1/ 7 Pu L, vy'i ' Imprint: Oregon

Vol. 4 Spring 1978 No.1

Edward Sanford Burgess (see p. 3) BOTANISTS AS COLLECTORS at its fullest flow (in that latitude) the Quite by accident the three articles inmen repair to the woods and fell a medi- this issue of Imprint:Oregon deal withum-sized hemlock or two, strip off the botanists in one form or another. Theouter bark, cut rings around the fallen first article describes the acquisition bytree at 11 or 12 feet apart, and strip off the University of Oregon Library of thethe inner bark in long strips. These strips collection of rare and unusual booksare taken to camp, where the Klooches assembled by botanist.biologist Edward (women) pick them up into small pieces S. Burgess of Hunter College. The largestand add a little water to make a sort of single segment of the collection was Bur.batter. The batter is then put into frames gess's herbals, both ancient and modern. 11 inches square and ½ to 3/4 inches A second article delineates the personali- deep and smoked in the smokehouse for ties of the "home grown" botanists of the24 hours. The cakes are then ready for Pacific Northwest, and describes their re- use and are packed in mats oi red cedar liance on each other as well as theirbark like cantles of codfish. There are relationship with the scholarly botaniststwo methods of using it, namely, A. It of the eastern universities and herbaria.is broken up into small pieces which are The third article, based on a letter ofputinto a mortar or similar vessel, missionary Jason Lee, may be claimedpounded to a powder and then scattered as related to botany because Lee workedover the boiled smoked salmon which in the vineyard of the Lorda religious forms the chief winter food of the coast viticulturist. tribes. B. The bark cakes are broken up All three articles are based on materialinto small pieces as before, dropped into in the University of Oregon Library, thus a pot of boiling water until they are fulfilling the purpose of this magazine,completely soft. They are then put out- which is to produce literate articles ofside on the snow until they are quite general interest, calling attention to thecold and are then eatenusually at the resources of the Library. end of the meal as we would eat ice Too few members of the Librarycream." faculty, or the faculty in general are aware of this outlet for their scholarly efforts. We take this opportunity, there- Imprint : Oregon fore, to solicit articles from members oi the University community. Our circula- Vol. 4 Spring 1978 No. 1 tionis world-wide, and a number of Publishd by the University of Oregon Library articles appearing herein have either been Editors: MARTIN SCHMITT, E. C. KEMP reprinted in other scholarly periodicals, KEITH RICHARD or have been cited in appropriate biblo- Price: One dollar graphies. HEMLOCK BARK BREAD The Edward S. Burgess Collection (seep. 15) PERRY D. MORRIsoN RANDY B. MAFIT have forgotten "I completely the Indigenous Botanists of the native name of the Hemlock Bark Bread, Northwest 14 and my notes were destroyed in the EDWARD P. THATCHER slight fire we had at the Forestry Build- The Salvation of Jason Lee 20 ing -.-The method of baking the bread is as follows. In June, when the sap is CHERYL ROFF 2 Imprint: Oregon The Edward S. Burgess Collection

Among the special features of the newfusion in this regard. However, Henry D. University of Oregon Library, completed Sheldon, who was on the University Li- in June 1937, was a room to house andbrary Committee at the time and wrote display one of the Library's most notablehis history of the Library soon after, acquisitions, the Edward S. Burgess Col- stated that the original collection con- lection of rare books and manuscripts.sisted of 38 manuscripts and 52 induna- As identified on a bronze plaque in thebula. The manuscripts, most of them me- room, the collection had been ". .. gath.dieval, but a few dating from as early as ered through a lifetime by a scholar ofthe tenth century, included examples rich attainments, Edward Sandford Bur-from the Middle East as well as from gess, Humanist, Man of Science, Man ofEurope. In addition to this central core Faith." of rarities were some 200 volumes ("from The plaque told by no means the whole 1500 on") and about 800 books of travel, story. The collection had been obtainedethnology, and 19th century English and by the University of Oregon partly byAmerican literature. gift and partly by purchase from E. S. Except fora few latergifts from Burgess's sister, Julia Burgess, long-time friends, the collection was part of the member of the Department of Englishpersonal library of Edward Sandford at the University of Oregon. The recitalBurgess, professor and head of the De- of how Miss Burgess brought the collec- partment of Biology at Hunter College, tion to Oregon involves a complicatedNew York. In attempting to assess Bur- series of events and non-events. It illus- gess's motives for assembling so catholic trates how difficult the reconstruction ofa collection, it is important to know that, even recent history can be. It also illus-although his doctorate was in botany, strates the pitfalls awaiting bibliographichis undergraduate work at Hamilton Col- amateurs engaged in giving and receiv-lege (1876-1879) had been in classical ing. studies. He was class poet in 1879, and an Miss Julia Burgess, though both donororganizer of the Emerson Literary Soci- and seller of the collection, was neverety at Hamilton. After receiving his bac- quite certain of its exact contents. Her calaureate degree from Hamilton he was notes on various lists testify to her con- awarded a fellowship in Greek at Johns Hopkins He later earned a doctorate at Most ofthe information hereinabout Columbia (1899), his dissertation being Edward S. Burgess is based on a privately printed volume edited by hissister,Julia, on the varieties of the aster species. Edward Sand! ord Burgess (N.Y., 1932). Other Beginning in 1882 he taught school in major sources of information about the collec- , D.C. and spent his sum- tion and its acquisition are among the files of mers at Martha's Vineyard Institutes. the University of Oregon Archives, and are not specifically cited. E. S. Burgess wrote on aHe also became interested in anthro- variety of subjects. Other than textbooks, he pology, and what today would be called published TheCha utan qua Flora(Clinton, the "interface" between botany and liter- N.Y.. 1887) Genea logical Notes Containing ature, an interest manifested in a lecture Sand ford Ancestrynp.. 1881-1890)History at the U.S. National Museum and an of Pre.Clusian Botan y in its Relationto Aster (N.Y., 1902) TheOh! South Road of Gayarticle on "The Influence of Flowers on Head (Edgartown, Mass., 1926);Species and Literature." In addition to his teaching, Variations ofBiotianAsters (N.Y.,1906). fieldtrips,lecturing and writing, he

