Typed letter written by Reverend Jason Lee to the Christian Advocate and Journal. Written at the Shawnee Mission on April 29, 1834 and published in the Christian Advocate and Journal on June 13, 1834. Letter is titled, "News from Rev. Jason Lee." Lee wrote this letter shortly after his departure from Independence, Missouri as he began his journey on the Oregon Trail to become a missionary in Oregon. He writes of the difficulties he had in finding an adequate crew of men to accompany him on the Oregon Trail. Page 2 of this document was written at a later date, on May 2, 1834. It quotes Mr. Lee's observations of the native tribes in Kansas as he travels on the Oregon Trail. [Lee used language common to justifying the nineteenth century missionary movement, including using disparaging and inaccurate terms and/or descriptions of Native peoples.]

Typed letter written by Reverend Jason Lee to the Christian Advocate and Journal. Written in the Rocky Mountains on June 25, 1834 and published in the Christian Advocate and Journal on October 3, 1834. Letter is titled, "Flat Head Mission." Lee wrote this letter as he traveled on the Oregon Trail to become a missionary in Oregon. It summarizes his journey thus far, through the months of May and June, much of it along the Platte River. Subjects include Lee's observations of local native tribes, including the Pawnee and Nez Perce. Other subjects include the landscape, weather, and buffalo. [Lee originally intended to do missionary work among the Flathead Indian tribe, but the area where he eventually settled in the Willamette Valley, near present-day Salem, was home to bands of the Kalapuyan people. Lee used language common to justifying the nineteenth century missionary movement, including using disparaging and inaccurate terms and/or descriptions of Native peoples.]

Typed letter written by Reverend Jason Lee to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist E. Church. Written in the Rocky Mountains on July 1, 1834 and published in the Christian Advocate and Journal on September 26, 1834. Letter is titled, "Flat Head Mission." Lee wrote this letter as he traveled on the Oregon Trail to become a missionary in Oregon. Subjects include life on the Oregon Trail, the loss and maintenance of horses, Captain Nathaniel Wyeth, and Lee's observations of local native tribes, including the Sioux, Crow, Snake, and Blackfeet. He also states his views on the importance of missionary work and warns of the potential danger of non-missionary, colonial settlements to the local native populations. [Lee originally intended to do missionary work among the Flathead Indian tribe, but the area where he eventually settled in the Willamette Valley, near present-day Salem, was home to bands of the Kalapuyan people. Lee used language common to justifying the nineteenth century missionary movement, including using disparaging and inaccurate terms and/or descriptions of Native peoples.]

Typed letter written by Reverend Jason Lee to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist E. Church. Written on the banks of the Willamette River in Oregon on February 6, 1835 and published in the Christian Advocate and Journal on October 30, 1835. Letter is titled, "Flat Head Indians." In this letter, Lee sums up the last leg of his journey on the Oregon Trail, from the Rocky Mountains to Oregon. Subjects include Soda Spring, the Lewis River, Captain Nathaniel Wyeth, and Lee's observations of Native tribes including the Nez Perce, Flathead, Snake, Cayuse, and Wallawalla peoples. He then summarizes his arrival in Vancouver, Washington, his interactions with John McLoughlin, and his subsequent move to the Willamette River, where he built a house. He writes of his observations of the local native tribes, including the Kalapuyan peoples. [Lee originally intended to do missionary work among the Flathead Indian tribe, but the area where he eventually settled in the Willamette Valley, near present-day Salem, was home to bands of the Kalapuyan people. Lee used language common to justifying the nineteenth century missionary movement, including using disparaging and inaccurate terms and/or descriptions of Native peoples.]

Typed letter written by Reverend Jason Lee to the Corresponding Secretary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist E. Church. Written at the Mission House on the Willamette River in Oregon on March 14, 1836 and published in the Christian Advocate and Journal on September 2, 1836. Letter is titled, "Oregon Mission." Subjects include illnesses in the region, the mission's "manual labor school", Lee's support for a temperance society, and John McLoughlin's support for the mission. [Lee used language common to justifying the nineteenth century missionary movement, including using disparaging and inaccurate terms and/or descriptions of Native peoples.]

