Ellen Martha Savage was born 16 October 1895 in Salem, Oregon to John Claggett and Mary Catherine [Whelan] Savage. She was the granddaughter of Oregon pioneers Henry H. and Martha [Claggett] Savage who crossed the plains in 1850. Her father operated a general store in Waconda, a station on the old Oregon Electric railroad southwest of Gervais. Ellen attended Willamette University where she met Orrin Bryan Goodenough. Bryan was a native of Astoria that moved to Salem in 1907. He graduated from the College of Law at Willamette in 1926, then worked for the Oregon Supreme Court until 1948, followed by private practice. The couple married on 17 May 1917 in Salem, OR and were the parents of two daughters, Mary Eileen and Maxine. The Goodenough family were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church, patrons of local history in their support for the Marion County Historical Society, Deepwood, and the Bush House, and members of service organizations such as the Lions Club. They had been married 68 years at the time of their deaths in November 1985. Both are buried in Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem.

This collection contains scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and textile items from Ellen Savage Goodenough of Salem, OR.

Click here to access collection list: Ellen Savage Goodenough Collection

Preferred Citation:

Ellen Savage Goodenough Collection, Willamette Heritage Center, 2023.007

Restrictions on Use:

The Ellen Savage Goodenough Collection is the physical property of the Willamette Heritage Center. Please contact the Willamette Heritage Center for information regarding specific use of this collection.

Processing Information:

Collection processed and researched by Rose Marie Thorpe and Kaylyn F. Mabey, 2023.