Spring 1978 3 courted and married Irene S. HamiltonColumbia University obtained an ethno- of Fredonia, N.Y. graphic collection on the Romantsch of Edward Burgess was appointed to theeastern Switzerland; the Lee Library in faculty at Hunter College in 1895. HeSilver Creek, N.Y. was given a "large taught botany and anthropology, admin-number" of books of travel and popular istered the Department of Biology, andinterest; Johns Hopkins benefited from occasionally served as acting presidenta collection of books in the classics; of the college. He also traveled abroad,Hamilton College received "samples of edited his dissertation for publicationfine work of early printing," "ancient (1902), wrote articles on illustra- books on literature," and material on tion in the Middle Ages, and a history ofancient art. Later, Hamilton College also the Torrey Botanical Club. received the bulk of a collection of Greek Although details are lacking,itis vases and old glassware. apparent that Burgess was a book collec. Edward S. Burgess was a natural his- tor already during his undergraduatetorian in the 18th or 19th century style. days. His sister mentions that he pur- Even to his own specialty, asters, he ap- chased books "in the classics" from hisplied historical and descriptive rather allowance for "ringing the chapel bellthan experimental methods. Walter K. and assisting in the library" at HamiltonFisher described this vanishing species: College. She recalls these books as "rep- resenting often, though inexpensively, the In our strenuous era of high pres- sureresearch, when beginners unusual in literature." Discussing his emerge from courses in test-tube later career, she implies that he fre- biology ... with asomewhat cyn- quented the Anderson Galleries and the ical and suspicious attitude toward sales rooms of the Rosenbach Company. Nature in her visible forms it is The books and manuscripts he bought perhaps permitted one to reflect were used in his teaching at Hunter Col. upon the passing of the fine art of lege, and the "Asterium" at the Burgess instilling an appreciation of natu- home in Park Hill, Yonkers was de- ral history.2 scribed as ".- - an 'Edwardian' arcanum" This statement, made in 1928, is even filled with "rare old bookshistory, gene-more applicable today. We are no longer alogy, incunabula." accustomed to the polymath who collected Miss Burgess also refers to her broth.in a wide range of subjects because he er's collection and use of bibelots andwas active in all of them and saw rela- ancient weapons,tohisgenealogicaltionships among them. Miss Burgess said studies, and to the preparation of a two-of her brother, "Nothing wrought by the volume study on ancient glass.2 Little of human spirit was alien to him." Burgess himself decried narrow specialization and 2 Burgess, op. Cit., p. 59. was proud that Hunter College had not this material is represented in the portion copied Eliot's elective system at Harvard, of the Burgess Collection which came to the University of Oregon. There are but offered, rather, a combination of re- a few books on anthropology (ethno-quired and optional work, to the end that the "college should be a place for train- graphy), but the original collection hading the mind; to make of it a self-active been rich in that field. instrument of power .. . [which] can The reason for this lack is that Dr.best be achieved through the discipline of Burgess made gifts of books to several institutions after his retirement in 1925. :Ibid., p. 2-3. 4 imprint: Oregon high scholarship," and in which "Science - .. One of the best teachers and and the humanities should divide the stu- one of the most scholarly teachers dent's time and go hand in hand." that we have had on this faculty. The catholicity of taste evident in E.S. She loved to teach; she loved to Burgess's library may be a reflection of make others reverence the best his view of education. On the other hand, things in literature. This love and it may simply be a symptom of that most respect for her subject matter she communicated to her students, not addictive of all avocationsthe collecting by sentimental effusions, but by of rare and unusual books and bibelots. maintaining the highest standards For better or worse, he was an anti- of appreciations and knowledge.5" quarian, be it as botanist, poet, anthro- pologist or genealogist. Whatever his mo- Her course in the history of literary tives, he was fortunate to be collectingcriticism is recalled with particular re- when the market for rare books was lessspect. One student described her lectures competitive and less rarified than it isas "workouts." Oliver Field, a member of today. It was possible, then, for a personthe Library staff, said in an article about of "comfortable circumstances"as Bur-her, gess obviously wasto indulge a taste Students may, for their own rea- for incunables and early printed books, sons, flock to the lectures of an in- and even manuscripts. Of course, he structor who asks as little of his could not compete with the great and students as he does of himself, but wealthy private collectors, but neither their abiding respect goes to the was he obliged to outhid a host of institu- professor who drives because he tional libraries. is himself driven.6 By the time of his death on February Field regarded Miss Burgess as the latter 24, 1928, Edward S. Burgess had accu- sort, one who believes that "no one who mulated (not assembled) an eclectic col- serves truth serves an easy master." lection of considerable value and interest. The late Professor Robert Horn, in an Though much of the collection had been interview in 1974, was able to furnish dispersed, the remaining portion became,some insight into Miss Burgess's person- in due time, the property of his sister,ality. He was her colleague after 1925. Julia. According to Horn, Julia Burgess was a Julia Burgess (1870.1942) had come"Lady" in the old-fashioned sense of the to the University of Oregon in 1907. Shewordvery formal in conventional ways. had a Bachelor's degree from WellesleyHer gentle voice was never raised except, (1894) and a Master's from Radcliffeperhaps, in righteous indignation about (1901), and had taught in the publicviolations of what she regarded as good schools of New York. At the University manners. Horn thought of her as a very of Oregon she was promoted to assistantprivate person who "not only wore gloves professor in 1913 and to full professorbut left no fingerprints." She had no in 1916 in the Department of English. desire to impress herself on the con- She is remembered at the University sciousness of others. as a rather "formal" person,4 a respected teacher, described by her dean, C. Valen- Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)Feb. 13, tine Boyer, as 1942, p. 1,2. 6 Oliver T.Field, "The Julia BurgessI Conversation, Perry D, Morrison with Lois Knew," The Call Number 3 (Aug. 1942), p. Baker, Law Librarian Emeritus, Dec. 20, 1977. 13-14.

