Oregon Lyceum
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The Oregon Lyceum or Pioneer Lyceum and Literary Club was founded in Oregon City, Oregon Country around 1840. The forum was a prominent fixture for the leading pioneer settlers during its brief existence.
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[edit] Founding
One source lists the founding of the institution as 1844,[1] but this is unlikely as there are many references to debates regarding forming a government in 1842.[2] The forum was likely started in 1842,[2] and was founded in an attempt to start a newspaper in the region.[1] That paper, the Oregon Spectator, began publishing in 1846.[1] The Lyceum’s first meeting was held at the home of Sidney Moss who had purchased his land in Oregon City from Dr. John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company.[2] Frederick Prigg was another member of the Lyceum that assisted in building the organization.[3] So was Portland co-founder Francis Pettygrove.[4] In addition to debates on government and the creation of a press, the group discussed literary items, scientific pursuits, and other local issues.[4]
[edit] Government debate
Beginning in the fall and winter of 1840-1841 the members of the Lyceum debated the future of the region.[2] At the time neither the United States nor Great Britain could claim the Oregon Country under the terms of the Treaty of 1818 signed at the conclusion of the War of 1812. During these debates in Oregon City the European settlers argued about whether an independent country should be formed, or if a provisional government should be formed.[5]
The group advocating an independent country tended to be British, including Dr. McLoughlin and the his HBC employees.[5] The Catholic block that consisted of mainly former French-Canadian trappers also sided with McLoughlin on this issue.[5] Their goal was to prevent the territory from becoming a part of the United States by forming a new country.[5] McLoughlin’s attorney , introduced a resolution on his behalf to the Lyceum as follows:
- “Resolved, That it is expedient for the settlers of the coast to organize an independent government.”[5]
That resolution was adopted by the Oregon Lyceum.[5]
George Abernethy of the Methodist Mission then introduced a topic to be discussed the following week.[5] This new topic was to wait for the United States to annex the territory instead:
- “Resolved, That if the United States extends its jurisdiction over this country during the next four years it will not be expedient to form an independent government.”[5]
After debate by both sides of the issue, this resolution was passed.[5] Where ultimately the side advocating no independent nation prevailed.[2]
[edit] Later years
It is not known when the Oregon Lyceum disbanded, but the Lyceum movement in the United States died out around the turn of the Twentieth Century.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Heinzkill, Richard (August 1993). A Brief History of Newspaper Publishing in Oregon. University of Oregon Libraries. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e Kohnen, Patricia. Clackamas County, 1800 to 1843. AT THE END OF THE TRAIL: An Introduction to Clackamas History. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ Oregon Secretaries of State Biographical Sketches, 1841-Present. Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ a b Kidd, Julie. Pettygrove. Multnomah County, Oregon GenWeb. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hines, Joseph Wilkinson. CHAPTER VIII. The Provisional Government.. Touching incidents in the life and labors of a pioneer on the Pacific coast since 1853. Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
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Pioneer History of Oregon (1806–1890) |
|---|---|
| Topics |
Oregon Country · Oregon Treaty · Oregon missionaries · Executive Committee · Oregon Trail · Oregon boundary dispute · Pacific Fur Company · Provisional Government of Oregon · Hudson's Bay Company |
| Events |
Treaty of 1818 · Russo-American Treaty · Champoeg Meetings · Whitman massacre · Donation Land Claim Act |
| Places |
Fort Astoria · Oregon Mission · Fort Vancouver · Champoeg, Oregon · Fort William · Barlow Road · Whitman Mission |
| People |
George Abernethy · Sam Barlow · Tabitha Brown · Abigail Scott Duniway · Philip Foster · Peter French · Joseph Gale · William Gilpin · David Hill · Jason Lee · Asa Lovejoy · John McLoughlin · Joseph Meek · Ezra Meeker · John Minto · Joel Palmer · Sager orphans · Henry H. Spalding · Marcus Whitman · Narcissa Whitman · Ewing Young |
| Oregon History |
Native Peoples History · History to 1806 · Pioneer History · Modern History |
