Lane County Historical Society

TO ENCOURAGE THE PRESERVATION OF, STIMULATE INTEREST IN AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY.

FEATURED TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT EXHIBITS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY. THE SOCIETY OPERATES THE LANE COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM WHICH IS TYPICALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 5 DAYS A WEEK FROM 10AM TO 4PM AND HAS A VISITATION OF SEVERAL THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. EXHIBIT MATERIALS MAY BE LOANED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, PRIMARILY MUSEUMS, FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY THROUGHOUT LANE COUNTY, THE STATE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST, AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE. STATE MANDATED MUSEUM CLOSURE TO THE PUBLIC BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2020. LCHM REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON JUNE 16, 2021. MOST MUSEUM STAFF HAD ALREADY BEGUN WORKING ONSITE AGAIN DURING FEBRUARY 2021. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)DURING THE TIME OF CLOSURE LCHS PRIORITIZED STAFF POSITION RETENTION, REDUCED ALL STAFF HOURS, AND SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR PAYROLL PROTECTION PLAN LOANS AS WELL AS SUPPLEMENTAL OREGON WORKSHARE PROGRAM MONIES SUPPORTING STAFF WAGES. DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 2021 THE MUSEUM RESTORED HOURS AND WAGES AND FOCUSED ON REOPENING IN JUNE WITH A NEW MAJOR EXHIBIT AS WELL AS A MAJOR POSITION REHIRE SELECTION. AN ATTRACTIVE RELOCATION POSSIBILITY SURFACED IN FEBRUARY 2021 WHICH REQUIRED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND STAFF FOCUS ON THE CREATION OF A BUSINESS PLAN FOR OPERATION AT THE NEW LOCATION. COVID ALSO ALLOWED SIGNIFICANT CATCHUP WITH NEGLECTED "PAPERWORK" IN EVERY MUSEUM DEPARTMENT, BUT MOST NOTABLY IN COLLECTIONS.

PROVIDE MUSEUM EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN (GRADES K-8) CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY. INFORMATION IS ALSO PROVIDED TO TEACHERS FOR USE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS VIA FACTS, IMAGES, AND ARTICLES MAINTAINED ON THE SOCIETY'S WEBSITE AND WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE 24 HOURS A DAY. THE MUSEUM ALSO MAINTAINS SEVERAL TRAVELING TRUNKS OF ARTIFACTS RESERVED FOR ONSITE SCHOOL AND HOMESCHOOL EDUCATIONAL USE. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, PUBLIC SCHOOL TOURS CEASED ENTIRELY. HOWEVER OUR COLLABORATIVE HISTORY PUB PROGRAM WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON (UO) CONTINUED VIA ZOOM (MONTHLY PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR THE SEP-JUN TIME FRAME). COORDINATION WITH THE UO ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH MATERIALS PROCESSING ALSO CONTINUED. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)VARIOUS GRANTING AGENCIES FOR EXISTING GRANTS ALLOWED MONIES TO BE REPROGRAMMED FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.

COLLECTS HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS RELATING TO LANE COUNTY. ENGAGES IN THE DIGITIZATION OF HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS, NEGATIVES AND IMAGES RELATED TO LANE COUNTY FOR PRESERVATION AND FOR PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH THE SOCIETY'S WEBSITE AND OTHER MEDIA. THE MUSEUM CLOSURE DURING COVID INCREASED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WEBSITE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS. SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR RESPONSE WERE CREATING COLORING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND DETAILED STORY MAPS FOR GENERAL AUDIENCE USE.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: SPONSORSHIP AND PRESENTATION OF PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC CONCERNING THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY, DISSEMINATION OF PUBLICATIONS AND NEWSLETTERS RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY, GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES, AND PUBLISHING SIX BOOKS AND ONE PERIODICAL RELATED TO THE HISTORY OF LANE COUNTY FOR PUBLIC DISSEMINATION. THE SOCIETY ALSO PURCHASES ITEMS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST CONCERNING LANE COUNTY FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.