Can you guess what building is featured on the back of this postcard from 1908?
"I recieved your postal a few days ago ad was glad to hear from you. I havent heard from Beryl since Harry was back to see her. I see Harry about every five weeks. this is the Oswego high school
Your friend Will"
Stay tuned to the end of the newsletter to find out!
Happy autumn to all who celebrate! If September was busy, just wait until you hear what we have going on in October. This past month, folks at the OHC have:
- Attended the Oregon Museums Association annual conference in Coos Bay
- Finished our work in MercyCorp's Capacity Building Recovery Assistance Program after a year -- more about this below!
- Attended the Lake Oswego Farmer's Market AND Stafford Hamlet Family Fest
- Finished prepping for our new exhibit and all the exciting programs coming from it
One of the most important things from all of these different areas is the understanding of how many more people we can reach when we work with other local organizations. In September alone, we worked with:
- The Northwest China Council on the first Chautauqua of the season about Linus Pauling
- The Lake Oswego Preservation Society on a transcription project for historic Oregon Iron & Steel Company ledgers
- The Gresham Historical Society to find new homes for some of their historic newspapers, including some that might be relevant to Lake Oswego
- The West Linn Historical Society on the beginning stages of a 2025 event
- And more!
Because of these connections, we've already managed to serve more people this year than last year -- and we aren't stopping there! There is so much more to come before this year is through, so stay tuned and stay in touch!
Kathryn Sinor
Executive Director
Even without the legal power to vote, women and people of color worked to increase their influence and effect positive change in their community. How did they do this? What can the past teach us about today, in what feels like a politically fraught moment in American history?
And most importantly: how did life in Oswego change for the better because people cared enough about their town to do the work? Uncover the history of voting and civic engagement through the eyes of local people in this exhibit.
JOIN US FOR THE EXHIBIT OPENING!
Last year, the Oswego Heritage Council received a grant to join in MercyCorp Northwest's Capacity Building Recovery Assistance (CBRA) Program. This program involved COVID-19 relief funding and then capacity building support for a year with mentors and other experts. The area of this support would be determined by surveys to OHC's staff, volunteers, and Board.
So what did that mean for the Oswego Heritage Council?
We quickly discovered we didn't want help in one singular area; we wanted to build a map for the next three years and the systems to support it. Our Board had long discussions about what the Heritage House meant, what it could do, and what we needed to focus on. Along the way, we strengthened our financial reporting and budgeting, built resources for Board and volunteer training, and connected with important community partners.
Because of this program, we will be able to share a vision with you for the next three years, covering 2025-2027. This vision was shaped and will continue to be shaped by you, our community, and all that is possible with local history.
And you are an important part of that story!
Check out an interview OHC Director Kathryn Sinor did with Karli from MercyCorps about OHC's experience in the program!
Left: Volunteers Karen and Ann at the Farmer's Market
Right: Our shared booth at the Stafford Hamlet Family Fest
As we have mentioned before, OHC volunteers, led by Archivist Mark Browne, spent over a year at the Lake Oswego Public Library. We helped organize and catalog their collection, creating an index for researchers to better utilize their amazing historical archive. We then took those same volunteers back to the Heritage House to index our own collection. While this index is now in the final stages of edits, we will use it to create accessible finding aides that will be available on our website to better use our collection for research purposes.
For his hard work at the library, Mark Browne has received a volunteer award from the amazing staff at the Lake Oswego Public Library.
Congratulations, Mark!
Were you able to guess what building is featured on the back of this postcard from 1908?
"I recieved your postal a few days ago ad was glad to hear from you. I havent heard from Beryl since Harry was back to see her. I see Harry about every five weeks. this is the Oswego high school
Your friend Will"
The Oswego School,
now Lakewood Center for the Arts!
This is a newly acquired photograph of the Oswego School, which the postcard references as "the Oswego high school"! Even our archivist Mark proclaimed he'd never seen this photograph before.
Judging from the background of the photograph, we are placing it before 1906. We've gotten lots of great ideas for checking the possible date, but what do you think?
