Oregon Territorial Centennial 1848-1948 Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp First Day of Issue Envelope

On August 14, 1948 the United States Postal Service issued an Oregon Territorial Centennial 1848-1948 Commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp. The stamp commemorates the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Oregon territorial government and pictures a wagon on the Oregon Trail and portraits of John McLoughlin and Jason Lee. The envelope also has a picture of Oregon's first governor, Joseph Lane, and the Oregon Territorial Seal, and is addressed to Irving Levine of New Rochelle, New York.

John McLoughlin was director of the Hudson Bay Company (a British Trading firm) in the Oregon region from 1824-46. During that time, he effectively governed the region and did a great deal to encourage and aid settlers. Remembered as the father of Oregon, he eventually became a U.S. citizen. Rev. Jason Lee played a key role in organizing the settlement of Oregon and establishing its territorial government. Lee presided over Oregon’s first territorial organization meeting in 1841. Later, he helped to form the territory’s provisional government. Unfortunately, Rev. Lee died before the Oregon Territory was formed