Oregon Historical Society
Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
Phone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
E-mail: libreference@ohs.org

Guide to the Kerr family collection, 1816-1968


Coll 74





Collection processed by Diane Couture, Megan K. Friedel, Jennifer Sokol Blosser, and Geoffrey B. Wexler. Finding aid prepared by Geoffrey B. Wexler, Megan K. Friedel, and Diane Couture.

Finding aid encoded by Geoffrey B. Wexler and Diane Couture, 2008


Overview of the Collection
 
Repository Name:
 

Oregon Historical Society
Research Library

1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
Phone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
E-mail: libreference@ohs.org
 
Collection Number:
 

Coll 74
 
Creator:
 

Kerr family.
 
Title:
 

Kerr family collection
 
Dates:
 

1816-1968 (inclusive)
 
Quantity:
 

7.92 cubic feet
3,669 photographs in 9 boxes and 1 oversize box, 2,405 photographic negatives in 11 boxes, and papers and diaries in 2 boxes
 
Languages:
 

Materials in the collection are in English 

 
Summary:
 

This collection contains photographs, papers, and diaries pertaining to the Peter and Laurie King Kerr family and the Thomas and Mabel Macleay Kerr family of Portland, Oregon. The bulk of the photographs were taken at Peter Kerr's Elk Rock estate in Portland and on various family trips. The diaries and papers include Peter Kerr's diaries, a scrapbook, a letterpress copybook and a diary and letters by Mrs. Lucretia Colton.
 

Historical Note

Peter Kerr, prominent Oregon grain exporter, businessman, and civic leader, was born in Newton Stewart, Scotland in 1861, the son of Thomas and Anne Dewar Kerr. After working as a young man in London for the grain exporting firm of Dewar and Webb, owned in part by his uncle, James C. Dewar, he traveled throughout the world as an agent of the company. He finally settled in Portland in 1889, working as a commission agent until 1894, when he partnered with William S. Sibson to form Sibson & Kerr shipping agents. In 1899, he established his own grain exporting business with his brother Thomas Kerr (1865-1926) and Patrick B. Gifford, called Kerr Gifford & Co. The three partners lived in "Cliff Cottage," on the Elk Rock estate on Military Lane in the Dunthorpe area south of Portland (also known as Rivera and Abernethy Heights), where they entertained with golf and tennis parties and chronicled their activities in scrapbooks and photographs.

In 1905, Peter purchased the estate, and in 1916 he built a large house to replace Cliff Cottage. He planted an extensive garden, the design for which he had begun in 1897, and these gardens are now open to the public. The house itself, designed by Ellis Lawrence, became the seat of the Episcopal Diocese in 1958 and is now known as the Bishop's Close. The Kerrs also had a beach house on the Oregon coast at Gearhart, designed by architect Pietro Belluschi in the mid-1940s.

Peter Kerr was married to Laurie King (1877-1959) in 1905, and the couple had two daughters: Anne (1906-2001), married in 1933 to Sir James McDonald, British consul in Oregon; and Jane, who married Dr. John W. S. Platt in 1939. Peter Kerr died in 1957 at the age of 95.

Thomas Kerr was married to Mabel Macleay (1876-1973), daughter of prominent Portland businessman Donald Macleay (1834-1897), in 1900. The couple lived at High Hatch on Military Lane in the Dunthorpe area south of Portland. They had three sons: Donald Macleay (1907-1945), Thomas, Jr. (Tommy) (1910-1982), and George A. D. (1914-2004). Mabel Macleay and Laurie King were lifelong friends, and their families, including Mabel's brother Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874) and Laurie's mother, Laura Dodge King, traveled and spent much of their leisure time together.

Content Description

The collection consists primarily of photographs and diaries pertaining to the families of Peter and Laurie King Kerr and Thomas and Mabel Macleay Kerr, both of Portland, Oregon. The bulk of the photographs were taken at Peter Kerr's Elk Rock estate in Portland and on various family trips. Subjects include Peter and Laurie's two daughters, Anne Kerr McDonald and Jane Kerr Platt, as well as Thomas and Mabel's three sons, Donald, Thomas, and George. Included are photographs from Peter and Laurie King Kerr's honeymoon in Arizona, California, and Mexico; family trips to England and Scotland to visit Peter and Thomas Kerr's father and siblings, as well as to Gearhart and Ecola on the Oregon coast; social events, including golf and tennis, at Peter Kerr's Elk Rock estate; and photographs of the grounds and gardens at Elk Rock. Four photograph albums belonging to Anne Kerr McDonald are included. Many of the photographs were probably taken by Peter Kerr; photographs in some of the albums were taken or collected by Anne Kerr McDonald. Other types of photographs included in the collection are ambrotypes, autochromes, cabinet cards, cartes de visite, and tintypes.

Also included are the negatives for most of the prints. File copies of the original photographic negatives were made by Oregon Historical Society staff in 2007 and added to this collection. Not all of the photographs in this collection have original negatives.

