FORWARD! Campaign

Creating a Future for Oregon’s Past

Serving the Oregon Historical Society’s mission requires strategic investment in our physical and technological infrastructure. To maintain our place among the nation’s greatest historical institutions, we must embrace the latest scholarship, steward strong community relationships, and build a state of the art library that preserves and increases access to our priceless collections.

We are moving FORWARD! together by funding three bold and necessary projects — as well as important endowments that ensure our history’s future.

Donate Now! Buy A Brick!

Experience Oregon exhibit, Andie Petkus Photography

Experience Oregon Exhibition

Completed February 2019  

On February 14, 2019, we proudly unveiled Experience Oregon, a dynamic educational space to learn about the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon. Three years in the making, this compelling exhibit highlights Oregon’s diverse landscapes, as well as people’s historical and ongoing relationships with its resources. Over 300 artifacts are on display, all from the Society’s museum collection, and span the state’s vast geography and complicated history.

Reconfigured reference desk

Research Library Renovation

Now Underway!

Construction is underway to transform the OHS Research Library into a welcoming and fully accessible twenty-first-century space for research, learning, and collaboration. Home to millions of unique and rare materials, including books and serials, maps, photographs, sound recordings, manuscripts, and moving images, our library is truly the heart of everything we do at the Oregon Historical Society.

Learn More >

Oregon Skyline Trail, Pacific Crest system, 1936 (detail). OHS Research Library, OHS Maps Collection; G4232 .P3 1936 .U54; Map 507

Digital Vault Infrastructure Expansion

Fundraising Ongoing  

Through the OHS Digital Collections website, we have been providing worldwide access to our high quality digital surrogates of library collections to schoolchildren, writers, filmmakers, scholars, and explorers of every kind since spring 2017. OHS Digital Collections currently has over 20,000 items available, and continues to grow each week. We sustain these efforts with a robust digital preservation system and ongoing behind-the-scenes activities. 

The second phase of the Digital Vault initiative, funded by the FORWARD! campaign, expands the library’s capacity to create digital access to challenging formats, such as photographic negatives, architectural plans, maps, ledgers, and film, by bolstering our physical and digital infrastructure. The Digital Production Lab (completed in spring 2019), a centralized state-of-the-art facility for digital imaging of photographs and paper-based documents of all sizes, will include new equipment that allows us to accurately capture unique documents in fine detail.  

Planned upgrades to our film lab in 2020 include purchasing a film scanner for our film archivists to produce broadcast-quality digital files from archival footage. Important but less visible work includes modernizing our internal processes to make our work more efficient and ultimately improve access to analog and digital collections as well as advance collections preservation.

OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk

Endowing Positions of Excellence

Fundraising Ongoing  

Endow core programs and key positions to safeguard against unpredictable swings in public or private resources and to deliver new and exciting work every year. We seek contributions to name or make investments in the Executive Director’s Endowment for Leadership Excellence ($2 million), Director of Library Collections ($1 million), Digital Archivist ($1 million), Curator of Artifact Collections ($1 million), and Oral History Collections ($500,000).

Brick Campaign

Leave your mark on Oregon history and support the FORWARD! campaign by purchasing an engraved brick!

Generous donors have taken this opportunity to honor loved ones, mark important dates or occasions – some have even created their family tree in brick!

Engraved bricks are located on the main floor of the Oregon Historical Society along the pathway leading up to our new permanent exhibit, Experience Oregon.

Engraved bricks at the entrance to Experience Oregon

Cost: $1,000 (100% tax-deductible)

Other Details:

  • Limit 32 characters per engraving, including spacing. Limit 16 characters per line. Limit two lines per brick.
  • The inscription can include any character on a standard computer keyboard.
  • Inscriptions cannot contain emojis.
  • All bricks are laser-engraved for lasting letter clarity.
  • If you have any questions or if you wish to pay for your brick through 10 monthly installments of $100 or four quarterly installments of $250, please call Molly Cochran, Director of Development, at 503.306.5237 or email molly.cochran@ohs.org.

Engraved bricks closeup

Thank you to the following donors who have supported the FORWARD! Campaign and thus the creation of Experience Oregon!

