academy (later Pacific University).