Many of Peter Kerr's family and friends are identified on the photographs by their nicknames: "Tom" refers to Peter's brother Thomas (1865-1926), while "Tommy" refers to Tom's son (1910-1982). Peter's brother David (1874-1945) is referred to as "Davie," while Davie's son is called "Dukin" (1918-1941). "George" is Peter's brother George (1867-1918), while "Geordie" is Tom's son George (1814-2004). Peter refers to his brother James as "Jamie" in his diaries.

The diaries and papers include Peter Kerr's diaries from 1876-1894; "The Veracious Chronicles of the Cliff Cottage Club," a scrapbook kept by Peter Kerr with drawings, photographs, clippings, and daily entries from 1897-1905; Peter Kerr's birth certificate; and Peter Kerr's letterpress copybook for 1898-1906. Additional materials include a diary and letters by Mrs. Lucretia Colton, the great-grandmother of Lady Anne Kerr McDonald.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series:

  • Series A: Photographs, circa 1840-1954
    • Subseries 1: Portraits, circa 1840-1954
    • Subseries 2: Elk Rock, circa 1897-1950
    • Subseries 3: Gearhart and northern Oregon coast, circa 1897-1949
    • Subseries 4: Family travels, circa 1895-1940
    • Subseries 5: Other photographs, circa 1894-1930
    • Subseries 6: Negatives
  • Series B: General papers, 1816-1968
  • Series C: Diaries and notebooks of Peter Kerr, 1876-1894

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information 

Library accession no. 26084

Processing Note 

File copies of the original photographic negatives in this collection were made by Oregon Historical Society staff in 2007 and added to the collection.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access 

The collection is open to the public. However, the negatives in this collection are stored offsite and are not available for research use. Researchers must instead use the photographic prints that the Oregon Historical Society has made from these negatives. Consult a Reference Librarian for more information,

Restrictions on Use 

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Preferred Citation 

Kerr family collection, Coll 74, Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Related Information

Related Materials 

The Oregon Historical Society Research Library also contains the following materials related to this collection:

Peter Kerr correspondence and records, Microfilm 68

Peter and Thomas Kerr family photograph collection, Org. Lot 443

Oral history interviews with Lady Anne Kerr McDonald, SR 1070

Biographical and genealogical information about the Kerr and Macleay families in "Vertical File : Biography - Kerr, Peter" and "Vertical File : Biography - Macleay, Donald."

In addition, artifacts from the Kerr family were donated to the the Artifact Collections of the Oregon Historical Society in 1968.

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

 
Colton, Lucretia.
Kerr, Donald Macleay, 1907-1945--Photographs.
Kerr, Laurie King, 1877-1959.
Kerr, Laurie King, 1877-1959--Photographs.
Kerr, Mabel Macleay--Photographs.
Kerr, Peter.
Kerr, Peter--Homes and haunts--Oregon--Portland--Photographs.
Kerr, Peter--Photographs.
Kerr, Thomas, 1865-1926--Homes and haunts--Oregon--Portland--Photographs.
Kerr, Thomas, 1865-1926--Photographs.
Kerr, Thomas, 1910-1982--Photographs.
McDonald, Anne Kerr, 1906-2001--Photographs.
McDonald, James, 1899-1989--Photographs.
Platt, Jane Kerr, 1908-1989--Photographs.
Platt, John W. S.--Photographs.
Kerr family--Photographs.
McDonald family.
McDonald family--Photographs.
Arlington Club of Portland, Oregon.
Kerr, Gifford & Co., Inc.
Sibson & Kerr
Waverley Country Club (Portland, Or.).
Dunthorpe (Portland, Or.)--Photographs.
Gearhart (Or.)--Photographs.
Pacific Coast (Or.)--Photographs.
Voyages and travels--Europe--Photographs.
Voyages and travels--United States--Photographs.
Ambrotypes.
Autochromes.
Cabinet photographs.
Cartes de visite.
Diaries.
Film negatives.
Letterpress copybooks.
Letters (correspondence).
Photographic prints.
Scrapbooks.
Tintypes.
Other Creators :
Colton, Lucretia.
Kerr, Peter, photographer.
Kerr, Peter.
McDonald, Anne Kerr, photographer.

Detailed Description of the Collection

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


 

Series A:  Photographs,  circa 1840-1954

3,669 items
The photographs are arranged into six subseries: Portraits; Elk Rock; Gearhart and northern Oregon coast; Family travels; Other photographs; and Negatives.
 
 
Container(s)
Description
   
Subseries 1:   Portraits, 1840-1954
 
1,128 items
This series contains photographs of Kerr family members and friends.
   
Individuals
 
box/folder
1/1

Ayer, Mrs. W. B., circa 1897-1900
 
1/2

Ching Ben Yen, 1897-1905
 
Ching Bwn Yen was the Kerr family's Chinese cook at Cliff Cottage.
 