Italics – Library Gift
* – Digital Vault Gift
** – Endowment Gift

$1,000 to $2,499

  • Kay & Roy Abramowitz
  • The Acorn Fund (OCF)
  • Julie E. Adams
  • Angelene Adler-Ashkar & Jullian Ashkar
  • A. David Albertine
  • John Alcala
  • Stuart & Sarah Allen
  • James Alterman & Cheryl Balkenhol
  • Mr. Francis V. Anderson
  • Kristin Anderson & Michael O'Brien
  • Scott & Linda Andrews
  • Paul & Grace Andrews
  • Anonymous (3)
  • Greg Applegate & Barbara Stark
  • Mr. and Mrs. Louis & Marianne Bachleder
  • Thomas E. & Amy Bahrman
  • Mr. Ronald E. Bailey
  • Robert & Julia Ball
  • Jerry & Janet Banks
  • Anne M. Barbey
  • Dr. and Mrs. Ronald G. & Joan E. Barnes
  • Mary C. Becker
  • Peter G. & Susan A. Belluschi
  • Ms. Belinda Beresford & Dr. Louis Picker
  • Marc & Diane Berg
  • Len & Betsy Bergstein
  • Aasa Maja Besson
  • Mrs. Betsy Biller
  • Dann & Sarah Black
  • Congressman & Ms. Earl Blumenauer
  • Marilou Bohmann
  • Ms. Elizabeth N. Boyd
  • Gert Boyle
  • John & Diane Bradshaw
  • John C. & Justie Braestrup
  • W. W. Buzz Braley, Jr.
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Brooke
  • William & Tina Brown
  • Douglas Browning & Jo Shapland
  • Scott & Susan Calhoun
  • Ms. Carmen Calzacorta
  • Mrs. Robert G. Cameron
  • Cynthia C. Cannady & Robert I. Woods, Jr.
  • Sara Carlson
  • Mr. and Mrs. Don & Faith Carter
  • Mr. and Mrs. John D. & Linda Carter
  • Dr. George Heyden Caspar
  • Dr. and Mrs. Durgan & Subha Chakrapani
  • Donald & Shirley Clark
  • Cornerstone Care Option, Inc.
  • Serena Cruz
  • Tracy Curtis & Rick Nagore
  • Dawn & Joyce Dahl
  • Mary Lou Daily
  • Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Michael Davidson
  • Marvin & Abby Dawson
  • Douglas de Weese
  • Helen B. Dennis
  • John & Leanne DiLorenzo
  • Ms. Linda Dodds
  • Patrick & Roberta Donaldson
  • Michael & Cheryl Dotten
  • Kelly Douglas & Eric Schoenstein
  • Dan & Kathleen Drinkward
  • David & Erin Drinkward
  • Mrs. Eleanor DuBois
  • Ms. Mary Anna Eaton *
  • Mr. & Mrs. Scott Ehlen
  • Mr. & Mrs. John A. Elorriaga
  • Mary Fellows & John Russell
  • Jim & Michelle Fitzhenry
  • Mr. DF Forister & Mr. Gary Sheldon
  • Konky & Bob Forster
  • Mr. Dale E. Forster
  • Bob & Peggy Fowler
  • Gerry Frank
  • Jeanne Giordano Frasca *
  • Melanie & Michael Freeman

 

  • Shawna Gandy & Stephen Walton
  • Barb & Paul Gehlar *
  • Mr. Rolf Glerum
  • Mike & Sheila Goodwin
  • James Gorter & Becky Kuhn
  • Dave & Ruth Green
  • Douglas & Kathie Green
  • Mr. Dale Greenley
  • Robert S. Gregg
  • Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey T. Grubb
  • Bruce M. Hall
  • Dr. Lesley M. Hallick
  • Paul Hamilton
  • Mr. & Mrs. Howard Harris
  • Brenda J. Hart
  • John & Serena Hart
  • Jonathan & Susan Hayes
  • Ms. Beverley Healy
  • Steve & Marypat Hedberg
  • Sudee & Clayton Hering
  • Tom & Jane Hogan
  • John & Sara Hortenstine
  • Douglas & Lucy Houser
  • Mrs. Martha Sprague Hurley
  • Mr. Jeff Ingebrigtsen
  • Mrs. Katherine Jackmond
  • Daniel & Kellie Jarman
  • Dan & Donna Jensen
  • Dr. Kimberly Jensen
  • Ken & Jill E. Jernstedt
  • Drs. Nathalie & William Johnson
  • Craig & Lynne Johnston
  • Peter & Denise Jones
  • Mr. Stephen Jones
  • Edward Kamholz & Eileen Culligan
  • Mr. Gregory H. Keller & Dr. Elizabeth Hatfield-Keller
  • Mrs. Jan Kessler
  • KGW Media Group
  • Dr. Ali Khaki
  • Elizabeth King & Rick Brandeburg
  • Leslie Kolisch
  • Mrs. Michiko Kornhauser
  • Mrs. Ann Kracke
  • William & Jean Krieger
  • Jake & Lovely Laban
  • Mr. Robert L. Ladehoff
  • Mr. & Mrs. Thomas M. & Patricia A. Landye
  • Ron & Jewel Lansing
  • Ms. Candace Kennedy Laws
  • John & Marlene Lee
  • Richard & Delight Leonard
  • Richard & Shannon Leonetti
  • Dr. Will L. Levin
  • David Linder & Darsee Staley
  • Marilyn Loy
  • Richard F. Ludeman
  • Mr. Monteith Macoubrie
  • Susan L. Malmquist
  • Mrs. Kay Mannion & Mr. Fred Bowman
  • The Mason Family
  • Drs. Ruth G. & Joseph D. Matarazzo
  • Dr. and Mrs. Mal & Janeen McAninch
  • Mary McArthur & Bob Burgan
  • Mr. Nicolas McCarthy
  • Millard & Mary Lou McClung
  • Ms. Katherine McCoy
  • Kevin & Carol McMenamin
  • Carolyn McMurchie
  • Ms. Mary McWillis-Brentano
  • Mr. Kenneth Mehr
  • Elizabeth Mehren & Fox Butterfield
  • Peter & Joan Melrose
  • Doug & Ruth Menely
  • Raymond & Carol Michael
  • The Miller Foundation, Inc.
  • Mr. & Mrs. Randolph L. Miller
  • Fern Momyer
  • Robert H. & Dolores S. Moore

