Dear Detectives:
Our Oregon State Archives tour is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 13th. Eight of us have signed up thus far, but should more of you want to go just show up at the meeting place.
We will be meeting in the Bomber parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. At that point we will see how many people are going, how many people can’t stay too long, and thus how many automobiles we need to make the trip to Salem. My car will hold 7 individuals, so we’ll need at least one more car.
There is metered parking both on the Archive premises as well as on the streets. If you intend to drive be sure to bring coinage for the meters.
We can stay as long as people want to, until 5:00 p.m. Those who want to leave early should carpool with others that also want to leave early. The rest can leave when their group (car full) agrees to leave.
We will be taking a tour first, conducted by Layne Sawyer, then spend the rest of our time researching.
The Reference Room ( research area ) closes during the noon hour. There is a break room in the building if folks prefer to bring a sack lunch, and a few eateries nearby. I have attached a map showing the nearby eateries.
Please take some time to look over the Secretary of State’s Oregon State Archives website before the field trip http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/databases/index.html
The main research tools you will want to use are the Oregon Historical Records Index and possibly the Early Oregonians database (information on Oregon people through 1860).
The Archives houses Oregon death certificates ( 50 or more years old ); probate records for many counties; delayed birth records; marriage records for many counties; census records; naturalization records; tax records; land records (both Provisional and after statehood); military records; State Hospital records; old age pension records; guardianships and many many others. Use the Oregon Historical Records Index to search by name and print out, or at least write down the records you wish to access before the field trip.
For Early Oregonians use the Early Oregonians Search field to search on the names you’re interested in, then click on the name when the next screen appears. Using the Associated Records, Associated Persons, and Census Events tabs will tell you some of what is known about the individual, and the records for them that are housed at the Archives. There are links to other “Associated” persons (like a spouse) that you can use to learn about those people. Print out, or at least write down the records you will wish to access before the field trip.
All the actual records are stored in a climate controlled area of the Archives. Accessing them is via the Reference Librarian. You will present the librarian with the record you wish to see on a “records use form”, and he will retrieve it for you. There are several computers in the Reference Room area that can be used to look up records you want to see, using the search mechanisms above, as well as other finding aids.
You will not be allowed to bring briefcases, pens, coats or food into the research area. There are lockers available for free to lock those items up in. You may bring note pads, pencils, a laptop if that suits your fancy and your research notes into the research area, and of course you can return to you locker any time if you need to.
Copies may be made of most any item you access. Copies are 25 cents each regardless of the size. The process is that you keep track of the number of copies you’ve made and you pay at the reference desk at the end of your visit. I recommend that you bring cash for this.
To avoid duplicating efforts I suggest that we confer with the others that are going on this trip so that two people aren’t trying to research the same person. For example, I want to do research on Berryman Jennings and Benoni Rogers, and hope to access provisional land records and militia records. We may also want to team up on certain individuals. Feel free, however, to do whatever research you want to do – whether it be on Oak Lodge people, or your own ancestors.
Lastly, I recommend that you spend a little time in the Archives Tour section of the website, under the About Archives tab at the top of the screen. This section will tell you all about the types of records available, copying, finding aids, and most anything else you would want to know to help you prepare for our visit.
I think this trip will be a lot of fun, and very productive for everyone. SEE YOU TUESDAY MORNING!
Mike Schmeer