Local Treasures - Special Collections and Archives in the Portland Area

Friday, December 4th , 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. 
Central Library, U.S. Bank Room
Multnomah County Library
801 S.W. 10th Avenue, Portland 97205

Workshop Description:
The Portland area is rich in primary documents and historical records. Learn about the wonderful resources available in local archives and special collections, and their availablity to the public, in this training at Multnomah County Central Library. Archivists and librarians will be available to talk about their collections, including these local treasures:

  • The Oregon Historical Society Research Library has gathered one of the most comprehensive collections of local, state, and regional history in the country, with holdings that chronicle the history of the Oregon Country from early exploration to the present day. Collection strengths include: European discovery, exploration, and settlement; Native Americans; local history, family history, and genealogy; the fur trade; agriculture, timber, mining, and fisheries; performing arts; business; architecture and building history; politics and government; religion; and transportation
  • The City of Portland Archives and Records Center  is the official repository for records created by or for the City of Portland and its agencies.  The collections provide important historical evidence of the development of city government since 1851. Research subjects documented by the collection include public policy, urban planning, parks, land use, public works, economic development, public safety and social issues. The collection includes reports and studies, correspondence and memoranda from city agencies, and elected officials, maps and plans, and nearly 750,000 photographic images of City projects and personnel.
  • The Multnomah County Archives contains records documenting county activities from its formation in 1854 until the present. The collection of records, maps and drawings, audio recordings and microfilm provide historical evidence of the Board of County Commissioners, Community Justice, Community Services, County Human Services, Health, Library Services, defunct agencies, and much more.
  • Central Library's John Wilson Special Collections houses the rare book and other special collections of Multnomah County Library. Six core collections include those devoted to the book arts and the history of the book; children's literature; natural history; Pacific Northwest history; literature with particular strengths of Charles Dickens and D. H. Lawrence; and Native American literature.
  • Oregon Jewish Museum: As the only Jewish museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Jewish Museum houses the largest collection of the documented and visual history of the Jewish people of Oregon in existence. The Special Collections Archives contains personal papers, institutional records, and ephemeral material dating from 1850 to the present, representing 450 individuals, families and organizations and businesses.
  • Oregon State Library: In addition to a strong collection of materials on Oregon history and culture, the Oregon State Library has an extensive collection of Oregon documents (documents published by State and Territorial governments) which include monographs, serials, audio-visual items and maps from 1851 to the present. The State Library also has manuscripts and photographs from the WPA Writers Project and a collection of 5000-plus photographs primarily of Oregon government officials and buildings, and the Salem area.

Educate yourself about these wonderful resources, and then share your knowledge with your library users or students!

Presenters:

Diana Banning has been the City Archivist for the City of Portland since 1997.  She has an MLS from the University of Washington (pre "I-School") and is a Certified Archivist. 
Terry Baxter is the County Archivist for Multnomah County. He has worked as an archivist for 25 years at the Oregon State Archives, Pacific Corp, and Multnomah County..
Jim Carmin has been the librarian at Multnomah County Library's John Wilson Special Collections since 1998.  Along with a particular fondness for correspondence, his special interests include book arts and literary arts, which are also the subject of many exhibitions that he's curated during the last decade. 
Shawna Gandy is an archivist at the Oregon Historical Society   She has an MA in History from PSU, and is active in library preservation.
Dave Hegeman is the Special Collections Coordinator and the Business Reference Librarian at the Oregon State Library.
Bob Kingston, the moderator for the training, is a reference librarian at Portland Community College.
Anne Prahl has been working with the collection at the Oregon Jewish Museum since 1995. She has a Masters Degree in Anthropology and Folklore from the University of Texas, Austin.


Cost:
Student rate: $25
Regular rate: $35

Registration:
After you have registered, please make out your payment check to PCC and mail to

Roberta Richards
PCC Sylvania Library, Room 202
PO Box 19000
Portland, OR 97280-0990

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