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George Browne Van Waters papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Ax 215

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The collection contains correspondence, parish records, sermons, a timber account book, family legal and financial papers, and penal reform documents by Miriam Van Waters.

The correspondence is divided into multiple sections.

The first section contains outgoing correspondence by Van Waters (1895-1928) and consists of mostly family and personal letters.

The second section contains incoming correspondence organized alphabetically by name or organization title. This section includes a series of letters from Bishop Lewis Paddock of Eastern Oregon (1916-1923), a folder of documents regarding the "Paddock case," and 44 letters from a brother, Charles C. Van Waters of Rensselaer, N.Y. (1882-1895, 1900-1922).

Also available is incoming and outgoing correspondence by other Van Waters family members: Van Water's wife Maud, their daughter Miriam, his mother Sarah Ann, Maud's aunt Emily Vosburg, Maud's brothers Fred, Harry and J. Lawrence Vosburg, and Maud's mother and father.

Other material includes sermons by Van Waters, records of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon and St. David’s Episcopal Church including baptism, marriage, confirmation, burial and communicants’ registers, and documents and letters relating to church calls and personal business.

Also contained in the collection is an expense ledger of George R. Vosburg on behalf of John E. DuBois’ lumber and timber purchases in Oregon, 1899-1901.

The 1979 addendum contains outgoing and incoming correspondence, incoming telegrams, sermon manuscripts, and miscellaneous church papers including bulletins, announcements, programs and promotional material.

The 1993 Addendum (Up 085) consists of sermon notes, and family legal and financial papers.

Dates

  • 1879-1939

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

George Browne Van Waters (1856-1934) was a Protestant Episcopal clergyman. He was born in Rensselaer Falls, N.Y., and educated at Oberlin, Kenyon College, and the Bexley Divinity School. His early parishes were in Greenburg and Dubois, Pennsylvania.

After he traveled to Oregon he served in the Oregon Diocese from 1891-1924, and from 1915 he served as Archdeacon of Eastern Oregon. He founded St. David's and Grace Memorial Church in Portland, Oregon. He married Maud O. Vosburg in 1884. A daughter, Miriam, is a noted reformer and penologist.

Extent

7.5 linear feet (5 containers) : 5 record storage boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

George Browne Van Waters (1856-1934) was a Protestant Episcopal clergyman who served in Pennsylvania before traveling to Oregon where he became the Oregon Diocese from 1891-1924, and founded St. David's and Grace Memorial Church in Portland, Oregon. The collection contains correspondence, parish records, sermons, a timber account book, family legal and financial papers, and penal reform documents by Miriam Van Waters.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series: Correspondence, Parish Records, 1979 Addenda, and a 1993 Addenda.

Other Finding Aids

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

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Mirium Van Waters, 1963.

Related Materials

The Miriam Van Waters Collection is housed in the Schlesinger Library at Harvard.

Processing Information

Collection processed by staff, 1963.

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 George Browne Van Waters Papers
Status
Complete Description
Author
Finding aid prepared by University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team and Tanya Parlet.
Date
2012
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