Scope and Contents
The Mildred Colbert papers contain materials documenting the history of the Colbert and Petit family, as well as Mildred’s time spent growing up in one of the first pioneer families of Washington. Included in this material is correspondence dated between 1929 and 1978, as well as many early newspaper clippings about Oregon, the Colbert family, and the Native American tribes of the region. Also included are manuscripts, manuscript drafts, and related material for a number of Colbert’s works, including Folk Tales from the Chinook, Kutkos, Chinook Tyee and an unpublished book, Portland on the Willamette.
Dates
- 1929-1995
- Majority of material found within 1929 - 1965
Creator
- Colbert, Mildred (Person)
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room.
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
Mildred Colbert was one of eight children of Frederick (1840-1924) and Catherine (1853 -1940) Colbert, born on October 13, 1889, in the town of Ilwaca, Washington. The family was prominent in the early fishing industry, and known for their home on the corner of Quaker and Lake Street. The house is still a prominent landmark, and is currently on The National Register for Historic Places.
As a child, Mildred attended Bellingham Normal School, eventually graduating with a focus on education. She went on to teach fourth grade in a logging camp in Pacific County, and then in Naselle, alongside her sister Ruby. After retiring from teaching, Mildred pursued writing, documenting the history of the Chinook people in her book, Kutkos, Chinook Tyee, and writing for the Oregon Historical Quarterly. Mildred's primary residence was in Portland, Oregon, where she lived with her mother, Catherine, and her two sisters, Ruby and Hilma, but she kept the family's home in Ilwaco for summer use.
[Source: “The Colbert House: The House That Time Forgot." Chinook observer.com. 17 Jan. 2017.]
Extent
16.5 linear feet (11 containers)
Abstract
The papers of Mildred Colbert, author and daughter of a prominent Washington pioneer family, are comprised of biographical material, diaries, correspondence, financial materials, manuscripts, school materials, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into the following series:
Series I: Biographical and Geneaological Material
Series II: Diaries and Address books
Series III: Correspondence
Series IV: Financial Materials
Series V: Manuscripts
Series VI: School Materials
Series VII: Newspaper clippings
Series VIII: Miscellaneous
Physical Description
11 containers
Processing Information
Collection processed by Anna Fleming.
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Frontier and pioneer life Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Frontier and pioneer life -- Washington Territory Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pioneers Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Pioneers -- West (U.S.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women Pioneers -- West (U.S.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women authors, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women authors, American -- 20th century -- Manuscripts Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Mildred Colbert papers
- Status
- Complete Description
- Author
- Anna Fleming and Rachel Lilley
- Date
- 2017
- 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
