Theodore Gegoux  
The West Coast Years
(1910 to 1931)  

Chapter Eighteen - Champoeg Park   1920 to 1925
"Events are not considered to be history until all eye-witnesses have passed away and the monuments over their graves are covered with moss." Oregonian - May 13, 1923
Shortly after the fire, which destroyed Gegoux's studio, the artist was authorized to take up residence at the "Champoeg Pioneer Memorial Building", which had just been dedicated on May 2, 1918 and was located near the historical monument to the Founders of Oregon.  Gegoux was allowed to exhibit his paintings and live at Champoeg in exchange for duties as caretaker of the new State Park.  The "Inception of the Birth of Oregon" was considered finished in 1919.  By December of that year, Gegoux was already discussing the sale of the painting with Mr. Himes.  Gegoux filed a copyright on the painting in January of 1920 and it was featured at the Founders Day celebration that year.  However in September 1920, a group of clergy protested the presence of Father F. N. Blanchet in the painting.  It was determined that Father Blanchet had not been in attendance at the historic meeting in 1843. Accordingly, Gegoux painted Solomon H. Smith over the likeness of Father Blanchet.  The painting was finally signed and dated in 1923 and in 1924 Gegoux and his son Frank, finished the frame for the painting.
Here is a summary from the files of the Oregon Historical Society Written approximately sometime around 1920   Theodore Gegoux This gentleman is relatively unknown in Oregon, although lived in Portland for ten years.   This gentleman is relatively unknown in Oregon notwithstanding his arrival in the State more than fifteen years ago, ten years of which were spent in Portland.  Being in poor health at the time of his arrival he made no effort to make himself known, although he took it upon himself without orders from any source to paint bust portraits of all the Mayors of Portland, so far as possible to secure photographs.   In this he was aided by the curator of the Oregon Historical Society.  Therefore all the mayors of the city from the beginning up to the present incumbent, except Simon S. Marye, Addison N. Starr, and William H. Farrar, all prior to 1865, whose photographs it has not been possible to secure up to the present time, have been painted and neatly framed and may be seen in the rooms of the Oregon Historical Society.   Five years ago Mr. Gegoux (pronounced Gaygo) became greatly interested in the dramatic event of May 2, 1843, as told by a friend who had made a critical study of the meeting through checking up the statements of at least twenty of the men who participated in it, and decided that he would attempt to place it upon canvas.  Accordingly he found a small building nearby in which he established a studio and began composing his painting.   And now it is on exhibition practically for the first time.  It came near being destroyed by fire a few months ago, Mr. Gegoux losing his studio and all his effects, and the painting upon which he had spent so much time had a narrow escape.   The custodians of the Champoeg Memorial building are Judge P. H. D'Arcy, a past president of the Oregon Pioneer Association, and George H. Himes, Portland, Secretary of the Oregon Pioneer Association, and Curator of the Oregon Historical Society, and they have made Mr. Gegoux the caretaker of the Memorial Building.
News & Letters While at Champoeg Park (1920 to 1925)
Letter to Grandson Victor   November 19, 1920   My Birthday Today - Aurora, Oregon
Letter - Geo. Himes to Gegoux   April 28, 1920   Birth of Oregon booklets are ready .. sent to Gegoux
Letter - Geo. Himes to Gegoux   April 29, 1920   All is set for founders day - Aurora, Oregon
Letter - Geo. Himes to Gegoux   September 4, 1920   Priests object to Father Blanchet in painting .. they state he was not at meeting ..
Receipt - Gegoux   April 18, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)         D. C. Burns Grocery receipt .. brooms ..
Letter - Theo Gegoux to Geo. Himes   April 19, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)         New saw & broom .. A. M. Prentis photographer has visited ..
Letter - Theo Gegoux to Geo. Himes   April 21, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Broom receipt enclosed .. Ben Smith's live stock would prevent garden ..
Letter - Geo. Himes to Gegoux   April 29, 1921   Last minute preparations for founders day .. Gegoux's hand written reply ..
Letter to Grandson Victor   April 27, 1921   Hand Writing Lesson
Letter - Theo Gegoux to Geo. Himes - page 1   May 2, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)       Letter - Theo Gegoux to Geo. Himes - page 2   May 2, 1921   Himes visits Champoeg .. Gegoux requests milk ..
Letter - Geo. Himes to Theo Gegoux   May 3, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Preparations for visit and founders day ..
Letter - Theo Gegoux to Geo. Himes   May 10, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Gegoux requests grocery invoice ..
Letter - Theo Gegoux to Mrs. Eldriedge   May 20, 1921   Thank you note for school children visit ..
Letter - Geo. Himes to Theo Gegoux   August 5, 1921       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Party of visitors expected ..
Letter - Geo. Himes to Theo Gegoux   January 2, 1922       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Apology correspondence heavy ..
Watertown Daily Times   May 22, 1922   Painting of Pioneers wins praise
Letter - D. D. Hail to Geo. Himes   December 2, 1922       Portable Document Format (PDF)   D. D. Hail enters as Gegoux's attorney ..
Letter - Geo. Himes to Theo Gegoux   December 21, 1922       Portable Document Format (PDF)   Talks of desire to visit and addresses portrait storage issues ..
Letter - Geo. Himes to Miss Failing   January 3, 1923       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Introduction to Mayors paintings .. interest inquiry..
Watertown Daily Times   April 4, 1923   Gegoux hopes to sell masterpiece
The Oregonian   May 13, 1923, by Jay C. Allen   Gegoux at Champoeg
The Oregonian   May 25, 1923  Painting Tells Wonder Tale   Another Plea Made for Public Acquiremnt of Champoeg Painting
The Oregonian   January 3, 1925   Famous Painting in State House
The Oregon Journal   January 4, 1925   Painting shows Birth of Oregon
The Oregonian   January 6, 1925 - Pages 1 & 7   Famous Painting Unveiled in Governor's Office
The Oregonian   January 6, 1925 - Page 13   Famous Painting viewed by Executives in State House
The Oregon Journal   February 22, 1925  by Winifred Pickering   Famous Painting in Govenor's House
The Oregonian   February 24, 1925  State House, Salem, Oregon   Appropriation Bill for Birth of Oregon Painting Defeated
The Oregonian   March 4, 1925  Meier & Frank Company Hosts Exhibition   The Birth of Oregon in Picture-Story