Spring 1978 5

At a time when women faculty mem- No doubt Oliver Field was right to say bers were unusual in universities, Missthat Both Miss Burgess and her brother Burgess was one of the "Three Graces""knew that a good author deserves a good who were members of the English facultyprinter as surely as a flawless gem war- at Oregon. It was a contentious faculty,rants a craftsman's setting."7 However, dominated by several forceful males. Itit was only after she acquired her broth- is not difficult to understand that Misser's collection that Miss Burgess paid Burgess might have developed a certainmuch attention to the setting as opposed reticence and circumspection as to whatto the gem. There is no evidence that she she said or wrote. herself ever acquired a book for any other Though she was not a "publishingreason than its contents. For most of her scholar,"she did writearticlesandcareer she was neither a collector nor a poetry, most of it published either inbibliographer of rarities or choice edi- Quarterly of her alma mater, Wellesley,tions. or in the alumni magazine, Old Oregon. This all changed in 1935 when Miss She was active in such cultural organiza-Burgess inherited the undistributed por- tions as Pot and Quill and in the Fort.tion of her brother's collection of rare nightly Club, a women's literary societybooks and manuscripts. At that time she in Eugene, Oregon. She was faculty ad-selected 20 "rare old books" from the viser to Chi Omega. She traveled. These collection and sent them to Oregon, a gift and otheractivities establish her activeto the University.8 role in the University and in the com- These books were first exhibited in the munity. old Library (now Fenton Hall) from That Miss Burgess loved books thereDecember 3 to 14, 1935. It is not clear can be no doubt. According to Robertjust what titles were included. A terse Horn, her office overflowed with booksnote in Old Oregon9 refers to "four large and periodicals, so that she was some-volumes printed before the year 1500." times almost hidden from view. But she It then identifies them as "a Latin copy was not a collector in the sense that her of the comedies of Plautus...printed in brother was. In his remarks at Miss Bur- Italy about 1490" and the Summa Theo- gess's memorial service, the president oflogica, printed by Koberger in 1496.10 the University of Oregon, Donald Erb, attempted to draw a connection between her love of books and her part in bring- Ibid., p. 14. ing her brother's collection to the Univer- 8 This is not to suggest that Miss Burgess sity. He quoted a poem by Miss Burgess became a collector of rare books, but that she developed an interest in them as items of value entitled "Orphans," the first line of which and beauty. was, "My books will be little orphans when I die." The poem is perhaps too Old Oregon, 17 (Nov. 1934), p. 4. sentimental for modern tastes, but a care- 10 In one of the many subsequent lists of the ful reading makes it quite evident thatcontents of the collection these two and no others are listed as "previously given." Other it was the content, not the physical formtitles may have been incorporated into sub- of the book, that Miss Burgess hoped to sequent lists. Whatever the case, it is apparent preserve. Her allusions are not to vellum, that the "lists" are unreliable. One of the prob- gothic script, or harmonious typography, lems was that Miss Burgess was dealing not but to marked passages in trade editions with librarians, hut with enthusiastic and inex- perienced book-lovers, none of whom appreci- of such writers as Wordsworth, Lowell, ated the importance of bibliographic exactness; Thoreau, Crane and Dickinson. for that matter, neither did Miss Burgess. Spring 1978 7 The pattern of vagueness in gifts andearliest patrons; it would be "of perma- non-gifts was thus established. nent and high educational value, far more Whatever was exhibited in the Fentonthan the estimated value of the collection Hall library aroused considerable interest in terms of money;" and the collection among the faculty and friends of the"comprises more books in their particu- University in Eugene and Portland. Let-lar fields than there are in any collection, ters to President C. Valentine Boyer fromeither public or private, in the state of Dr. Ralph A. Fenton of Portland, andOregon." He then described the collection Benjamin B. Beekman make this interestand the choice items in it. evident. Dr. Fenton, in particular, had The tone of Swann's letter suggests obviously consulted with Miss Burgess,that he may have been pessimistic about because he refers to her gift of "somehow much a collection of interesting but $2,500 worth" of books to the Universityoften imperfect manuscripts and incuna- in 1935. He informed President Boyerbula would bring in the market of 1936. that Miss Burgess, rather than send theHe noted that "some of the books are remainder of her brother's library tosomewhat imperfect (only slightly so)" New York for auction, would be willingand stressed their educational value, a to turn "these treasures over to a donordescriptive device common among deal- or group of donors for presentation toers who have second.rate collections on the University Library as part of the cere-their hands. He noted, however, that cer- monial of opening, for $3,000." tain items, especially a fragment of a He also mentioned additional treas-Keats manuscript and a Cicero manu- ures"letters by Keats and others"script "might easily create keen competi- and "splendid 17th and 18th centurytion." In all, Swann mentioned 186 vol- editions," as being also withheld fromumes, presumably the manuscripts "of auction, and available for an additional the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries," and $1,000. the products of "early printers." He then Slightly more than a month later Presi- referred to "a series of first editions of dent Boyer took action on Dr. Fenton'sEnglish and American authors, as well letter. He appointed a committee "to seeas autograph letters of some of them," what might be done toward making thean estimated 250 or 300 volumes "or purchase of this collection for the library pieces." possible." Chairman of the committee Swann was particularly interested in was Dr. Fenton; its one University mem-the fragment of an original holograph ber was Dr. James H. Gilbert. manuscript by John Keats, part of the Julia Burges had meanwhile consignedpoem, "I Stood Tiptoe upon a Little Hill." the collection to the American Art Asso- He was similarly impressed with three ciation-Anderson Galleries for sale at letters by George Keats, "as well as letters public auction. However, the expressionby Joseph Severn, J. H. Reynolds, Ben- of interest by the University led to ajamin Haydon, and others of the group." change of mind She asked Mr. ArthurNevertheless, Swann agreed to release Swann of the American Art Associationthe collection, saying, ".-- we are in- for a release should the University decideformed by you that you are willing to to acquire the collection. In a remarkable transfer the entire collection to the Uni- letter dated July 3, 1936, Swann agreedversity of Oregon for the sum of $3,500 to release the collection. His reasons [and] we strongly urge the University were that "It would be a permanentauthorities to acquire it. - memorial to your brother, one of our The collection described by Swann dif- 8 Imprint: Oregon fers by omissions and additions from that and appraised, anonymously, at $2,sO0. which eventually came to the UniversityNor did a group of 37 autograph letters of Oregon. However, it was on the basisfrom various 19th century literary fig- of Swann's description, plus a list Missures, including Matthew Arnold, Dante Burgess had prepared (apparently inGabriel and Christina Rossetti, Walter June 1936) that she opened negotiations Savage Landor, and Charles Darwin. with President Boyer. In a letter of July From passages in Edwin Wolf's biog- 22, 1936, inclosing Swann's letter, shegraphy of A. S. W. Rosenbach, it seems offered to the University of Oregon, forclear that these items were consigned to $3,000, a collection "according to cata- the Rosenbach Company, and sold, prob- logues left with you in June" consistingably to Arthur Houghton. On the other of two parts: hand, three items once consigned to Ro- senbach were recalled by Miss Burgess (1) Ancient Manuscripts, Inca- and are now at the University of Oregon. nabula, Rare Books, numbering Through all this labyrinth of negotia- 140; (2)Keats Ms Fragment, tion and re-negotiation neither the seller Autographs letters, with 42 books (Browning 1st editions, Shelley- nor the buyer ever produced a complete, ana). Total 192 books(which reliable, accurate or bibliographically might easily be made 200) be- recognizable inventory of what was giv- sides letters and Keats Ms. This en, sold, or what was bought. As a result, includes 24 volumes additional to even today only the presence of an item the 168 consigned to Amer. Art can be relied on as evidence that it was Assa.andmentionedbyMr. either a gift or a purchase. The absence Swann in his letter. of a title may only mean that it never arrived. For an additional $500 Miss Burgess also During the school year 1936-1937 the offered to sell the "English and Americancampaign for funds to buy the Burgess authors, with autograph letters of some collection was moderately suceessful. Pri- of them" referred to in Swann's letter.vate contributions brought in $1,500. A Finally, she declared, "I shall hope tolike sum was obtained by mortgaging the make another personal gift of books thisbook budget 'of the Library for three coming year of equal value with thatyears. In May 1937 Dr. Burt Brown Bar- already made." ker, honorary vice-president of the Uni- To these generous sentiments in herversity, agreed to purchase the 962 vol- letter to President Boyer, Miss Burgessumes which had not been included in added an ominous postscript. In it sheMiss Burgess's original list. In this group paraphrased Swann's interest in and ap-were various categories of English and praisal of the Keats manuscript"moreAmerican literature, some association than $660." Whether this veiled sugges-copies, some "rare books" (1500-1700), tion led to a change in Miss Burgess'sfacsimiles and reprints and "unusual plans may only be conjectured. But Mr.books (racial studies) "for all of which Swann had his way; neither the "Tiptoe"Dr.Barker contributed a check for fragment nor the associated lettersap- $1,000, with the understanding that Miss peared on any subsequent lists, and didBurgess would "add about fifty more not come to the University of Oregon. books to the list." At some point during these proceed- 11 This is presumably a reference to the 20ings, Miss Burgess submitted a formal "rare old books" given to the Library in 1935, (but undated)offer of 1,000 volumes Spring 1978 9 from her brother's collection for $4,000. Despitetheproliferationoflists, This was exactly the amount that hadinvoices and statements,it was soon been raised. This offer was accompaniedapparent that the collection included mis- by lists of books giving specific titles in cellaneous items previously unspecified. ten categories. The offer stated that theTo clarify this situation, Miss Burgess manuscriptswerevaluedat$1,200executed a deed of gift dated August 8, (apparently medieval and renaissance1941 formally conveying to the Univer- Latin and Greek) ; Oriental manuscripts sity of Oregon "in consideration of One were valued at $800; incunabula at more Dollar . ..All of those books in the than $2,500. These values were