Guide to the Davenport Family Papers
1848-1966

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Davenport Family
Title: Davenport Family Papers
Dates: 1848-1966 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 6 linear feet (18 containers)
Collection Number: Ax 242
Summary: Timothy Woodbridge (T.W.) Davenport (1826-1911) and his family left Ohio for Oregon in the early 1850s, settling in the upper Willamette Valley. T.W. Davenport was a farmer, surveyor, state representative, state senator, and special Indian agent at the Umatilla Agency in the 1860s. T.W. Davenport’s son, Homer Davenport (1867-1912) became the most highly paid political cartoonist of his time. He also traveled to the Ottoman Empire, returning with the first purebred Arabian horses in America. The Davenport Family Papers contain the personal papers of T.W. Davenport, Homer Davenport, and the Davenport family. The collection includes correspondence, essays, drawings, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Of note are the handwritten and typewritten memoirs of T.W. Davenport and original political cartoons by Homer Davenport.
Repository: University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives

1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html

Languages: Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical Note

Together with his father, Dr. Benjamin Davenport, Timothy Woodbridge (T.W.) Davenport set forth across the American continent in the spring of 1850. Because of misguided leadership of one of the members of their team, the Davenports decided to take an overland route from Ohio instead of opting for the quicker, water route along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Missouri. By the time they reached Missouri, the team was months behind the rest of the pioneers on the Oregon Trail and their oxen were already showing signs of wear. This late start may have been a blessing in disguise. As the Davenports proceeded across the Great Plains they heard of the massive cholera epidemic plaguing travelers that went before them. Before they reached the rigorous Rockies, the Davenports wisely decided to return to Newark, Missouri where they would wait out the winter. In Missouri Benjamin set up a medical practice for the winter and was able to purchase a new team of oxen for the trip. In the spring of 1851 the Davenport family once again set out across the plains, this time reaching Oregon Territory in the fall of that year and settling upon a 320-acre donation claim in the Waldo Hills of the upper Willamette Valley.

The first member of the Davenport family had arrived in America from England prior to 1640, originally settling in Dorchester, Massachusetts. The family remained in the Northeast for several generations. Benjamin Davenport, father of Timothy Woodbridge, was born in Columbia County, New York in 1799, the thirteenth child of Jonathan Davenport. Jonathan Davenport died when Benjamin was young. One of the few memories that Benjamin had of his father was of Jonathan lacing up his boots and exclaiming in pain. Jonathan removed his boots and socks to find a red pimple on his foot. Jonathan popped the pimple and died soon thereafter because of an infection in his foot. While the veracity of this story is hard to determine, it may have been a spark for young Benjamin to embark upon a medical career.

Benjamin Davenport left the Northeast for a while as young man, traveling to the South. Benjamin spent five years in the South, primarily in Kentucky and Louisiana. Despite a lack of formal education, Benjamin began practicing medicine. Relying on his quick wits and sound judgment, Davenport studied in his spare time and earned a reputation as a fair physician. While in the South, Benjamin objected to slavery, and he passed this sentiment onto T.W. When he returned to the North he would become an anti-slavery Whig and his home would eventually become a stop on the Underground Railroad. Upon his immediate return he resumed his medical studies with more rigor, eventually graduating from Pittsfield Medical College in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1826.

In 1825 Benjamin Davenport married Sarah R. Gott. Sarah had been born in 1803 to Story Gott, a wealthy landowner from Columbia County, New York. Story Gott was a popular man, known for his generosity and Epicurean tastes, as well as his distinguished service for the patriot cause during the American Revolution.

Timothy Woodbridge Davenport was born to Benjamin and Sarah on July 30, 1826 on a farm in Columbia County, New York. He was baptized in the Presbyterian faith and named after a blind minister, Timothy Woodbridge. The twenty-six letters of this name seemed too cumbersome for such a young boy so he earned the nickname T.W. His early years were spent at his maternal grandfather’s farm while his father continued with his medical education in New York.

Benjamin remained in New York, practicing medicine, until 1830. In the spring of that year his second son, Joseph, was born. That summer, in the first of series of moves westward, Benjamin moved his family and practice to Pennsylvania. He remained in Pennsylvania for five years before moving to Ohio where he jumped from town to town, finally taking up residence in Homer, Ohio.

While in Ohio, Dr. Davenport worked as an abolitionist helping slaves escape northward as part of the Underground Railroad. This period represented one of growth for T.W. as well. T.W. received the benefits of education, both in public schools and with private tutors. His studies ranged from classic Greek to Algebra and Geometry, which were beyond the normal curriculum for the time. The emphasis placed on education at an early age is clear from T.W.’s eloquent writing style. In 1845 T.W. went to Illinois as a schoolteacher and remained for two school years.

After two years as a schoolteacher in Illinois, T.W. decided to follow his father’s example and study medicine. T.W., however, was not as interested in the medical profession as his father and after one year at Sterling Medical College he returned to teaching in Woodstock, Ohio, though without much interest. When his father proposed a move across the country, T.W. jumped at the chance, planning to become a surveyor in Oregon.