1/3

Dewar, James C., circa 1989-1901
 
1/4

DuFlan, Pierre F., circa 1900
 
1/5

Flanders, Carrie, circa 1900-1915
 
1/6

Flanders, Louise, circa 1897-1905
 
1/7

Fransioli, P. J., circa 1900-1905
 
1/8

Gifford, Patrick B., circa 1890-1905
 
1/8A

Hall, Clementine Lewis, circa 1900-1905
 
1/9

Honeyman, Nan Wood (1881-1970), circa 1897-1915
 
1/10

Kerr, Andrew (1869-1951), circa 1900-1939
 
1/11

Kerr, Anne Dewar (1831-1892), circa 1850
 
1/12

Kerr, David (1874-1945), circa 1897-1920
 
1/13

Kerr, Donald (1907-1945), 1907-1908
 
1/14

Kerr, Flora McNeill, 1906
 
1/15

Kerr, George (1867-1918), circa 1900
 
1/16

Kerr, James (1860-1934), 1902
 
1/17

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959), circa 1878-1883
 
Hand-colored tintypes and cartes de visite.
 
1/18

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959), circa 1897-1905
 
1/19

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959), circa 1906-1920
 
1/20

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959), circa 1921-1930
 
1/21

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959) and dog Cree, circa 1921-1930
 
1/22

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959), circa 1938-1942
 
1/23

Kerr, Mabel Macleay (1876-1973), circa 1897-1905
 
1/24

Kerr, Milly Fraser, circa 1902
 
"Milly" may also be spelled "Millie."
 
1/25-1/26

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957), circa 1897-1905
 
1/27

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957), circa 1906-1915
 
1/28

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957), circa 1918-1926
 
1/29

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957), circa 1931-1939
 
1/30

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957), circa 1946-1954
 
1/31

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957), undated
 
1/32

Kerr, Thomas, Sr. (1830-1916), undated
 
1/33

Kerr, Thomas (1865-1926), circa 1897-1905
 
1/34

King, Henry, circa 1885-1890
 
1/35

King, Henry W., circa 1895
 
1/36

King, Laura Dodge, circa 1905-1930
 
1/37

King, Mary B., circa 1893
 
1/38

King, Ned, circa 1895
 
1/39

King family members (unidentified), circa 1840-1895
 
1/40

Ladd, Charles Elliot (1857-1920), circa 1897
 
1/41

Lewis, Clementine Freeman Couch (1838-1914), circa 1905-1914
 
1/42

Lewis, Gertrude Gordon McClintock (d. 1945), circa 1928
 
1/43

Mackay, W. B., circa 1898-1901
 
1/44

Mackenzie, Jean, circa 1897-1900
 
1/45

Macleay, Roderick Lachlan (b. 1874), circa 1897-1920
 
1/46

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), 1906
 
1/47-1/49

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), 1907
 
2/1-2/2

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), 1908
 
2/3

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), circa 1909-1912
 
2/4

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), circa 1913-1914
 
2/5

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), circa 1915-1929
 
2/6

McDonald, James, Sir (1899-1989), circa 1920-1925
 
2/7

McDonald, Laurie (later Meigs) (b. 1934), circa 1937-1939
 
2/8

Platt, David, 1944
 
2/9

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989), 1908
 
2/10

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989), circa 1910-1914
 
2/11

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989), circa 1915-1923
 
2/12

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989), circa 1925-1939
 
Includes photographs of Jane's dog, Cree.
 
2/13

Platt, John W. S., 1939
 
2/14

Sibson, Alice (later Winslow), circa 1897-1900
 
2/15

Sibson, William S., circa 1897-1900
 
2/16

Wheeler, F. G., circa 1897-1900
 
2/17

Willis, A. B., circa 1987-1905
 
2/18

Wilson, George, circa 1899-1905
 
2/19

Winslow, Chauncey, circa 1900-1910
 
2/20

Wood, Charles Erskine Scott (C. E. S.) (1852-1944), circa 1897-1944
 
2/21

Wood, James McI., circa 1897-1905
 
2/22-2/23

Unidentified children, circa 1897-1935
 
2/24-2/25

Unidentified men, circa 1897-1925
 
2/26

Unidentified women, circa 1897-1940
 
9/1

Unidentified cased portraits, circa 1850-1885
 
Includes cased tintypes and ambrotypes of two unidentified men, an unidentified woman, and an unidentified child.
   
Groups
 
2/27

Dewar, James C. and others, circa 1898-1901
 
Includes photographs of Edith Evans Dewar, Patrick B. Gifford, and W. B. Mackay.
 
2/28

Flanders, Carrie and Louise with others, circa 1897-1905
 
2/29

Gifford, Patrick B. and others, circa 1897-1905
 
See also 2/32.


Includes photographs of J. C. Flanders, P. J. Fransioli, Charles Elliot Ladd (1857-1920), W. B. Mackay, Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874), A. B. Willis, and James McI. Wood.
 
