The LSTA Library Meetings

Libraries as Community Resources Meetings

The Oregon Encyclopedia has been on the road the spring and summer of 2010 holding a series of meetings at libraries throughout the state. We’ve been asking members of each community to contribute their knowledge of local history and culture and to lead us to new authors and contributors. At each site, library staff has shared information about the local historical resources available at their libraries that can help people research and learn about the history of the local community and region. A local historian presented at many of the meetings, and participants learned more about The Oregon Encyclopedia. Each library held two meetings.

The meetings were made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library.

Learn more about your own local history using the annotated bibliographies of local historical resources made available by the libraries and communities listed below. Visit participating library web sites to learn more about the local events, workshops, community news, and resources available in your region.

Entries generated in part by the LSTA library meetings may be found in The OE Oregon County Series. Click here to see the first county featured: Coos County.

We've added four meetings for 2012!

The Pendleton Public Library and the Oregon Encyclopedia present
A Night of Umatilla County History

Wednesday, June 20, 2012
6:30pm to 8:30pm
The Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub
230 SE Court Ave, Pendleton, OR

Sip and savor a pint of local craft beer and learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Pendleton Public Library. Contribute your knowledge of local history and culture to The Oregon Encyclopedia (The OE), an online resource about the state’s significant people, places, events, and institutions. Oregon Council of Teachers of English board members Rick Hardt and John Scanlan will work with participants to identify local topics that should be included in The OE. Enjoy a presentation by local historians including Susan Badger Doyle, Jack Sanders, and Keith May about the WWII Reminiscences Project and their Umatilla County Historical Society book project of 150 years of Umatilla County History. Beverages may be purchased during the presentation and food will be available for purchase before and after the show.

Oregon Encyclopedia Workshop: Researching Local History
A Meeting Presented by The Oregon Encyclopedia and the Multnomah County Library

Sunday, June 10, 2012
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Multnomah County Central Library, 801 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
U.S. Bank Room. Free and open to the public.

What was the “Great Light Way,” and what was its impact on the development of downtown Portland?
Where can you find more information about “Portland’s Great Light Way” and other historical trivia?
Answers to these questions and tips for researching Portland history can be found at a free workshop
sponsored by The Oregon Encyclopedia (The OE) and the Multnomah County Library. The program will
include a presentation by Dan Haneckow on Portland’s “Great Light Way.” In 1914, enterprising businessmen unveiled an architectural and electrical wonder along Portland’s downtown Third Street—”The Great Light Way.” The transformation of the street marked an important turning point in the development of downtown Portland, as bridge and road-building increasingly affected the shape of the Westside business district. Haneckow, who is an Oregon Encyclopedia author and writes about Portland history in a blog called Café Unknown, will also lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry and will work with participants to identify local topics that should be included in The OE. The meeting will include a presentation by Multnomah County Public Library staff about the unique aspects of the library’s print, microfilm, and online local history resources. At the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to explore local historical treasures at the library with the assistance of staff librarians.

This meeting is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library
Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. This event is co-sponsored by
the Multnomah Countuy Library.

Jefferson County Library
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Jefferson County Library District, Rodriguez Annex
241 SE 7th Street, Madras, OR 97741
Free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served.

The meeting will include a presentation by Jefferson County Library District staff about the local
historical resources available at their library that support the research and writing of local history.
Learn about the history of the county seat war between the towns of Culver and Madras in the
early twentieth century with a presentation by Jerry Ramsey, historian and writer for The OE. Mr.
Ramsey will lead a discussion on local history and how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry.
Bill Lang, OE Executive Editor, will work with participants to identify central Oregon topics that
should be included in the Encyclopedia.

Central Oregon Community College Library
Thursday, May 10, 2012
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Central Oregon Community College Library
2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR 97701
Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The meeting will include a presentation by COCC Library and the Des Chutes Historical Museum
staff about the local historical resources available at their institutions that support the research
and writing of local history. Learn about the process of writing an OE entry with a presentation by
Kelly Cannon-Miller, historian and Director of the Des Chutes Historical Museum. Ms. Cannon-
Miller will use her current research on the Bowman Museum in Prineville as an example of how
to research and write for The OE. Bill Lang, OE Executive Editor, will work with participants to identify central Oregon topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia. 

