Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/269

 dowment from membership dues, and from the sale of publications—the leading one being the Oregon Historical Quarterly, which is sent to the principal libraries and hiatorial societies in the United States. The object of the Oregon Historical Society is to gather information relating to the history of Oregon find the United States; and for the accompllshment of this purpose to explore archaeological depoMta^ acquire pioneer records and other publications and manuscripts, perpetuate geographic and hisiBorical Indiate names, ^preserve Indian ^traditions, maintain a gallery of historical portraiture and an ethnological and historical museum, encourage the study of histoty and diffuse information relative to the histoiy of Oregon* As a result of the work of the society thus far, newspapers, pamphlets, books, manuscripts and relics appertaining to pioneer and Indian life for more than a hundred yean have been collected. The society headquarters have come to be a veritable museum of Oregon antiquities which are useful in developing a vital interest in the history and traditions of the State.

The Second Oregon. The Second Oregon U. S. Volimteer Infantry gained national distinction for its achieve ments in the Spanish-American War. Yet mention here can be made only of its earlier history. When President McKinley on the 28th of April, 1896, called for one regiment from this State, both the First and Second Oregon regiments prompdy reported at the Portland Armory for duty. Since both regiments desired to go, and but one could be accepted, ^'Governor Lord ordered a consolidation of the two into one full regiment, selecting the best men in each." This selection resulted in foinung a regiment of unusually strong and well-equipped soldiers. The new regiment was named the Decono o regon United States Volunteer Infantry. Colonel Owen Summers of the ohgi