Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Clarissa Prentiss describing the Whitmans' journey from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to St. Louis, Missouri aboard steamboat Siam, 1836 March 15-30

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Jane Prentiss describing witnessing Catholic Mass in St. Louis, the journey further westward on the steamboat Chariton, and the party's clothing and equipment for the journey (contains anti-Catholic sentiments), 1836 March 31-April 7

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Harriet Prentiss and Edward Prentiss describing the Whitmans' overland journey, and the Fur Company and adventurers traveling with them, 1836 June 3-6

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to family describing life and travels since reaching Fort Vancouver, including difficulties of upriver journey to Walla Walla, establishing the mission, birth of Narcissa Whitman's daughter, illness among Native people, and practices of the Cayuse people, 1836 December 5-1837 May 3

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to parents, discussing how letters written the previous fall to be sent by ship were delayed due to the ship captain's death, dangers of the Columbia River, visit to the Spalding mission, and the Whitmans' daughter, with mention of John McLoughlin (first four pages original, last two pages reproductions from scan of original)

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to family about Whitmans' efforts to have Native people cultivate mission land, damage to mission house from flooding, the Whitmans' daughter, Alice Clarissa Whitman, and mentioning visit of Jason Lee and Lee's plans to travel to the eastern U.S. (partial letter, four-page section)

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to parents about missionary work supply needs, books and magazines the family had sent her, alleging that Cayuse chief Umtippe has converted to Christianity, and noting Jason Lee visiting the mission (first three pages reproductions from scan of original, last three pages original)

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Elvira Perkins about visit of Archibald McDonald and Jane McDonald to mission, and about mission's efforts to convert Native people, and plans to visit Pierre-Chrysologue Pambrun and Catherine Pambrun in Walla Walla

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Mary Ann Judson, discussing length of time it takes to send mail by ship, death of Anna Maria Lee, death of Jason Lee White (son of Elijah White and Serepta White), and death of a Native child named as Sarah Hull

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Stephen Prentiss about missionary work and Alice Clarissa Whitman's illness, mentioning deaths of Anna Maria Lee and Jason Lee White

Leather-bound diary of the Reverend Jason Lee, Methodist missionary who traveled on the Oregon Trail to Oregon Country in 1834. The first entry is dated August 19, 1833 and the last entry is dated June 1, 1838. Lee first describes his overland journey on the Oregon Trail, leaving Independence, Missouri in April 1834 and arriving at Fort Vancouver, Washington in September 1834. Subjects include obstacles faced on the Oregon Trail, various people met along the journey, and the party's leader, Captain Nathaniel Wyeth. Upon arriving at Fort Vancouver, Lee writes of meeting Dr. John McLoughlin, and heeding McLoughlin's advice that he build his mission 60 miles to the south in the Willamette Valley in Oregon Country. He then writes of building a mission house for the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of his attempts at converting local Native peoples to Christianity. [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.]

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Clarissa Prentiss about her thoughts about having come to Oregon Territory as a missionary, her health, and developments in the region, including mentions of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, burning of Fort Walla Walla, and establishment of a Catholic mission, and including a passage copied from a letter from Marcus Whitman to David Greene

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Jane Prentiss about failure to send Asahel Munger and Eliza Munger east, arrival of emigrants and of Jesuit missionaries, conflicts between the Whitmans and Native people, conflict and concern among the missionaries, and Asahel Munger's suicide

Letter from Narcissa Whitman addressed to Rev. and Mrs. Allen, asking for their prayers, and expressing concern about Euro-American emigrants who Whitman perceives as sinful and about the presence of Catholic missionaries, and discussing agricultural developments among Native people and mission operations, with a postscript about Marcus Whitman's departure for Boston, Massachusetts

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Marcus Whitman, alleging that a Native man tried to break into her bedroom, describing mission activities and trip to Walla Walla, and saying that she was told that Francis Ermatinger had converted to Catholicism

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Stephen Prentiss and Clarissa Prentiss about events since Marcus Whitman left, including her spending the winter at Waskopum Methodist mission at The Dalles, burning of the Whitman mission's mill, and death of Cornelius Rogers, with mentions of Elijah White

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Jonas Galusha Prentiss asking why he has not written, and discussing Prentiss' domestic troubles, rumors of Native people preparing for war, and the death of Eliza Hart Spalding's son

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.

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Stephen Prentiss and Clarissa Prentiss about arrival of Euro-American emigrants, completion of a new gristmill, and Whitman's improved health, with mention of being asked to take in the orphaned Sager children (original and partial typescript copy)

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.

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Jane Prentiss, encouraging her to emigrate to Oregon Territory, but advising her not to come via the southern route

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Clarissa Prentiss about possibility of Edward Prentiss and Jane Prentiss coming to Oregon Territory, missionary activities including efforts to purchase Waskopum mission at The Dalles, Euro-American emigrants, and Native peoples' reaction to incoming emigrants

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Jane Prentiss about plans for Prentiss and other family members to come to Oregon Territory under Thomas Glenday's guidance

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.]

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Jane Prentiss about birth of Eliza Hart Spalding's son and Mary Walker Richardson's son, the Whitmans' travels to Tukanon for conversion efforts, arrival of Edwin O. Hall and Sarah Hall, and Whitman's disappointment with unnamed missionaries who spent the winter at the Whitman mission

Letter from Narcissa Whitman to Elvira Perkins about death of her daughter, Alice Clarissa Whitman