[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2026-01-30

[INFO Heritage * OPRD]

Oregon Heritage News 2026-01-30
In this Issue:

  *   Oregon Humanities event featured at the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference
  *   GRANT OPPORTUNITIES! Are you seeking funding for museum, cemetery, archaeology, or historic property projects in Oregon?
  *   Learn about the Smithsonian Democracy in Dialogue virtual exchange program available to Oregon cultural organizations, Feb. 3
  *   Save the date: Letitia Carson Symposium May 15
  *   Oral History Association annual meeting in Portland, proposals due Feb. 20
  *   Oregon Historic cemeteries commission new member appointed and February 6 meeting
  *   Oregon’s Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site seeks seasonal rangers
  *   Oregon Museums Association webinar on oral history, Feb. 3
  *   Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon hosts online Arts & Culture Advocacy Training, Feb. 17
  *   Oregon Commission for Women (OCFW) seeks nominations for Women of Achievement Awards

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Oregon Humanities event featured at the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference
Oregon Humanities Consider This: Labor, Farmworker Organizing, and Histories of Indigenous Communities in Oregon
April 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Mt. Angel Theater Studio, 220 E Charles St, Mt. Angel
Reserve your required, free tickets at the Oregon Humanities calendar page<https://www.oregonhumanities.org/events/consider-this-labor-farmworker-organizing-and-histories-of-indigenous-communities-in-oregon/>.
Joaquín Lara Midkiff moderates this conversation with three panelists with deep experience and commitment with this topic and the region. The conversation will illuminate the many ways that the mid-Willamette Valley has been home to powerful farmworker and solidarity movements that transformed the lives of migrant laborers and reshaped Oregon's political and economic landscape.
For more information about 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference events, visit here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/heritageconference.aspx>.
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Are you seeking funding for museum, cemetery, archaeology, or historic property projects in Oregon?
Oregon Heritage has opened applications for several grant programs. The website provides all of the basic information. Free, online workshops are being offered for each program. And Kuri Gill, the grant manager, is available to talk through project ideas and provide support. For grant related questions, translation and accessibility needs, contact her at Kuri.gill at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:Kuri.gill at oprd.oregon.gov> or 503-986-0685.
Diamonds in the Rough Grant – Information<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx#five>
For historic building façade restoration.
Workshop - February 25, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Register<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/jg42new-QQCFIT7vtnVmPw>
Oregon Historic Cemeteries Grant - Information<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx#six>
For projects in cemeteries listed with the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries.
Workshop – February 24, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Register<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/RCf_5AleQb-TWa_kyzP0Mg>
Oregon Museum Grant – Information<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx#six>
Museums can apply for collections, interpretation and education, and tourism related projects.
Workshop - February 24, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Register<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CYsJwmDlQX-QqbkJ1Tt7Xg>
Preserving Oregon Grant – Information<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx#ten>
To complete preservation work on historic properties and for archaeology projects.
Historic Property Workshop - February 25, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Register<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tvH76Cq_QueVpcGoZefR8g>
Archaeology Project Workshop - February 24, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Register<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DPg-uC2xS1OTlR4tY0ptkA>
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Learn about the Smithsonian Democracy in Dialogue virtual exchange program available to Oregon cultural organizations, Feb. 3
Join Andy Tate with the Smithsonian for an information session, Tuesday, February 3, noon – 1:00 p.m. to learn more about the Democracy in Dialogue program and how to apply. Register at this link<https://forms.office.com/r/rHhQSiv3H0> to attend.
Democracy in Dialogue is a storytelling program that connects youth from across the country in a series of virtual learning experiences. With the support of the vast resources at the Smithsonian, guide your group as they explore their communities and uncover the local stories important to them.
Cultural organizations who serve youth ages 10-19 are eligible to join the fall 2026 cohort.
Program highlights include:

