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Oscar Lewis Papers, 1847-1899
Collection Overview
Title: Oscar Lewis Papers, 1847-1899
Predominant Dates:1889-1891
ID: OGLMC1580
Primary Creator: Lewis, Oscar (1860-?)
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 06/13/2010
Subjects: Pioneer Life
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Oscar Lewis arrived in Dakota Territory in June 1889, several months before North Dakota became a state. He left behind his wife, Ida, and his two sons, Harry and Harould, in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. During his time in North Dakota, he worked at a hotel for several months, spent at least two years in service to Netcher and Morgan’s general merchandise store, and played coronet for the local Emerado band. During his time in North Dakota, he wrote his wife Ida regularly. He detailed to her several plans for earning a thousand dollars, which he wanted to use to start some sort of enterprise he could share with his son, Harry. He intended several times throughout 1889 to 1899 to return home to his family, but changed his mind every time, stating that his job opportunities in the West greatly exceeded those found in the East. He refused to let his wife and sons move to North Dakota during this time, with the explanation that it was not safe. According to Ocsar Lewis, the water in Emerado was unhealthy and the environment was dangerous. He details throughout his letters instances of murder and mobs, although he may have embellished his reports of these instances. An example of this is found in his description of a man named Will Lycan being lynched in 1889. In this case, Lewis's whole story is undermined by the fact that there are records of Lycan being alive in the 1900s. Another reason he gave to deter his wife from coming was that his work often required him to travel; he made several trips to Grand Forks, St. Paul and Montana. In 1890 he relocated to Arvilla, North Dakota, and then to East Grand Forks, Minnesota. In 1891, he asked his family to join him, although it is unclear whether they did so. Lewis's last letter was on June 10, 1899, after which he disappeared.
Sources:
Correspondence of Oscar Lewis, Box 1, Folder 2, Folder 3, Folder 4 and Folder 5
Donor's Letter, Bruce P. Dembling, Box 1, Folder 1
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Acquisition Source: Dr. Bruce Dembling, Charlottesville, Virginia
Acquisition Method: Donation; 2011-3079
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Oscar Lewis Papers. OGLMC 1580, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Processing Information: Materials processed by Maureen Hukill, Special Collections intern, in July 2013.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Biographical Information
- Folder 2: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, June 1889
- Folder 3: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, July 1889
- Folder 4: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, August 1889
- Folder 5: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, September 1889
- Folder 6: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, October 1889
- Folder 7: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, November 1889
- Folder 8: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, December 1889
- Folder 9: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, December 1889
- Folder 10: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, 1889
- Folder 11: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, January 1890
- Folder 12: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, February 1890
- Folder 13: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, March 1890
- Folder 14: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, April 1890
- Folder 15: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, May1890
- Folder 16: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, June 1890
- Folder 17: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, July 1890
- Folder 18: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, August 1890
- Folder 19: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, September 1890
- Folder 20: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, October 1890
- Folder 21: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, November 1890
- Folder 22: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, December 1890
- Folder 23: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, January, 15 1891
- Folder 25: Correspondence, to the Lewis Family, Undated
- Folder 24: Correspondence, Oscar to Ida, June 10, 1899
- Folder 26: Correspondence, to Ida Lewis from her Cousin Lena, 1847
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[All]