Category Archives: Announcement

Fresh news from the OSU Press!

It’s true, I am a shameless promoter of all things related to the OSU Press…Today the “First Peoples: New Directions in Indigenous Studies” publishing initiative announced the launch of its new website!

What will the website do? Officially, it will “serve as a tool to broaden the reach and audiences for the books they publish on Indigenous studies.”  But really, it’s a great place to go to read their blog, learn about the books, check out their Twitter feed, find upcoming events, and just get lost exploring…

Want the details on the initiative? In January 2009, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded four university presses a grant to established an innovative partnership. Seeking the best and most robust scholarship by junior authors whose publications will contribute to the development of the field, the grant supports both the publication of 40 books over four years and the collaboration of the presses to further scholarly communication in the field of Indigenous studies.

Who is involved? University of Arizona Press, University of Minnesota Press, University of North Carolina Press, and (of course) Oregon State University Press.

Lots of great news coming out of the OSU Libraries this week!

Oregon Spatial Data Library launches in conjunction with national GIS Day

A powerful new data-access tool for Oregon researchers, students, public agency staff, private industry and the public at large was launched today in conjunction with national GIS Day… The Oregon Spatial Data Library provides easy and convenient ways to find, access and share geospatial data at no cost to the user. Currently, more than 200 datasets can be displayed and downloaded, with more to be added as they become available. Developed in partnership with Oregon State University Libraries, the Institute for Natural Resources and the Oregon Dept. of Administrative Services Geospatial Enterprise Office (DAS-GEO), the Oregon Spatial Data Library features access to all statewide “framework” data available for Oregon.  These are the datasets that serve as “base data” for a variety of GIS applications that support important research, business and public services.Read more here!

Learn about wetlands online through ‘Oregon Wetlands Explorer’

A far-reaching, highly interactive Web experience that provides deep, richly illustrated insight on the historic and current states of Oregon’s wetlands is the newest member of the critically acclaimed Oregon Explorer family of sites produced by Oregon State University Libraries, the Institute for Natural Resources and, in this case, The Wetlands Conservancy. Oregon Wetlands Explorer takes users virtually to areas throughout the state, from coastal salt marshes to mountain fens desert salt grass flats and many points in between, providing information on wetland ecology, history, wildlife and restoration opportunities.  Oregon has lost more than half of its wetlands since European settlers arrived in the 1800s, and producers of the site hope the information will be helpful in encouraging protection of the areas that remain.Read more here!

OSU Library earns grants to support digitization of key pieces of Oregon history

Oregon State University’s Valley Library is the recipient of two new grants that will support digitization of key images from the state’s past, a new Web-based portal where the images will be publicly accessible and digital archive assistance for cultural institutions around the state that otherwise might not be able to afford such services. The grants and the Oregon Digital Library Project (ODLP) that they’ll help create will enable the Valley Library to build on its critically acclaimed role in preserving material documenting the history of Oregon and its people, said Terry Reese, who holds the Gray Family Chair for Innovative Library Services at OSU.Read more here!

Cool news from a historic upgrade

“Kearney Hall at Oregon State University has received gold certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council, the second major facility at the university to achieve the recognition for environmentally sensitive design and construction.”

“The recognition for the building comes 110 years after Apperson Hall was built at the intersection of 14th Street and Monroe Avenue. The $12 million restoration, completed earlier this year, was made possible in part by a $4 million gift from OSU alumnus Lee Kearney and his wife, Connie Kearney. He graduated in civil engineering in 1963, and she, after starting her studies at OSU, earned a degree in education in 1965 from the University of Washington. The building was renamed in their honor.”

Want to know more? Check out the Gazette-Times article “Historic OSU building earns ‘gold’ rating for green energy“.

Marcus Borg named canon theologian at Trinity Cathedral in Portland

“Marcus Borg, internationally known biblical scholar, was installed as the first canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. Borg will present public lectures, teach adult courses within the parish, preach occasionally, and serve as a consultant for parish education programs.”

He holds a DPhil degree from Oxford University and is Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture, an endowed chair, at Oregon State University.

Want to know more about the post at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral?

Want to see the collection guide for Dr. Borg’s papers at the OSU Archives?

Want to know more about Dr. Borg?

Want to read Dr. Borg’s blog for the Washingon Post?

New US Archivist Nominated

President Obama will nominate David S. Ferriero to become the United States Archivist, according to a White House spokesman.

Mr. Ferriero currently serves as the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries. Before his position at NYPL, Ferriero worked as the University Librarian and Vice Provost for Library Affairs at Duke University. He succeeds Professor Allen Weinstein, who resigned as Archivist last December.

Why is this position so important? As the country’s top archivist, he would oversee the activities of the National Archives and Records Administration, including the release of government documents, like presidential papers. And, to quote Al Kamen, “The archivist job has become something of a lightning rod for controversy, particularly as various agencies and administrations press for keeping their records secret for decades despite strong pressures from historians and the public to declassify as much information as soon as possible.” To learn more, both the Washington Post and NY Times Caucus blog both have great pieces on the nomination.

Heritage News!

deschutes_elklakeguardcabin.jpgThe Elk Lake Guard Station in the Deschutes National Forest has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1929, employees of the US Forest Service built the Elk Lake Guard Station, described as a “simple cabin” made of logs with a wood-shingle roof. The station is historically important as an early example of the Forest Service’s current management polices that emphasize both recreation and natural resource conservation.

In the early-20th century, Guard Stations were constructed in remote areas as outposts to protect timber, water, wildlife, and fish. At Elk Lake, increasing public recreation led to the construction of a guard station to both protect natural resources and serve visitors. To meet the agency’s goals, the facility was sited to allow for maximum contact between Forest Service personnel and forest users while still allowing backcountry access to the soon-to-be designated Three Sisters Primitive Area. The station was one of the agency’s first efforts to standardize building appearance and its design represents the desire to construct buildings that complemented the natural environment.

More than 1,800 historic Oregon properties are now listed in the National Register, which is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. More information about the guard station and recent Oregon listings is online at http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/nrhp_recent_nominations.shtml

World Digital Library is live!

wdlhomemap2.jpg“The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and 32 partner institutions today launched the World Digital Library, a website that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world. The site―located at www.wdl.org―includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs. It provides unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material.” (LOC)

Why is this so great? To quote indicommons: their mission is to “make available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world.”

Is this the beginning of universal access?

Want to know more? Check the Library or Congress press release or the UNESCO press release.

The Flickr Commons

The Oregon State Archives sends out a soggy “hello” to the Flickr world from the Pacific Northwest—it’s good to be here!

Today, as we head home for that most romantic of holidays and Oregon’s 150th birthday celebrations, the Oregon State University Archives will become the 21st institution to join The Commons.

[Yes, it’s true, it really still is Friday the 13th … But rather than court disaster, we’re pretending it’s tomorrow!]

Not only are we joining noteworthy North American institutions like the Library of Congress, Smithsonian, New York Public Library, and George Eastman House, we will sit next to international libraries and museums such as the National Library of New Zealand, the Powerhouse Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, and Bibliothèque de Toulouse. If that wasn’t exciting enough, the OSU Archives is the first university to join The Commons!

Please join us for our official launch open house celebration on Monday, February 16th, 2009 from 2:00PM to 4:00PM in the Autzen classroom on the 2nd floor of The Valley Library. We’ll be there to answer questions about The Commons and the Archives, show off our images, and learn from you—please drop by and introduce yourself!

What will you find here?

Our contribution to Flickr Commons will focus on the history of conservation, natural resources, and agriculture. This is a history OSU is proud to celebrate; a complex story with chapters on forestry, geology, environmentalism, and the people that have inhabited and worked this land. As time passes, the OSU Archives will be digitizing and releasing other images in our collections that showcase some of the amazing items that illustrate the complicated intersection of culture, natural resources, and history.

We’re delighted to start our Flickr Commons adventure with a set of depression era images of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from the Gerald W. Williams Collection. The photographs in the Williams Collection reflect a range of amazing images, we plan to highlight in the coming months, including the photos of CCC camps and activities; shots of the WWI era Spruce Production Division; Northwest Oregon logging photos taken by John Fletcher Ford; and slides of Celilo Falls taken by Williams’ father, Jack Williams, in September 1956 — only a few months before the falls were inundated by The Dalles Dam.

How did we get here?

In order to celebrate and publicize photographic collections that showcase Oregon State University’s rich heritage, the OSU Archives joined Flickr in the summer of 2008. We found it was a great place for pictures of current events, virtual tours and instructions for using microfilm machines, and assorted historic photos; though after seeing the real impact the historic photographs in The Commons were having on both Flickr users and the larger community, as well as the great personal connections between people and pictures that emerged, the OSU Archives was more than eager to join the project.

We’re always uploading more online images, and Flickr gives us another avenue to share our remarkable collections. You’ll find images specific to forestry and natural resources on our Flickr Commons page, current and historic images related to OSU on our osu.archives Flickr page, and a wonderful assortment of digital collection projects on the OSU Digital Collections page.

Still Can’t Get Enough?

Check out some of our other resources.  We love them — and you just might, too.

Historic Sites Database Now Online

aerial-corvallis-1.jpg

The State Historic Preservation Office has made its master database of historic buildings and sites in Oregon available online. There are almost 45,000 records in the database, including National Register properties, surveys, and inventory records.

“This is still a rudimentary version,” said Roger Roper, the deputy state historic preservation officer. “There are many features we will be adding over the coming weeks, including the ability to run more complex searches and printout both site-specific data and summary data for groups of buildings. Please read the Disclaimer page for details about the limitations and the ‘coming attractions.'”

They are interested in your feedback, so please send your comments to ORsurvey.feedback@state.or.us.

Congratulations to Monique Lloyd!

Please join us in offering our heartfelt congratulations to Monique Lloyd! She has received the Society of American Archivist’s 2008 Harold T. Pinkett Minority Student Award, which recognizes and acknowledges outstanding minority students. To be considered, the student should be full-time, with a minimum GPA of 3.5, and enrolled in a graduate program focusing on archival management. She will receive full funding to go to the SAA conference this August, which will be held in “sunny” San Francisco.

Monique is an Emporia State University graduate student who worked as a student assistant in the Archives last year, an intern in the Archives in the fall, and is now part of the Library’s on-call pool. To hear more from Monique, please visit her Adventures in Library School blog.