assignedCollection Room of the Burgess Collec- by the dealer, A. S. W. Rosenbach, in ation of Rare Books and Manuscripts" letter no longer in the files. In effect, which were not included in earlier trans- Miss Burgess was offering a collection of actions. manuscripts and incunabula with a value The deed included several provisions, of more than $4,500 at a stated priceamong them the "confident expectation" of $4,000. Seven hundred other titles,that a bomb-proof shelter would be pro- dating from 1500, were added as lag-vided for the collection. Fortunately the niappe. University was advised that confident Payment for all this required two in-expectations are not a condition of gift, voices, one to the Alumni Holding Com-and theshelter was not constructed. pany which handled gift funds, and oneAnother such expectation was that an to the Library which disbursed state"illustrated catalogue of high quality" funds. In addition there was the $1,000would be prepared and published. This check from Dr. Barker. The total amountinteresting and scholarly task Miss Bur- paid was the agreed-upon $4,000. gess delegated to herself. Meantime, the Funds to furnish the special roomacquisition of the collection was publicly intended to house the collection werecelebrated on "Library Day," May 3-4, obtained from the Alumni Holding Com. 1941,13 and President Donald Erb re- pany, from the Library budget, and fromported to the Chancellor of the State Miss Burgess herself. System of Higher Education that "the The entire transaction, bargain thoughBurgess Collection of rare books and it was, roused the bureaucratic suspicionmanuscripts is complete." of the Director of Libraries of the State To prepare for the compilation of the System of Higher Education. To satisfyproposed catalogue of the collection, the legal requirements, University Li-Miss Burgess, now semi-retired, attempt- brarian, Matthew H. Douglass, prepareded to educate herself in such unfamiliar a detailed "statement which would ex-fields as paleography, typography, the plain the reason for purchasing fromhistory of printing and publishing, bind- someone connected with the State Sys-ings, illumination and the preparation tem of Higher Education."12 of formal bibliographies. The result was a catalogue described by Librarian M. H. 12 Letter, M. H. Douglass to Lucy M. Lewis, April 1, 1928. The State of Oregon, and es- 13 The best contemporary summary of the pecially the State System of Higher Education, nature of the collection and the facts concern- was ever alert to the possibility that a faculty ing its acquisition by the University of Oregon member might sell his private library to a state is a radio script written by Miss Burgess and institution at a profit to himself. The result read over Radio Station KOAC April 29, 1941. of this attitude has been the loss, to Oregon, of It was published, lacking the final paragraph, in some excellent collections. The Call Number 1 (May 1940), p. 6-9. 10 Imprint: Oregon Douglas as complete except for proof-her correspondence with the director of reading.14 the Morgan Library,Belle da Costa Mr. Douglas was too optimistic. WhenGreene. She inquired about three specific Miss Burgess died on February 12, 1942,manuscripts, but did not use the infor- only a catalogue of manuscripts wasmation thus obtained. finished. It was in galley proof. She had In defense of Miss Burgess, it should made some notes toward a catalogue ofbe pointed out that her catalogue was the incunabula and other early printednot intended to be a definitive work of material, but there was no copy suitablebibliography.Itssubtitledescribesit for publication. as "A Handbook for the Better Under- The catalogue of manuscripts, unfor-standing and Enjoyment of a University tunately, suffered from defects of schol-Collection." In her introduction she in- arship on one hand, and excess of enthu-cluded a biographical sketch of Edward siasm on the other. Miss Burgess, in herS. Burgess, concentrating on his love of identifications and descriptions, relied books and their contents. heavily on notes and excerpts from deal- The catalogue was neither completed ers' catalogues tipped into the volumesnor published.In 1948 Dr. Reynard by her brother or by previous owners ofSwank, then University Librarian, ob- the manuscripts. She also quoted freely tained an opinion as to the merits of the from and relied implicitly on such sec-project from H., Richard Archer of the ondary sources as the Encyclopedia Bri-William Andrews Clark Library in Los tannica, the Catholic Encyclopedia andAngeles. Archer's opinion was negative. standard medieval histories for assign.He felt the work did not meet scholarly ments of authorship and descriptions ofbibliographic standards. In view of Miss contents. Her collations were unreliableBurgess's stated intentions, this might and incomplete. She indulged in flights not have been a fatal flow, but by any of rhetoric when describing illumina- standards the work was uneven and filled tions and other artistic values. In short,with errors of omission and commission. she attempted to produce a catalogue ofThe printers were instructed to abandon professional quality without first learn-the project, and the catalogue exists to- ing the technical terminology and theday only in galley form. standard rules governing the form. At about the time Miss Burgess was For example, while she was unable to struggling with manuscript cataloguing, assign or estimate a date for one manu-the retired Chief Cataloguer of the Uni- script (Sextus Rufus), she was carriedversity Library, Beatrice Barker, was away by the physical beauty of the item: making a card catalogue for the 19th "The profusion of skillful illuminationcentury American and British literary gives an indescribable brilliance andand asssociation items. While her scheme gaiety to the pages of this volume, which for such cataloguing paid only slight seems to express the elation and exuber-attention to professional standards (in- ance, the boundless expectancy of the deed,it was strictly home-made)the Italian Renaissance." books were, by this means, represented The only evidence that she attemptedin the general library catalogue. to repair her scholarly deficiencies is About twenty years later a profession- ally qualified cataloguer, the late Marie 14"Phi Beta Kappa Honors Julia Burgess Flack, made a card catalogue of the in- for Life of Scholarly Effort," The Call Number, cunabula and early printed books, so 3 (Dcc. 19741), p. 14-15. that they, too, are represented in the Spring 1978 11 general catalogue. In 1957 the Univers-on appropriate occasions. Among the sity Library magazine, The Call Number,items most often shown are the manu- published an essay consisting of a de- script and printed herbals which, because tailed description of and comment uponof Edward S. Burgess's special interest in the Cicero Orationes manuscript in thebotany, are among the better specimens Burgess Collection.15 This essay, by Prof. in the collection. Regular and especially Edward N. O'Neil of the Department of gratifying use of the collection has been Classics, was intended to be one of aby the classes in history of the book seriesdescribing the Burgess manu-taught in the School of Librarianship. scriptsseriatim.Unfortunately,Dr. Teachers and members of the class have O'Neil left the University in 1958, andfound that the collection is, in effect, a no one has appeared since with a similarlaboratory in the history of printing. interest in bibliographic exercise. Hardly a day passes without a request Miss Burgess was concerned not onlyfor one or more items from the collec- with bomb shelters and catalogues; shetion. also stipulated how and by whom the Occasionally scholars discover unsus- collection should be used. According topected treasures inthe collection.In her deed of gift, the collection was "to1955 Paul M. Zall of the Department of he under the care of a properly trainedEnglish atthe University of Oregon custodian ... who will permit little andfound a holograph letter from William only very careful handling of books (forWordsworth tipped in a copy of Words. class or bibliography use) ." Since many worth's Poems (1847). The letter, ad- of the items in the collection are, by rea-dressed to the "Misses Constable" and son of their quality or lack of it, particu-dated June 6, 1844, proved to be unpub- larly suitable for teaching, are, in factlished, and in addition the only extant "working copies," this provision of theevidence that Wordsworth was person- deed of gift has been loosely interpreted. ally acquainted with John Constable, the A few pieces, such as the Aldines, are inlandscapepainter. Mr. Zall wrotea fine condition, but generally speakingcharming essay based on this discov- the collection is of secondary quality. ery.17 Mostoftheolder manuscripts and The Library has been prudently lib- printed items are defective in one wayeral in permitting use of the collection or another. Indeed, thereis evidenceby qualified persons. There have, of that Miss Burgess herself permitted thecourse, been complaints that the books Rosenbach Company to cannibalize "forare inaccessiblethat is, they are not on use in another copy" an already incom-open shelves, and must be specially plete copy of a 16.33 edition of Donne'spaged. On the other hand, at least one poetry.'1 of the incunabla was made available on There is ample evidence that the col-inter-library loan, which must be a rec- lection has had that measure of judicious ord of sorts. Use of the collection would use intended by Miss Burgess. Selectionsno doubt be greaterif there were a from it have been put on public displaycatalogue, or even a handlist of the manuscripts. 15 Edward N. O'Neil, "Manuscripts in the The condition of the Burgess Collec- Burgess Collection:Cicero, Orationes," The tion today is less satisfactory than the Call Nztmber, 18 (Spring 1957),p. 19-21. 16 Letter, Julia Burgess to John Fleming, 17 Paul M. Zall, "Dora's Dilemma," The the Rosenbach Company, Jan. 5, 1938. Call Number, 17 (Nov. 1955), p. 21-26. 12 Imprint: Oregon use made of it. Many of the bindings lions, the collection was indeed a bargain. need repair or even restoration. Slip When Julia Burgess died in 1942, the cases should be made for many of the tributes paid to her memory stressed her manuscripts and some of the books, andpart in bringing her brother's library to the special room, once the pride of thethe University of Oregon. The Eugene Library, should be equipped with tem-Register-Guard quoted unidentified ex- perature and humidity control. Provid.perts as saying that the collection was ing a bomb shelter may once have been"thefinestthingofits kind inthe thought essential, but it is now obviousWest," an uncritical encomium which that it would be more useful to findwould have surprised the curators of some means of retarding the slow de. several libraries. Nonetheless, struction of the collection from air pollu- if the purpose of the collection was to tion and extremes of climate. make rare books and manuscripts gener- Despitethe deterioration in physicalally available to students at all levels of condition,the value of the Burgess Col-competence, then the Burgess library lection hasappreciated. Demand for [hewas, and is, unique in the West. Oddly kinds of books and manuscripts in theenough, its very imperfections have made collection has increased while the supply this special function possible. has dwindled. Even a cursory inspection of dealers' catalogues and auctionrec- PERRY D. MORRISON ords indicates that, with all its imperfec- RANDY B. MAFIT

