News & Press

Welcome to the first entirely on-line and e-mail Historian.  The new format helps OHS live within its reduced state allocation and allows us to give you more information at the reduced cost.  It is packed full of information about a wonderful line-up of fall exhibits and events.  Please take a moment to read through it and mark your calendar–there’s lots of excitement ahead!

To view the Fall Historian Newsletter click here (PDF 2MB)

Beginning July 15th, the Oregon Historical Society and Powell’s Books are launching a new partnership.  Now, when you take your used books to Powell’s you can choose to donate the proceeds from your sale to the Oregon Historical Society.  Through the end of 2009, you can turn your used books into a fully tax deductible donation.

Simply bring your used books to any Powell’s location and let the staff member know that you would like to donate the value of your books to the Oregon Historical Society.  Powell’s will issue you a receipt for your tax deductible gift and forward your entire donation to us.  Please note that donations can be accepted at Powell’s store locations and at its NW Warehouse only.  (Donations to OHS cannot be accepted through the Powells.com online book buying system.)  For store locations and buying hours, visit www.powells.com/sell.

Gifts support everything the Oregon Historical Society does, from exhibits and educational programs to research and collections preservation.  We could not accomplish our mission with out the vital support of the community and are excited to be partnering with Powell’s Books to create a new way for you to support our endeavors.

Quotes from Jon Guetschow, Director of Used Books:

“I'm really excited that our two Oregon institutions will be working together to keep history and ideas in circulation.”

“One of the best things I've seen exhibited at the Oregon Historical Society was a beautiful horse-drawn wagon for Meier & Frank.  With any luck one hundred years from now one of Powell's well-worn used book pricing carts will have joined OHS's collection.”

OHS funded at lower - level

Among the last bills passed by the House before adjournment was SB 961, which authorizes a “Pacific Wonderland” license plate and divides the net revenue after expenses between the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and the Oregon Historical Society.  License plate revenue should be about $633,000 in 2009-11 and a little more than that in 2011-13.  Because of startup time for plate design, recovery of initial costs, etc., we are unlikely to see plate revenue before 2010. 

Earlier, both houses passed the “Christmas Bush” bill, which contained a biennial appropriation of $625,000 for OHS.  Our 2007-09 biennial appropriation (before rescissions) was $2.8 million.  The Governor recommended $1.25 million, and the Co-chairs of Ways and Means recommended zero.  Most of the CHAMP participants received half of the Governor’s recommendation at session’s end.  OHS did considerably better.  For this we need to thank the CHAMP group, and particularly First Lady Mary Oberst, who lobbied hard for the full package; Sen. Betsy Johnson, who championed the license plate revenue; our lobbyists, Mark Nelson and Erica Hagedorn, who were very strategic and effective; and all of our friends and members who took time to write or call legislators.

Beginning Thursday, April 2nd, the Oregon Historical Society’s Research Library will be open to the public each week according to the following schedule:

Thursday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

"We are glad to be able to establish these new hours and appreciate the patience of our members and the public while board and staff planned operations under our new economic realities.  Veteran OHS library staff and volunteers will be ready to serve the public,” says Dr. George Vogt, Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society.

George Vogt was recently profiled in the March 28th edition of the Portland Tribune.

"George Vogt moved to Oregon 15 months ago with his standard poodle, Poster, and he isn’t one to look backward. Well, maybe a little bit. Well, maybe a lot.  Vogt is, after all, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society.

Poster mostly stays in Vogt’s office but also roams the halls around Vogt’s office.  Come to think of it, Vogt does pretty much the same.

Vogt has held similar posts at museums in Wisconsin and Delaware, and he’s had just enough time to take stock of the Oregon museum.  Mind you, we didn’t mean taking stock in a bad way, as in taking a museum’s stock to another location. Although that can happen at museums. Let Vogt explain…"

To see the full article, click here .