[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2009-06-03

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  Geographic names board to meet in Charleston
2.  Wagon troop plans stops in five cities
3.  Coos historical museum opens new exhibit June 6
4.  Indian Country exhibit heads to Lincoln County
5.  Northwest history dissertation prize offered


GEOGRAPHIC NAMES BOARD TO MEET IN CHARLESTON

The Oregon Geographic Names Board (OGNB) will hold its summer board
meeting at the South Slough National Esutarine Research Reserve
Interpretive Center located five miles south of Charleston on Seven
Devils Road.  The meeting begins at 1 p.m. June 20 and is open to the
public.

The board is associated with the Oregon Historical Society and is an
advisor to the United States Board on Geographic Names. The OGNB
supervises the naming of geographic features in the state of Oregon to
standardize geographic nomenclature, prevent confusion and duplication
in naming geographic features, and correct previous naming errors.  It
is comprised of 25 appointed board members representing all geographic
areas of the state and is served by advisors from government agencies
and the private sector.  Board member Charlie Kocher of Brookings
represents the south coast area of Oregon.

The board meeting agenda will include the review and discussion of a
number of proposed names for unnamed geographic features and proposed
replacement names that would eliminate the word *squaw* from
existing geographic names.  The agenda will address various geographic
features located in Clackamas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane and Wallowa
counties.  For more information contact Vaughan at molalla.net> or
george.vogt at OHS.org.


WAGON TROOP PLANS STOPS IN FIVE CITIES

Beginning June 10, the Ezra Meeker covered wagon will be part of an
expedition of the Ezra Meeker Historical Society and the
Oregon-California Trails Association that will stop in Oregon City,
Salem, Grants Pass, Jacksonville and Rainier. Each visit will include
presentations about Ezra Meeker, his life, and the Oregon Trail.  Meeker
(1830-1928) was a Washington pioneer, successful hops farmer, merchant
and an influential advocate for preserving the Oregon Trail.

The Meeker will be at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Museum
in Oregon City beginning at 1 p.m. June 10; at the Mission Mill Museum
in Salem beginning at 10:30 a.m. June 11; at the Josephine County
Historical Society in Grants Pass starting at 1 p.m. June 12; in
Jacksonville for a parade and presentations starting at 10 a.m. June 13;
and at Rainier Middle School beginning at 8 a.m. June 15.


COOS HISTORICAL MUSEUM OPENS NEXT EXHIBIT JUNE 6

The Coos Historical and Maritime Museum will open the second
installment of its exhibit *Oregon 150: Looking Back on Coos County*
on June 6. For additional information, contact ccollections at verizon.net
or call 541-756-6320.


INDIAN COUNTRY EXHIBIT HEADS TO LINCOLN COUNTY

The traveling exhibit "Oregon Is Indian Country" will open at three
Lincoln County sites June 6 and continue through the month. Each site
will host one part of the story of the nine federally recognized tribes
of Oregon. "The Land" will be at the Siletz Public Library at 255 S.
Gaither in Siletz; "Federal Indian Policies" will be at the Lincoln City
Cultural Center at 540 NE Hwy. 101 in Lincoln City; and "Traditions that
Bind" will be at the Log Cabin Museum of the Lincoln County Historical
Society at 545 SW
Ninth St. in Newport.

The exhibit is a direct result of the Oregon Tribes Project, a
multi-year collaboration between the Oregon Historical Society's
Folklife Program and Oregon's nine tribes. Tribal members documented
their traditions and worked with OHS staff to create the exhibition.
Support for this exhibit is provided by Cow Creek Umpqua Indian
Foundation; Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and the Siletz
Tribal Council; Spirit Mountain Community Fund; Wildhorse Foundation;
Institute of Museum
and Library Services; Oregon Arts Commission; Oregon Heritage
Commission; Collins Foundation; Jackson Foundation; PGE Foundation; and
the Oregon Council for the Humanities.

For more information, contact the Siletz Public Library at
541-444-2855, the Lincoln City Cultural Center at 541-994-9994, or the
Lincoln County Historical Society at 541-265-7509.


NORTHWEST HISTORY DISSERTATION PRIZE OFFERED

The Institute for Pacific Northwest Studies at the University of Idaho
is offering a cash award of $750 for the best dissertation on a topic in
Pacific Northwest history.

Eligible candidates must have completed the doctoral  degree in
history, or a related field, between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, vita, a letter of
support from the major professor, and four copies of the complete
dissertation by  July 1 to the institute. The committee will judge the
entries on the originality and sophistication of the argument, the
extensive and creative use of  research, the contribution to existing
historiography, and the clarity and strength of the writing.

For more information, contact Adam M. Sowards  asowards at uidaho.edu.
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which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us