John C. Ainsworth papers

The Ainsworth Papers are divided into nine groups, housed across 27 boxes and 32 loose volumes. The loose volumes primarily consist of bound correspondence and are listed within the series appropriate to the content of the volume. The collection contains Ainsworth’s diaries, autobiography, personal correspondence, and the business records of the Oregon Central Railroad, Oregon Steam Navigation Company, Northern Pacific Railroad Company, and various mining, building and shipping enterprises.

The Diaries group contains Ainsworth’s diaries and his autobiography, and may be found in the first five folders of Box 1.

Personal Correspondence from family, friends and associates, arranged alphabetically by the sender’s last name, fill the rest of Box 1 and most of Box 2. Documents relating to the Freemasons—mostly correspondence but including some official papers— are in folder 8 of Box 2 and the first eight folders of Box 3. Notable correspondents in this group include Evans S. McComas.

Personal Correspondence from family, friends and associates, arranged alphabetically by the sender’s last name, fill the rest of Box 1 and most of Box 2. Documents relating to the Freemasons—mostly correspondence but including some official papers—are in folder 8 of Box 2 and the first eight folders of Box 3. Notable correspondents in this group include Evans S. McComas.

Oregon Steam Navigation Company correspondence and business records may be found in Boxes 5 through 9, and in the first three folders of Box 10.

Northern Pacific Railroad Company correspondence and business records begin in folder 4 of Box 10 and run through folder 2 of Box 15. Notable correspondents in this group include Hazzard Stevens.

Mines and Mining and Other Corporate Enterprises (except shipping and Portland Hydraulic Elevator Company) correspondence and documents begin in Box 15, volumes 6 and 7 and folder 3, and run through volume 32 and folder 2 of Box 18. While most of the businesses are mining operations (gold, silver and coal), Ainsworth’s enterprises also included two mills (Ainsworth Mill Co. and Cabinet Steam Sawmill), and the Oregon Steam Brewery.

Records of Barks Alden Besse, Coloma, and Kate Davenport, owned by J.C. Ainsworth, CM. Noyes, Allen Noyes, and others (1879–1888), are housed in volumes 35 through 37, and folder 3 of Box 18 through Box 21.

Records of Building and House Construction, Portland (1880–1883) are housed in the first nine folders of Box 22.

Personal Finance and Corporate Records are housed in volume 38, and in folder 10 of Box 22 through Box 27.

Photographs consists of 78 black and white copy prints of ships, shipping personnel, and Oregon landmarks.