2/30

Honeyman, Nan Wood (1881-1970) and others, circa 1900-1905
 
2/31

Kerr, Andrew (1869-1951) and Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), 1907
 
2/32

Kerr, David (1874-1945) and Patrick B. Gifford, circa 1885
 
2/33

Kerr, James (1860-1934) and Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr with others, circa 1902
 
Includes a photograph of Milly with Louise Flanders.
 
2/34-2/37

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959) with daughters Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), circa 1906-1939
 
2/38

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959) and Laura Dodge King, circa 1911-1920
 
Includes a photograph of them with Cicero Hunt Lewis (1875-1952).
 
2/39

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959) with Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), circa 1900
 
2/40

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), and Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973) with Kerr children, circa 1908-1911
 
Includes photographs of Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945), Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
3/1, 23/1

Kerr, Laurie King (1877-1959) with other friends and family, circa 1890-1915
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Walter J. Burns, Pierre DuFlan, Carrie Flanders, Louise Flanders, Patrick B. Gifford, Clementine Lewis Hall, Nan Wood Honeyman (1881-1970), Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874), W. B. Mackay, Sir James McDonald (1899-1989), Alice Sibson, Gordon Voorhies, and C. J. Williamson and spouse.
 
3/2

Kerr, Mabel Macleay (1876-1973) and children, circa 1906-1910
 
Includes photographs of Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945) and Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982).
 
3/3

Kerr, Mabel Macleay (1876-1973) and Louise Flanders, circa 1899-1905
 
3/4

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) with parents and siblings, circa 1884
 
Includes a photograph of Andrew Kerr (1869-1951), Anne Dewar Kerr, David Kerr (1874-1945), George Kerr (1867-1918), James Kerr (1860-1934), Jane Chrystal Kerr (b. 1863), Mary Kerr (1872-1952), Peter Kerr (1861-1957), Thomas Kerr, Sr. (1830-1916), and Thomas Kerr (1865-1926). Note that one of the sons is missing from the photograph, but identification of the missing son is uncertain.
 
3/5

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) with a group of men, probably in Britain, circa 1885
 
Includes photographs of J. Moore and Major Bridges Webb.
 
3/6

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) with his children, circa 1906-1918
 
Includes photographs of Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982), Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
3/7

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) and Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), circa 1905-1954
 
3/8

Kerr, Peter (1861-1959), Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959) with their children, circa 1916-1920
 
Includes photographs of Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
3/9

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) and Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959) with others, circa 1915-1941
 
Includes photographs of Andrew Kerr (1869-1951), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874).
 
3/10

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) and Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), circa 1897-1900
 
3/11

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) and Thomas Kerr (1865-1926) with friends, circa 1897-1905
 
Includes photographs of Patrick B. Gifford, Charles Elliot Ladd (1857-1920), W. B. Mackay, and Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874).
 
3/12

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) with Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), Sir James McDonald (1899-1989), and unidentified people, circa 1932
 
3/13

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) with other family and friends, circa 1897-1905
 
Includes photographs of Andrew Kerr (1869-1951), Edith Evans Dewar Kerr, James Kerr, J. C. Flanders, Patrick B. Gifford, Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874), Alice Sibson, and James McI. Wood.
 
3/14

Kerr, Peter (1861-1957) 80th birthday celebration, 1941 October 29
 
Includes a photograph of [Mrs.] Ainsworth, [Miss] Failing, Carrie Flanders, Louise Flanders, M. Wills Gilbert, Clementine Lewis Hall, Andrew Kerr (1869-1951), George A. D. Kerr (1914-2004), Katherine D. Kerr, Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982), Cicero Hunt Lewis (1875-1952), Gertrude Gordon McClintock Lewis (d. 1945), Sally Lewis, Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), Sir James McDonald (1899-1989), Neil Malarkey, Sue Malarkey, G. Martin, Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), and John W. S. Platt.
 
3/14A

Kerr, Thomas (1830-1916) with unidentified people, undated
 
3/15

Kerr, Thomas (1865-1926) with children and nieces, circa 1910
 
Includes photographs of Donald Macleay Kerr (1914-2004), Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982), Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
3/16

Kerr, Thomas (1865-1926) with other family and friends, circa 1897-1925
 
Includes photographs of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Ayer, Patrick B. Gifford, Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945), Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874), Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
3/17

Kerr, Thomas (1865-1926) and Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973) with family and friends, circa 1900-1914
 
Includes photographs of Louise Flanders, Clementine Lewis Hall, Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945), Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Peter Kerr (1861-1959), Cicero Hunt Lewis (1875-1952), Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001).
 
3/18

Kerr, Thomas children, circa 1912-1925
 
Includes photographs of Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945), Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982), and possibly Faber Lewis.
 
3/19

King, Laura Dodge and unidentified woman, circa 1860-1865
 
Hand-colored tintype.
 
3/20

Lewis, Cicero Hunt (1875-1952) and others, circa 1905-1912
 
Includes photographs of Gertrude Gordon McClintock Lewis (d. 1945) and Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001).
 
