Oregon Historical Society
A Portland-based historical society that collects, preserves, interprets, and publishes material relating to Oregon and the broader history of the United States.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is a nonprofit historical organization based in Portland, Oregon. Its purpose is to advance public understanding of Oregon's past within the larger framework of United States history. The Society operates a museum, research library, archives, publication program, and educational activities, making historical objects and records available to researchers, students, residents, and visitors. OHS was organized on December 17, 1898, at the Portland Library Building. Its first president was Harvey W. Scott, and the organization enrolled 370 members during its first year. George H. Himes became its first curator in 1899 and remained associated with that role for roughly four decades. The Society initially developed both a museum collection and a regional research library, first operating from Portland City Hall before moving through several Portland facilities. The organization has published the Oregon Historical Quarterly continuously since 1900. The journal is a major vehicle for historical scholarship concerning Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and related subjects. Through the Oregon Historical Society Press, established in 1929, OHS also published books on Oregon history, politics, culture, geography, and biography. The Press later suspended active operations, while distribution of books that remained in print was handled by the University of Washington Press. OHS's collections encompass photographs, films and videotapes, artifacts, books, maps, microfilm, documents, and oral histories. The materials document the social, political, cultural, environmental, and economic development of Oregon. The Society has been described as holding one of the largest collections of historic photographs in the United States. Its museum and research functions are supported by storage and preservation facilities designed to protect materials that are not on public display. The Society moved to its current downtown Portland location in 1966. Its public complex, commonly known as the Oregon History Center, includes the Oregon Historical Society Museum. The institution has also operated a museum store in the Sovereign Hotel, a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. OHS previously used the former Meier & Frank Delivery Depot in Portland's Pearl District for collections storage and processing, later selling that property as redevelopment increased its value and moving collections operations to a warehouse in Gresham. OHS is independent of the State of Oregon, although it has received state support. Its funding has also included county support, admissions and memberships, philanthropy, bequests, and property transactions. In 2010, Multnomah County voters approved a five-year property-tax levy that provided funding for the institution and enabled free admission for county residents. State appropriations in the following period helped address the mortgage on the Society's large collections warehouse. A substantial bequest from Oregon businessman and philanthropist Fred Fields also supported the organization. The Society's institutional history includes periods of leadership change and financial strain. Thomas Vaughan left the directorship in 1989 after 35 years. Bill Tramposch served briefly during a period in which OHS faced a deficit inherited from the preceding administration, and Chet Orloff returned as executive director in 1992, serving until the end of 2000. George L. Vogt became executive director in 2006, retired in 2011, and was succeeded by Kerry Tymchuk, who was named permanent director later that year. OHS has also participated in collaborative historical and reference projects, including plans announced with Portland State University's history department in 2008 for an online Oregon encyclopedia. The Society's legacy is both substantial and contested. Earlier leaders helped establish a durable public record of Oregon history, but later historians have criticized some early institutional narratives for emphasizing pioneer achievement, heroism, and civic mythology while minimizing class conflict, political disagreement, and historical wrongdoing. OHS's stewardship of records connected with former Oregon governor Neil Goldschmidt also drew public attention to the responsibilities of historical repositories when records concern controversial political figures. Today, the Society's central role is to preserve primary sources while offering museums, publications, research services, and educational interpretation through which Oregon's history can be examined from multiple perspectives.
History
The Oregon Historical Society was organized in Portland on December 17, 1898, at the Portland Library Building. Its founding purpose was to assemble historical evidence about Oregon and encourage broad public and scholarly use of that material. Harvey W. Scott became its first president, while George H. Himes was appointed curator in 1899. During its first year, the Society had 370 members. OHS soon established an office, museum, and research library in Portland City Hall. The Oregon Historical Quarterly began publication in 1900 and has continued as the Society's principal scholarly periodical. The organization moved to the Tourny Building in 1913 and then to Portland's Public Auditorium, now Keller Auditorium, in 1917. In 1966 it moved to its current downtown Portland location, where the Oregon History Center includes the Society's museum. For much of the twentieth century, OHS expanded its collections and public role. Its holdings came to include millions of feet of film and videotape, millions of photographs, tens of thousands of artifacts, books, maps, microfilm, documents, and thousands of hours of recorded oral history. The Oregon Historical Society Press, active from 1929, issued more than 150 books concerning Oregon history, politics, geography, culture, and biography. The Press later suspended operations, with the University of Washington Press distributing remaining books still in print. The institution's collections operations also changed as Portland's real-estate market evolved. From 1986 to 2001, the former Meier & Frank Delivery Depot in the Pearl District served as storage and processing space. OHS sold the building for $12.7 million in 2000, then moved its collections to a warehouse in Gresham during the first half of 2001. The replacement property cost $3.2 million before modifications, and the relocation and adaptation program was expected to cost approximately $6 million overall. Leadership and finances were significant themes in the Society's late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century history. Thomas Vaughan left a 35-year directorship in 1989. Bill Tramposch then served during a period in which the Society faced a deficit inherited from the prior administration. His proposed three-year recovery plan had board support but proved unpopular with portions of the staff, and he resigned in 1991. Chet Orloff returned as executive director in 1992 and served until the end of 2000. George L. Vogt became executive director in 2006, retired in 2011, and was succeeded by Kerry Tymchuk, who became permanent director in October 2011. OHS has remained independent from state government while receiving public support. In 2007, it received a $2.8 million biennial state appropriation, described as approximately 30 percent of its annual operating budget. Multnomah County voters approved a five-year levy in 2010 that supported the institution and provided free admission for county residents. In 2011, the state approved $2.5 million toward the mortgage on the Society's collections warehouse, and the organization received a $2 million bequest from Fred Fields. The Society's interpretive legacy has been debated. Historians have argued that some early leaders promoted an Oregon narrative centered on pioneer heroism, civic prestige, and mythology while avoiding class conflict and criticism of established interests. OHS's handling of records relating to former governor Neil Goldschmidt also brought scrutiny to the role of archives in preserving and providing access to politically sensitive records. In addition to its museum and library work, the Society has collaborated on broader public-history initiatives, including a 2008 plan with Portland State University's history department to create an online Oregon encyclopedia.
