A copyright from Archives
When it comes to the ‘wow factor’, our Archives Division is about as good as it gets in State government. Since 1947, Archives has been the home of the state’s most valuable and indeed invaluable records, spanning from the provisional and territorial governments through to the present day.
Taking a quick tour of the Archives website, one can find information on genealogical research, a collection of Governor’s records, some incredible Web exhibits, and a link to the online version of the Oregon Blue Book; an encyclopedia of Oregon knowledge. That isn’t even to speak of the amazing stuff you can check out during a personal visit to Archives here in Salem.
Beach goers in 1940
Once a year since 1989, Archives divisions across the country have taken center stage with an officially recognized Archives Week or Month. In Oregon, Governor Ted Kulongoski made a formal proclamation for Oregon Archives Week, and later Archives Month, starting in 2004. At that point our State joined in supporting Archivists efforts to: increase the public’s awareness of archives and historical records; educate people, organizations and others about preserving their own historical records; and encouraging people to explore and use the archives in their area.
This year, the Oregon State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) applied for, and received National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) grant funds in part to support the printing and distribution of a poster commemorating Oregon Archives Month.
Archives Month programs vary from state to state and usually include a broad range of activities such as award presentations, exhibits, lectures, open houses and workshops. To get up to date information on Archives Month events in Oregon, check out the Archives month website.
Current events include the Multnomah Library’s “The Origins of Multnomah County Library: Primary Sources Celebrating Oregon & National Archives Month”, which will run through November 23. An event sponsored by the University of Oregon will celebrate home movies, while two separate events will be taking place on the Oregon State University campus this month, details can be found here.
Archives month is a tremendous opportunity for Oregonians to explore the State’s rich past with a full plate of fantastic events. Should you miss out on the fun this month, don’t fret; our Archives division is open year round to help you find whatever you might be looking for.
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