Events Calendar
 What's Happening? From our interactive museum exhibits to our Research Library to our premier meeting and event space, there's always something fun happening at the Oregon Historical Society. See below for upcoming events.
Spring & Summer 2013 Calendar of Events click here (PDF) Want to be the first to find out about new events and exhibits at OHS? Sign up for our e-mail list History Pub “Land-Use Planning at Middle Age: Oregon’s SB 100 Turns 40” with Sy Adler, professor of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University Monday, May 20 at 7 PM (doors open at 6 PM) At McMenamins Kennedy School Co-sponsored with Holy Names Heritage Center, McMenamins, 1,000 Friends of Oregon, and funded by the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition (via the Oregon Cultural Trust) Free & open to the public; donations to the Oregon Food Bank accepted
History Pub honors the 40th anniversary of the passage of Oregon’s landmark land-use legislation, SB 100, with a special presentation on the history of the law’s creation and its implementation during the initial, critical years. Presenters include Dr. Sy Adler, PSU professor of Urban Studies and Planning and author of Oregon Plans: The Making of an Unquiet Land Use Revolution. Building History Workshop: Your House in History “Researching Buildings Using Local Archives” Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m. – Noon Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members RSVP: libreference@ohs.org or 503-306-5240 (Space is limited so sign up soon!)
Do you want to learn more about the history of your house or building? Are you curious about who lived in your house or what businesses operated in your building? Learn about the various resources available for uncovering building histories in the Davies Family Research Library at the Oregon Historical Society as well as at other local institutes and online. The workshop will cover accessing and utilizing the different resources for researching the history of a building, including photographs, city directories, databases and maps. Book Signing: Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory by R. Gregory Nokes
Powell’s City of Books (1005 W. Burnside St., Portland) Sponsored by Powell’s and the Oregon Historical Society
Missouri slaves Robin and Polly Holmes and their children were brought to Oregon in 1844 by their owner, Nathaniel Ford, with the promise of freedom in exchange for developing his Willamette Valley farm. Ignoring the Oregon Territory's unenforced law against slavery, Ford didn't free the parents until 1850, even then keeping their children. Seeking the return of his son and two daughters, Holmes took his former master — an influential farmer and legislator — to court. In his new book, R. Gregory Nokes tells the story of the only slavery case adjudicated in Oregon’s pre–Civil War courts. He follows the largely unknown experiences of other Oregon slaves and explores the historical context of racism in the West. Community Day Saturday, June 22 Activities from 11 AM – 3 PM Free admission for everyone!
Join us for a full day of activities for adults and kids as we celebrate the opening of summer exhibits focused on civil rights and leadership in American history. The day will include docent-led gallery tours, stories from real-life history makers, kids’ activities, live music, and food vendors on our plaza. Lunchtime Lecture: “Lincoln: Historical Reflections on Hollywood’s Interpretation” Dr. G. Thomas Edwards, William Kirkman Professor of History Emeritus, Whitman College Wednesday, June 26 at 12 PM OHS Madison Room Free with museum admission
Professor Edwards, who for many years taught classes about the Civil War and has led several tours of battlefield sites, offers a historian’s insights on the recent Hollywood blockbuster, Lincoln. He will address questions such as: Was the debate over the Thirteenth Amendment the best issue for film makers to address? What is the historical basis for the film? What additional context or scenes could have been included, and what historical inaccuracies are portrayed in the film? Regardless of how you felt about the film (or if you saw it at all), this presentation will offer a historian’s insights on a significant historical event. Maxville Annual Gathering Saturday, June 29, 10 AM – 4 PM City Park, Downtown Wallowa
A program of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center, proudly co-sponsored by the Oregon Historical Society The Maxville Annual Gathering — a full-day family-friendly event that celebrates the logging history of Wallowa County — is organized by the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center, which collects, preserves, and interprets the rich history of the multicultural logging community of Maxville, Oregon, and similar communities in the Pacific Northwest. (Learn more about the Center in the Summer 2012 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly.) This year’s gathering will feature talks by regional and national scholars about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps, including the particular history of African Americans who served and the Corps’ impact on the Pacific Northwest. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. Book Signing: Nikkei Baseball: Japanese American Players From Immigration To Internment To The Major Leagues with Samuel Regalado Wednesday, July 10 at 12 PM OHS Madison Room Free with museum admission
Join author Samuel Regalado for a talk and book signing on his newest work, Nikkei Baseball. According to Japanese Americans author Paul R. Spickard, the book is, “a worthy intellectual contribution that details the transformation of the meaning of baseball for Japanese Americans,[and is] is likely to be on the shelves of every scholar of sport history.” A historian of sport history himself, Regalado has appeared on NPR, PBS, "The American Experience," and was a 1994 Smithsonian Fellow. History Pub “Holmes v. Ford: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory” with R. Gregory Nokes, author of Breaking Chains: Slavery on Trial in the Oregon Territory Monday, July 29 at 7 PM (doors open at 6 PM) At McMenamins Kennedy School Co-sponsored with Holy Names Heritage Center and McMenamins Free & open to the public; donations to the Oregon Food Bank accepted