- 2014
Sovereign Hotel sold
[1]OHS sold the historic Sovereign Hotel, which had housed its museum store.
- 2011
Leadership transition and public funding
[1]George L. Vogt retired, Kerry Tymchuk became permanent director later in the year, and the Society received state assistance for its warehouse mortgage together with a major philanthropic bequest.
- 2008
Online Oregon encyclopedia project announced
[1]OHS and Portland State University's history department announced plans to develop an online encyclopedia of Oregon.
- 2001
Collections moved to Gresham warehouse
[1]Collections storage and processing operations relocated from the Pearl District to a warehouse in suburban Gresham.
- 2000
Pearl District property sold
[1]The Society sold the former Meier & Frank Delivery Depot as rising redevelopment values affected the Pearl District.
- 1966
Move to current Portland location
[1]OHS moved to its current downtown Portland site, which became the base for the Oregon History Center and museum.
- 1929
Oregon Historical Society Press established
[1]The Society's publishing program began issuing books on Oregon history and related subjects.
- 1917
Move to Portland Public Auditorium
[1]In September, OHS moved into Portland's then-new Public Auditorium, now known as Keller Auditorium.
- 1913
Move to the Tourny Building
[1]The Society moved from Portland City Hall to the Tourny Building at Second and Taylor streets.
- 1900
Oregon Historical Quarterly begins publication
[1]OHS published the first issue of its official historical journal, which has continued through the present.
Products and positioning
A statewide historical institution combining collecting, preservation, scholarship, public exhibitions, publishing, and research access. OHS positions itself as a trusted steward and interpreter of Oregon's documentary and material heritage rather than as a commercial consumer brand.
Museum · 1966
Oregon Historical Society Museum
The Society's public museum in downtown Portland presents exhibitions and interpretive programs based on Oregon's history and the institution's collections. It connects artifacts, photographs, documents, and other primary materials with broader stories about the state and the United States.
Library and archive · 1898
Research Library and Archives
OHS provides access to a major research library and archival collection containing photographs, films, videotapes, artifacts, books, maps, microfilm, documents, and oral histories. The holdings support research into Oregon's communities, politics, culture, environment, and institutional development.
Scholarly journal · 1900
Oregon Historical Quarterly
The Oregon Historical Quarterly is OHS's continuing scholarly publication. It disseminates research and interpretation concerning Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, and has been published continuously since the first issue appeared in 1900.
Books and publishing · 1929
Oregon Historical Society Press publications
The Society's Press published more than 150 books beginning in 1929, covering Oregon history, politics, culture, geography, and biography. Active Press operations were later suspended, while the University of Washington Press handled distribution of eligible titles that remained in print.
Cultural and educational center · 1966
Oregon History Center
The Oregon History Center is the Society's downtown Portland complex and includes the Oregon Historical Society Museum. It brings together public exhibition, educational, and institutional functions in a central venue.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Multnomah County cultural-access levy
Multnomah County · Oregon
OHS was included in a county ballot initiative creating a five-year property-tax levy for institutional support. The measure also provided free museum and research-library admission for county residents.
Outcome. Voters approved the initiative.
- 2008Online Oregon encyclopedia collaboration
Oregon · United States
OHS and Portland State University's history department announced a collaboration to develop an online encyclopedia focused on Oregon.
Outcome. The source records the announcement but does not provide sufficient detail about the project's subsequent outcome.
Brand decisions
2014
Sell the Sovereign HotelStrategyBackground
The Sovereign Hotel was a historic Portland property associated with the Society and its museum store.
Action taken
OHS sold the Sovereign Hotel.
Aftermath
The source does not provide further detail about the property's subsequent use or the financial effect on OHS.
2009
Suspend active Oregon Historical Society Press operationsStrategyBackground
The Society had maintained a book-publishing program since 1929, but later sources report that active Press operations were suspended.
Action taken
OHS suspended Press operations while the University of Washington Press handled distribution of books that remained in print.
Aftermath
Publication of the Oregon Historical Quarterly continued.
2000
Sell Pearl District collections facilityStrategyBackground
Redevelopment and rising property values in Portland's Pearl District changed the economics of the Society's former storage and processing facility.
Action taken
OHS sold the former Meier & Frank Delivery Depot and planned a move to a less central but purpose-adapted warehouse in Gresham.
Aftermath
Collections and processing operations moved during the first half of 2001.
Property sale price. $12.7 million sale proceeds (2000)
Sources2 sources
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