I am the descendant and modern steward of a never‑before‑published 1890s manuscript written by Charles Lane Mosher, a member of the historic Lane–Mosher family of Oregon and a documented frontier newspaperman whose work circulated across multiple states. Although he is not widely written about today, he appears in Oregon’s pioneer‑era records and contributed to the early development of Western journalism.

For 130 years, his completed novel remained preserved within my family archive. Today, after extensive restoration and transcription, I am preparing it for publication for the first time. This petition seeks public recognition of his place within Oregon’s historical record, the Lane–Mosher family’s legacy, and support for making the published edition of his manuscript available in libraries.

This novel is an esoteric mystery, set in New York City as well as New Mexico, written and taking place in the late 1800s.

The Lane–Mosher family is part of Oregon’s pioneer‑era heritage, and Charles Lane Mosher represents a branch of that lineage whose story has remained largely untold. His life reflects:

• The experience of early Oregon families
• The movement of frontier journalists across the American West
• The political and cultural landscape of the late 19th century
• The creative ambitions of a young writer whose life ended too soon

His unpublished novel which is an esoteric mystery set in New York City, is not journalism, but it is a rare surviving piece of his personal history and creative identity. It offers insight into the private literary work of a man whose public career shaped early Western reporting.

This manuscript also survived the Great Book Scare! Since Mosher died of tuberculosis during the era known as the Great Book Scare (1870s–1920s), when people genuinely believed diseases like TB could spread through paper and book dust. Many writers of the time asked for their manuscripts to be burned out of fear of infecting others.

It is entirely possible that Mosher withheld publication not out of hesitation, but out of caution. The survival of this manuscript is extraordinary and adds to its historical value.

What This Petition Seeks
1. Recognition of Charles Lane Mosher within Oregon’s historical and genealogical record. This includes acknowledging his role as a frontier newspaperman and his place within the Lane–Mosher family’s pioneer‑era history.

2. Recognition of the manuscript as part of his personal legacy. Not as journalism, but as a surviving artifact of his life, creativity, and story, as well as a manuscript that survived the Great Book Scare of the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. 

3. Support for Oregon libraries to catalog the published edition of the restored manuscript. This allows readers and researchers to access his work without risking the fragile original documents.

 

 

 

What the Published Edition Will Include
The restored published edition is being prepared as a historically informed volume that documents both the manuscript and the life of its author.

It will include:

• A concise official biography of Charles Lane Mosher, outlining his role as a frontier newspaperman and his place within the Lane–Mosher family’s pioneer‑era history.
• A reproduction of the original 1893 Library of Congress copyright certificate, issued for the manuscript and signed by the Librarian of Congress of that era.
• The full restored 1890s manuscript, presented in a modern published format while preserving the integrity of the original text.

This edition serves as the first consolidated historical record of Mosher’s life and creative work, allowing readers and researchers to access his story without handling the fragile original documents.

 

Ownership & Copyright Notice
The original manuscripts remain the private property of the descendant‑steward and are not being donated, transferred, digitized, or surrendered. This petition does not authorize any institution to:

• scan
• archive
• digitize
• store
• or take physical custody of the manuscripts

All copyrights to the unpublished work and the restored edition are held by the steward and remain fully intact.

This petition seeks only:

• Recognition of the Lane–Mosher family’s historical significance
• Recognition of Charles Lane Mosher’s legacy
• The cataloging of the published edition in libraries

No part of this petition alters copyright ownership.

 

Why Your Support Matters
By signing this petition, you help:

1. Restore the legacy of a documented frontier journalist
2. Preserve the history of the Lane–Mosher family
3. Support public access to a rare piece of 19th‑century creative work
4. Ensure that this manuscript once hidden by illness, fear, and circumstance can finally be read, studied, and appreciated

Thank you for helping bring this forgotten chapter of Oregon’s pioneer history and 19th century literature into the public light safely, responsibly, and with respect for the man who wrote it.

 

To follow the restoration process or support the archival work directly, I maintain a dedicated Patreon tier where I share manuscript scans, working transcriptions, and restoration updates. This helps fund the preservation and publication of the Mosher Manuscript.

The Western Star Press Website

Charles Lane-Mosher Manuscript Project