The first years in Oregon were busy ones for the Davenport family. T.W. engaged in surveying and farming, but as his son Homer noted he was always a “politically minded farmer.” T.W. married his second cousin, Flora Geer, a gifted artist, and daughter of a prominent local family in 1854. In 1855 father and son, spurred by their abolitionist beliefs, helped organize the fledgling Republican Party in Oregon. This involvement led to the beginning of a political path for T.W. who would be elected to the first Republican state nominating conventions in 1858 and 1859.

While things seemed to be on an upswing for T.W. in these early years, tragedy struck in February 1857 with the death of Dr. Benjamin Davenport at the age of fifty-seven.

The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 thrust the country into turmoil, though Oregon was able to stay out of the path of destruction. T.W.’s youngest brother Benjamin Franklin Davenport joined the Union cause, serving three years in Company C of the 1st Oregon Infantry. Being too old for military service, T.W. was asked by the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, William H. Rector, to serve as Indian Agent of the Umatilla Agency in September 1862.

T.W. entered a system fraught with corruption and broken promises. Many people gave lip service to the “civilizing” mission of the reservation system, but few people believed it was possible to “reform” the Native American population. T.W. was an exception. He honestly believed that he could make a difference, so he set out in October 1862 to the Umatilla Reservation in northeastern Oregon brimming with confidence.

The first action taken by T.W. upon arriving at the reservation was to appoint a man named Mr. Pinto to the position of schoolteacher. By doing so, T.W. amended a promise broken by his predecessor. This action upset the reservation doctor who wanted his wife, despite her lack of qualifications, to fill the vacancy. The reservation doctor resigned in protest, but told the reservation Indians that he had been fired, which angered the Indians. While T.W. managed to placate the outraged tribal leaders this incident illustrates how T.W.’s good intentions were met with resistance from the beginning of his term. T.W. was constantly challenged by Indians who, understandably, refused to move onto the reservation and by Army officers who expressed hatred for Indians. While he would write a fond reminiscence about his experience for the Oregon Historical Quarterly forty years later, T.W.’s term was not as successful as he hoped and he returned to the Willamette Valley in 1863 after less than a year of service.

The next few years would be ones of growing political success for T.W. He was elected Marion County surveyor in 1864 and reelected in 1866. In 1868 he was elected to the state legislature and reelected in 1870. He was nominated again in 1872, but declined the position. As always, these years of success were mixed in their blessings. While his political success grew, personal tragedy struck.

In November, 1870 T.W.’s wife Flora was struck with smallpox and died. The couple had produced four children. Their daughter Olive had died at age four and their son John did not live past infancy. After his wife’s death, T.W. became the single father of daughter Orla and his three-year-old son, Homer. That winter was a hard one for the Davenport family as T.W. grieved for his wife and, with the aid of his mother, cared for two children who were recovering from smallpox as well. The intense rains added to the isolation, darkening the already gloomy mood. Young Homer, trapped by rain and illness, spent his time drawing with intense vigor.

T.W. married Nancy Elizabeth Gilmour (Lizzie) in October 1872. Clyde was born in 1873, Adelaide (Adda) in 1875, Alice in 1878, Georgia in 1880, and May Delle in 1885. T.W.’s political career took some time to get back on track. He ran for Congress in 1874 on the Independent ticket, but his bid was unsuccessful. In 1882 he was elected to a term in the state senate and in 1895 Governor William P. Lord appointed him to a four-year term as the state land commissioner. Throughout this time T.W. continued to write political and historical essays on subjects ranging from the origin of abolitionist sentiment in Oregon to the support of William Jennings Bryan and the Populist cause.

Homer Davenport seemed to be a perfect blend of his parents. He had his father’s political sensibilities and his mother’s artistic talent. These traits combined to form a political cartoonist with a touch of genius. In fact, his mother actively tried to bear a genius. Following the advice of a eugenicist, Flora abstained from meat and salt during pregnancy and attempted to get exercise and fresh air. The key element in this design lay with the conception. The child must be conceived during daylight hours, preferably outdoors.

Homer’s artistic genius came not from art schools or scholarly study, but rather from a combination of an active imagination and a keen eye for detail. T.W. lovingly recalled the hours Homer would spend watching the interactions of barnyard animals and then recreating their actions. As he grew he would examine art books and nearby galleries, but he would not imitate the work he saw, preferring to use his imagination as a muse.

As a young man Homer grew restless. He worked at the family store for a while without much interest. Homer left home as a young man drifting from job to job, working as a railroad fireman, a jockey, and even a circus clown. His drifting led him to Portland where he landed a position as an artist for the Portland Mercury.