St. Peter and St. Paul, from 15th Century Choir Book

Spring 1978 13 Indigenous Botanists of the Northwest The botanical history of the PacificHowell, William Cusick and Louis F. Northwest beganwiththe work ofHendersonwithdistinctgeographic explorer-naturalists who were trainedareasoitheirgreatestfieldactivity. scientific observers and collectors. TheSince then, a good many more manU- names of some of them are familiarscripts have been uncovered in museums David Douglas, John Jeffrey, and Johnand libraries in the Pacific Northwest, C. Fremontbecause they appear asparticularly at the University of Oregon place names, or are associated with theand Washington State University. nomenclature of and animals in The correspondence and other records the literature of descriptive science. of Thomas Howell, Martin Gorman and Less well-known, indeed hardly re-Louis Henderson, three very sociable membered, are the indigenous describ-field collectors living in the Portland ers and collectors who walked the Ore-area between 1877 and 1893 indicate gon Trail with their parents, or whoclearly that they needed one another. arrived in the early days of rail trans-By correspondence and sometimes by port. These resident botanists were self-joint field work they verified observa- taught. They collected widely through- tions and substantiated conclusions. The out Washington and Oregon. Some ofgreat concern was to be accurate when them collected cooperatively, or in thethey sent their observations beyond the interest of original work and accuracy Pacific Northwest to professionals in they verified their findings by corres- eastern institutions. They were "provin- pondence with each other. Usually they cial" in the broad and pleasant sense of began by collecting locally, and then, asthe term, geographically far removed they gained experience and confidence, from the closet scientists, the establish- explored the Cascades, Blue Mountains,ment botanists and editors. or Wallowas, the frontiers of new and These provincialcollectors had to fascinating flora. Only rarely did theymaintain lines of communication with leave the region. the accepted authorities in Boston, New The records of these resident fieldYork and Washington. Such men as Asa botanists were often deposited with aca-Gray and Sereno Watson of Harvard, demicinstitutionsintheNorthwest, Daniel C. Eaton of Yale, and Charles mainly at Pullman and Seattle, Wash-V. Piper at the Department of Agricul- ington, and Eugene, Oregon. Several col- ture were the ones who could release lectors in Oregon either gave or soldto the scientific world the acceptable their collections to the University ofEnglish and Latin descriptions of new Oregon between 1900 and 1925. Suchwestern plants. That we have western collections included not only exsiccatae,plant genera Howellia, Suksdorfia, and but photographs, saleslists of plants, many specific names within our flora, as diaries, correspondence, field notes and Hendersonii, Germanii, and Leachiana, even expense accounts. indicates the cooperation and genuine In an earlier article, "The Procession respect existing between the resident col- of Botanists in Oregon," published inlectors of the Pacific Northwest and the The Call Number, Fall, 1960, I reviewedplant describers of eastern herbaria. the chief contributions of these early Examples ofthecommunication residents, and attempted to associate the among the early resident botanists are contemporaryfieldworkersThomas presented herein to display their person- 14 Imprint: Oregon alitieshumor,annoyance withand"The Flora of Mount Hood," was writ- compassion for others, love of solitudeten by Howell. We know from various and for growing things, and their zealsources that Martin Gorman, first sec- foraccuracy. The letters have beenretary of the Mazamas, had urged Howell selected to display these indigenous field and Suksdorf to compile these papers. collectors each on a quest for the hurnn We know, also, that Howell, who had self. little schooling, used Gorman as an edi- Thomas Howell and William Cusicktor who would revise his work into were family farmers. Each had come to acceptable form. Suksdorf, also, was in- Oregon as a child. The Cusick familycapable of writing an article. Gorman's settled first in Linn County. Aftersome solution to this problem appears in a collegeexperience at Willamette Uni-letter of February 10, 1896. (See illus. versity, and brief army service at Fortp. 18.) Lapwai, , William Cusick and his The diverse interests of these early brother began ranching and familygar-botanistsis demonstrated by the fact dening in Union County on a tributarythat several of them devoted consider- of the Grande Ronde. able study to the use of plants by In- The Howell family arrived in Oregondians. Among the records of Martin in 1850, settling in the Forest GroveGorman and Louis Henderson are manu- area. In 1851 they moved to a farm on script lists on the subject of ethnobotany. Sauvie's Island, near the confluence ofThe recipe on page 2 is from a typed the Columbia and Willamette rivers.letter dated Feb. 24, 1926, from Gorman From the Sauvie's Island farm, Thomas to an unknown correspondent. It is an Howell collected plants, until he movedexample of Gorman's first-hand know- to the Oregon City area about 1893. ledge of the food plants of the Indians. Both men were avid collectors, andHis diaries, on file in the University of their field work took them ever fartherOregon Library, record his seven sum- from their homes. To support themselves,mers (1890-1899) when he worked for they sold plants. Each man had listsa fish cannery at Yes Bay, Alaska. Dur- printed and distributed to correspond-ing those summers he collected plants, ents,friends, and herbaria. The firstkept meteorological records, and com- Howell list known is dated 1873, a listpiled Indian vocabularies. of living plants offered for sale. Later Interesting in a very different way is he issued lists of dried plant specimens an exchange of letters between Louis F. for sale. These lists were usuallyun- Henderson and Charles V. Piper. They dated, and remarkably variegated as towere old personal friends. Piper had spelling. Cusick, on the other hand, soldtaught at Washington State College be- only dried specimens from dated lists,tween 1893 and 1903 while Henderson with numbers corresponding to his ownwas ten miles away at the University of field collection. (See illus.p. 16.) Idaho. Piper became chief agrostologist The regional botanists cooperated notof the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry in only in collecting, but in publishing. InWashington, D.C., while Henderson re- the first issue of Mazama, published intired to his apple orchard at Hood River, early 1896, there appeared two articles. only to come out of retirement in 1924 One was titled "The Flora of Mountto the University of Oregon as Curator Adams," and was credited to Williamof the herbarium. He retired in 1930 Suksdorf, botanist of Bingen, Washing- at the age of 86. ton, and Thomas Howell. The other, Henderson's correspondencereveals Spring 1978 15 The Mountain Flora of Northeastern Oregon Distribution of Wm. C. Cusick ---1909 The plants of the following list were collected in 1907-08. 190 sheets, more or less, are offered, carriage paid by me, at lOc. per sheet.A discount of 5 per cent. will be allowed for duplicates that may be undesirable. Address WM. C. Cusrcx, Union, Oregon.

