Frances Auretta Victor (1826–1902), born Frances Fuller, was an American historian and historical novelist celebrated for her extensive documentation of the Pacific Northwest. Writing under her own name as well as pseudonyms like Florence Fane and Dorothy D., she became one of the first female historians to gain widespread recognition for her scholarly contributions to the history of the American West. Her literary career spanned both creative and historical writing, with a particular focus on the development, settlement, and history of Oregon. Through her detailed research and narrative style, Victor captured the transition of the western frontier, preserving the region's history for future generations. Her work remains a foundational resource for the study of Oregon's early statehood and the broader westward expansion. Over her lifetime, she published numerous books and articles that blended rigorous historical inquiry with engaging prose, establishing herself as a vital voice in nineteenth-century American regional literature and historiography.