Missouri slaves Robin and Polly Holmes and their children were brought to Oregon in 1844 by their owner, Nathaniel Ford, with the promise of freedom in exchange for developing his Willamette Valley farm. Ignoring the Oregon Territory's unenforced law against slavery, Ford didn't free the parents until 1850, even then keeping their children. Seeking the return of his son and two daughters, Holmes took his former master — an influential farmer and legislator — to court. In his new book, R. Gregory Nokes (author of Massacred for Gold: The Chinese in Hells Canyon) tells the story of the only slavery case adjudicated in Oregon’s pre–Civil War courts. He follows the largely unknown experiences of other Oregon slaves and explores the historical context of racism in the West. History Pub Portland in the 1960s: Stories from the Counterculture with author Polina Olsen Monday, August 26, 7 PM At McMenamins Bagdad Theater *note different location* Co-sponsored with Holy Names Heritage Center and McMenamins Free & open to the public; donations to the Oregon Food Bank accepted
The August History Pub will feature a panel discussion with Portland author Polina Olsen and notable counterculture icons of the era. Following the presentation, local musicians will perform songs that inspired and were inspired by this revolutionary time. In 1968, Newsweek reported an imminent threat of twenty thousand hippies descending on Portland, Oregon. Although the numbers were exaggerated, Portland did boast a vibrant 1960s culture of disenchanted and disenfranchised individuals seeking social and political revolution. Barefoot and bell-bottomed, they hung out in Portland's bohemian underground and devised a better world. What began in coffee shop conversations found its voice in the Willamette Bridge newspaper, KBOO radio station, and the Portland State University student strike, resulting in social, artistic, and political change in the Rose City. The panelists will bring to life the beat-snapping Caffe Espresso, the incense and black light posters of the Psychedelic Supermarket, and the spontaneous concerts and communal soups in Lair Park. Make Your Next Meeting Historic! Are you a member of a group or organization that would like to learn more about the Oregon Historical Society? Invite an OHS volunteer docent to attend your next meeting to learn about the exciting programs and services YOUR Historical Society has to offer!
Please fill out the form below and return to Rachel Randles at communications@ohs.org or by mail to 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205. Once we receive your request, we will connect you with a volunteer docent to further discuss your event.
Event Request Form (PDF) Partner Events & Programs OHS Partners with Vanport Oral History Film Fest Contest Contest Deadline: September 30, 2013 Monthly submissions due on the last day of each month
The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) has partnered with The Skanner Foundation to promote the North Portland Multimedia Training Center’s (NPMTC) 2013 Vanport Oral History Film Festival Contest. The 2013 contest, also sponsored by the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, invites submissions of a 3-5 minute video “snapshot” of individuals sharing their history. Although the film fest is named in honor of the lost city of Vanport, any topic or individual may be filmed as long as it can be classified as “oral history.” Another change this year is that any recording device can be used as long as the production transmits electronically or can be put on a DVD. For contest rules and to register, go to www.npmtc.com.
OHS will share their expertise to promote the contest through social media, event announcements and materials. Both organizations believe this is a great opportunity to increase historical awareness to the Portland community through the oral history genre. Portland Taiko presents INSATIABLE March 29 at 8 PM March 30 at 2 PM & 8 PM PSU Lincoln Performance Hall Tickets range from $16- $30 | Buy tickets online at www.portlandtaiko.org
Portland Taiko and the Oregon Historical Society have partnered up in 2013 to offer you an exclusive deal with Portland Taiko. Use the code “PTPartner” when ordering online and save 10% off adult price level tickets! About INSATIABLE: INSATIABLE is a premiere of innovative compositions featuring the vision of Artistic Director, Michelle Fujii. Join us as we explore the possibilities of the art form of taiko through contemporary reflections on Japanese folk dance.This evocative program will push the performers into an exploration of drumming, dance, and voice seamlessly. This full length work explores life’s endless cycles that are never satisfied, unavoidable connections and interwoven relationships. How does the relentless passing of time shape your decisions? Does this cycle consume or empower us? Oregon Experience From historical biographies to issues and events that have shaped our state, Oregon Experience is an exciting television series co-produced by OPB and the Oregon Historical Society. The series explores Oregon's rich past and helps all of us — from natives to newcomers — gain a better understanding of the historical, social and political fabric of our state.
Each half-hour show brings to life fascinating characters — both familiar and forgotten — who've played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Wilsonville History Night Pollution in Paradise: Tom McCall’s Environmental Documentary Tuesday, May 28 at 6:30 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) McMenamins Old Church and Pub, 30340 SW Boones Ferry Rd, Wilsonville Co-sponsored by Wilsonville Public Library, Wilsonville-Boones Ferry Historical Society, KGW- TV, McMenamins in celebration of the Tom McCall centennial
Join us for a screening of the complete, landmark KGW-TV documentary Pollution in Paradise, which will include a contextual introduction and post-screening Q&A led by William G. Robbins, Emeritus Distinguished Professor of History, Oregon State University. KGW-TV aired McCall’s famous documentary on November 12, 1962. In his sharply critical report of the condition of the Willamette, as Robbins notes, McCall firmly staked out a moral position in the pollution debate and pushed questions of livability to the forefront of public attention. Dr. Robbins joined the faculty at Oregon State University in 1971, where he has taught courses in the History of the American West and Environmental History. He has authored and edited several books, including Oregon: This Storied Land (2006) and Landscapes of Conflict: The Oregon Story, 1940–2000 (2004). |