While in the employ of the Mercury, Homer was sent to New Orleans to make some drawings of the Dempsey-Fitzsimmons boxing match. While on the train he drew some pictures of an African-American minister preaching on a train in Texas. He sent these sketches to his father, who was so impressed with them that he sent them on to cousins in Chicago. As legend has it, these relatives opened the drawings while entertaining the head of the art department for the San Francisco Examiner. Homer was quickly offered a position at the larger newspaper, and he quickly accepted, beginning work in 1892.

The circulation of the Examiner spread Homer’s cartoons to a larger audience. Homer soon gained a reputation for bold cartoons that were not afraid to tackle any issue, including the political machine that ran the city. These cartoons soon caught the attention of William Randolph Hearst. When Hearst purchased the New York Journal in 1895, he wooed Homer away from San Francisco and into the national spotlight.

At the New York Journal Homer increased his attacks on corruption in politics, targeting the big trusts and the McKinley campaign for being beholden to big business. One figure that Homer attacked with particular vehemence was McKinley’s campaign manager “Dollar” Mark Hanna. Davenport portrayed Hanna as grossly oversized, wearing a suit covered in dollar signs and smoking a large cigar. These cartoons enraged his critics so much that they attempted to pass an anti-cartoon bill through the New York legislature in 1897. Fortunately for Davenport public opinion was on his side and the bill was defeated.

Homer Davenport’s political cartoons opened doors for him around the world. He visited the British Parliament, becoming one of the first American cartoonists to watch the assembly. With the aid of friend Theodore Roosevelt, Homer traveled to the Ottoman Empire, returning with the first purebred Arabian horses in America. These horses became his passion. Despite being the highest paid cartoonist in the nation, he preferred to remain on his New Jersey farm with his children and his beloved horses.

Homer’s life was cut short in 1912 when he died of pneumonia after covering the sinking of the Titanic. Hearst, to honor his beloved cartoonist, had his body sent back to Silverton to lay next to his father. T.W. died only a year before Homer, in 1911.

Content Description

The Davenport Family Papers are divided into five series according to family member and then collection type. The first two series are dedicated to the most famous of the Davenports, Timothy Woodbridge and Homer Calvin Davenport, who were both influential in late nineteenth century state and federal politics. The collection contains family reminiscences, correspondence, photographs, newspaper articles and cartoons by Homer Davenport.The Davenport Family Papers are divided into five series according to family member and then collection type. The first two series are dedicated to the most famous of the Davenports, Timothy Woodbridge and Homer Calvin Davenport, who were both influential in late nineteenth century state and federal politics. The collection contains family reminiscences, correspondence, photographs, newspaper articles and cartoons by Homer Davenport.

Series I, Timothy Woodbridge Davenport Papers contain the personal papers of the prominent politician and are divided into several subseries. Subseries A contains a wide correspondence from the 1860s till his death in 1911 with family members and political acquaintances, which reflects T.W. Davenport’s dedication to his family and his Republican sentiment. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient and/or by writer, and then chronologically. Subseries B contains legal documents; including land deeds and a Umatilla Agency receipt roll for the Walla Walla tribe from 1862. Subseries C, Personal Writings and Essays, contains poetry, political essays, and letters to the editor. Subseries D, Memoirs, includes handwritten and typewritten memoirs by Timothy Woodbridge Davenport.

Series II, Homer Calvin Davenport Papers, contain documents that reflect his career as a political cartoonist and his love for Arabian horses and exotic birds. Subseries A, Correspondence, contains several letters to his sister, Adelaide, and his father, T.W. There are also several telegrams regarding the death of T.W., including one from former President Theodore Roosevelt. Subseries B, Newspaper Clippings, contains newspaper articles and published cartoons both by Homer Davenport and about him. Many of the newspaper clippings are glued on both sides of a page. Subseries D, Memoirs and Character Sketches, includes writings about Homer Davenport by authors Timothy Woodbridge Davenport and Jean Morris Ellis.

Series III, Miscellaneous Davenport Family Papers, is broken down into three subseries by other individual family members, for whom a substantial amount of papers are included in this collection. Subseries A, Adelaide Davenport Correspondence, includes several letters to the Davenport family biographer, Robert Down, among others. Subseries B, Lizzie (Nancy Elizabeth) Davenport Correspondence, includes several letters from her daughters and telegrams regarding the death of Homer Davenport, because Lizzie was his stepmother. Subseries C, Timothy Clyde Davenport Correspondence, is largely outgoing letters to his parents, T.W. and Lizzie, and reflects his years at a sanatorium . The final Subseries D, Miscellaneous Davenport, largely includes correspondence to and from family members and memorabilia such as the Frederic Remington monument brochure, poems from “Captain Jack” John W. Crawford, and a lock of hair from a funeral director in Los Angeles.

Series IV, Photographs, is broken in to two subseries by size. Both Subseries A and B include images of the Davenport family members, various acquaintances, and Arabian stallions and pheasants. These are arranged alphabetically first by family members, and then other individuals.

