Oregon Institute
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Institute was a school located in the Willamette Valley
of the Oregon Country
during the 19th century. Begun in 1842, it was the first school built for European-Americans west of Missouri. Founded by members of the Methodist Mission
, it was located in what is now Salem, Oregon
, United States
. The school began as a pre-college institution, but later became Willamette University
. The school's three story building was a prominent feature in the early days of Oregon
and served as meeting place for the Oregon Territorial Legislature
when it first moved to Salem.
to begin missionary
work amongst the natives.
First Lee and his men built Mission Bottom north of present Salem, Oregon
, but that was flooded in 1841. The Methodist Mission
was then relocated to Chemeketa Plain in what would later become Salem. After moving the mission they began constructing a new building for the Indian Manual Labor School. However, before the building was completed, the Methodist Mission was dissolved and the assets sold off.
On February 1, 1842, several missionaries including Jason Lee met at Lee's house to discuss forming a school for the White settler's children. The group decided to create a school, naming it the Oregon Institute. A building was begun on Wallace Prairie to the east of the Methodist Mission, but abandoned and sold before completion. Instead, the three story building originally under construction for the Indian Manual Labor School was sold for $4,000 to the Oregon Institute along with the land in June 1844.
The original building of the institute was built under the supervision of Hamilton Campbell at a cost of $8,000 for the mission. Construction began in 1841 and finished in 1844. This building was 71 feet (21.6 m) long, 24 feet (7.3 m) wide, and three stories high. It was built of fir milled on site, except for the windows that came from New York. As one of the more dominating buildings of the landscape of early Oregon, it towered over the school.
This building was used by the school and community, including the state legislature and court
. Oregon Institute began with one teacher, who taught the white children of the area. In 1853 the school changed names to Wallamet University, later changed to the current Willamette.
On February 1, 1843, the first “Wolf Meeting” was held at the Oregon Institute.
This meeting was presided over by Dr. Ira L. Babcock, who had been elected as supreme judge in 1841 to probate Ewing Young
’s estate. The meeting was designed to discuss issues with predatory animals attacking livestock in the Willamette Valley
. This meeting was one of the precursors to subsequent meetings that led to the formation of a provisional government
in May at Champoeg
.
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
of the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
during the 19th century. Begun in 1842, it was the first school built for European-Americans west of Missouri. Founded by members of the Methodist Mission
Methodist Mission
The Methodist Mission was founded in Oregon Country in 1834 by the Reverend Jason Lee. The mission was started to educate the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley and grew into an important center for politics and economics in the early settlement period of Oregon.-Foundation:In 1831, several...
, it was located in what is now Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The school began as a pre-college institution, but later became Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. The school's three story building was a prominent feature in the early days of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and served as meeting place for the Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
when it first moved to Salem.
Background
Missionary Jason Lee came to Oregon Country in 1834 with Nathaniel Jarvis WyethNathaniel Jarvis Wyeth
Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth was an American inventor, ice harvester, and explorer and trader in the far west.-Early life:Wyeth was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Jacob and Elizabeth Wyeth...
to begin missionary
Oregon Mission
The Oregon Mission began as an effort by the Methodist Episcopal Church to convert the native Indians of the far west to Christianity. This mission, under the leadership of Jason Lee, largely failed in its initial goal, but played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States...
work amongst the natives.
First Lee and his men built Mission Bottom north of present Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, but that was flooded in 1841. The Methodist Mission
Methodist Mission
The Methodist Mission was founded in Oregon Country in 1834 by the Reverend Jason Lee. The mission was started to educate the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley and grew into an important center for politics and economics in the early settlement period of Oregon.-Foundation:In 1831, several...
was then relocated to Chemeketa Plain in what would later become Salem. After moving the mission they began constructing a new building for the Indian Manual Labor School. However, before the building was completed, the Methodist Mission was dissolved and the assets sold off.
On February 1, 1842, several missionaries including Jason Lee met at Lee's house to discuss forming a school for the White settler's children. The group decided to create a school, naming it the Oregon Institute. A building was begun on Wallace Prairie to the east of the Methodist Mission, but abandoned and sold before completion. Instead, the three story building originally under construction for the Indian Manual Labor School was sold for $4,000 to the Oregon Institute along with the land in June 1844.
Functions
The first building of the school, a three story wood building, was occupied in 1844.This building was used by the school and community, including the state legislature and court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
. Oregon Institute began with one teacher, who taught the white children of the area. In 1853 the school changed names to Wallamet University, later changed to the current Willamette.
On February 1, 1843, the first “Wolf Meeting” was held at the Oregon Institute.
This meeting was presided over by Dr. Ira L. Babcock, who had been elected as supreme judge in 1841 to probate Ewing Young
Ewing Young
Ewing Young was an American fur trapper and trader from Tennessee who traveled Mexican southwestern North America and California before settling in the Oregon Country. As a prominent and wealthy citizen there, his death was the impetus for the early formation of government in what became the state...
’s estate. The meeting was designed to discuss issues with predatory animals attacking livestock in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. This meeting was one of the precursors to subsequent meetings that led to the formation of a provisional government
Provisional Government of Oregon
The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It existed from May 2, 1843 until March 3, 1849. Created at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region, this independent government...
in May at Champoeg
Champoeg Meetings
The Champoeg Meetings in Oregon Country were the first attempts at governing in the Pacific Northwest by United States European-American pioneers. Prior to this, the closest entity to a government was the Hudson's Bay Company, mainly through Dr...
.