[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2009-12-04

Fri Dec 4 13:33:29 PST 2009

In this issue:
1.  Dozens of authors set for Sunday appearance
2.  Groups join to open Beekman House
3.  Baker City sets homes tour
4.  Early Oregonians database added to State Archives website
5.  Cultural Trust links can be added to your website
6.  Living history actors billed for Newell House, Champoeg events

DOZENS OF AUTHORS SET FOR SUNDAY APPEARANCES

More than three dozen authors of books related to Oregon history will
speak and sign books Dec. 6 at the Oregon History Museum, 1200 SW Park
Ave. 

The event is scheduled to take place from noon-5 p.m. with the author
signing taking place from noon-4 p.m. For more information, including a
list of the authors, visit 
http://www.ohs.org/visit-ohs/holiday-cheer.cfm

GROUPS JOIN TO OPEN BEEKMAN HOUSE

Volunteers from the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the
Jacksonville Boosters Club will open the Beekman House in Jacksonville
for tours for the next few weeks. The 1870s house will be open from 11
a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20. In addition there will be an
evening tour from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 12.  For more information, contact 
541 899-8118. 

BAKER CITY SETS HOMES TOUR

The 25th annual Baker City Historic Homes Tour will be from noon-5 p.m.
Dec. 12. The tour features 10 historic homes and buildings in Baker
City, once known as “The Queen City of the Inland Empire”. One of
the featured homes this year is the Wisdom House, built in 1878 by John
Wisdom, one of the first to arrive in Baker City by wagon train from
Missouri on the Oregon Trail. The tour is self guided and takes about 2 ½
hours. All proceeds to Historic Baker City, Inc. a member of the Oregon
Main Street program. Tickets may also be purchased at several Baker City
businesses or on the day of the tour at Basche-Sage Place, 2101 Main St.
 For more information,  contact Ann Mehaffy , Historic Baker City, Inc.,
at 541-523-5442 or www.historicbakercity.com 

EARLY OREGONIANS DATABASE ADDED TO STATE ARCHIVES WEBSITE

As a legacy to commemorate the sesquicentennial of Oregon’s
statehood, the Oregon State Archives announces the launch of the Early
Oregonians Database on its website
https://secure.sos.state.or.us/prs/personProfileSearch.do?earlyOregonian=true&searchReset=true

This resource uses data from census, death, probate, and other records
to help researchers find information and documents about people who
lived in Oregon prior to statehood. Volunteers at the Archives have
worked on this project for more than five years.  The database currently
contains over 105,500 entries for individuals who lived in Oregon prior
to statehood. Because of limits on available records and documentation,
the project can be defined to include people living in Oregon from 1800
to 1860. 

The foundation of information in the database is based on data
extracted from the 1850 and 1860 censuses for Oregon.  Volunteers have
created profiles of individuals that capture information about their
parents, spouses, and birth and death information.  When possible
additional information from records in the Archives holdings and other
published sources have been used to provide more complete or accurate
information.  

Various records from the Oregon State Archives such as probate records,
death certificates, and marriage records were searched to identify
individuals who appeared to meet the criteria. As additional features of
the database become functional, researchers will be able to view a list
of records associated with a particular individual that are part of the
Oregon State Archives holdings and request copies.

Despite the fact that large populations of Native Americans lived in
the Oregon Country prior to 1840, documentation of those individuals is
scant and not readily available. Because of this, Native Americans
presented a special challenge. Currently the database includes close to
3,500 individuals of Native American descent. Information on Native
Americans that lived into the twentieth century can be problematic as
well. Project volunteers are beginning to work on the Indian censuses
compiled for the various reservations between 1885 and 1940 with the
goal of incorporating more information and individuals in the project
over time.    

Further review and editing will result in additional entries when
evidence supports inclusion in the database. If you have documentation
you would like to contribute to the Early Oregonians Database, contact
the Archives staff at Early.Oregonians at state.or.us  A more detailed
description of the project and an FAQ are available at
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/eo_overview.html  and
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/eo_faqs.html 

CULTURAL TRUST LINKS CAN BE ADDED TO YOUR WEBSITE

Organizations that want to support the Oregon Cultural Trust can make
links from their websites to the Trust's website. 

For example, the Trust has developed a special banner ad for your
website that links to the Trust website and that could be used in e-mail
messages and electronic newsletters. These and other useful marketing
tools, including sample year-end reminder letters, are available at 
http://www.culturaltrust.org/about/toolkits.php

If you want additional information about how you can communicate about
the Cultural Trust to members, supporters and others, contact Trust
Communications Manager Cynthia Kirk at cynthia.kirk at state.or.us 

If you want to make a donation to the Cultural Trust to claim your tax
credit, go to
http://www.culturaltrust.org/donate/donate_and_receive_your_tax_credit.php

LIVING HISTORY ACTORS BILLED FOR NEWELL HOUSE, CHAMPOEG EVENTS

Costumed volunteers at the Champoeg State Heritage Area's Visitor
Center will help children and their families make 19th century-style
sugar plums, decorate gingerbread, play 19th century games and create
holiday decorations from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5.  This event is sponsored
by Friends of Historic Champoeg, a non-profit organization dedicated to
interpreting the cultural and natural history of Champoeg State Heritage
Area, and is free with a parking permit.  For more information contact
Kim Martin at 503-678-1649, or info at champoeg.org, or visit
www.champoeg.org.

Nearby, the Robert Newell House Museum will host  a candlelight tour
from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Costumed volunteers will depict James and
Cecelia McKay of St. Paul and the Newells in an engagement for the 1859
holidays, shortly after Oregon became a state. Newell House is located
at 8089 Champoeg Rd., NE, St. Paul, just 1/8th mile west of the Champoeg
State Heritage entrance.
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission,
which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us 