Jump to content

Lewis A. McArthur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lewis A. McArthur
Tam McArthur
Tam McArthur
BornApril 27, 1883
The Dalles,Oregon,USA
DiedNovember 8, 1951(1951-11-08)(aged 68)
Portland,Oregon,USA
OccupationBusiness executive, geographer, and author
GenreGeography
SubjectToponymy
Notable worksOregon Geographic Names(first published in 1928)
ChildrenLewis L. McArthur

Lewis Ankeny McArthur(April 27, 1883 – November 8, 1951), known as "Tam" McArthur, was an executive forPacific Power and Light Company.He was also the secretary for the Oregon Geographic Board for many years and the author ofOregon Geographic Names.His book, now in its seventh edition, is a comprehensive source of information on the origins and history of Oregon place names. It is a standard reference book in libraries throughoutOregonand thePacific Northwest.Tam McArthur Rim in theCascade Mountainsis named in his honor.

Personal life[edit]

McArthur was born on April 27, 1883, inThe Dalles, Oregon.He grew up on a farm nearRickreall.His family later moved toPortland,where he attended Portland Academy. His family had long been associated with Oregon history and government. His paternal grandfather, Navy LieutenantWilliam P. McArthur,had conducted the first survey of the Pacific Coast for theUnited States Coast Surveyin 1849 and 1850. His maternal grandfather,James W. Nesmith,arrived in Oregon in 1843 and played an important role in territorial and early state government, serving as one of Oregon’sUnited States senatorsfrom 1861 to 1867 and as a member of theUnited States House of Representativesfrom 1873 to 1875. His father,Lewis Linn McArthur,served as a justice of theOregon Supreme Courtfrom 1870 to 1878 and then as theUnited States Attorneyfor the State of Oregon.His mother, Harriet Nesmith McArthur, organized of theOregon Historical Societyand served on its board from 1898 until 1924.[1][2][3]

McArthur attended University of California, graduating in 1908. During his college years, he worked forThe Oregoniannewspaper during the summer. After graduation, he got a job with theOregon Electric Railway.In 1910, McArthur went to work for the Pacific Power and Light Company, as one of its first employees. By 1923, he was appointed vice-president and general manager. He continued with the company until his retirement in 1946. McArthur also served as president of the Oregon Historical Society from 1937 until 1945. He died in Portland on November 8, 1951.[1][3]

Geographic historian[edit]

McArthur's official connection with Oregon geography began when GovernorOswald Westappointed him to the Oregon Geographic Board (now theOregon Geographic Names Board) in 1914. Two years later, he was elected board secretary. He served in that position until 1949, when he resigned after 35 years on the board. McArthur’s position on the Oregon Geographic Board allowed him the opportunity to research the history of Oregon place names using a wide range of sources. He studied the journals of early explorers, read pioneer diaries, browsed newspapers archives, researched government documents, and thoroughly reviewed every book on Oregon history he could find. He also conducted personal interviews with pioneer Oregonians who were still living at the time.[1][2][3][4]

The Oregon Historical Society published his research in eight issues of theOregon Historical Quarterlyin the early 1920s. In 1928, McArthur paid to have the first edition ofOregon Geographic Namespublished. The book was quickly recognized as the authoritative source for information regarding the origins and history of Oregon place names. A second edition was published in 1944. In that edition, McArthur added a great deal of new information about Oregon post offices and abandoned settlement sites. The book’s third edition was published in 1951, shortly after his death.[1][2][3][4]

Legacy[edit]

Today,Oregon Geographic Namesremains the authoritative source for information on the origins and history of Oregon place names. After McArthur’s death, his son,Lewis L. McArthur,continued his work, publishing the fourth through seventh editions of his book. The seventh edition ofOregon Geographic Nameswas published by the Oregon Historical Society in 2003. It contains information on over 6,200 Oregon geographic features and communities throughout the state including early settlements that no longer exist.[4][5][6]

After his death, theUnited States Board on Geographic NamesnamedTam McArthur Rimin his honor. The rim is a prominent ridge with a high cliff face located on the east side of the Cascade Mountains inDeschutes County, Oregon.Tam Lake inCentral Oregonis also named for McArthur.[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcd"Lewis L. McArthur (1917–2018)",Oregon Encyclopedia,Oregon Historical Society, April 2021.
  2. ^abcPeneva, Erin McCullugh,"The Importance of Memory and Place, A Narrative of Oregon Geographic Names with Lewis L. McArthur",Oregon Historical Quarterly(Volume 109, Number 3), Portland, Oregon, Fall 2008.
  3. ^abcdMcArthur, Lewis A. and Lewis L. McArthur,Oregon Geographic Names(Seventh Edition), Oregon Historical Society Press, Portland, Oregon, 2003, Preface vii.
  4. ^abcVaughan, Champ Clark,"The Oregon Geographic Names Board One Hundred Years of Toponymic Nomenclature",Oregon Historical Quarterly(Volume 109, Number 3), Portland, Oregon, Fall 2008.
  5. ^Murphy, Alexander B.,"Oregon Geographic Names, seventh edition"Archived2008-09-08 at theWayback Machine,Oregon Historical Quarterly(Volume 106, Number 1), Portland, Oregon, Spring 2005.
  6. ^Payne, Roger L.,"Oregon Geographic Names",Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon, 2008.
  7. ^McArthur, Lewis A. and Lewis L. McArthur,Oregon Geographic Names(Seventh Edition), Oregon Historical Society Press, Portland, Oregon, 2003, p. 935.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lewis_A._McArthur&oldid=1109290614"