3/21

Mackenzie, Barbara, Jean, and Ronald , circa 1897-1905
 
3/22

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Matilda Anderson (nursemaid), 1906-1907
 
3/23

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), 1908
 
3/24

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), circa 1909-1910
 
3/25

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), circa 1911-1920
 
3/26

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), circa 1925-1930
 
3/27

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001), Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989) with nursemaids, circa 1906-1908
 
Includes photographs of Matilda Anderson (nursemaid).
 
3/28

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989) with Thomas Kerr children , circa 1908-1925
 
Includes photographs of Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945), George A. D. Kerr (1914-2004), Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982).
 
3/29

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989) with other family and friends, circa 1911-1925
 
3/30

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) and Sir James McDonald (1899-1989) with family and friends, circa 1932
 
Includes photographs of Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982).
 
3/31

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) at ship christening for the HMS "Atheling" , 1943 May
 
Includes photographs of Sir James McDonald (1899-1989) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
3/32

McDonald, Anne Kerr (1906-2001) with others, circa 1907-1930
 
Includes photographs of David and Nan Wood Honeyman's (1881-1970) daughter, Nancy.
 
3/33

McGill, William and John Sproat, circa 1897-1905
 
3/34

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989) and Matilda Anderson (nursemaid), 1908
 
For other photographs Jane Kerr Platt with her sister, Anner Kerr McDonald, dating from 1908-1930, see 3/23-3/27.
 
3/35

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989) with Donald Macleay Kerr (1907-1945), Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982), and unidentified people, circa 1920
 
3/36

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989) and David Platt, circa 1940-1945
 
3/37

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989) with John W. S. Platt at Belluschi House, 1941
 
3/38

Platt, Jane Kerr (1908-1989) and unidentified people, circa 1920-1925
 
3/39

Sibson, William S. and Mary Rogers Sibson, circa 1897-1900
 
3/40

Wood, Charles Erskine Scott (C. E. S.) (1852-1944) and two girls, possibly his daughters, circa 1900
 
3/41

Unidentified men, circa 1897-1930
 
3/42

Unidentified women, circa 1897-1915
 
3/43

Unidentified families, circa 1897-1930
 
3/44

Unidentified mixed groups, circa 1890-1925
   
Subseries 2:   Elk Rock, 1897-1950
 
590 images
The Elk Rock subseries contains photographs of the houses (Cliff Cottage and the mansion) and grounds (including gardens and tennis courts) at the Kerr family's property at Elk Rock. In addition, activities and social events at Elk Rock and the surrounding neighborhood of Military Lane and Elk Rock Island are included.
 
4/1

Cars at Elk Rock, circa 1920-1925
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr's 45hp, 6 cylinder Pierce Great Arrow.
 
4/2

Children's activities at Elk Rock, circa 1908-1918
 
Includes photographs of Peter's daughters and Thomas' sons, plus Clifford A. Nichols, Delia F. Nichols, Emily Nichols, John Randolph Nichols, and Wirt Minor Nichols.
 
4/3

Cliff Cottage golf, circa 1897-1905
 
Includes photographs of James C. Dewar, Louise Flanders, Patrick B. Gifford, Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), Alice Sibson, and James McI. Wood.
 
4/4-4/7

Cliff Cottage grounds, circa 1897-1916
 
Elk Rock grounds prior to the construction of the house which became Bishop's Close in 1958 and the demolition of the original house known as Cliff Cottage.
 
4/8

Cliff Cottage house, circa 1897-1914
 
4/9

Cliff Cottage interiors, circa 1907
 
Photographs of Christmas decorations inside Cliff Cottage.
 
4/10-4/12

Elk Rock grounds, circa 1917-1950
 
4/13-4/14

Elk Rock house (which became Bishop's Close in 1958), circa 1917-1941
 
4/15

Elk Rock Island, Willamette River, circa 1897-1915
 
Includes photographs of Patrick B. Gifford, Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Peter Kerr (1861-1957), the sternwheeler "George Burton," and views of the city of Milwaukie from the Willamette River.
 
4/16

Excavation and construction of new home (which became Bishop's Close in 1958), circa 1915-1917
 
Includes photographs of Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989), and a watercolor rendering of the house by the architect Ellis Lawrence.
 
4/17

High Hatch (Tom and Mabel Kerr's Military Lane residence), circa 1910-1920
 
The house was purchased from Portland architect William M. Whidden. Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus William M. Whidden.
 
4/18

Jane Kerr and John W. S. Platt wedding at Elk Rock, 1939 April 29
 
Photographs of the interior of the Elk Rock house.
 
4/19

Military Lane neighbors and homes, circa 1897-1915
 
Includes photographs of Cicero Hunt Lewis (1875-1952) and his house, the Sibson-Corbett house, and William Whidden.
 
4/20

"Nallow" Neighborhood event, circa 1925
 
Includes photographs of a Military Lane event.
 
4/21

Pets at Elk Rock, undated
 
Includes photographs of dogs Cree, Glinnie, and Nib.
 
