Pioneers

Photocopy typescript lecture, circa 1972-1973, regarding Mildred Miles Main's reminiscences of Ezra Meeker and his attempts to mark and commemorate the route of the overland trail to Oregon.

Papers of the Royal family of Oregon. Brothers Charles Royal (1798-1878) and William Royal (1796-1870) emigrated to Oregon in 1852 and 1853, respectively. William Royal was a Methodist minister who founded the Centenary Methodist Church (later Centenary-Wilbur Methodist Church) in East Portland; his sons Thomas Fletcher Royal (1821-1911) and James Henry Bascom Royal (1830-1910) were also Methodist ministers.

Manuscript letters from Valentine Schaeffer, Portland, Oregon, to his mother and family in Cass County, Illinois, 1853-1857. Schaeffer (1828-1872) was born in Ohio.

Papers of and relating to a German-American military architect who traveled overland to Oregon in 1852 and later designed Fort Dalles and other military installations. Collection includes correspondence, a letterpress copybook, pension application materials, and a book of sketches made during the overland journey. Some materials are in German.

William Sherlock (1817-1901) was born in Ireland. He migrated to Portland, Oregon, where he established a livery business in 1850. Sherlock's property investments included 45 acres in northwest Portland; he also at one time owned Swan Island. Collection consists of manuscript deeds for property in Portland, 1851 and 1855; a manuscript survey of William Sherlock's land claim, Portland, 1862; and miscellaneous receipts, 1851-1868.

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.

Robert Valentine Short (1823-1908) was a pioneer of 1847. He was a member of the 1851 Constitutional Convention and in 1888 was elected to the Oregon Legislature from Clackamas County. He also studied surveying and was responsible for surveying the town of Portland in 1850. Collection includes diaries, correspondence, scrapbook, survey and field notes; and papers relating to donation land claims and property in Yamhill, Clackamas, and Multnomah counties.

Papers of Robert Shortess (1797-1878), an early emigrant to Oregon. Papers consist of correspondence, reports, and certificates relating to Shortess's work as an Indian sub-agent, his guardianship of Grace Tibbets and John Tibbets, and his work as a school district clerk; financial and property records; family correspondence; and a photostatic reproduction of the marriage certificate of Shortess's daughter, Susan Shortess (later Susan Walkley).