Series V, Oversize, contains more photographs in Subseries A, legal documents and awards in Subseries B, and newspaper clippings in Subseries C. Subseries D contains scrapbooks including books of Timothy Woodbridge and Homer Davenport’s deaths and newspaper clippings. Subseries E contains Homer Davenport miscellany including signed poetry by “Captain Jack” John W. Crawford, Homer Davenport’s book, The Dollar or the Man, and advertisements for his autobiography, The Country Boy. These are all arranged the same way as described above. Subseries F, Original Cartoons by Homer Davenport, contains approximately 100 drawings and are arranged by title.

Other resources in Special Collections & University Archives about the Davenports are the following: Recollections of an Indian Agent, by T.W. Davenport; The Annotated Quest : Homer Davenport & His Wonderful Arabian Horses, by Homer Davenport, with annotations by Charles and Jeanne Craver; Cartoons, by Homer C. Davenport, with an introduction by Hon. John J. Ingalls; Annual Homer Davenport Memorial Arabian Horse Show Souvenir Catalog; and Homer, the Country Boy, by Mickey Hickman. These resources are included in the Rare Books Collection and the Oregon Collection in Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

Collection is open to the public.

Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.

Restrictions on Use :  

Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation :  

[Identification of item], Davenport family Papers, Ax 242, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

Collection is organized into the following series:

  • Series I: Timothy Woodbridge Davenport Papers
  • Series II: Homer Calvin Davenport Papers
  • Series III: Miscellaneous Davenport Family Papers
  • Series IV: Photographs
  • Series V: Oversize

Separated Materials :  

Photographs in this collection are stored separately under call number PH111.

Acquisition Information :  

The collection was a gift of Alice Davenport Bernard in 1965.


Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I:  Timothy Davenport Papers
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Subseries A1: Outgoing Correspondence
Box
Folder
1 1 Letter to Mary Burns re: death of her father April 18, 1911
1 2 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport October 14, 1892
1 3 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport February 9, 1893
1 4 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport May 29, 1893
1 5 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport June 1, 1893
1 6 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport October 14, 1892
1 7 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport October 14, 1892
1 8 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport October 27, 1898
1 9 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport October 28, 1898
1 10 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport November 2, 1898
1 11 Two letters to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport December 28, 1898
1 12 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport April 22, 1899
1 13 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport January 30, 1901
1 14 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport December 11, 1901
1 15 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport October 23, 1902
1 16 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport February 10, 1905
1 17 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport August 14, 1907
1 18 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport August 26, 1910
1 19 Letter to Adelaide "Adda" Davenport August 28, 1910
1 20 Letter to "Adda" and Jean Davenport October 16, 1908
1 21 Letter to "Adda" and Mary Davenport December 22, 1908
1 22 Letter to "Adda" and Mary Davenport January 7, 1909
1 23 Letter to "Adda" and Mary Davenport March 12, 1909
1 24 Letter to "Adda" and Mary Davenport March 20, 1908
1 25 Letter to "Adda" and Mary Davenport April 12, 1909
1 26 Letter to "Adda" and Mary Davenport July 16, 1909
1 27 Letter to "Big Baby" (possibly Adda or Mary) October 30 1908
1 28 Letter to Alice Davenport October 4, 1898
1 29 Letter to Alice Davenport September 21, 1898
1 30 Letter to Alice Davenport January 25, 1899
1 31 Letter to Alice Davenport February 10, 1899
1 32 Letter to Alice Davenport August 5, 1899
1 33 Letter to Alice Davenport October 17, 1910
1 34 Letter to Alice Davenport September 25 (no year, incomplete)
1 35 Letter to Homer C. Davenport April 28, 1901
1 36 Letter to Homer C. Davenport March 28, 1902
1 37 Letter to Homer C. Davenport December 15, 1902
1 38 Letter to Homer C. Davenport October 24, 1904
1 39 Letter to Homer C. Davenport December 20, 1904
1 40 Letter to Homer C. Davenport December 20, 1910
1 41 Letter to Homer C. Davenport February 12, 1911
1 42 Letter to Mary Davenport May 3, 1910
1 43 Letter to Mary Davenport May 9, 1910
1 44 Letter to W. Dawning November 28, 1902
1 45 Letter to "My Dear Children" July 13, 1900
1 46 Letter to "My Dear Ones All" September 9, 1910
1 47 Letter to Nancy Davenport July 20, 1872
1 48 Letter to Nancy Davenport August 20, 1872
1 49 Letter to Nancy Davenport September 6, 1872
1 50 Letter to Nancy Davenport September 10, 1872
1 51 Letter to Nancy Davenport June 28, 1874
1 52 Letter to Nancy Davenport May 31, 1878
1 53 Letter to Nancy Davenport June 30, 1894
1 54 Letter to Nancy Davenport and Children October 20, 1897
1 55 Letter to "Dear Ones All" September 28, 1910
1 56 Letter to "Dear Ones All" October 4, 1910
1 57 Letter to Editor of Examiner February 20, 1911
1 58 Letter to Editor of Los Angeles Examiner April 14, 1911
1 59 Letter to "Flora" May 3, 1863
1 60 Letter to "Flora" July 31, 1863
1 61 Letter to "Flora" August 18, 1863
1 62 Letter to "Flora" September 10, 1863
1 63 Letter to "Flora" February 24, 1864
1 64 Letter to Georgia August 19, 1910
1 65 Letter to Kate Morrison April 10, 1870
1 66 Letter to Kate Morrison March 25, 1891
1 67 Letter to Kate Morrison May 29, 1891
1 68 Letter to Kate Morrison February 22, 1893
1 69 Letter to Kate Morrison, missing page one undated
1 70 Letter to Kate Morrison April 27, 1893
1 71 Letter to Kate Morrison July 7, 1893
1 72 Letter to Kate Morrison October 10, 1893
1 73 Letter to Kate Morrison June 1, 1898
1 74 Letter to Kate Morrison August 28, 1898
1 75 Letter to Kate Morrison January 1, 1900
1 76 Letter to Kate Morrison February 21, 1901
1 77 Letter to Kate Morrison April 22, 1901
1 78 Letter to Kate Morrison August 2, 1904
1 79 Letter to Kate Morrison March 29, 1905
1 80 Letter to Kate Morrison March 4, 1907
1 81 Letter to Kate Morrison January 3, 1910
1 82 Letter to Kate Morrison undated
1 83 Letter to "My Dear" September 7, 1872
1 84 Letter to "My Dear Wife" May 20, 1910
1 85 Letter to "My Own Dear Wife" June 21, 1874
1 86 Letter to "Nannie and all the rest" August 5, 1910
1 87 Letter to Louis F. Post November 8, 1900
1 88 Letter to Mrs. Caroline Severance January 29, 1911
1 89 Letter to Mrs. Mareline Smith February 20, 1911
1 90 Letter to Senator Smith February 2, 1899
1 91 Letter to Clara H. Waldo February 4, 1894
1 92 Letter to Prof. F.G. Young September 30, 1907
1 93 Letter to Unknown September 8, 1897
1 94 Letter to Unknown September 6, 1907
1 95 Letter to Unknown August 7, 1910
1 96 Letter to Unknown: No date and missing first page October 16, 1908
1 97 Letter to Unknown: No date and missing first page October 16, 1908
Subseries A2: Incoming Correspondence
Box
Folder
2 1 Letter from Benjamin Davenport July 25, 1848
2 2 Letter from C.W. Fairbanks December 17, 1907
2 3 Letter from Ben B. Lindsey October 4, 1910
2 4 Letter from Henry E. McGinn undated
2 5 Letter from J.B. Pond December 6, 1902
2 6 Letter from J.B. Pond December 30, 1902
2 7 Letter from Louis F. Post November 22, 1900
2 8 Letter from Lloyd Samson December 7, 1906
2 9 Letter from Hazard Stevens January 8, 1904
2 10 Letter B. Washington January 23, 1909
2 11 Letter from unknown January 23, 1909
2 12 Letter from unknown January 4, 1903
Subseries B: Legal Documents
Box
Folder
3 1 Umatilla Agency, Receipt Roll, Walla Walla "C" property return, 4th Qr. 1862, Umatilla Indian Reservation 1862
3 2 Warranty Deed of Marion county property September 4, 1882
3 3 Warranty Deed of Marion County property October 5, 1885
3 4 Warranty Deed of Clackamas county property: Lots 22 and 23 of block 73 June 16, 1891
3 5 Oregon Land Company Deed: Lot 22 of block 23 March 4, 1892
3 6 Power of Attorney to Sell Real Estate February 20, 1941
Subseries C: Personal Writings and Essays
Box
Folder
3 7 "An Object Lesson in Paternalism"
3 8 Poem, "One Little Voice is Hushed Forever"
3 9 Notes from a poem, "How Shall I Know Thee in the Spirit Sphere"
3 10 Untitled paper (missing page one)
3 11 His Guide, Philosopher and Friend
3 12 Petition to the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon
3 13 To the State Board of Land Commissioners January 27, 1898
3 14 "Political Principles"
3 15 "The Haunted House of Humboldt County"
3 16 To the Editor of the Tribune April 26, 1903
3 17 To the Editor [about Senator John H. Mitchell]
3 18 To the Editor of the Statesman [about Land Office Tenure]
3 19 "Elihu Root vs. Direct Legislation and the Election of U.S. Senators by the People"
3 20 An Open Letter to the Legislative Assembly of Oregon
3 21 "A Birth Day Present to Homer 38 Years Old"
3 22 "Reminiscences" [possibly about T.W. Davenport's father, Benjamin]
Subseries D: Memoirs and Character Sketches
Box
Folder
3 23 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 1)
3 24 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 2)
3 25 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 3)
3 26 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 4)
3 27 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 5)
3 28 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 6) January 27, 1898
3 29 Handwritten memoir of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport (Part 7)
3 30 Memoirs of Timothy W. Davenport (transcribed)
3 31 Typewritten character sketch of Timothy Woodbridge Davenport