4/22

Social events at Cliff Cottage, circa 1897-1905
 
Includes photographs of the Great Garden Party of 1905 and other events. Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Walter Burnes, Pierre DuFlan, Carrie Flanders, J. C. Flanders, Louise Flanders, Patrick B. Gifford, Nan Wood Honeyman (1881-1970), W. B. Mackay, Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874), Patsy Nichols, Gordon Voorhies, C. J. Williamson, Mrs. Williamson, and A. B. Willis.
 
5/1

Swimming at Elk Rock, circa 1918-1920
 
Includes photographs of Peter's daughters and Thomas's sons.
 
5/2-5/3, 23/2

Tennis at Elk Rock, circa 1897-1925
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Carrie Flanders, Patrick B. Gifford, and Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874).
 
5/4

Views of Milwaukie from Elk Rock , circa 1897-1920
   
Subseries 3:   Gearhart and northern Oregon coast , 1897-1949
 
218 images
This subseries contains photographs of Kerr family outings to Gearhart and Ecola on the northern Oregon coast. Peter Kerr had a beach house built at Gearhart in the 1940s.
 
5/6

circa 1897-1915
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus members of the Effinger, Failing, and Lewis family, Carrie and Louise Flanders, Clementine Lewis Hall, members of the Lewis family, Major Webb, Ernest Webb, Miss Violet Webb, and Erskine Wood. Includes photographs of Robert Livingstone's "Drumtochty Cottage."
 
5/7

1908
 
Photographs taken during the summer of 1908. Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Laura Dodge King, Major Webb, Ernest Webb, and Miss Violet Webb.
 
5/8

1909
 
Photographs taken during the summer of 1909. Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus David Honeyman, Nan Wood Honeyman (1881-1970), Nancy Honeyman, Laura Dodge King.
 
5/9

circa 1912
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Laura Dodge King.
 
5/10

circa 1918-1920
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Laura Dodge King.
 
5/11

circa 1921-1930
 

Content Description

Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Faber Lewis. Includes photographs of the wreck of the "Peter Iredale."
 
5/12

circa 1931-1940
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members.
 
5/13

circa 1940-1949
 
Includes photographs of Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959) and Peter Kerr (1861-1957), as well as the of Kerr family beach house in Gearhart, designed by architect Pietro Belluschi in the mid-1940s.
   
Subseries 4:   Family travels, circa 1895-1940
 
1702 images
This subseries contains photographs of various travels taken by the Kerr family, many of which included their extended family and friends. Trips include visits to Peter's parents and siblings in England and Scotland, as well as Peter and Laurie Kerr's 1905 honeymoon in California and Mexico. Also included are Anne Kerr McDonald's travel photograph albums, which contain photographs of travels to Europe and various United States locations.
 
5/14

Beach camp (unidentified locations), circa 1914-1920
 
Includes photographs of Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
5/15

California (general), circa 1900-1915
 
Includes photographs of Louise Flanders and Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973). Includes a photograph of the "Potter Art Gallery."
 
5/19

California (general), circa 1920-1925
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members.
 
5/16-5/17

California--Del Monte, circa 1905
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members and Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874).
 
5/18

California--Monterey, circa 1905
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members.
 
6/1

England, circa 1896-1907
 
Includes photographs of Constance (Connie) Dewar, Edith Evans Dewar, James C. Dewar, James Evan Dewar, Jean Dewar, Margaret Dewar, and Peter Kerr (1861-1959).
 
6/2

England, circa 1925
 
Includes photographs of James C. Dewar, David Kerr (1874-1945), Jack Kerr, James Kerr (1860-1934), James Kerr (Jr.), Jean Kerr, Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Marjorie Kerr, Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr, Peter Kerr (1861-1957), Tim Kerr, Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989). Includes photographs of James and Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr's residence "Lowick's," Freya Stark's former house.
 
6/3-6/5

England, 1925 June-July
 
June and July, 1925. Includes photographs of James C. Dewar, David (Dukin) Kerr (1918-1941), Ada Kerr, Jack Kerr, James Kerr (1860-1934), Jean Kerr, Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Mary Kerr (1872-1952), Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr, Patrick Kerr, Peter Kerr (1861-1957), Tim Kerr, Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001), and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
6/6

Great Britain, circa 1907
 
Includes photographs of Constance Dewar, Dorothy Dewar, Edith Evans Dewar, James C. Dewar, James Evan Dewar, Jean Dewar, Margaret Dewar, and Peter Dewar.
 
6/8

New York City, circa 1907
 
6/9

Oregon--Agness and Southern Oregon Coast, circa 1925-1930
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr family members.
 
6/10

Oregon--Cloud Cap Inn, circa 1920-1929
 
Includes photographs of Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959) and Peter Kerr (1861-1957).
 
6/11

Oregon--Eastern, circa 1925
 
Includes photographs of Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989).
 
