Benjamin Franklin Dowell Papers mssDO

Gayle Richardson

The Huntington Library

April 2020

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library

Title: Benjamin Franklin Dowell papers

Creator: Dowell, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin)

Identifier/Call Number: mssDO

Physical Description: 4.8 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Date (inclusive): 1855-1895

Abstract: A collection of correspondence, documents, and manuscripts related to the career of American attorney and newspaperman Benjamin Franklin Dowell.

Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Benjamin Franklin Dowell papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Fred Lockley, March 1924.

Biographical / Historical

Benjamin Franklin Dowell (1826-1897), Oregon attorney and newspaperman, was born in Virginia and graduated in law from the University of Virginia in 1847. He emigrated to California from Missouri in 1850, then to Oregon where he participated in the Indian wars as a member of the 1st Regiment, Oregon Volunteers. He settled in Jacksonville, Oregon, became proprietor of the Oregon Sentinel, and was influential in local politics.

Scope and Contents

A collection of 277 items which contains correspondence, a letterbook, documents, and manuscripts. The material is related to Oregon politics and government, transportation, including some material on pack trains, mail routes and railroads; there is also material on the Indian Wars including the Rogue River Indian War.

Processing Information

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1930. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from legacy in-house summary report.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

General

Former call number: mssDO 1-206.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Indians of North America -- Wars -- Oregon

Rogue River Indian War, 1855-1856

Transportation -- Oregon

Jackson County (Or.) -- Politics and Government -- 19th century

Oregon -- History -- 19th century

Business papers -- Oregon -- 19th century

Documents -- Oregon -- 19th century

Letters (correspondence) -- Oregon -- 19th century

Box 1, Folder 1-69

Correspondence and documents 1855 December 25 - 1867 May 24

Scope and Contents

The box contains material written from New York, Washington D.C., Indiana, Oregon, and California.

Box 2, Folder 1-65

Correspondence and documents 1867 June 4 - 1868 January 28

Scope and Contents

The box contains material written from Louisiana, Tennessee, Washington D.C., Oregon, Massachusetts, Illinois, California, and Wisconsin.

Box 3, Folder 1-69

Correspondence and documents 1868 February 1 - 1895 July 19

Scope and Contents

The box contains material written from Washington D.C., Oregon, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Arizona Territory, Illinois, and Indiana.

Box 4, Folder 1-5

Ephemera and volumes 1861-1885

Scope and Contents

The box contains uncataloged bills and receipts, printed ephemera, letterbook with index (1861-1885), index to the scrapbook which originally held the papers in this collection.