3154 Acer Douglasli Hook. 3323 fraterna Greenm. n. sp. 3288 Adiantum pedatum aleuticum 3134 Chaniactis Douglasii alpina Rupr. A. Gray. 3307 Agropyron tenerum Was. 3104 Clematis columbiana (Nntt.) 3143 Agrostis depressa Vas. T. & G. (var.) 3284 exarata Trin. 3324 Cryptogramme acrostichoides 3144 pallens foliosa (Vas.) Hitche. R. Br. 3214 Rossae 'Was. 3181 l)anthonia intermedia Cusickii 3237 Amelanchier florida Lii,dI. .Villiams. 3234 Anemone oregana? A. Gray. 3325 1)elphininm simplex 1)ougl. 3220 multificla Poir. 3175 simplex Dougl. 3916 parviflora Michx. 3320 Deschampsia atropurpurea latifolia 3233 quinquefolia L. (Hook.) Scribn. 3193a Anteunaria luzuloides T. & G. 3126 cspitosa (L.) Beauv. (alpes- 3256 Howellil Greene (var.) trifle.) 3237 Howellil Greene. 3338 elongata (Hook.) Piper. 3217 Aquilegia flavescens Wats., alpine :1222 1)odecatheon vu igare (Hook.) form. Piper. 3311 Arnica mollis Hook. 3315 1)rvas Drtimmondii Richardson,. 3266 Asarum caudatum Lindi. 3304 Elymus g)aucns Bucki. 3105 Aster Cusickli A. Gray. 3270 Macounii 'Was. 3108 integrifolium Xutt. 3303 oregonense Bucki. 3328 reductus n. sp. Piper (ineil.) 3295 Epilobium atrichum Lev. 3250 Athyrium cyclosorum Rupr. 3118 3332 Balsamorrhiza Carcyana A. Gray. 3313 cia vatum. 3255 deltoideautt. 3210 Chrysopsidis brevifolius 3264 Berberis nervosa Ph. Piper. 3267 Betula 3142 membranaceus Greene. 3254 Bromus hordeaceus g1abrscens 3208 membranaceus Greene. (Cross) Shear. 31 SO microionchus Greene. 3245 hordeaceus L. 3261 microlonchus Greene (form) 3204 polyanthus Scribu. 3309 speciosus 1)C. 3197 Richardson i pallid us (Hook.) 3318 speciosus 1)0. Shear. 31,74 tegetarius Coy. n. sp. med. 3120 Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) 3170 tegetarius Coy. n. sp. iiwd. Beauv. 3315c 3238 Calochortus elegans Pursh. 3330 3161 Capnorea pumila (1)ougl.) Gre,.ue, 3291 Eriogonum Piped Greene. 3167 pumila (Doug].) Greene. 3132 Piped Greene. 3160 pumila (Dough) Greene. 3302 Eriophorum gracile Koch. 3133 Carex festiva decumbens HoIm. 3243 Festuca megalura Nutt. 16 Imprint:Oregon him as a loving human, a grandfatherlyLouis Henderson, who collected in the man, characteristics which are corrob-southwest counties of Oregon in 1924, orated in several interviews the writer1925, 1926 and 1930. Albert R. Sweet- has had with those who knew him. ser, too, followed Howell into the upper On October 18, 1923, Piperwrote Illinois River country in 1922 and 1923. from Washington, D.C. to Henderson: Sweetser left detailed records of his trips, "Some time ago Aldrich toldme aboutin part because he was a methodical man, the stunt you performedon your seven-and in part because he receivedsome tieth birthday, namely of rowinga boatfinancial support from the American across Columbia River and back. I amAssociationforthe Advancement of nowhere near seventy yet, but I don'tScience. Henderson, too, left field notes. believe that I could perform the feat. This was especially important, because It must feel fine to become ofage like Howell's work is represented only by that; and I judge fromyour rowboatcollections of pressed plants, many of feat that you are as strong and vigorous them only vaguely identified so faras as of yore." locality is concerned. On October 22, Henderson replied, It is instructive to see Sweetser's ex- with justifiable pride: pense account for his field trips from "Yours of Oct. 18th just rec'd. Strange1923-1925. (See illus.p. 19.) The total how things happen! I was going to write expense was somewhat less than would you today. You got my stunt wrong,be required today for "overhead," to though. Better than rowing. Iswam thesay nothing of field work itself. Columbia at this place. And I believe I Sweetser's diary for 1925 illustrates have one if not two daughters, andone the methods of collecting. He was accorn- granddaughter 10 years old who can dopanied on this trip by his wife. Assisting it too. I'll try it again nextyear, as Ihim was Lincoln Savage, a local botani- hope I may. . . - I am still in thatcal enthusiast and collector. devilish business of raising apples, in "May 5. With Mr. and Mrs. Savage which Iget poorer and poorer everyand Jimmy drove to Slate Creek bridge. year, if that were possible. Well, I amHad picnic lunch, then collected on the now blowing out with dynamite a partslope of Hayes Hill, paying special atten- of it, non-productive varieties, and thattion to the Erythroniums. Found the is going to give me more time for study,apparent meeting place of E. hendersoni if not money... and E. gigantea along a line bearing The interdependence of the resident about N. 80 E. To the east and south E. botanists in the Northwest is nowherehendersoni, to the west and north E. gi- more clearly demonstrated than in thegantea. A great variety of apparent hy- botanical exploration of southwest Ore- brids of the two were found as is shown gon, an area defined by the drainageby the speciments collected. basins of the Rogue, Illinois and Chetco "May 13. Trip to Waldo. The Savages rivers in Josephine and Curry counties. and the Sweetsers drove to Waldo. Took The earliest botanizing in this interestingthe old mine road to the foot of Indian area was done by Thomas Howell. InMountain and parked for the day. Col- 1884 he found there one of the lastnew lected on the neighboring serpentine hill- tree species described for North Ameri-side but found nothing new. It was in ca. He visited the area repeatedly untilthis region that Mr. Savage saw Thomas his death in 1912. Howell collecting and is part of the re- FollowingHowell'sfootsteps camegion so often referred to by him as Spring 1978 17 pj c-4 < 97 / T7 IZ

