Sam Pambrun papers
Scope and Contents
The Sam Pambrun papers document the history of the Pambrun family, who have lived in the Walla Walla area since the early 19th century. This collection, which dates from 1885 to 2019, consists of born-digital files created by Sam Pambrun including interview transcripts, local history presentations, and family stories, documenting multiple generations of the Pambrun family. There are also original documents from the nineteenth century, including correspondence, receipts, and photographic images.
In addition to family history, the collection also sheds light on 19th and early 20th century regional history, including the fur trade, Frenchtown, the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Oregon Trail, and métis families. For additional information about the scope of the collection, see the “Preface to the Pambrun Papers,” in the Introduction folder.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1885-2019
Creator
- Pambrun, Sam (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for use.
Biographical Note
Sam Pambrun is a local historian, retired school administrator, and former president of the Umatilla Historical Society. The Pambrun family has lived in the Walla Walla area since the early 19th century when Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun, a French-Canadian, was stationed as the administrator for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Nez Perce. Pierre’s wife, Catherine “Kitty” Umfreville Pambrun, helped to lead Fort Nez Perce, while raising their six children.
Sam Pambrun is the great-grandson of Andrew Pambrun, who also worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company and served as an aide to Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens from 1855 to 1858. He served as a translator for the Cayuse Tribe during treaty negotiations in Walla Walla in 1855. He married Mary Cook, a woman of Cree-English descent, with whom he had twelve children.
Sam has conducted extensive interviews, collected stories, and given presentations to help document his family’s long history in the Walla Walla Valley.
Extent
1.2 Gigabytes (289 digital files)
5 Linear Feet (2 trunks)
.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Sam Pambrun is a local historian, retired school administrator, and former president of the Umatilla Historical Society. The Pambrun family has lived in the Walla Walla area since the early 19th century when Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun, a French-Canadian, was stationed as the administrator for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Nez Perce. This collection, which dates from circa 2000 to 2019, consists of born-digital files created by Sam Pambrun including interview transcripts, local history presentations, and family stories, documenting multiple generations of the Pambrun family.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives by Sam Pambrun on 2019 May 3. The accession number associated with this collection is 2019-014.
Subject
- Pambrun family (Family)
- Title
- Guide to the Sam Pambrun papers
- Author
- Dana Bronson
- Date
- 2019
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2023: Finding aid edited to include materials in accession 2013-014.
Repository Details
Part of the Whitman College and Northwest Archives Repository