6/12

Oregon--Meadow Lake, circa 1910-1915
 
Includes photographs of Louise Flanders, Clementine Lewis Hall, Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Peter Kerr (1861-1957).
 
6/13

Oregon--Metolius River area, circa 1925
 
Possibly on Erskine Wood's property. Includes photographs of Peter Kerr family members and Gertrude Gordon McClintock Lewis (d. 1945).
 
6/14

Oregon--Southwest, circa 1905-1920
 
Includes photographs of Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959).
 
6/15

Peter and Laurie King Kerr honeymoon--Arizona and California, 1905
 
6/16

Peter and Laurie King Kerr honeymoon--Mexico, 1905
 
6/17

Scotland (general), circa 1906-1907
 
Includes photographs of Flora Kerr, George Kerr (1867-1918), James Kerr (1860-1934), Jane Chrystal Kerr (b. 1863), Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Mary Kerr (1872-1952), Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr, Peter Kerr (1861-1957), Thomas Kerr, Sr. (1830-1916), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), and Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001).
 
6/18

Scotland--Newton Stewart, circa 1896-1906
 
Includes photographs of George Kerr (1867-1918), Marjorie Kerr, Jack Kerr, and Thomas Kerr, Sr. (1830-1916).
 
6/19

Scotland--Newton Stewart, circa 1907
 
Includes photographs of Peter and Thomas Kerr siblings and wives and daughters plus James C. Dewar. Includes photographs of "Creeview," Thomas Kerr, Sr.'s retirement house.
 
7/3

Scotland--Newton Stewart, 1925
 
Includes photographs of the grave markers of Anne Dewar Kerr (1831-1892), George Kerr (1867-1918), and Thomas Kerr, Sr. (1830-1916).
 
7/1-72

Scotland, 1925
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr family members plus Ada Kerr, David Kerr (1874-1945), David (Dukin) Kerr (1918-1941), Jack Kerr, James Kerr (1860-1934), Jane Chrystal Kerr (b. 1863), Jean Kerr, Mary Kerr (1872-1952), Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr, Patrick Kerr, Tim Kerr.
 
7/4

Ship travel, circa 1907-1926
 
Includes photographs of Laurie King Kerr (1877-1959), Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), and Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874).
 
6/7

Washington--Mt. Rainier National Park, circa 1925
 
Includes photographs of Gertrude Gordon McClintock Lewis (d. 1945).
 
7/9

Washington--Seaview trip, circa 1895-1905
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members plus Patrick B. Gifford, Louise Flanders, David C. Lewis, and Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874). See Org. Lot 443 for identification of this location.
 
7/5

Unidentified locations, circa 1915-1940
 
Includes photographs of Peter Kerr family members plus Cicero Hunt Lewis (1875-1952), Gertrude Gordon McClintock Lewis (d. 1945), and Mrs. Loak.
 
7/6

Album 74-1: Anne Kerr McDonald family photograph album, circa 1915-1930
 
Includes photographs of travels in Canada, as well as photographs of Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members, extended family, and friends. Photographs are not labeled.
 
7/7

Album 74-2: Anne Kerr McDonald photograph album, 1929
 
Includes photographs of Anne Kerr McDonald (1906-2001) and Jane Kerr Platt (1908-1989) on their trips to Cap Martin, France, various locations in Italy, and to Newton Stewart, Scotland in 1929. It appears that they joined some of their cousins -- the children of James Kerr (1860-1934) and Milly (or Millie) Fraser Kerr -- in Italy. Many photographs are labeled.
 
7/8

Album 74-3: Anne Kerr McDonald photograph album, circa 1925-1926
 
Includes photographs travels to England, as well as Peter Kerr and Thomas Kerr family members, including extended family. Includes photographs of a "haymow." Photographs are not labeled.
 
8/1

Album 74-4: Anne Kerr McDonald photograph album, circa 1930-1937
 
Includes photographs of travels in Switzerland, France, England, Wales, Victoria, B. C., California, Oregon, Guatemala, Washington, D. C., West Virginia, and Bermuda. Some of these photographs may have been acquired without travel to the location indicated. Includes photographs of Elk Rock and early photographs of Anne Kerr McDonald's (1906-2001) daughter, Laurie McDonald (later Meigs) (b. 1934). Most album pages are labeled.
   
Subseries 5:   Other photographs, circa 1894-1930
 
231 images
This subseries contains photographs not included within the scope of the other subseries.
 
8/2

Arlington Club, circa 1897-1900
 
Includes photographs of Tom Davis, George Good, Fred V. Holman, Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), Herman Camp Leonard, Ion Lewis, Major McNeill, Dave Nethill (sp?), D. F. Paxton, C. J. Reed, Preston C. Smith, and Count Wilson.
 
8/3

Laurie King Kerr, Peter Kerr and Girl Scout excursion on Sandy River, circa 1925-1930
 
8/4

Kerr business, circa 1920-1929
 
Includes photographs of Patrick B. Gifford, Captain John Grondahl, Andrew Kerr (1869-1951), Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Peter Kerr (1861-1957), Thomas Kerr, Jr. (1910-1982). Includes photographs of the re-christening of the "S. S. Peter Kerr" on March 10, 1923.
 