9. -4"?- 'iz/- £!..-/I-_

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- 7 /Jt /L8& e%' 4e4" 'Found on serpentine near Waldo." spending to a request for biographical Albert Sweetser was probably the first information from Sweetser, he wrote of the botanists to become interested in a bitter letter referring to his origins, the work of his predecessorsas an his-to anti-German sentiments, and predicted torical record. Between 1917 and 1936that worse was tc follow. he attempted to obtain biographical in- The manuscripts herein quoted or re- formation about all scientists who hadproduced represent a small selection of lived in or travelled through the Pacificthe available record of the indigenous Northwest. Among hiscorrespondents botanists of the Pacific Northwest. They was William Suksdorf ofBingen, Wash- illustrate personalities, and suggest the ington. Suksdorfs papers are at Wash-trials, tribulations and triumphs of some ington State University, but many of hisof these men. It is to be hoped that some plant specimens are in the herbarium ofinterested scholar will, in time, use these the University of Oregon. Hewas Ger- records to produce a much-needed defli- man, wrote several important botanicalnitive account of the contributions of papers in the German language, and histhese botanists to science, and of their correspondence indicates that he mustown special individual qualities. have suffered during the anti-German period of World War I.In 1920, re- EDWARD P. THATcHER STATENT OF EPRNSS In Connection Tith The Kerby TTIp

From Apr11 27 to Nay 31, l923

Hotel and meals en route 18.50

Gas, oil, storage and repairs 15.20 Rent of auornobile for Oregon Mountain trip . 10.00

Tent and furniture 26.00

Photographical ifiaterial 13.50

FreIght 5.60

Postage on specimens 1.00

!liscellaneous repairs 1,60

Total ; 91.40 Spring 1978 19 The Salvation of Jason Lee

In the 1830s, motivated by a strongAnna Lee died in childbirth, and her missionary fervor that swept the eastern baby son with her. United States, the Methodist Episcopal Although the death of his wife grieved Church determined to save the souls ofhim, Lee continued on his journey. His the Indians in the Pacific Northwest. To plea to the mission board was successful begin this work the church sent Jasonand he returned to Oregon in 1840 on Lee and his nephew, Daniel, to Oregon the ship Lausanne, with over fifty more in 1834. With the aid of John McLough- missionaries and a new wife, Lucy lin of the Hudson's Bay Company, theThomson of Barre, Vermont. A dedi- Lees found a site for their mission oncated woman who married Lee "from a the Willamette River, about ten milesfirm conviction of duty. - - myonly north of present-day Salem. ambition is to glorify God, and my only Jason Lee, a man, 'of intense convic- aim to benefit my fellow human beings tions, had converted to Methodism at awho are perishing for lack of knowl- revival meeting in 1826. Of this experi- edge," the second Mrs. Lee died three ence, he said, "I saw, I believed, I re-years later, shortly after the birth of her pented. After that, old faces wore a newdaughter, Lucy Anna. As she appeared glory, old friends spoke a new tongue."to be recovering rapidly from her con- He then attended Wilbraham Academyfinement, her death was a shock to her in Massachusetts, and conceived a desirehusband and friends. to minster to the "red men, of the West." It was at this critical moment that The "call" to Oregon came at an oppor-Lee wrote a letter recently obtained by tune moment; Lee was waiting unsuc-the University of Oregon Library. He cessfully for a missionary assignmenthad just lost his second wife and, in addi- in Canada. After some consideration, hetion, not all was well at the mission. The agreed to go to Oregon and chose hisIndians he had come to save were dyhg nephew and close friend, Daniel, as his from diseases the missionaries brought companion. Their stated goal was "towith them. The new missionary recruits elevate and save the heathen from moral were murmuring about Lee's poor ad- degradation and ruin." ministration and "secularization" of the Mission work demanded untiring de-mission work; many objected to his em- votion to duty, and in the wilds of Ore-phasis on teaching practical trades and gon, a constant struggle to survive. Theliving skills to the Indians and his in- Lees quickly became convinced that theyvolvement in certain business dealings could use more help with the work as with settlers. they had, among other things, the care In the midst of these painful and of thirty or forty Indian children, stu-troublesome events, Lee wrote to his dents at the school they had established.sister, Azubah Lee Morrill. He used his In May 1837, the first group of mission- wife's death to waken Mrs. Morrill to ary recruits arrived. Among them wererecognition of her lost state and her several women, including Anna Marianeed for formal repentance and conver- Pittman, who became Jason Lee's first sion. wife. One year later, while her husband The letter is, therefore, a remarkably was traveling east to request more re-clear statement of Lee's character and inforcements from the mission board,philosophy oflife. Undaunted by the 20 imprint: Oregon unhappy turn of events, Lee emphasized death, Lee frequently identified himself the promises of rest and reward tocomewith the friends of the prophet Daniel for the "righteous" and warned of the inthefiery furnace. His allusion to doom awaiting the unrepentant soul, in"passing the furnice heated seven times this case, that of his erring sister. Hehoter than it is wont to be heat" is an reminded her of her own brush withecho of a reference made in an earlier death; indeed, he apparently viewed theletter to Osmon C. Baker, also in regard event as an ideal opportunity to stressto Lucy Lee's death: "I can exalt in the her need for salvation. midst of the furnice, One like unto the A postscript, written on the back ofSon of man is with me, and I expect to the last page of Lee's letter by his sister-come forth without the smell of fire in-law, Nancy Lee, suggests that hisupon my garment." letteris reminiscent of his preaching It was well that Jason Lee had such style. Indeed, as one reads through thea sustaining faith. His career was on letter it becomes evident that the phras-the wane. Shortly after his wife's death, ing and punctuation, which appear some-the discontent among the missionaries what awkward on paper. are actuallycame to a climax. Lee was called east to designed for a rolling, powerful. reviva-explain thesituationtothe mission list sermon. board. He was accused of appropriating The letter itself, obviously written inmission funds for private speculation, passionate haste, isat times a barelymisuse of funds and failure to report legible scrawl. Lee undoubtedly hadaconcerning mission property. Although respectable command of spelling andhe cleared himself of all charges when grammar. However, the letter is full ofhe finally appeared before the board, it the kind of errors associated with haste:was too late for Lee to return to Oregon. a dropped "e" in the word "glimpse,"Another had been appointed in his place, the phrase "I consideration" in place ofwithout his knowledge. He returned to "in considering" and "d's" added to in- his native Canada and lived with a sister appropriate words in past tense phrasesduring his remaining years. His nephew "1 am constrained to acknowledged"Daniel continued working in Oregon. and 'my voiced is hushed in death").The "little Motherless Daughter" whose Even allowing for differences from pres- care concerned him so greatly remained ent rules of spelling and grammar, thein Oregon also and and was raised by evidence is overwhelming that Lee, inanother missionary family. Three years his emotion, had a difficult time keepingafter his wife's death, Jason Lee died his pen on the paper. in Stanstead, Canada, thus fulfilling, in Certain "poetic" phraseswere favor- another of his favorite phrases his long- ites with Lee. He constantly referred toheld desire to "fly away and be at rest." the "voice" from "beyond the Rocky Mountains."Afterhissecondwife's CHERYL ROFF