Handwritten letter by Anna Maria Pittman to her brother George Washington Pittman. Written in New York on June 9, 1836. Anna wrote this letter as she was preparing to leave her home state of New York to travel by ship to Oregon, where she would join the Oregon Mission. She bids farewell to her brother, who she fears she will never see in person again. She writes of her strong Christian faith, her fears that her brother is not religious, and details of the upcoming voyage on the Ship Hamilton. Anna's signature has been cut out of the bottom of the document. [After arriving in Oregon, Anna Maria Pittman married Reverend Jason Lee.]

A map depicting the Oregon Territory. The map was drawn to accompany Samuel Parker's book, "Journal of an exploring tour beyond the Rocky Mountains," in 1838. The map shows what is today the Northwestern United States from the Great Lakes Region to the Pacific Coast. The map also shows the general locations of Native American tribal groups. Relief is shown by hachures.

A navigational map, “Chart of the Columbia River for 90 miles from its mouth [cartographic material] / drawn from several surveys in the possession of W.A. Slacum ; by M.C. Ewing.” Relief shown by hachures. Depths shown by soundings. Oriented with north to the left. Profiles: Cape Disappointment N.N.E. by compass distance 10 miles -- Cape Disappointment N.N.E. 6 miles. "S. Doc. No. 470. 25 Con. 2d S." Series: Senate document (United States. Congress. Senate) ; 25th Congress, 2d session, no. 470. Imaged map dissected and mounted on cloth backing. Item has also been identified as bb017535.

A map of the Columbia River from Point Vancouver to Cape Disappointment in two sections. Water depths are shown by soundings.

A map of the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon Territory as surveyed by the United States Exploring Expedition in 1841 under commander Charles Wilkes. Relief shown by hachures. Depths shown by soundings. Inset details soundings of the Bar of Columbia River. Item has also been identified as bb017536.

A map of the Columbia River from its mouth on the Pacific Coast to Fort Vancouver. Water depths are shown by soundings. Translated title, "Map of Columbia River from its mouth to Fort Vancouver at 17 measures of 10,000 meters from the sea."

Handwritten last will and testament of Jason Lee, written on February 28, 1844 in the Port of Honolulu in the Sandwich Islands, today known as the Hawaiian Islands. Much of the will focuses on his daughter, Lucy Anna Maria Lee. Jason Lee died on March 12, 1845. The back of the document was signed by W.H. Willson, Judge of Probate, on March 25, 1846.

Handwritten minutes from a special meeting of the Methodist Board of Missions, held July 1, 1844 in New York. The meeting was called to discuss the Oregon Mission. Reverend Jason Lee was present, along with members of the Oregon Committee of the Episcopal Church. The minutes describe Jason Lee addressing allegations of wrongdoing, speculation, and mismanagement at the Oregon Mission. Lee also addresses allegations against local Native tribes, and defends his decision to build the Mission House in the Willamette Valley. Other subjects include daily life in Oregon, the Hudson's Bay Company, and Lee's conversations with Dr. Joseph (sic) McLoughlin. Lee asks that the Board continue to support the mission. A typed preservation copy of this document is available in file Mss1212_B1F3_002.pdf.

Typed preservation copy of Mss1212_B1F3_001. Minutes from a special meeting of a Board of the Episcopal Church, held July 1, 1844. The meeting was called to discuss the Oregon Mission. Reverend Jason Lee is present, along with members of the Oregon Committee of the Episcopal Church. The minutes describe Jason Lee addressing allegations of wrongdoing, speculation, and mismanagement at the Oregon Mission. Lee also addresses allegations against local Native tribes, and defends his decision to build the Mission House in the Willamette Valley. Other subjects include daily life in Oregon, the Hudson's Bay Company, and Lee's conversations with Dr. Joseph (sic) McLoughlin. Lee asks that the Board continue to support the mission.