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Past events

Harney County Library
Monday, March 7, 2011, 7pm-8:30pm
80 West "D" Street
Burns, Oregon

Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Harney County Library,
including an overview of the special collections available at the Claire McGill Luce
Western History Room. This collection features books, local newspapers, oral histories, and
over 1,000 photos of Burns, Hines, and the people and communities of Harney County. OE
Editor-in-Chief Bill Lang will lead a discussion on how to write an Encyclopedia entry and
will work with participants to identify local topics that should be included in The Oregon
Encyclopedia.

North Bend Public Library
Saturday, April 10, 2010, 10am–1pm
1800 Sherman Ave.
North Bend, Oregon

OE Editor-in-Chief Rick Hardt will explain how to write an entry for the Encyclopedia, and Anne Donnelly from the Coos Historical and Maritime Museum will present on the history of Coos County. 

Newberg Public Library
Thursday, April 22, 2010, 5:30-8pm
503 East Hancock Street
Newberg, Oregon

OE Editor-in-Chief Linda Tamura and OE author Barbara Mahoney will explain how to write an entry for the Encyclopedia. Annotated Bibliography.

North Bend Public Library
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 10am-1pm
1800 Sherman Ave.
North Bend, Oregon

Rick Hardt, OE Editor-in-Chief, will work with participants to identify local topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia. The meeting will include a presentation by North Bend Public Library staff about the unique aspects of the library’s print, microfilm, and online local history resources. It will also include information about other key local history materials in Coos County libraries.

Multnomah County Library, Holgate Branch
Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 5:30-8pm
7905 SE Holgate Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

OE Editor-in-chief Rick Hardt will work with participants to identify southeast Portland topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Annotated Bibliography.

Shaw Historical Library
Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 5:30-7:30pm
3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls, Oregon

OE Editor-in-chief Rick Hardt will work with participants to identify Klamath County topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia. OE Editorial Board Members, Ed Battistella and Mark Clark will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Shaw Historical Library, including historic maps, oral histories, and archival collections.

Newberg Public Library
Saturday, May 15, 2010, 10am-12pm
503 East Hancock Street
Newberg, Oregon

OE Editor-in-chief Linda Tamura will work with participants to identify Yamhill County topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Newberg Public Library, including historic maps, and archival collections.

Baker City Public Library
Saturday, May 22, 2010, 10am-1pm
2400 Resort Street
Baker City, Oregon

OE Editor-in-Chief William L. Lang will work with participants to identify eastern Oregon topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia. Gary Dielman, OE author and local historian, will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Baker City Public Library, including the library’s new, state-of-the-art microfilm reader unit and its online digital archive of historic photographs.

Shaw Historical Library
Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 5:30-7:30pm
3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls, Oregon

OE Editor-in-chief Rick Hardt will work with participants to identify Klamath County topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Shaw Historical Library, including historic maps, oral histories, and archival collections.

Multnomah County Library, Holgate Branch
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 10am-1pm
7905 SE Holgate Blvd.
Portland, Oregon

OE Editor-in-Chief Linda Tamura will work with participants to identify southeast Portland topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry.

Tillamook County Library
Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 5:30-7:30pm
1716 3rd Street
Tillamook, Oregon

OE Editor-in-chief Rick Hardt will work with participants to identify north coast topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry.

Grand Ronde Tribal Library
Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 5:30-7:30pm
Grand Ronde, Oregon

OE Editor-in-chief Linda Tamura will work with participants to identify local history topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Grand Ronde Tribal Library, including its Native American collections. Bibliography.

Grand Ronde Tribal Library
Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 5:30-7:30pm
Grand Ronde, Oregon

An OE Editor-in-chief will work with participants to identify local history topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia. Davis Lewis, OE Editorial Board Member and manager of the Cultural Resources Department for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Grand Ronde Tribal Library, including its Native American collections.

Albany Public Library
Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 6-8pm
2450 14th Ave SE
Albany, Oregon

OE Editor-in-Chief Linda Tamura will work with participants to identify local history topics that should be included in the Encyclopedia and will lead a discussion on how to write an Oregon Encyclopedia entry. Learn about the valuable historical resources available at the Albany Public Library that can assist with the researching and writing of local history.