Oregon Secretary of State (original) (raw)
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Governor's Records Guides
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This list contains the names and dates in office of Oregon's governors. Information includes biographical notes, records descriptions and container listings.
Access all Governor Messages in the Oregon State Archives online holdings. Or, click a specific Governor below. Some content is not yet online. Contact the Reference Unit for assistance. Reference.Archives@sos.oregon.gov or 503-373-0701 (option 1).
Under State Government
1859 to present
Kotek, Tina (D) Jan. 9, 2023 – present (No records at State Archives. See Governor’s website.)
Brown, Kate (D) Feb. 18, 2015 - January 9, 2023 (No records at State Archives. (Use Public Records Request form on Governor's website)
Kitzhaber, John (D) Jan. 10, 2011 - Feb. 18, 2015
Kulongoski, Ted (D) Jan. 13, 2003- Jan. 10, 2011
Kitzhaber, John (D) Jan. 9, 1995 - Jan. 13, 2003
Roberts, Barbara (D) Jan, 14, 1991 - Jan. 9, 1995
Goldschmidt, Neil (D) Jan, 12, 1987 - Jan. 14, 1991
Atiyeh, Victor G. (R) Jan. 8, 1979 - Jan. 12, 1987
Straub, Robert W. (D) Jan. 13, 1975 - Jan. 8, 1979
McCall, Tom (R) Jan. 9, 1967 - Jan 13, 1975
Hatfield, Mark O. (R) Jan. 12, 1959 - Jan. 9, 1967
Holmes, Robert D. (D) Jan. 14, 1957 - Jan. 12, 1959
Smith, Elmo (R) Feb. 1,1956 - Jan. 14, 1957
Patterson, Paul L. (R) Dec. 27, 1952 - Jan. 31, 1956
McKay, Douglas (R) Jan. 10, 1949 - Dec. 27, 1952
Hall, John H. (R) Oct. 30,1947 - Jan. 10, 1949
Snell, Earl (R) Jan. 11,1943 - Oct. 28, 1947
Sprague, Charles A. (R) Jan. 9, 1939 - Jan. 11, 1943
Martin, Charles H. (D) Jan. 14, 1935 - Jan. 9, 1939
Meier Julius L. (I) Jan. 12, 1931 - Jan. 14, 1935
Norblad, A. W. (R) Dec. 22, 1929 - Jan. 12, 1931
Patterson, I. L. (R) Jan. 10, 1927 - Dec. 21, 1929
Pierce, Walter M. (D) Jan. 8, 1923 - Jan. 10, 1927
Olcott, Ben W. (R) Mar. 3, 1919 - Jan. 8, 1923
Withycombe, James (R) Jan 12, 1915 - Mar. 3, 1919
West, Oswald D. (D) Jan. 11, 1911 - Jan. 12, 1915
Bowerman, Jay (R) June 17, 1910 - Jan. 8, 1911
Benson, Frank W. (R) Mar. 1, 1909 - June 17, 1910
Chamberlain, George E. (D) Jan. 15,1903 - Feb. 28, 1909
Geer, Theodore T. (R) Jan. 9. 1899 - Jan.14, 1903
Lord, William Paine (R) Jan. 14,1895 - Jan. 9, 1899
Pennoyer, Sylvester (DP) Jan.12, 1887 - Jan.14, 1895
Moody, Z. F. (R) Sept. 13, 1882 - Jan. 12, 1887
Thayer, W. W. (D) Sept.11, 1878 - Sept.13, 1882
Chadwick, Stephen F. (D) Feb.1, 1877 - Sept. 11, 1878
Grover, LaFayette (D) Sept.14, 1870 - Feb.1, 1877
Woods, George L. (R) Sept. 12, 1866 - Sept. 14, 1870
Gibbs, A. C. (R) Sept.10, 1862 - Sept. 12, 1866
John Whiteaker (D) Mar. 3, 1859 - Sept. 10, 1862
Under Territorial Government
1849 to 1859
Curry, George L. (D) Aug. 1, 1854 - Mar. 3, 1859
Davis, John W. (D) Dec. 2, 1853 - Aug. 1, 1854
Curry, George L. (D) May 19, 1853 - Dec. 2, 1853
Lane, Joseph (D) May 16, 1853 - May 19, 1853
Gaines, John P. (W) Aug. 18, 1850 - May 16, 1853
Prichette, Kintzing (D) June 18, 1850 - Aug. 18, 1850
Lane, Joseph (D) Mar. 3, 1849 - June 18, 1850
Under Provisional Government
1843 to 1849
Abernethy, George July 14, 1845 - Mar. 3, 1849
Executive Committee July 5, 1843 - July 14, 1845
Relative Content
A portrait of Governor Barbara Roberts at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. (Oregon State Archives)
Governor's messages give information about issues facing state government over more than 150 years along with the governor's plans for dealing with those issues. They include transcriptions of inaugural addresses and biennial messages to the legislature by the governor.
The topics include government finances, education, and public welfare, transportation, state buildings and the environment. For example, an 1880 message from Governor Thayer includes an appeal for providing a "hatchery" house for salmon along the Columbia River. Some subjects, such as recurring debates over prison labor, started in the 1800s and continue today.
The messages also include comments or observations on major national and regional events, such as the Indian wars, the Civil War, immigration reform and economic conditions.