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Oregon Secretary of State Archives Division

Capitol Reconstruction Commission Records Guide, 1935-1940

Commission History
Capitol Reconstruction Commission's functions, historical development, chronology, and bibliographic information.

Scope and Content
Summary of the major types of records, overall date spans and quantities, and research information.

Record Series Descriptions

Capitol Reconstruction Commission records with series title, functions, date spans, quantity, and related information.

​1935-1940 
1 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by architect thereunder chronological by date of communication. 

Series documents communications between the Commission and architects Carl F. Gould, advisor; Francis Keally, associate, Trowbridge and Livington, New York, NY; and Whitehouse and Church, Portland. Series includes correspondence, reports, notes, architects contracts, and applications. Topics include the planning, design, and construction of the Capitol building and the State Library​.

1936 
.3 cubic feet
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents the nationwide architectural competition for the design of the Oregon State Capitol. Records include a list of architects who submitted designs, anonymous questions and answers about specifications for the Capitol, drafts and final published architectural program, jury competition records, contracts with winning architects (Trowbridge, Livingston and Keally), bids, and publications showing winning designs. Topics include architecture, architectural competitions and capitol designs. ​

1936-1939
.5 cubic feet
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents the purchase and creation of murals, sculptures, inscriptions, and other artwork for the Oregon State Capitol building. Records include correspondence, specifications, insurance policies, photographs, artist contracts, mural and sculpture planning material, photographs of Edward Quigley's artwork, and Ulric Ellenhusen's scrapbook. Series also includes estimates for payments to Ulric Ellenhusen and Leo Friedlander, sculptors; to Barry Faulkner and Frank H. Schwartz, muralists; and to H.B. Alexander, inscriptionist. Photographs removed to the photographic collection. ​

1937-1938 
2 cubic feet 
Arrangement: numerical by blueprint number. 

Series documents the design of the Oregon State Capitol. Records include blueprints for the Senate and House Chambers, lights, Governor's suite, agency offices, corridors, lobbies, rotunda stairs, wainscoted rooms, Summer Street repaving, Capitol grounds landscaping and irrigation system, Capitol plot plan, murals and decorative paintings, Capitol building rooms, and neighboring streets and buildings. ​

1936-1939
.7 cubic foot 
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.

Series documents the renovation of the heating plant adjacent to the State Capitol. Records include correspondence with architects, contractors, and the Public Works Administration regional director. Series also includes specifications, blueprints, change orders, payroll records, hog fuel addition records, insurance policies, and heating system materials. Topics include the construction, fueling, and maintenance of the heating plant.
​​

1937
.2 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents proceedings of the Capitol Cornerstone Ceremony on June 17, 1937. Records include correspondence, invitations, lists of cornerstone contents, schedule of activities and a Ceremony program. ​

1936-1938 
2.3 cubic feet 
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.

Series documents the construction of the Oregon State Capitol building. Records include correspondence, specifications, photographs, reports, memoranda, plans, insurance policies, concrete and steel laboratory test reports, bids, and contracts. Topics include building demolition, excavation, building flag pole, furnishings, drilling, lighting, roll call systems, electrical equipment, landscaping, and Summer Street repaving. ​

1936-1939
.5 cubic feet 
Arrangement: chronological by date of report.

Series documents daily and weekly progress on the construction of the Oregon State Capitol. Reports contain work force statistics, work completed, remarks, and weather conditions. ​

1938 
.1 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents the proceedings of the Capitol Dedication Ceremony on October 1, 1938. Records include ceremony program and schedule, correspondence, transcripts, and radio scripts. ​
​​

1935-1938
.2 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents the purchase of land for the Oregon State Capitol Mall area. Records include correspondence, property condemnation papers, financial accounts, and legal briefs for the Capitol Reconstruction Commission vs. L.N. McMahan (1938). Topics include the purchase of private property for the creation of the Capitol Mall. ​

1935-1939 
.5 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents the planning of the State Capitol. Records include correspondence, Capitol building statistics and floor space, publicity, surveys of other state capitols, and lists of potential decorative and building materials. Topics include the Salem Post Office, selection of an Oregon architect, and building and decorative materials. ​

1936-1938 
1 cubic foot
Arrangement: numerical by request number.

Series documents changes in the original specifications of the Oregon State Capitol building and grounds. Series includes Commission architects and contractors change order requests with Public Works Administration approval. Orders contain dates, descriptions, classifications, scheduled costs, approval, signatures, request numbers, and contract amounts. ​

1936-1939
.5 cubic fee 
Arrangement: alphabetical by correspondent. 

Series documents the progress of the construction of the Oregon State Capitol. Series includes correspondence of the Clerk of the Works at the Capitol building construction site with the Commission, contractors, the Public Works Administration regional director, and architects. Topics include construction, contractor work, and daily building progress. ​

​1935-1940 
1 cubic feet
Arrangement: by record type.