Spring 1978 21 FallsApril 27th 1842 My Dear Sister The feelings with which I take my pen it is impossible for me to discribe; but the motive by which I am actuated, I am at no loss to determine. It is not simply to call forth your sympathies, that you may weep with them who weep; it is not merely to excite a momentary pleasure by giving you information concerning one you love, it is not only to lay you under obligation to write your bereaved Bro. in his affliction but it is a far higher a more glorious an infinitely more important motive that stirs within my breast and nerves my heart, and hand, for the performance of this duty. Scarely has the mournful accents, of that warning voice sent by the Eternal from beyond the Rocky mountains died away upon your ears; than God in mercy to you, determined that it shouled by followed by another; no less powerful; no less mourn- ful, and no less calculated to force home upon your mind, and fix indelibly there the solemn conviction, that you too must die. It is my dear sister, an ardent desire, to aid you in making timely preperation, for that; to the sinner most awful; to the saint most glorious hour, that I have now taken my pen. May Heaven guide it so as to produce the happiest results. I have already writen to Achsah, (I think) the circumstances of the Death of my Dear; Dear Wife and as you can have access to that account it will be unnecessary for me to repeat them. My own distess under this second, and most awfully severe dispensation, of my Divine Master towards me, I must leave out of the question; and even while I am passing the furnice heated seven times hoter than it is wont to be heat I am constrained to acknowledged that though many are the afflictions of the right- eous, "yet the Lord delivereth him out of all his distresses." Viewing my preasent condition., in the most unfavorable light possible, with a heart most feelingly alive to my irreparable loss, bleeding at evry pore, and unable to discover any thing of an earthly nature, calculated to mitigate my pains, or assuage my sorrows; I am, never- theless, bold to declare that, I consideration my preasent situation infinitely prefer- able to yours (of you in your sins) or that of any poor mortal, who has no interest in Christ; and ten million worlds would not induce me to exchange places, with the most hily favored of those who, are led captive by satan at his will. You,my Dear Sister, havenot been left ignorant of your true condition. God has spokento you again, again and again, in language too plain to be misunderstood. I have just been reflecting onthat dread hour when God forced you to the verge of eternity suspended you by the attenuated thread of human life and shook you most fearfully, over that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; where their worm dieth not, and where their fire is not quenched. With what horror did you shrink back, from the faint view you then had of that tremendous pit! But if the dim glimps, seen through the deep vale that hides time from eternity be so appalling, what will the end be!when the angel in obedience to the command, of his most merciful, but injuredLord; shall hurl from the battlements of Heaven, the self willed the impeni- tent sinner into tile midst of that awful abyss. My heart bleeds while I reflect, that, that special, most powerful butslightedwarning renders it so much the more unlikely, that any thing will ever arouse you. and lead you to repentance. Yet, I cannot: I dere not dispair! With God all things are possible; and I cannot but hope and pray that you may again be made to feel. And while you reflect, that, your Dear Sister in Oregon, in the midst of her days. and usefulness was cut off in a moment; that by the breaking of an ulcer, her breath was instantaniously stoped; and her spirit in the 22 imprint: Oregon twinklin of an eye. ushered into thepreasence of God even while to human appear- ance there was good ground to hope for her recovery: and whileyou are thus most forcibly reminded that youmay be as sudenly hurried aWayI would to God, that this warning voice rolling onward, from the shores of thevast Pacific, over the Rocky Mountains; gathering strength as itgoes. may fall upon your heart, h accents louder than seven thunders uttering their voices andten thousand times more shrill, and distinct, fix indelibly upon the tablet ofyour soul, and con.sience the solemntruth. that. "iii such an hour asye think Ito: of the son of man corneth." Weep not for me! I am happy in prospect of meetingmy beloved ones in glory shortly. But weep for yourselves for your husband, foryour (lu/fl ren. What a fearful relation you sustain, to other immortal spirits besides yourown. What have you done to bring your hus- band. your children to God? Haveyou ever reflected upon the influence of a wife of a Mother? 0. remember that the eternal destiny of children, depends much upon the training of the Mother. Can a stream rise higher than its fountain? and is it reasonable to expect children to be more pious than their parents? Through themercy of God it is sometimes the case, butrio thanks to the ungodly Parents no stars in their crown, even if they should come in at last themselves. I have one little Motherless Daughter entrusted to my care and it seems to me, with the assistance of all thegrace that I possess, that. I am scarcely competent, to the important duty, of training it up for God. And how will you answer to the God ofyour life for not having secured the assistance of his grace to aid you in trainingyour numerous family for the skies. My Dear Sister, should you live tosee these lines, you will bear in mind, that this may be the last that this hand mayever trace for your perusal. My duties are numerous. my health is not firm. and you, or I, may soon be cut down as a flower or as the grass that withereth. And I bear record, to the praises and glory of God, that Iam happy in his love, and fully expectere long to enter into that rest that remaineth to the people of God. And my God forbid that I should sin against him by ceasiiig topray for you until my voiced is hushed in death. Willyou not pray for yourself? Are you obstinately determined topersevere in sin, and thereby render ineffectual the prayers of your friends the blood ofyour Redeemer No. my Sister, it must not be. Your Soul is of too much value to he thus thrownaway. I cannot persuade myself that you will submit longer to be the dupe of the Devil. Jesusis still on the mercy seat flee to him. tarry not. Throw yourself upon hismercy, you cannot fail, lie feels ten thousand times more interested in your salvation than your unworthy Brother, and vet how soon would you apply tome if Iliad power to save. Go with ten thousand times more confidence to him thanyou would to your dearest earthly friend and you will be sure to succeed. Write me the next opportunity and assure me that you are determined to meet me in heaven Could I but know that all my friends were in the way to heaven then Could I depart in peace and iiv away and be at rest. The spiders most attenuated web is cable compared with mans slender tie on earthly bliss, from your ever loving Brother Jason Lee

POSTSCRIPT My dear Niece, asMrs. Convers is going to Oregon I take the liberty to send this letter to you, writenby your dear Father on the death ofyour own dear Mother, thinking that it willbe as interesting to you as it has been to me to read it,your Spring 1978 23 Father wrote this to his sister Azubah she was the only one that did not make a pro- fession of religion at that time, I think she left an evidence that she was happy before she died which was about fifteen years since, now there is only one living of that large family your Father was the youngest my husband the next older his name was Ira he has been in the grave ten years that is his body, I have had nine children but the Lord has taken them all to heaven but one that is living in Iowa he has been to Cali- fornia to get gold but he is a Jonah he does not do the work his Lord calls him to do I had four good daughters die strong in the faith of our Lord oh so very happy the youngest was eighteen when she died in 1863 one died since but she was older now I am left alone and yet I am not alone for the Father son and holy spirit are with me and I fully expect to go and find all my dear ones in that blissful world where my saviour is, your Father was a Brother that was loved by all that knew him his letter is very much like his preaching, this from your unworthy Aunt, Nancy Lee