David E. Blaine Diary

Collection

Identifier: WUA116

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a digital reproduction of a circuit rider diary kept in 1862 by the Reverend David E. Blaine and a pdf file of supporting information written by Laura Arksey. The diary documents Reverend Blaine's days serving in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. For more information about the Blaine Diary, see Blaine Diary - Discovery, Background and Selected Transcriptions by Laura Arksey (2015).

Dates

Creation: 1862, 2015

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

Library acts as “fair use” reproduction agent.

For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at Willamette University Archives and Special Collections may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives and Special Collections should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Biographical / Historical

David Edwards Blaine was born in 1824 in New York. He studied at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City to become a Methodist Episcopalian minister. In 1853, he married Catharine Paine. In the fall of 1853, the Blaines traveled as missionaries to Puget Sound by ship. In December 1853 David Blaine established a Methodist Episcopal congregation under his ministry. In January 1854 the settlers in the area pooled resources to employ Catharine as a school teacher.

In January 1856, Catharine gave birth to their son John just days before the Battle of Seattle took place in the Yakima War. Following the battle, the couple moved to Portland, Oregon for further missionary work. He served there"and in several other western Oregon locations until assigned in mid-1861 as presiding elder for the Upper Willamette District. (Since the Willamette River flows north into the Columbia, upper meant the central and southern portions of the valley.) From his home base in Lebanon, Oregon he rode a circuit of eleven scattered charges, preaching, administering communion, and conducting the quarterly conferences and meetings. In the later 1860s, the Blaines moved back to New York and aided David's brother in taking care of a farm. The Blaines returned to Seattle in 1882. David Blaine died in 1900.

Extent

4 Gigabytes (Digital reproduction of original)

Additional Description

Overview

This collection consists of a digital reproduction of a circuit rider diary kept in 1862 by the Reverend David E. Blaine and supporting information provided by Laura Arksey (2015).