Skip to main content

William Isaac Marshall writings

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS D72

Overview

Collection of writings about the history of the United States western territories, particularly the United States' acquisition of the Oregon Territory, by William Isaac Marshall.

Dates

  • Creation: 1899 - 1905

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of William Isaac Marshall (1840-1906)

William I. Marshall was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on June 25, 1840. In 1866 he moved to Montana Territory and lived there for 11 years, interesting himself in Yellowstone and selling photographs and conducting tours of the park.

In 1875 Marshall moved back to Massachusetts, and in 1887 he moved to Chicago, where he became the principal of Gladstone School. An amateur historian and lecturer, he was particularly interested in the history and historiography of the United States' acquisition of the Oregon Territory. He spent much of the latter years of his life writing news articles and books attempting to debunk the "Whitman Myth," regarding Dr. Marcus Whitman (1802-1847), who led white settlers on the Oregon Trail to Washington and who was killed by the Cayuse tribe that the Whitman party were attempting to convert to Christianity. The myth stated that Whitman "saved Oregon" for U.S. political annexation, instead of becoming part of Great Britain's colonies.

[Information retrieved from "Marshall, William I. (William Isaac), 1840-1906," Social Networks and Archival Context, http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61z53bd.]

Extent

9 Volumes ; All volumes no taller than 30 cm.

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

RH MS D72 - RH MS D75

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Mrs. William I. Marshall.

Title
Guide to the William Isaac Marshall Collection
Subtitle
William Isaac Marshall writings
Author
Finding aid prepared by lgg, November 1972. Finding aid encoded by mg, 2004. Finding aid revised by mwh, 2020.
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/7918088782
Preferred citation
William Isaac Marshall writings, Kansas Collection, RH MS D72, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334