Mrs. Inez Eugenia (Adams) Parker early recollections of Oregon pioneer life
Scope and Contents
The Inez Eugenia Adams Parker autobiography and reminiscences is a typed, extensive personal narrative covering almost eighty years of Adam’s life. It begins with the 1848 migration of her family from Illinois to Mamouth [Monmouth], Oregon, when Parker was two and a half years old. Parker provides some details of this overland journey that are impossible for a child of this age to recall. Nevertheless, her narrative is detailed and provides some depth in terms of life in Oregon in the late 19th century. In many ways, the Parker autobiography provides typical details of the lives of homesteaders during this time. She recounts making soap and candles; she describes her father’s professional work away from home (as a school teacher and a miner) and her mother’s work at the home when she had constant interaction with her three children. Indeed, Parker’s observation on the sturdy nature of pioneers (page 6) shows how her narrative fits with other narratives about Oregon “pioneers” produced at this time.
The Parker autobiography is unique in one respect. Her family had close connections with one group of Indians who lived near and passed through Monmouth. Parker was acquainted with one of the Chiefs (Wyano-shott) who headed a band of Indians who attended church with Parker and her family. She and her father (and perhaps other members of the family) learned some of the local language. Parker used an English translation or pidgin form of this language in her autobiography (and provided translations).
Dates
- ca. 1924
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Inez Eugenia Adams was born in Henderson County, Illinois, on October 18, 1845. At the age of two and a half, in March 1848, she began the long journey to Oregon with her parents and her sister. She married and changed her surname to Parker. At age 79 she wrote a reminiscence of her life in Oregon.
Extent
0.02 linear feet (2 container) : 2 folders
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection consists of the memoir of Mrs. Inez Eugenia (Adams) Parker, who crossed the plains from Illinois to Oregon in 1848 and spent her childhood in Yamhill, Oregon. Her memoir, Early recollections of Oregon pioneer life, tells of her life in Illinois. Inez Adams Parker traveled on the Oregon Trail as a very young child and wrote her recollections late in life. The collection consists of her typed, autobiographical account of her life in Oregon.
Existence and Location of Copies
This collection has been microfilmed. Microfilm reels are available for purchase, or via Inter-library Loan. When requesting reels for this collection, please request: “Women’s Lives, Series 3, American Women Missionaries and Pioneers Collection, reel(s) 92.”
Microfilms of this collection have been digitized. Digital images prepared from microfilm copies are available from Special Collections & University Archives, and available online through Gale’s Women's Studies Archive: Women’s Issues and Identities.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Paz Mendez, Veta Schlimgen, & David Young, March 2006.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- Memoirs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Oregon National Historic Trail Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Overland journeys to the Pacific Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Parker, Inez Eugenia Adams, 1845-1933
- Parker, Inez Eugenia Adams, 1845-1933
- Pioneers -- Oregon Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women Pioneers -- Oregon Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Yamhill (Or.) Subject Source: Lcnaf
- Title
- Guide to the Mrs. Inez Eugenia (Adams) Parker early recollections of Oregon pioneer life
- Status
- Revise Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team
- Date
- 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
