Oregon, Statesman Index Books, 1850-1866

This database contains an index extracted from issues of the Oregon Statesman newspaper.

Historical Background

The Statesman first appeared in 1851, published in Oregon City. In 1853, it moved with the territorial capital to Salem and was an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party, though its editor would side with the Union during the Civil War. This database contains an index for the paper’s first 15 years of publication. The index was created by Works Progress Administration newspaper project employees during the Depression.

What You Can Find in the Records

The bulk of the index is made up of names arranged in alphabetical order by surname. Entries include a reference to the publication date and page number for the original article and a short annotation that might note anything from participation in a battle to a marriage, court case, election, land sale, or any other item that might have landed someone’s name in the news.

This database can be browsed alphabetically by surname, though there is one omission. Entries beginning with the letter N are missing from the originals and so are not included here.