  *   Cross-Country Collaboration: Connect and collaborate with cultural institutions nationwide.
  *   Youth Exchange: Facilitate place-based virtual learning experiences with your partner community.
  *   Smithsonian Team: Build a lasting partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.
  *   America 250: Commemorate America’s 250th through community-based student projects.
  *   Recognition: All participants receive Smithsonian certificates with PD hours.
  *   Honorarium: Receive honorarium to implement exchange activities.
More information can be found on the program website www.si.edu/educators/democracy-dialogue-virtual-exchange-program<http://www.si.edu/educators/democracy-dialogue-virtual-exchange-program>
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Save the date: Letitia Carson Symposium May 15
Please mark your calendars for the third annual Letitia Carson Symposium.
Friday, May 15, 5-8pm
Benton County Historical Society Corvallis Museum
Optional field trip to the Carson Donation Land Claim: 2-4pm
Registration opens in March
(2025 symposium presentations are all archived here<http://180%20years%20ago,%20in%201846,%20David%20and%20Letitia%20Carson%20were%20waiting%20for%20spring.%20Waiting%20for%20enough%20daylight%20and%20warmth%20to%20travel%20south%20to%20the%20Willamette%20Valley,%20with%20baby%20Martha,%20to%20make%20their%20new%20home.%20We%20can%20only%20imagine%20the%20preparation%20and%20anticipation%20that%20must%20have%20filled%20their%20days.>.)
Dates coming soon for seasonal tours at the Carson Donation Land Claim and homestead site: to this email list, our socials<https://linktr.ee/LetitiaCarsonLegacyProject>, and the new Letitia Carson Legacy Project newsletter<https://oregonblackpioneers.org/new-letitia-carson-legacy-project-newsletter/> from Oregon Black Pioneers.
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Oral History Association annual meeting in Portland, proposals due Feb. 20
Oreal History Association Annual Meeting
2026 Call for Proposals
October 14-17, 2026 | Portland, OR
Landscapes of Memory
Submissions are due February 20, 2026! Please submit here.<https://oha.memberclicks.net/2026cfp>
Our memories are shaped by the landscapes we inhabit—both real and imagined. These landscapes are shifting in the face of environmental change, political instability, and an ongoing sense of crisis. Ancient connections with the natural world are being severed, and people are displaced not only from this innate connection to the earth but also from familiar ways of living and relating to one another. As oral historians, we witness narrators’ struggles to imagine new identities within this changing ecology.
For the 2026 Oral History Association Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, we invite contributions from around the world —from those working in academia, advocacy, education, and community-based practice—that speak to how people shape and are shaped by the landscapes they inhabit, traverse, defend, or are forced to leave behind. We welcome proposals that explore relationships to land, memory, and movement across shifting environmental, political, and cultural boundaries.
The Pacific Northwest offers a vivid backdrop for these conversations. Portland is where many Indian tribes collaborate on river and salmon habitat restoration. It is where Governor Tom McCall pioneered environmental laws that became a national model, and where artists, writers, and community organizers have long given voice to place, displacement, and environmental justice. The region’s convergence of urban innovation, protected wilderness, and layered histories invites wide-ranging discussions about how oral histories illuminate ecological crises, stewardship, and resilience.
For more information or to submit a proposal, visit here: https://oralhistory.org/2026-call-for-proposals/
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Oregon Historic cemeteries commission new member appointed and February 6 meeting
The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will meet via online meeting on February 6 at 1:00 p.m. The agenda includes discussion of cemetery marker repair work and future workplan items. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2026FebOCHCAgenda.pdf> includes an opportunity for public comment. Follow this link<https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F7gTVh7vQMuHPuPjK7A1CA> to register for meeting access information.
The meeting will be the first for newly appointed commissioner, Lindsay Reva Smith. She represents the Portland area on the commission. Smith is the office manager at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. She began her journey in the death care field as a funeral director until her passion for historic preservation, mapping, and record keeping led her into the field of cemeteries. She brings skills including historic map and document comprehension, policies and procedures for small & large cemeteries, strong investigative skills, and genealogical research skills. Smith is also a volunteer for Great River Natural burial cemetery in the gorge and the co-creator of Thanatology Biome, a project dedicated to creating and promoting the most environmentally friendly death care options possible.
The commission is seeking another member to represent the east part of the state with knowledge related to, or interest in:

