GOVERNORS’ PORTRAITS

Inspiring future leaders

WHAT’S IN YOUR ATTIC?

The Capitol Foundation is searching for missing pieces of Oregon’s past

Judy Hall and Gov. Kate Brown at Mahonia Hall in 2018.

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.”

Joan Plank, Capitol Foundation Board member

Missing portraits of former Oregon governors:

  1. Abernethy, George, July 14, 1845–Mar. 3, 1849.
  2. Benson, Frank W., March 1, 1909–June 17, 1910.
  3. Bowerman, Jay, June 17, 1910–Jan. 11, 1911.
  4. Chadwick, Stephen Fowler, Feb. 1, 1877–Sept. 11, 1878.
  5. Chamberlain, George Earle Stephen, Jan. 15, 1903–March 1, 1909.
  6. Curry, George L., Aug. 1, 1854–Mar. 3, 1859, and May 19, 1853, to
    Dec. 2, 1853 (Acting).
  7. Gaines, John P., Aug. 18, 1850–May 16, 1853.
  8. Gibbs, Addison C., Sept. 10, 1862–Sept. 12, 1866.
  9. Grover, Lafayette (Gov.), Sept. 14, 1870 – Feb. 1, 1877.
  10. Hall, John Hubert, Oct. 30, 1947–Jan. 10, 1949.
  11. Holmes, Robert Denison, Jan. 14, 1957–Jan. 12, 1959.
  12. Lane, Joseph, Mar. 3, 1849–June 18, 1850, and May 16, 1853, to
    May 19, 1853 (Acting).
  13. * McKay, James Douglas, Jan. 10, 1949–Dec. 27, 1952.*
  14. Moody, Zenas Ferry, Sept. 13, 1882–Jan. 12, 1887.
  15. Norblad, Albin Walter, Dec. 21, 1929–Jan. 12, 1931.
  16. Olcott, Ben, March 3, 1919–Jan. 8, 1923.
  17. Patterson, Paul Linton, Dec. 27, 1952–Feb. 1, 1956.
  18. Patterson, Isaac Lee, Jan. 10, 1927–Dec. 21, 1929.
  19. Pennoyer, Sylvester, Jan. 12, 1887–Jan. 14, 1895.
  20. Pierce, Walter Marcus, Jan. 8, 1923–Jan. 10, 1927.
  21. Pritchette, Kintzing, June 18, 1850–Aug. 18, 1850.
  22. Smith, Elmo Everett, Feb. 1, 1956–Jan. 14, 1957.
  23. Snell, Earl Wilcox, Jan. 11, 1943–Oct. 30, 1947.
  24. * Sprague, Charles Arthur, Jan. 9, 1939–Jan. 11, 1943.*
  25. Thayer, William Wallace, Sept. 11, 1878–Sept. 13, 1882.
  26. Whiteaker, John, March 3, 1859–Sept. 10, 1862.
  27. 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.”

Fred Neal

Board Member, Oregon State Capitol Foundation

Capitol Foundation’s Governors’ Portrait Search is making the news!

OREGON STATE ARCHIVES HOSTING GOVERNOR’S PORTRAITS EXHIBIT

Source: The Gateway newsletter, August 2022

Gov. Barbara Roberts

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

Judy Hall and Gov. Kate Brown at Mahonia Hall in 2018.

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.

Susan Ehrman and Louis Sloss at the 2015 unveiling of the Gov. Julius Meier portrait at the Oregon State Capitol.

“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.”

Susan Ehrman

Great granddaughter of Gov. Julius Meier

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

Get involved!

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!

Attendees of the Classroom Law Project Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers pose on the stairs in in the Oregon State Capitol rotunda. Photo: Andie Petkus for Classroom Law Project, 2019.

CIVICS EDUCATION INITIATIVE

Capitol visitors learn about Oregon's diverse cultures

CAPITOL HISTORY GATEWAY

Treasurer Tony Meeker in the Senate chamber (2018)

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT