Curry, Geo. L. (George Law), 1820-1878

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George Law Curry (July 2, 1820 – July 28, 1878)served as a representative to the legislature and as Territorial Secretary before appointment as the last Governor of the Oregon Territory.

From the guide to the George Law Curry correspondence, 1855-1856, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)

A native of Philadelphia, George Law Curry (1820-1878) lived on his parents' farm near Harrisburg, Pa., until the death of his father in 1829. In 1831 he moved to Boston to live with his uncle and later apprenticed as a jeweler. In 1838 he was elected president of the Mechanic Apprentices Library Association. After moving to St. Louis in 1843 he travelled overland to Oregon in 1846, settling in Oregon City and becoming the editor of the Oregon Spectator and founding the weekly Oregon Free Press in 1848. In 1853 he was appointed Secretary of the Oregon Territory, and he became Acting Governor on the resignation of Joseph Lane. After the brief governorship of John W. Davis, Curry was appointed Territorial Governor in 1854, holding the office until statehood in 1859 -- a period of warfare with the Native Americans of the region. After leaving office he lived for a time near Oregon City, then moved to Portland, where he worked in land development. He was appointed State Land Commissioner and member of the State Board of Equalization.

From the description of George Law Curry papers, 1848-1877. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 60710485

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Mason, Charles H., 1830-1859. Correspondence, 1855-1858. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Curry, Geo. L. (George Law), 1820-1878. Letter: to the editor of the Oregonian, William Lair Hill /by George Law Curry, 1877 Mar 1. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Clarke, S. A. (Samuel Asahel), 1827-1909. Samuel A. and Harriet T. Clarke papers, 1845-1914. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Nesmith, James Willis, 1820-1885. James Willis Nesmith papers, 1845-1885. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Stark, Benjamin, 1820-1898. Benjamin Stark papers, 1829-1894. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Benjamin Stark Papers, 1829-1894 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Masterson, W. A., 1810-1890. Letter, 1855. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn James Willis Nesmith papers., 1845-1961, 1845-1885 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Davis, John Wesley, 1799-1859. John Wesley Davis letters [manuscript], 1896-1897. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Biography of George Law Curry, 1878? UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Historic American Buildings Survey. Oregon. George L. Curry residence plans [manuscript], 1934. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Samuel A. and Harriet T. Clarke papers, 1845-1914 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Curry, Geo. L. (George Law), 1820-1878. George Law Curry papers, 1848-1877. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Evans, Elwood, 1828-1898,. Campaign of Maj. Gen. John E. Wool, U.S. Army, against the people and authorities of Oregon and Washington, 1855-6. Yale University Library
creatorOf Brown, Robert Allen, 1858-1922. History of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Johnson County, Indiana, 1831-1915 / by Robert Allen Brown ; compiled and indexed by George L. Curry. Johnson County Public Library, Franklin Branch
referencedIn Foster, Philip, 1805-1884. Philip Foster papers, 1834-967 (bulk 1844-1874). Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Philip Foster papers, 1834-1967, 1844-1874 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf George Law Curry correspondence, 1855-1856 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Utterback, Clara E. Huffman. History of the Melvin Wheat family / compiled by Clara E. Huffman (Mrs. Samuel Franklin) Utterback. Johnson County Public Library, Franklin Branch
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brown, Robert Allen, 1858-1922. person
correspondedWith Clarke, Harriet T., 1832-1890 person
correspondedWith Clarke, S. A. (Samuel Asahel), 1827-1909. person
associatedWith Davis, John Wesley, 1799-1859. person
associatedWith Evans, Elwood, 1828-1898, person
correspondedWith Foster, Philip, 1805-1884. person
associatedWith Hill, William Lair, 1838- person
associatedWith Historic American Buildings Survey. Oregon. corporateBody
correspondedWith Lane, Joseph, 1801-1881 person
associatedWith Mason, Charles H., 1830-1859. person
correspondedWith Masterson, W. A., 1810-1890. person
correspondedWith Nesmith, James Willis, 1820-1885. person
associatedWith Oregon Territory. Governor (1854-1859 : Curry) corporateBody
correspondedWith Stark, Benjamin, 1820-1898. person
associatedWith Whitman, Marcus, 1802-1847. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Oregon
Oregon Territory
Subject
Governors
Journalists
Native Americans
Rogue River Indian War, 1855-1856
Territorial Government
Yakama Indians
Occupation
Public officers
Activity

Person

Birth 1820-07-02

Death 1878-07-28

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