138 results
From James Mullany to his Sister Mary, 1861
This letter was written by James Mullany to his sister Mary on November 28, 1861. He discusses his experience as a miner in Idaho during …From Jean Baptiste A. Brouillet
Catholic priest Jean Baptiste A. Brouillet wrote this letter to the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs on May 2, 1866. In it, Brouillet requested …From Jean Baptiste Charbonneau
As the youngest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau holds a special place in the history of the American West. Charbonneau …From J.F. Caples to Portland City Council
Oregon District Attorney J. F. Caples wrote this letter to the Portland City Council warning about the city’s violation of a state law banning the …Front & Stark Streets, 1852
From the corner of Front and Stark, shown in this 1852 photograph, virgin timber is visible just a few blocks away. The mast of the …General Joseph Lane
Joseph Lane was Oregon’s first territorial governor and one of the state’s leading citizens from the 1850s until his death in 1881. A politician, soldier, …Gillem's Army Camp, 1873
As an agent of the Federal Government, Eadweard Muybridge recorded the final stages of the Modoc War in 1873 with this and many other photographs. …Gold Scales
There is some disagreement among historians as to exactly when and where gold was first discovered in southwestern Oregon, although many credit James Cluggage and …Grand Emancipation Celebration
Black community leaders in Oregon issued this embossed invitation in late 1868 to raise public awareness about the “Grand Emancipation Celebration,” scheduled for January 1, …Horsetail Falls by Joseph Buchtel
This stereograph of Horsetail Falls by Joseph Buchtel was likely taken in the 1860s. The falls can be seen from the Historic Columbia River Highway, …Interpretive Essays
Interpretive essays use primary documents from the Oregon Historical Society archives to help readers imagine the events, people, and issues that shaped Oregon history.