^ Return to Top

Series II:  Homer Calvin Davenport Papers
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Subseries A1: Outgoing Correspondence
Box
Folder
4 1 Letter to "Adda" Davenport January 9, 1891
4 2 Letter to "Adda" Davenport January 15, 1891
4 3 Letter to "Adda" Davenport June 13, 1892
4 4 Letter to "Adda" Davenport August 8, 1892
4 5 Letter to "Adda" Davenport March 5, 1896
4 6 Letter to "Adda" Davenport September 1, 1906
4 7 Letter to Alice Davenport February 9, 1896
4 8 Letter to Alice Davenport October 17, 1911
4 9 Letter to Mrs. J.W. Davenport April 27, undated
4 10 Letter to Mary Davenport October 21, 1910
4 11 Letter to Mary Davenport Undated
4 12 Letter to T.W. Davenport December 24, 1896
4 13 Letter to T.W. Davenport August 1, 1897
4 14 Letter to T.W. Davenport March 24, 1902
4 15 Letter to T.W. Davenport May 13, 1902
4 16 Letter to T.W. Davenport February 3, 1903
4 17 Letter to T.W. Davenport April 22, 1903
4 18 Letter to T.W. Davenport September 10, 1903
4 19 Letter to T.W. Davenport January 8, 1905
4 20 Letter to T.W. Davenport January 1, 1906
4 21 Letter to T.W. Davenport August 19, 1906
4 22 Letter to T.W. Davenport October 13, 1906
4 23 Letter to T.W. Davenport December 14, 1906
4 24 Letter to T.W. Davenport May 3, 1907
4 25 Letter to T.W. Davenport June 1907
4 26 Letter to T.W. Davenport July 30, 1907
4 27 Letter to T.W. Davenport January 29, 1908
4 28 Letter to T.W. Davenport December 12, 1910
4 29 Letter to T.W. Davenport Undated
4 30 Letter to Mother February 6, 1912
4 31 Letter to Mother and sisters June 28, 1911
Subseries A2: Incoming Correspondence
Box
Folder
4 32 Telegram from A. BrisbaneTelegram from James R. Garfield April 29, 1911; May 1, 1911
4 33 Telegram from P.H. D'ArcyTelegrams from Theodore Roosevelt May 11, 1911; May 2, 1911
4 34 Letter [proof] from Homer Clyde Davenport Undated
4 35 Letter from Department of State January 4, 1906
4 36 Letter from Charles W. Fairbanks May 2, 1911
4 37 Letter from Charles Dana Gibson Undated
4 38 Letter from Ahmut Hafez December 24, 1906
4 39 Telegrams from John E. Hedges and Henry George, Jr. April 30, 1911
4 40 Letter from Frederic Remington Undated
4 41 Letter from C. W. Smith May 10, 1911
4 42 Telegram from W. Sulzer, re: T.W. Davenport's deathTelegram from George W. McBride, re: T.W. Davenport's deathTelegrams from Katherine Tingley, re: T.W. Davenport's death May 1, 1911; May 4, 1911; May 4, 1911
4 43 Letter from unknown [illegible] Undated
Subseries B: Newspaper clippings
Box
Folder
5 1 "The Real American Woman," by Homer Davenport March 27, 1911
5 2 "Life Sacrificed to Gold and Cupidity," by Homer Davenport March 28, 1911
5 3 "On the Reno Trail," by Homer Davenport April 3, 1911
5 4 "King and Athlete," by Homer Davenport 1911
5 5 "The Day of the Child," by Homer Davenport 1911
5 6 "Don't Run Across the Street in this Age," by Homer Davenport 1911
5 7 "Davenport Says Good-Bye" May 7, 1912
5 8 "Homer Davenport Dies in New York" May 12, 1912
5 9 "Homer Davenport Monument" May 22, 1912
5 10 "Homer Davenport Statue Contributions Asked Here," by Otheman Stevens July 30, 1923
5 11 "Arab Horses at Pomona" July 12, 1925
5 12 "He's Good Enough for Me," by Homer Davenport November 6, 1932
5 13 "The Johnsonian Sphinx as Davenport Sees It," by Homer Davenport
5 14 Roosevelt drawing by Homer Davenport
5 15 "Davenport is Recalled," The Sunday Oregonian
5 16 "Mr. Harriman as a Witness," by Homer Davenport
5 17 "Roving Sea Gull Brings Romance to Chicken Yard," by Winifred Black
5 18 Memorial to Homer Davenport in Oregon Daily Journal
5 19 "Up to Oregon People," by Adda Davenport-Martin
5 20 "Why Our School Fund is Small"
5 21 "Homer Davenport's Biographers"
5 22 ""Once Overs," by O.O. McIntyre
5 23 "Overpopulation," by Guglielmo Ferrero
5 24 "Davenport on Mr. Dooley," by Homer Davenport
5 25 "Still Waiting," by Homer Davenport
5 26 Article re: death of Homer Davenport, incomplete November 6, 1932
5 27 Unknown article
Subseries C: Memoirs and Character Sketches
Box
Folder
5 28 Homer Davenport Memoir (84 page typed)
5 29 "Homer Davenport, A Character Sketch," by Jean Morris Ellis
5 30 Birth Day Present, by T.W. Davenport 1905
5 31 The Story of Homer Davenport, Unknown author
5 32 Chapter V, Unknown author
5 33 "If Homer Had Done So," Unknown author
5 34 Sketch of Homer Davenport, by Timothy Woodbridge Davenport
5 35 Sketch of Homer Davenport, Unknown author
5 36 Homer Davenport's Tradition by Adda Davenport
5 37 Sketch of Homer Davenport by Adda Davenport
Subseries C: Memoirs and Character Sketches
Box
Folder
5 28 Homer Davenport Memoir (84 page typed, legal size)
5 29 Homer Davenport, A Character Sketch, by Jean Morris Ellis
5 30 Birth Day Present, by T.W. Davenport 1905
5 31 The Story of Homer Davenport, Unknown author
5 32 Chapter V, Author unknown
5 33 "If Homer had done so," Unknown author
5 34 Sketch of Homer Davenport by Timothy Woodbridge Davenport
5 35 Sketch of Homer Davenport by Unknown Author
5 36 Homer Davenport's Tradition by Adda Davenport
5 37 Sketch of Homer Davenport by Adda Davenport

