Oregon Secretary of State (original) (raw)

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​

Atiy​eh, Victor G. (R) Jan. 8, 1979 - Jan. 12, 1987​

Straub, Robert W. (D) Jan. 13, 1975 - Jan. 8, 1979​

McCall, Tom (R) Ja​n. 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, El​mo (R) Feb. 1,1956 - Jan. 14, 1957​

P​atterson, Paul L. (R) Dec. 27, 1952 - Jan. 31, 1956​

McKay, Doug​las (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, Charl​es 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 Pa​ine (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, Ge​orge 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, Kintzin​g​ (D) June 18, 1850 - Aug. 18, 1850

La​ne, Joseph​ (D) Mar. 3, 1849 - June 18, 1850​

Under Provisional G​overnment

1843 to 1849

Abernethy, Ge​orge​ July 14, 1845 - Mar. 3, 1849

Executive ​Committee​ July 5, 1843 - July 14, 1845​

Relative Content

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A portrait of Governor Barbara Roberts at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. (Oregon State Archives)

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​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.

​Oregon Legislature >​​