  *   cemeteries;
  *   historic preservation;
  *   genealogy;
  *   cultural and burial practices of ethnic groups found in Oregon;
  *   landscape and native plants; and
  *   history.
The OCHC is comprised of seven citizens. It is empowered by the Legislature to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries in Oregon, make recommendations for funding, seek legislative appropriations for historic cemeteries, and assist in the coordination of restoration, renovation and maintenance of historic cemeteries statewide. The commission develops online resources, offers workshops, and promotes the value of historic cemeteries through storytelling.
The group meets four times per year in different locations around the state and online. There may be an occasional additional meeting for extra projects, programs, and grant selection. Commissioners are also asked to organize informal meetings in their regions or work on other projects outside of meeting time. Travel costs are reimbursed.
State law established the seven-member Commission <https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Commissions.aspx#OCHC> to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. For more information about commission activities or to attend in person, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at kuri.gill at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:kuri.gill at oprd.oregon.gov>.
Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting. For more historic cemetery resources or more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>.
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Oregon’s Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site seeks seasonal rangers
Here’s a link to the Kam Wah Chung seasonal position: Oregon Job Opportunities<https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/SOR_External_Career_Site/details/Park-Ranger-1---Interpretation---Seasonal---Kam-Wah-Chung_REQ-193997?hiringCompany=47688ccd4cac01e2c6c2889ec223e932>.

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Oregon Museums Association webinar on oral history, Feb. 3
Using TheirStory to Capture Community Voices: A Case Study from Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education
February 3rd at 11am
Oregon Museums Association
Want to level-up your museum’s oral history program? Our upcoming webinar, "Using TheirStory to Capture Community Voices: A Case Study from Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education” is the perfect way to learn how!
In this webinar, you'll join Zack Ellis, CEO of TheirStory<https://www.oregonmuseums.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode=4S7%2fF87grIAFpsRDYUm441Ng%2f44RNpjG%2f6LidBmfFEJL5wug4WL77Lsy75mu8J8pYSiFTeBhAdsijYKSRCF0NJ1BOrPzbFnBGSPGGKTVnVk%3d>, and Alisha Babbstein, Director of Collections & Exhibitions at the Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE)<https://www.oregonmuseums.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode=NE38kQvLqsUJ5%2bKmmuojbd7e2oxOfHAz%2b5UsOWnmM6N4%2foenzFvyYLIQDKVDdnC6sqY3UXJGDWBXp6fMQN6WNTO6RM%2bIk9qrBpXxgVsyUeI%3d> to learn how OJMCHE has leveraged technology and volunteer engagement to reinvigorate and grow their oral history program using TheirStory.
TheirStory is a digital oral history platform designed specifically for museums and cultural organizations, making it easier to record, manage, preserve, and share interviews. You'll see how OJMCHE has used these tools in practice, walk through the full process from planning and implementing to ongoing management, and come away with ideas you can apply to your own institution, whether you’re starting an oral history program or working to make an existing one more sustainable for the future.
 "Using TheirStory to Capture Community Voices: A Case Study from Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education” happens February 3rd at 11am!
Save your seat here!<https://www.oregonmuseums.org/EmailTracker/LinkTracker.ashx?linkAndRecipientCode=kDKcUmCbbhPm8d%2fvyJTzQagtp4FIwGKStlTOoN4fR0lsziMw8nsgwiN0kIxxMcTbuyg52C948Pim7%2flKgoo8abkRCCd0oPFOVboAKsNWZ%2fg%3d>
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Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon hosts online Arts & Culture Advocacy Training, Feb. 17
On Tuesday, February 17th at 9:00 am, Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon (CACO) is hosting a virtual Arts & Culture Advocacy Training, designed specifically for artists, cultural workers, and community members who care deeply about arts and culture but aren’t sure where to start.
They will share practical tools, sample messages, and real-world guidance so you can confidently reach out to your own state legislators in a way that feels authentic and doable.
Register<https://oregonculture.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fff59ec4bfd2dec5de708c5b2&id=b00ce900cf&e=841ff2c388> for the virtual session at 9:00 am on Tuesday, February 17th.
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Oregon Commission for Women (OCFW) seeks nominations for Women of Achievement Awards
The Oregon Commission for Women (OCFW) is seeking nominations of trailblazers and emerging leaders who are working to establish economic, social, legal, political, and/or health equity for women and girls across Oregon for the 41st annual Women of Achievement Awards.
Nominations are open through Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
Learn more and submit nominations here<https://www.oregon.gov/oac/ocfw/Pages/Women-of-Achievement-Awards.aspx>.

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Follow us on Facebook at @oregonheritage, on LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>, on the Oregon Heritage Exchange blog<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>.
Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that includes the State Historic Preservation Office. Learn more about our programs at www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>. The news editor can be contacted at heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov>.

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