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John Gates papers

 Collection
Identifier: Ax 036

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence, financial records, legal documents, diaries, scrapbook pages, steamboat plans and inventions, and photographs. The correspondence includes professional correspondence relating to the Gates' inventions for steamboat improvements. Legal documents cover the years 1850-1905. There are also diaries by John Gates Jr. which cover the years 1902-1905. Plans and specifications by Gates for steamboats and specific inventions are included in the collection. Photographs include vintage prints, primarily boudoirs, by Southern California photographers E.A. Bonine, F.H. Rogers, and Ellis & Son. One image is by Heath & Smith of Portland, Maine; one by R.G. Morrision of Seattle, one by S.B. Graham of Portland, OR and four by Partridge of Portland, OR.

Dates

  • 1853-1909

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

John Gates (1827-1888) was a native of Mercer, Maine who came to Portland, Oregon in 1860. He became a construction engineer for the Oregon Steam Navigation Co. and the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. From 1885 to 1888, he served as mayor of Portland.

Extent

2.5 linear feet (6 containers) : 5 clamshell boxes, 1 photo box

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

John Gates (1827-1888) was a construction engineer for the Oregon Steam Navigation Co. and the Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. From 1885 to 1888, he served as mayor of Portland, Oregon. The collection consists of correspondence, financial records, legal documents, diaries, scrapbook pages, steamboat plans and inventions, and photographs.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged topically in series, beginning with letters in chronological order by date, bills and receipts in chronological order by date, legal documents in chronological order by date, and miscellany composed of diaries, scrapbook pages, and plans and specifications. Photographs are included in collection PH 186.

Other Finding Aids

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

Processing Information

Collection processed by staff, 1992.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.

Title
Guide to the John Gates papers
Status
Complete Description
Author
University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team and Tanya Parlet. Revisions by Alexandra Mueller.
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Repository Details

Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299 USA