GOVERNORS’ PORTRAITS
Inspiring future leaders
WHAT’S IN YOUR ATTIC?
The Capitol Foundation is searching for missing pieces of Oregon’s past

The Capitol Foundation is asking for your help tracking down formal artwork portraying former Oregon governors. Many oil paintings of territorial and state governors were lost when the previous capitol burned in 1935, but we know that some were saved and others might exist. They may be in private homes, schools, universities, museums, businesses, courthouses or public buildings.
Of particular interest are portraits formerly displayed in our Capitol and the stories of how the artwork made its way to its new location. The Capitol Foundation wants to log the artwork’s existence but does not want reclaim the portraits. The location of artwork in private residences will remain private. If you have information about the location of the gubernatorial portraits listed below or other formal artwork that portrays an Oregon governor, please contact us.
“My grandfather Arch Geer, who I called Pappy, helped rescue portraits of the governors from the walls of the burning building, including Gov. Geer’s portrait, but it vanished. Years later, Pappy found the Geer portrait in Walden Hall at Willamette University. After its restoration, the painting made its way to the Geer building at MacLaren School, eventually making its way back to the Capitol.”
Missing portraits of former Oregon governors:
- Abernethy, George, July 14, 1845–Mar. 3, 1849.
- Benson, Frank W., March 1, 1909–June 17, 1910.
- Bowerman, Jay, June 17, 1910–Jan. 11, 1911.
- Chadwick, Stephen Fowler, Feb. 1, 1877–Sept. 11, 1878.
- Chamberlain, George Earle Stephen, Jan. 15, 1903–March 1, 1909.
- Curry, George L., Aug. 1, 1854–Mar. 3, 1859, and May 19, 1853, to
Dec. 2, 1853 (Acting). - Gaines, John P., Aug. 18, 1850–May 16, 1853.
- Gibbs, Addison C., Sept. 10, 1862–Sept. 12, 1866.
- Grover, Lafayette (Gov.), Sept. 14, 1870 – Feb. 1, 1877.
- Hall, John Hubert, Oct. 30, 1947–Jan. 10, 1949.
- Holmes, Robert Denison, Jan. 14, 1957–Jan. 12, 1959.
- Lane, Joseph, Mar. 3, 1849–June 18, 1850, and May 16, 1853, to
May 19, 1853 (Acting). - * McKay, James Douglas, Jan. 10, 1949–Dec. 27, 1952.*
- Moody, Zenas Ferry, Sept. 13, 1882–Jan. 12, 1887.
- Norblad, Albin Walter, Dec. 21, 1929–Jan. 12, 1931.
- Olcott, Ben, March 3, 1919–Jan. 8, 1923.
- Patterson, Paul Linton, Dec. 27, 1952–Feb. 1, 1956.
- Patterson, Isaac Lee, Jan. 10, 1927–Dec. 21, 1929.
- Pennoyer, Sylvester, Jan. 12, 1887–Jan. 14, 1895.
- Pierce, Walter Marcus, Jan. 8, 1923–Jan. 10, 1927.
- Pritchette, Kintzing, June 18, 1850–Aug. 18, 1850.
- Smith, Elmo Everett, Feb. 1, 1956–Jan. 14, 1957.
- Snell, Earl Wilcox, Jan. 11, 1943–Oct. 30, 1947.
- * Sprague, Charles Arthur, Jan. 9, 1939–Jan. 11, 1943.*
- Thayer, William Wallace, Sept. 11, 1878–Sept. 13, 1882.
- Whiteaker, John, March 3, 1859–Sept. 10, 1862.
- Woods, George Lemuel, Sept. 12, 1866–Sept. 14, 1870.
* The Capitol Foundation is currently pursuing a possible lead.
“It’s truly amazing to think about the challenges and opportunities faced by our founding governors.”
Capitol Foundation’s Governors’ Portrait Search is making the news!
- Wanted: 27 Oregon governors’ portraits
By Claire Withycombe, Statesman Journal, Sept. 22, 2022 - Elleda Wilson: What’s in your attic?
By Elleda Wilson, The Daily Astorian, Sept. 22, 2022 - In One Ear: What’s in your attic?
By Elleda Wilson, The Astorian, Sept. 22, 2022 - Wanted: 27 portraits of Oregon governors
By Leonard Parker, LocalToday, Sept. 22, 2022 - What’s In Your Attic?
Salem Business Journal, Sept. 21, 2022 - What’s In Your Attic?
Willamette Living Magazine, Sept. 16, 2022 - My search for a portrait of my great-great-grandfather
By Claire Withycombe, Statesman Journal, November 28, 2021 - The Missing Oregon Portraits
By Carl Fisher, Oregon APIC Chapter, November 29, 2021
OREGON STATE ARCHIVES HOSTING GOVERNOR’S PORTRAITS EXHIBIT
Source: The Gateway newsletter, August 2022

