Summer 2024 Processing Update
The Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) archivists have been hard at work, making over 150 linear feet of materials available for researchers this summer.
History and Culture
Our newly processed collections include the James C. Mohr collection of presidential ephemera (Coll 960), which features inauguration initiations, President Harding’s funeral memorabilia, first lady calling cards, and a variety of political cartoons and etchings.
Records from the Gardiner Mill Company (Bx 183), highlight the importance of the
local economy in Gardiner, Oregon. As a prominent retail and trade center on the Oregon coast, the store was pivotal in providing manufactured goods and foodstuffs not otherwise readily available to the local population.
The Fred Lockley papers (CB L812) offer a compelling glimpse into the life and work of Lockley (1871-1958), a renowned newspaper columnist, rare book dealer, and author of notable works on Oregon and Pacific Northwest history. Lockley’s career was as varied as it was adventurous: he worked as a field editor for the Pacific Homestead and traveled extensively across Oregon on horseback.
Literature, Art and Architecture
The Brice P. Disque, Jr. papers (Ax 291) chronicle the career of Disque (1904-1960) in the world of radio and theater. Born in Montana and raised across the U.S. and the Philippines, Disque pursued a career in literary works, journalism, and theater. By 1936, Disque had turned his focus to radio, where he became renowned for his work on Gang Busters, a show that dramatized real crime cases and was notable for its authentic partnership with police departments.
The Suzy McKee Charnas’s papers (Coll 486) delve into the life and work of a prominent science fiction and fantasy author. Born in New York City in 1939, Charnas grew up with a rich cultural background, attending arts high school and later Barnard College and New York University. Her career spanned teaching, Peace Corps service, and significant contributions to science fiction, notably her series The Holdfast Chronicles, which earned her the Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame Award. Charnas’s involvement in feminist science fiction and her extensive network of correspondence reflect her prominent role in the genre.
Similarly, the Vonda N. McIntyre papers (Coll 508) offer a comprehensive look at the life of the celebrated science fiction writer. Born in 1948 in Louisville, Kentucky, and later based in Seattle, McIntyre was known for her contributions to science fiction and feminist literature, including works like Dreamsnake and The Moon and the Sun.
The Barry Holstun Lopez papers (Coll 497) provide insight into the literary career of Lopez (1945-2020), whose work focused on naturalism and environmentalism.
Finally, the Justus F. Krumbein papers (Coll 761) document the architectural legacy of Krumbein, who immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1869. After settling in Portland, Oregon, Krumbein designed several notable buildings, including the Jacob Kamm House and the original Oregon State Capitol.
Environment and Social Activism
The WomanSpirit records (Coll 346) offer a vibrant glimpse into a unique feminist and spiritual publication. Founded by Jean and Ruth Mountaingrove, WomanSpirit was published from 1974 to 1984 and produced on their land, RootWorks, near Wolf Creek, Oregon. The magazine explored themes at the intersection of spirituality and feminism, addressing topics such as goddess myths, feminist theory, ecology, and divination.
The Timothy Ingalsbee collection of Earth First! (Coll 731) documents the activism of Ingalsbee, a dedicated wildfire firefighter and environmental advocate from Oregon who collected materials related to Earth First!, a radical environmental group founded in 1980.
The David de Lorenzo Disability Ephemera Collection (Coll 961) encompasses a rich array of materials related to disability, such as broadsides, books, pamphlets, cartoons, illustrations, postcards, buttons, photographs, advertisements, and artifacts.
University Records
The State Association of University of Oregon Women records (UA 198) document the history and administrative workings of a prominent organization dedicated to women affiliated with the University of Oregon. Established to serve women associated with the university, the records span from 1923 to 1970 and include a comprehensive array of documents such as treasurer’s books, Board of Trustees records, minutes, constitutions, financial statements, and event clippings.