Handwritten letter from Reverend Jason Lee to the Board of the Episcopal Church. Written in New York on July 23, 1844. Lee wrote this letter to correct several mistakes he found in the minutes written about his meeting with the Board a few weeks earlier on July 1, 1844. Lee asks that this letter be read aloud to the Board at the next meeting. The letter has several rips and tears on the sides, and portions of some words are missing. The minutes for the meeting on July 1, 1844 are contained in document Mss1212_B1F3_001.

Handwritten article by Francis Hall for the Christian Advocate and Journal, entitled, "The Late Jason Lee." Page 5 is missing. Hall praises Lee's missionary work in Oregon and defends him from several allegations of wrongdoing. Other subjects include farming at the mission, Dr. John McLoughlin, and the Hudson's Bay Company. Several handwritten notes on back of document from D. Lee, possibly Daniel Lee, including one that reads, "A imfinished sketch from the pen of Hon. Francis Hall designed for the Christian Advocate in 1852. D Lee." Second handwritten note reads, "A sketch published in CA&J, 1845." [Lee originally intended to do missionary work among the Flathead Indian tribe, but the area where he eventually settled in the Willamette Valley, near present-day Salem, was home to bands of the Kalapuyan people. Hall uses language common to justifying the nineteenth century missionary movement, including using disparaging and inaccurate terms and/or descriptions of Native peoples.]

Illustrated Protestant ladder used for the teaching of the catechism in the mission of Henry H. Spalding and Eliza Spalding at Lapwai in present-day western Idaho in the traditional territory of the Nimi’ipuu (Nez Percé). The ladder depicts religious history and biblical concepts with captions in English and Nimipuutímt. The ladder is painted on cloth-backed paper using ink and berry dyes.

Handwritten letter written in 1845 to Brother Bond by Daniel Lee, nephew of Reverend Jason Lee. Daniel informs Brother Bond of the death of Jason Lee, and writes of his late uncle's life. Subjects include Jason Lee's spiritual awakening, his health and state of mind in his final days, and the illness that led to his death. A preservation copy of this document, with more modern and legible handwriting, is available in Mss1212_B1F2_004.

A photograph of a drawing depicting old Fort Astoria in 1845. An American flag flies over the fort. The back identified the artist as Henry J. Barre, but the correct name is likely Henry J. Warre. Handwritten note on back of print reads, "Old Fort Astoria 1845 by Captain Henry J. Barre, British Army." Photograph of drawing taken by Arthur M. Prentiss.

Handwritten last will and testament of Jason Lee, written on February 20, 1845 by C.B. Richardson, Notary Public. Richardson writes that Lee was sick in bed during the dictation of this will, but that he is of sound mind. Two witnesses signed the document, Eli Banys and Joseph Morrell. Written in Lee's hometown of Stanstead, Québec, where he passed away on March 12, 1845.

Includes line showing 'my route'

A portrait of an unidentified man. He is seated with his hands in his lap looking to the left of the camera. He wears a light colored suit. Conservator records indicate that there is a handwritten note on the green liner paper in the case which reads, "Taken in Hartford, Conn. 1846." The photograph is an ambrotype but my be a copy of a daguerreotype portrait.

A hand colored map of the Pacific Coast depicting the ecclesiastical province of Oregon, including Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Translated title, "Map of the ecclesiastical province of Oregon." The map labels are written in French.

A hand colored map of the Pacific Northwest, primarily depicting British Columbia and Washington state. The map shows four proposed boundaries between the United States and British Columbia. Relief is shown by hachures and spot heights. Water depths are shown by soundings and gradient tints. The map also shows the route of steamers between Victoria and Fraser River.

Handwritten probate record written by W.H. Willson, Judge of Probate, regarding the will of Jason Lee. Judge Willson authorizes Alvin F. Maller, who Lee appointed as executor of his will, to fulfill his duties as such. Written on March 25, 1846 in Salem in Champoick County, Oregon.