8/5

Portland flood, 1894
 
Includes photographs of flooded downtown Portland streets and a man diving off the Skidmore Fountain.
 
8/6

Quarantine tent, circa 1900-1905
 
Possibly the tent in which Tom Kerr was quarantined when he had typhoid. Includes photographs of Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), and Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874).
 
8/7

Scotland--Grave marker and sketch of house, circa 1920-1929
 
Includes a photograph of a grave marker with the initials "PD" and "MD" (possibly the Dewar family) and a colored sketch of Andrew Kerr's (1869-1951) house "Red Top."
 
8/8

Sibson & Kerr business, circa 1894-1900
 
Includes photographs of Patrick B. Gifford, Peter Kerr (1861-1957), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), Richard Koehler, "Uncle Mat" Sibson, and William S. Sibson. May include photographs from Kerr Gifford & Co.
 
8/9

Waverly Country Club, circa 1897-1905
 
Now spelled "Waverley." Includes photographs of N. E. Ayer, Percy Blyth, Jonathan Bourne, J. Scott Brooke, Patrick B. Gifford, Mabel Macleay Kerr (1876-1973), Thomas Kerr (1865-1926), Roderick Lachlan Macleay (b. 1874), Jules Spadone (sp?), Carl Specher (sp?), F. G. Wheeler, William Whidden, and J. D. Wilcox.
 
8/9-8/10

Unidentified locations, undated
 
8/11

Autochrome photographs--Unidentified gardens, undated
   
Subseries 6:   Negatives
 
2405 negatives
 
box
10

Negatives 1-240
 
Negative number 125 was skipped.
 
11

Negatives 241-520
 
Negative numbers 423 and 434-443 were skipped.
 
12

Negatives 521-737
 
Negative number 574 was skipped.
 
13

Negatives 738-942
 
14

Negatives 943-1156
 
15

Negatives 1157-1346
 
16

Negatives 1347-1591
 
17

Negatives 1592-1815
 
18

Negatives 1816-2036
 
19

Negatives 2037-2260
 
20

Negatives 2261-2418
 

Series B:  General Papers, 1816-1968
 
 
Container(s)
Description
 
box/folder
21/1

Diary and letters (hand written copies) of Mrs. Lucretia Colton, and explanatory letter, 1816-1817, 1958
 
Lucretia Colton was the great-grandmother of Lady Anne Kerr McDonald. The letter from Helen Schroeder to Lady McDonald, 1958, explains the documents.
 
21/2

Diary (hand written copy) relating to Lucretia Colton, 1816
 
22/1

The education of children by Michael Seigneur de Montaigne (published book), 1891
 
21/3

Laurie King (Kerr) clippings, 1905, 1958
 
21/4

Marriage of Peter Kerr and Laurie King--Documents and clippings, 1905
 
21/5

McDonald children's baptismal certificates, 1935-1941
 
21/6

Peter Kerr birth certificates, 1861
 
21/7

Poems and songs in the hand of Peter Kerr (bound notebook), undated
 
22/2

Prayer book of Peter Kerr, 1888
 
21/7A

Receipt for photographic supplies purchased by Peter Kerr, 1909
 
21/8

Stationery of Kerr Gifford & Co., Inc., undated
 
21/9

"The veracious chronicles of the Cliff Cottage Club", 1897-1905
 
Scrapbook and diary kept by Peter Kerr, with drawings, photographs, clippings, and daily entries. Includes an original sketch by Charles Erskine Scott (C. E. S.) Wood (1852-1944).
 
21/10

General papers, 1839-1968
 
Includes list of Kerr family artifacts donated to the Oregon Historical Society in 1968 by Lady Anne McDonald.
 
21/11

Peter Kerr letterpress copybook, 1898-1906
 

Series C:  Diaries of Peter Kerr, 1876-1894
 
 
Container(s)
Description
 
box/folder
22/3

1876-1877
 
22/4

1877 August 11-November 12
 
22/5

1878
 
22/6

1879
 
22/7

1880
 
22/8

Holiday diary, 1880
 
22/9

1881
 
22/10

Holiday diary, 1881
 
22/11

Holiday diary, 1882
 
22/12

"Christmas holidays" diary, 1882-1883
 
22/13

1883
 
22/14

Holiday diary, 1883
 
22/15

1884
 
22/16

1885
 
22/17

Holiday diary, 1885
 
22/18

1886
 
22/19

Holiday diary, 1886 August 13-September 9
 
22/20

Notebook, 1886
 
22/21

1887
 
22/22

1888
 
21/12

Diary of a vacation (may not be Peter Kerr), 1888 August 1-September 3
 
22/23

1889
 
22/24

1890
 
22/25

1891
 
22/26

1892
 
22/27

1893
 
22/28

1894