The Centennial Planning Council records (UA 087) capture the extensive preparations for the University of Oregon’s Centennial celebrations in 1976, which were notably intertwined with the United States Bicentennial. The planning for the Centennial, which began in the 1960s amidst debates over the correct year to mark, involved a range of committees, including the Bicentennial Commission and the Academic Occasions Committee.
The Women’s Faculty Club records (UA 086) shed light on a pivotal period for women faculty at the University of Oregon. Formed in 1927 by a group of women who sought a formal organization during an era when the male-only Faculty Club excluded them, the Women’s Faculty Club provided a space for social interaction and professional networking. The club, which also encompassed the Newcomers Club to assist new members, played a significant role in the social and professional lives of women faculty, their families, and graduate students through meetings, social gatherings, and interest-based groups.
Visual Collections
The Steph Littlebird Indigenous Resilience and Resistance Collection (PH 409) consists of thirty five prints created by the Portland-based Kalapuyan artist Steph Littlebird. This collection, first exhibited at the University of Oregon’s EMU Gallery in the fall of 2023, captures Littlebird’s powerful exploration of themes central to Indigenous identity and activism.
Photographic Collections
The F.J. Haynes stereographs (PH 194_011) contains fourteen images by Frank Jay Haynes (1853-1921), a photographer known for his role in documenting the early settlement of the western United States, including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.
The Jackson Brothers collection (PH 194_012) features ten stereoscopic photographs of Utah landscapes. Founded in 1867 by William Henry Jackson and his brother Edward, the Jackson Brothers company became renowned for its landscape photography.
The E. Schuster stereographs (PH 194_013) includes nine images of the American west, including a notable photograph of San Felipe de Neri in Albuquerque and various scenes from Las Vegas, New Mexico, where Schuster was an active stereo photographer during the 1880s.
The Rosel Schwarzmann photographs (PH 189) document the work of Schwarzmann (1896-1990), a German photographer based in Mainz, Germany, who operated her own studio and acted as the primary documentarian for the Mainz City Theater. The collection includes buildings, statues, and natural scenes in Mainz, Germany.
The Agnes Harris Thornton photographs (PH 027) holds portraits and snapshots of family and friends, including tintypes and carte de visite images. Born and raised in Kings, California, the collection spans from 1870 to 1910.
The Ben Leghorn collection (PH 029) consists of seventy photographs from the 1910s and 1920s, documenting Arlington, Oregon, before and after its relocation due to dam construction. The collection captures river traffic and the aftermath of a town fire, reflecting Leghorn’s work as a local photographer.
Eugene local Jim Newell began his collection (PH 345) in the 1970s. The collection includes eleven 4×5 glass-plate negatives from the 1870s to 1890s that feature scenes from the University of Washington campus, the town of Dawson during a celebration, and various unidentified family members.
The Craig Hickman photograph collection (PH 392), holds images document wooden desktops in classrooms, capturing student artwork and carvings. The collection also includes bound books featuring Hickman’s additional photographic works and artistic representations. Hickman is a retired Professor Emeritus from the University of Oregon and co-founder of the Blue Sky Gallery in Portland.
Larry Smith, a Portland-based photographer active in the 1940s and later decades, is known for his nature and form photography, influenced by his contemporaries Edward Weston and Minor White. His collection (PH 357) consists of black-and-white prints from the 1930s through the 1980s, including portraits of fellow photographers and a selection of nude images.
The Albert A. Reck collection (PH 341) documents the work of Reck (1890-1972), a Portland motorman and amateur photographer. The collection spans from the early 1900s to the 1950s and includes albums filled with snapshots taken throughout his life, including family portraits and travel images.
Finally, the 91st Division U.S. Signal Corps photographs collection (PH 309) documents the “Wild West Division” of the U.S. Army during World War I and World War II. Constituted in 1917, the division fought in major campaigns such as St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, and the Ypres-Lys, playing a significant role in these battles and contributing to the Allied victory in both wars.
None of this work would be possible without the incredible contributions of our hardworking students and fellows including Kaloni Hernandez, Alexa Rose, Lara-Marie Frick, Maya Revell and Maggie Dobson.