When critical, life-saving construction closed the central, historic portion of the Capitol in July, art in the area was relocated for preservation. But visitors don’t need to wait for the project to conclude in 2025 to view select governors’ portraits.
In an effort to keep some of the impacted artwork available for public viewing, our Capitol History Gateway partners at Oregon State Archives graciously offered to host a temporary exhibit featuring the portraits of Governors Roberts, Kitzhaber, and Kulongoski and the bust statue of Governor Hatfield in their Administrative Suite while the Capitol is under construction.
Exhibit entry is free. The Administrative Suite, located at 800 Summer St. N.E., is accessible by appointment only, so call 503-373-0701 or send an email before you visit.
After serving their tenures, Oregon’s Governors will often commission a public portrait (or, in the case of Governor Hatfield, a bust) to display in the Capitol. This exhibit is an excellent way for you to continue to experience the Capitol’s rich history and artwork. We hope you’ll check it out!
ARTWORK CONNECTS OREGONIANS TO OUR SHARED HISTORY
Gubernatorial portraits portray leaders who held Oregon’s top office

Whether you’re a student, history buff, art enthusiast, or visiting from out of state, this artwork provides an opportunity to learn about the shared heritage and history of Oregonians.
The Oregon State Capitol Foundation is committed to preserving our Capitol and making its history accessible to Oregonians and all who visit our state.

“As descendants of Julius Meier, we were thrilled to donate this portrait to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation. The portrait hung for many years in the library at Joe Ehrman’s home, Julius’s grandson and my uncle. We grew up hearing wonderful stories about Julius and his love of family. My cousin, Louis Sloss, and I enjoyed the opportunity to see the new portrait hung at the Capitol.”
OREGON’S GOVERNORS
Remembering and honoring our past state leaders
GOVERNORS OF THE STATE OF OREGON
21st Century
KATE BROWN (D)
2015-Present
JOHN KITZHABER (D)
2011-2015 (also 1995-2003)
TED KULONGOSKI (D)
2003-2011
20th Century
JOHN KITZHABER (D)
1995-2003 (also 2011-2015)
BARBARA ROBERTS (D)
1991-1995
NEIL GOLDSCHMIDT (D)
1987-1991
VICTOR ATIYEH (R)
1979-1987
ROBERT W. STRAUB (D)
1975-1979
TOM MCCALL (R)
1967-1975
MARK O. HATFIELD (R)
1959-1967
ROBERT D. HOLMES (D)
1957-1959
ELMO SMITH (R)
1956-1957
PAUL L. PATTERSON (R)
1952-1956
DOUGLAS MCKAY (R)
1949-1952
JOHN HUBERT HALL (R)
1947-1949
EARL SNELL (R)
1943-1947
CHARLES A. SPRAGUE (R)
1939-1943
CHARLES H. MARTIN (D)
1935-1939
JULIUS MEIER (I)
1931-1935
A. W. NORBLAD (R)
1929-1931
I. L. PATTERSON (R)
1927-1929
WALTER M. PIERCE (D)
1923-1927
BEN W. OLCOTT (R)
1919-1923
JAMES WITHYCOMBE (R)
1915-1919
OSWALD WEST (D)
1911-1915
JAY BOWERMAN (R)
1910-1911
FRANK W. BENSON (R)
1909-1910
CARRIE B. SHELTON
ACTING GOVERNOR
1909
GEORGE EARLE CHAMBERLAIN (D)
1903-1909
19th Century
THEODORE THURSTON GEER (R)
1899-1903
WILLIAM PAINE LORD (R)
1895-1899
SYLVESTER PENNOYER (Democractic-Populist)
1887-1895
ZENAS FERRY MOODY (R)
1882-1887
W. W. THAYER (D)
1878-1882
STEPHEN F. CHADWICK (D)
1877-1878
LA FAYETTE GROVER (D)
1870-1877
GEORGE LEMUEL WOODS (R)
1866-1870
A. C. GIBBS (R)
1862-1866
JOHN WHITEAKER (D)
1859-1862
GOVERNORS OF THE TERRITORY OF OREGON
GEORGE LAW CURRY (D)
1854-1859
JOHN W. DAVIS (D)
1853-1854
GEORGE LAW CURRY (D)
1853
JOSEPH LANE (D)
1853
JOHN P. GAINES (Whig)
1850-1853
KINTZING PRICHETTE (D)
1850
JOSEPH LANE (D)
1849-1850
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
GEORGE ABERNETHY
1845-1849
SECOND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1844-1845
FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1843-1844
ENGAGE OREGONIANS IN OUR DEMOCRACY
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The Capitol Foundation transforms your tax-deductible donations into varied and abundant learning experiences about our Capitol and the processes and persons within it that are crucial to our collective everyday lives. Click an image below to learn more about some of the exciting projects made possible thanks to your generosity!