Skip To Main ContentUniversity of Oregon
University of Oregon Libraries
University of Oregon Libraries

Manuscript collections

JOSEPH GRAGG Papers

Ax 139

Inventory

Introduction

Joseph Gragg came overland to Oregon from Illinois in 1852, and settled on a farm near Monroe.

The collection consists of family letters and miscellaneous papers. The letters are arranged chronologically; the main series are:

  1. Huldah Gragg, sister of Joseph Gragg. She lived in Pleasantville, Illinois, 1854-1874. In 1874 she married E.J. Brickett, and lived in Truckee, California, until her death in 1881.
  2. T. Herman Gragg, son of Joseph Gragg. He attended Philomath College, Philomath, Oregon, 1882-1884. He taught at W. Scott Walker\'s high school in Brownsville, Oregon, 1885-1886, and accompanied Walker to Huntsville, Washington, in 1887. From 1889 to 1896 he was a professional at Philomath College, and from 1900-1912 professor of mathematics and philosophy at Central College, Huntington, Indiana, both schools of the United Brethren Church.
  3. Bettie M. Gragg, daughter of Joseph Gragg. She attended Philomath College, 1883-1884, and taught school in Alpine, Oregon, 1887. She stayed in Philomath with her brother, T. Herman, 1889-1893. She married William H. McLain in 1894, lived in Roseburg, Oregon, 1895-1896, and later in Orchards, Washington, and Scio, Oregon.

Other correspondents include George Buckingham; John Pickinpaugh; Philo Gragg; Vernon Gragg; Charles H. Merryman; William B. Haines; and Herman Gragg, who attended the University of Chicago, 1901-1902.

The letters provide a commentary on family relationships, from life, church affairs, schools and school teaching, and social life in general. There is much information on the history of Philomath College, especially a controversy over control of the college in the 1880s, and the history of the United Brethren Church in Oregon. A manuscript calendar for the letters is available in the Library.

The collection also contains a diary of Joseph Gragg, describing his trip to the Salmon River, Idaho mines in 1863; financial material relating to the Gragg Brothers (farmers); and miscellaneous family material.

Inventory

1859-1930

3 boxes
1.5 lin. ft.

Box/folder

1/1 Inventory

Letters

1/2 1859-1879
1/3 1880-1884
1/4 1885
1/5 1886-1888
1/6 1889
1/7 1890
2/1 1891
2/2 1892-1895
2/3 1896-1897
2/4 1900
2/5 1901, Jan.-May
2/6 1901, June-Dec.
2/7 1903-1908
2/8 1909
3/1 1910-1911
3/2 1912-1914
3/3 1915-1930

3/4 Diary of Joseph Gragg's trip to the Salmon River, Idaho, mines in 1863; Family History
3/5 Gragg Brothers (farmers). Business correspondence, invoices, bank statements, etc.
3/6 Misc.

Maintained by: N. Helmer, spcarref@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 10/30/2006