The Wirt Moore papers consist chiefly of letters of recommendation and other correspondence pertaining to Moore's teaching career. They also include autobiographical and creative writing.

Wert Emmit Moore was an Oregon, Washington, and California educator and Mayor of Grants Pass, Oregon. His father was Glaudius Wilbur Moore, whose family had settled in Marysville, California in the early 1850s. Glaudius Moore went to Texas to "ride the range" when but fifteen and there met and married Annie E. Buttery. The couple had three children, Wert Moore being the eldest (b.1878). The family moved to Silver City, New Mexico (1882), where Glaudius Moore prospected for gold, then to Oregon (1885), where Moore's father again sought gold. From 1887 to 1889 the family farmed on several Eastern Oregon land claims, then, in 1890, the Moores moved to Gardiner, Oregon, where the father was proprietor of a hotel. Wert went to school in Gardiner and became interested in pioneer history. In 1892 the Moores moved to Drain, Oregon, where Glaudius was again a hotel proprietor. The family remained there until 1937, although Glaudius Moore left at times to prospect in Montana and Canada. In June 1899 Wert Moore graduated from the Central Oregon State Normal School. He then began a teaching career as head teacher at Lebam, Washington. In his subsequent early career he was Principal at Toledo and Kalama, Wash. and County High School, Enterprise, Oregon. He then taught at Puyallup High School, Wash., was Principal at Washington School, Olympia, Wash. and a high school teacher at Everett, Wash.

Collection is open for research.