Series documents the financing of the construction of the Oregon State Capitol and Oregon State Library. Records include project cost reports, classification of accounts, audits, periodic estimates, receipts, correspondence, budget work materials, expenditure reports, weekly payroll reports for construction employees, and warrants issued by the Secretary of State. ​

1935-1939 
1 cubic feet 
Arrangement: chronological by meeting date.

Series documents the proceedings of the meetings of the Capitol Reconstruction Commission. Records include minutes of the full commission and interim and executive committee meetings. Series also includes commission resolutions. Topics include construction, design, artwork, and financing of the State Capitol, State Library, and State Heating Plant. ​

1936-1939
.2 cubic feet 
Arrangement: chronological by report date. 

Series documents the activities of the Commission. Records include drafts, typescripts, galley proofs, published copies, and correspondence. Reports include table of contents, transmittal letters, and construction reports on the Capitol building, State Library, and State Heating Plant. Topics include construction progress, designs, decorations, and architecture of the Capitol. ​
​​

1936-1940
1.3 cubic feet
Arrangement: alphabetical by correspondent. 

Series documents communications of the Commission's Secretary, John Alton Bassett with the Board of Control; the State Department of Education; the State Highway Commission; the State Treasurer; Governors Charles Martin and Charles Sprague; the State Planning Board; Secretary of State, Earl Snell; the Clerk of Works at the building site, George Reed; and contractors. Records include correspondence, bulletins to the Commission, telegrams, and land reports. Topics include construction, architecture, planning, building materials, and Capitol designs. ​

1935-1939
1 cubic feet
Arrangement: by Commissioner. 

Series documents communications between the Commissioners of the Capitol Reconstruction Commission and the Commission Secretary, architect, and artists. Series includes correspondence, notes, and reports. Topics include planning and construction of the Oregon State Capitol and the State Library. Commissioners include T.H. Banfield, Ernest C. Dalton, J.H. Lake, George R. Lewis, J.A. McLean, G.A. Marshall, N.H. Olinger, Robert W. Sawyer, W.H. Trece, and Helen B. Voorhies. ​

1936-1940
.2 cubic feet
Arrangement: by correspondent.

Series documents communications between the Capitol Reconstruction Commission and the Attorney General. Records include correspondence and legal opinions. Topics include the purchase of property for the Capitol Mall, contracts, and legal matters. ​

1936-1940
1 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by correspondent thereunder chronological by date of communication. 

Series documents federal financing and assistance for the construction of the Oregon State Capitol and State Library. Records include correspondence, grant records, instructor bulletins, and instruction manuals. Topics include federal regulation, personnel requirements, construction, engineering, and architecture.

1936-1939 
1.5 cubic feet 
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject. 

Series documents the activities of Robert W. Sawyer, Commissioner from Bend, with architects, the Public Works Administration, the Commission Secretary, commissioners, sculptors Ulric Ellenhusen and Leo Freidlander, muralists Barry Faulkner and Frank B. Schwartz, and inscriptionist H.B. Alexander. Records include correspondence, reports, publications, and photographs. Series also includes draft reports to the Legislative Assembly. Topics include architectural design competition; purchase of land for the Capitol Mall; dedication of the Capitol; bids; construction of the Capitol and State Library; publicity; and murals, sculpture, and other art works. 

Photographs removed to the photographic collection.

1937-1939 
2 cubic feet 
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject. 

Series documents the construction of the Oregon State Library. Records include weekly construction reports; library job diary; photographs; overall plans; building and landscaping blueprints; correspondence between the Commission, the Clerk of Works, contractors, the Public Works Administration (PWA), and architects; financial records; weekly payroll reports; bids; change orders; cost estimates; laboratory tests for concrete; insurance policies; and PWA bulletins. 

Series also includes two copies of blueprints on microfilm: one 35mm diazo negative (71A-40) and one silver negative 71A-39. 

Microfilm has been filed as Film 14-122 in the Reference Room.

1935 
.3 cubic feet 
Arrangement: by subject. 

Series documents early efforts to build a new State Capitol. Records include correspondence, drawings, legislation, architect's applications, reports, Public Works Administration records, grant applications, and ephemera concerning other state capitols. Topics include financing, a possible Oregon Resources Museum, and alternative sites for the Capitol building. ​
Front of Capitol building with construction material laying on the ground.
Reconstruction of the Oregon State Capitol, viewed from the northeast. Photo taken April 1, 1938 by Frank I. Jones. (Capitol Reconstruction Commission records, Photos of Capitol & Library Construction, box 1, folder 18, item 91) Enlarge Image

Ulric Ellerhusen in suit and bow tie.
Sculptor Ulric Ellerhusen, "as he looked during his student days," created the Oregon Pioneer statue and 5 exterior reliefs for the Oregon State Capitol. (Capitol Reconstruction Commission Records, acc. 88A-018, photos) Enlarge Image