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Series III:  Miscellaneous Davenport Family Papers
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Subseries A: Adelaide Davenport Correspondence
Box
Folder
6 1 Letter to Robert Down September 12, 1929
6 2 Letter to Robert Down September 23, 1929
6 3 Letter to Robert Down October 22, 1929
6 4 Letter to Robert Down January 31, 1931
6 5 Letter to Robert Down August 26, 1930
6 6 Letter to Robert Down January 4, 1931
6 7 Questionnaire to Robert Down
6 8 Letter to John Raudolf Haynes November 23, 1915
6 9 Letter to H.O. Hunter November 16, 1929
6 10 Letter to Judge Henry E. McGinn June 3, 1934
6 11 Letter to Nattie November 17, 1927
6 12 Letter from Ada undated
6 13 Letter from Winifred B. Bonfils October 24, 1929
6 14 Letter from Florence B. Cartwright undated
6 15 Letter from J.W. Crawford October 31, 1910
6 16 Letter from David and Mary October 16, 1918
6 17 Letter from Robert Down September 24, 1929
6 18 Letter from George H. Himes January 14, 1924
6 19 Letter from Carroll Warder January 22, 1919
Subseries B: Lizzie (Nancy Elizabeth) Davenport Correspondence
Box
Folder
6 20 Letter to Adelaide Davenport May 29, 1893
6 21 Letter to Adda D. Martin October 13, 1898
6 22 Letter to Adelaide Davenport June 20, 1918
6 23 Letter to Adelaide Davenport October 19, 1918
6 24 Letter to Alice May 26, 1918
6 25 Letter to Alice July 10, 1918
6 26 Letter to Alice August 30, 1918
6 27 Telegram from Reakirt May 2, 1912
6 28 Telegram from Zada, re: Homer Davenport ill with pneumonia April 30, 1912
6 29 Letter from Pasadena Correspondent, re: Homer Davenport’s burial May 6, 1912
6 30 Postcard from unknown
Subseries C: Timothy Clyde Davenport Correspondence
Box
Folder
6 31 Letter to T.W. Davenport July 16, 1890
6 32 Letter to T.W. Davenport October 12, 1890
6 33 Letter to Lizzie Davenport September 25, no year
6 34 Letter to Mother November 17, 1890
6 35 Letter to Mother January 26, no year
6 36 Letter to Parents undated
6 37 Letter to Papa and Mamma November 18, 1890
6 38 Letter to Papa and Mamma November 21, 1890
6 39 Letter to Sister Adda undated
6 40 Letter to unknown [Series III, Subseries C, Box 6, Folder 40] undated
Subseries D: Miscellaneous Davenport
Box
Folder
6 41 Letter to "Cousin" from unknown [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 41] July 28, 1862
6 42 Letter to H.A. Longhary, from Julia Chandler [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 42] March 23, 1871
6 43 Letter from Maria Bradley [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 43] December 5, 1890
6 44 Letter to "Mama and Papa," from George Hill [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 44]Letter to Adda from Timothy Woodbridge Davenport [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 44] September 27, 1898; September 28, 1898
6 45 Picture drawn by Adelaide Davenport of "Si-eed" [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 45] 1908
6 46 Letter to Will, from Walt [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 46] October 1, 1915
6 47 Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, from Ella H. Durley [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 47] January 20, 1919
6 48 Letter to Sissos, from Melmo [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 48] October 23, 1927
6 49 Questionnaire for John C. Davenport from Secretary of Oregon Pioneer Association [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 49]
6 50 Manuscript, unknown author [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 50]
6 51 Postcard to Sarah Davenport, from Cleo and Clara Foster [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 51]
6 52 "A Personal Glimpse of Myself:" By Adelaide Davenport Armstrong [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 52]
6 53 Homer Davenport Memorial Fund letter and card [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 53]
6 54 Memoir by Hazard Stevens [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 54]
6 55 The Frederic Remington Monument Fund brochure [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 55]
6 56 Poem, "I am bigger and stronger to-day by far," by John W. "Capt. Jack" Crawford [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 56]
6 57 Lock of hair and lace in a W.A. Brown, Funeral Director, Los Angeles envelope [Series III, Subseries D, Box 6, Folder 57]