 

  • Michael & Jo Ann Mooser
  • Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia & Mr. Daniel Capuia
  • Ms. Marie Morgan
  • Gary & Rachael Mortensen
  • Mr. and Mrs. Jim & Judy Morton
  • Richard & Sarah Munro
  • Mrs. Mary Ann Myers
  • The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Oregon
  • Craig & Julie Nichols
  • Bill & Kathy Nicholson
  • Mr. George T. Nicola
  • Ms. Sharon L. Norton
  • Governor Theodore R. Kulongoski & Ms. Mary Oberst
  • Mrs. Deborah M. Olsen
  • Milo E. & Beverly Ormseth
  • Mrs. Kay Parr
  • Judson Parsons & Diana Gardener
  • Perkins Coie
  • Brenda J. Peterson
  • Mr. John Loomis & Dr. Jacqueline Peterson-Loomis
  • Pioneer Trust Bank, N.A. Foundation
  • Cathy & George Poetschat
  • Charles & Ruth Poindexter
  • Mr. and Mrs. Oscar & Amy Polo
  • Portland Business Alliance
  • Mr. & Mrs. Ronald K. Ragen
  • Mr. and Mrs. Richard & Wendy W. Rahm
  • Alice & Mark Rampton
  • Guy & Kim Randles
  • Mr. David Rianda
  • Robert E. Richmond
  • Mr. Phil Ricker & Ms. Marion Shimoda *
  • Mary Alice Ridgway
  • Kent & Lorilee Robinson
  • Eric & Tiffany Rosenfeld
  • Mark Rosenfield & Lisa Daley
  • Linda & Mike Roth
  • Mr. E. John Rumpakis
  • Mr. Don Rushmer & Ms. Janet Plummer
  • Russell Fellows Properties
  • Dori Schnitzer & Mark Brown
  • Wayne D. Schweinfest
  • Martha Shepherd
  • Judge Michael Simon & Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici
  • Damon & Kristen Smedley
  • Patricia Smullin, KOBI Medford / KLSR Eugene
  • Rick & Jacky Sohn
  • Susan Sokol Blosser
  • Ellen & Charles Stearns
  • Mrs. Jane H. Stevens
  • Karl Studnicka
  • Drs. Donald W. & Roslyn E. Sutherland
  • The Skanner Foundation
  • Sharon A. Thorne
  • Senator Cliff & JoAnne Trow
  • Champ & Maria Vaughan
  • David & Christine Vernier
  • The Honorable Richard & Mrs. Paula Vial
  • Joe & Nancy Visenberg
  • Mr. & Mrs. George Waldmann
  • Linda Walker-Turner & Robert Turner
  • Sue Ellen White
  • Ann C. Whitehouse
  • Veronica L. Williams
  • Trey Winthrop
  • Michael & Linda Wooters
  • William Wyatt
  • Homer & Miyuki Yasui
  • Mrs. Mae Yih
  • Kristal H. Yoakum
  • Mrs. June Young
  • Mort & Aubrey Zalutsky
  • Janet Zell