Trademark records held in the Oregon State Archives begin in 1864 when the first trademark law was passed. This law required anyone who wanted the exclusive use of a name, mark, brand, designation or description, for any article of manufacture or trade, or for any mill, hotel, factory, machine shop or other place of business, to file with the Secretary of State, a particular description, or a facsimile, of such mark, brand, name designation or description with a fee of $2.50.

Trademarks in this exhibit reflect products produced during the later part of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. Oregon's fertile lands, huge forests and abundance of fish influenced the settlement of Oregon from the time of its first human habitation. Early products of the land included flour, fruit, salmon, and dairy products. Many trademarks reflect these products of Oregon. Trademarks from other states are also registered with the Secretary of State.

Other groups of trademarks in the Archives include patent medicines, clothing, liquor, household items, auto supplies and business establishments.

There are over 10,000 cancelled and expired trademark registration certificates, 1864-1971, and 29 volumes of trademark registers, 1864-1965, in the Oregon State Archives. One hundred seventy-four trademarks were selected from these records for this exhibit.

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Photographs: Farm Security Administration and the Office of War Information, 1935-1945
Includes images of salmon canneries in Astoria, Oregon and fishing at Celilo Falls on the Columbia River.

Carter, David. E. The Book of American Trade Marks. Ashland, Kentucky: Century Communications Unlimited, 1972. 

Morgan, Hal. Symbols of America. New York: Viking Press, 1986. 

Reid, Brian C. A Practical Introduction to Trademarks. Oxford; Tarrytown, New York: Pergamon, 1984. 

Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Trade Name Origins. London; Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1982. 

Schepps, Solomon J. The Concise Guide to Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright. New York: Bell Publishing Co., 1980.

Seufert, Francis, Wheels of Fortune. (Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. 1980.)

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