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Series IV:  Photographs
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
7 1 Adelaide Davenport
7 2 Adelaide Davenport, W.L. Jones
7 3 Adelaide Davenport, profile
7 4 Adelaide Davenport, by O.C. Benjamin
7 5 Adelaide and Mary Davenport, by Cronise Photo
7 6 Adelaide Davenport, Alice and Cleo Davenport, Mattie Gilmour, tinted tintype
7 7 Adelaide Davenport, Jimmy Swinnutter, John the Hosteler and monkey
7 8 Gloria Davenport, “To her Grand Pa” March 8, 1905
7 9 Gloria Davenport and Mildred, “To Sisters, My Beauties,” New York 1910
7 10 Grandpa Davenport and Aunt Alice
7 11 Homer Calvin Davenport, Eastman
7 12 Homer Calvin Davenport, Bushnell
7 13 Homer Calvin Davenport, New York 1909
7 14 Homer Calvin Davenport
7 15 Homer Calvin Davenport, “Pure desert bred Arab Nedjrau”
7 16 Homer Calvin Davenport, Morgan's horse ca. 1896
7 17 Homer Calvin Davenport on one of his Morgans ca. 1908
7 18 Homer Calvin Davenport and unknown child
7 19 Homer Calvin Davenport and Jimmy Swimmerton
7 20 Homer Calvin Davenport and Silverton Trombone Band
7 21 Homer Calvin Davenport and Baseball team
7 22 “The Weird Coffee Tune”
7 23 Homer Calvin Davenport (3), and group
7 24 Homer Calvin Davenport’s Funeral, by J.D. Drake (2 photographs, one on front and one on back) 1912
7 25 Homer Calvin Davenport’s Funeral, by J.D. Drake (2 photographs, one on front and one on back) 1912
7 26 Homer Calvin Davenport and Silverton Marine Band November 1884
7 27 Homer Clyde Davenport and his dog, Dick Swiveler
7 28 Young Homer Clyde and Bull Dogs
7 29 Homer Clyde, Age 3-1/2 years
7 30 Homer Clyde, Age 2-1/2
7 31 Homer Clyde, Age 22 mo.
7 32 Homer Jr., oval
7 33 Homer Jr. in double-breasted jacket
7 34 Young Homer Clyde Davenport, Homer’s son
7 35 Homer Clyde Davenport and Mildred
7 36 Homer Clyde Davenport and Mildred, oval
7 37 Clyde D., Silverton
7 38 Clyde, 17 years
7 39 Clyde Davenport
7 40 Mary Davenport, young, holding book
7 41 Mary Davenport, standing
7 42 Mary Davenport, headshot
7 43 Mary Davenport, profile
7 44 Mary Davenport, in hat
7 45 Mary and Cleo Davenport, Ages 7 and 2
7 46 Mary Davenport and graduating class of Silverton
7 47 Mildred Davenport, 3 year taken on birthday
7 48 Mildred Davenport, clutching dress
7 49 Mildred Davenport, in hair bow
7 50 Mildred Davenport Riding on Arab Mare
7 51 Mildred Davenport and Gloria
7 52 Orla Davenport, in hairnet, 16 years
2 copies
7 53 Julie Bernard March 22, 1921
7 54 Jean Morris Ellis
7 55 Nancy Elizabeth Gilmour
2 copies
7 56 Alice and Jessica Jacobs
7 57 Aunt Lucinda
7 58 Jules Pages, Paris, August
7 59 Edgar Seldon July 11, 1911
7 60 A.W. Smith
7 61 Marshall P. Wilder August 6, 1911
7 62 Lady Amherst Pheasant
7 63 Ho-Ki pheasant, Wild Java peacock, Reeves pheasant and a Plaud goose, New Zealand
7 64 Man on Arab Stallion, with story on back
7 65 Horses and Donkey
7 66 Silverton 1865
7 67 Silverton 1907
7 68 Negatives
7 69 Negatives of Davenport cartoons
7 70 Sculpture by Adelaide Davenport
7 71 “Arabian” Sculpture
7 72 Original Davenport cartoons for sale, with letter
2 photos
September 1966
8 1 Adelaide Davenport
8 2 Homer Davenport
8 3 John C. Davenport
8 4 John C. Davenport, profile
8 5 Bust of T.W. Davenport by Adelaide Davenport