Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 44/Thompson Coit Elliott, 1862-1943: A Tribute
THOMPSON COIT ELLIOTT, 1862–1943
A TRIBUTE
F. W. HOWAY
WITH THE DEATH, on May 5, 1943, at the ripe age o years, of Mr. T. C. Elliott of Walla Walla, passed t most outstanding figure, the doyen, of Pacific Coast histori For over 30 years the name "T. C. Elliott" appended to historical study has been recognized as the hallmark of q and accuracy. At first he chose the Inland Empire as his and delighted to follow the wanderings of David Thom from the Rockies to the Pacific, and to settle the exact posi of his trading posts, or to trace the footsteps of Lewis and and the Overland Astorians; but in later years he turned sionally to the maritime side of the story and presented with same patient elucidation and identification the accounts o first contacts of the explorers and traders along the O coast. He was never happier than when engaged in ed some early journal; then, his intimate knowledge of the coun the men, and the customs of the fur-trade, land or mari shone forth and transformed a seemingly dry-as-dust r into an entrancing human story. Though thoroughly familiar with the whole story of th cific Northwest, Mr. Elliott could not be induced to attem detailed, connected, and complete history of the region chose, rather, to smooth the path of the future historian b tensive and exhaustive studies of pe connected with the romantic days p ment of Oregon. Outstanding there of the life of Peter Skene Ogden, th gether the biography of one whom "humorous, honest, eccentric, law-d the Indians, and the delight of all gay Elliott's historical activities covers 3 the Oregon Historical Quarterly; it over and above some 16 original jou many book reviews. His last contrib peared in the September 1942 num dated July 30, 1822, from Donald M venture, to Wilson Price Hunt. To Quarterly he contributed at least 30 some 15 original journals and docum record of the completely filled leisu ness man's life! His great fund of local informatio in demand as a speaker at historical exercises; and nowhere did that exact advantage than in his full and inst Tyrrell's Narrative of David Thomps and a true light upon Thompson's ev Rockies. Mr. Elliott's illuminating n graphical, contributed largely to t acknowledged to be the most succes the publications of the Champlain S Modest and unassuming, Mr. Elliot from his pen, but in 1935 he gathe volume which he called Historical A that he evidently thought of espec. Carey in volume 36 of this Quarter most laudatory language, but with w dent agreed: With him, wrote Judge Carey, it is without investigation. The labor of ge verifying and checking against error
against that form of error that comes from under or over statement, is well repaid by the result. After he has examined all possible evidence, and has weighed all conflicting accounts, his read er may at once discern the soundness of his opinion. To the author the labor is its own reward. Mr. Elliott's solid position in historical scholarship was recognized in Oregon by his constant election for more than 30 years as one of the directors of the Oregon Historical Society, and in Washington by his many years of service as a director of the Washington State Historical Society, and, generally, by his membership in the American Historical Association. It brought him honors also: in 1919, in recognition of his high standing as an historical scholar, the University of Oregon conferred on him its Honorary Degree of Master of Arts, and in 1930 his Alma Mater, Amherst College, granted him an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature, and in 1938 the British Columbia Historical Society made him an Honorary Member; in 1935 Mr. Elliott's historical scholarship was recognized by his election as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Leaving an enviable reputation as a man, an historian, and a scholar, Thompson Coit Elliott, B.A., M.A., D.Litt., F.R.Hist.S., passed peaceably from this life, at the age of 80 years-a student, a scholar, an enthusiastic worker in history to the last.
THE OREGON TRAIL
The development of the Oregon Trail may be termed an example of the ""survival of the fittest to survive." The white man has followed in the track of the red man. . .. With the advent of the white man came commerce, then habitation here and there, and progress step by step to the civilization of the present day.... Such centenaries as this which recall the deeds and men of former years fitly contribute to the culture of the present—T. C. Elliott.