Five sessions of the Oregon Heritage Conference will be free and open to the public on April 13 at the Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St., Bend OR. The Oregon Heritage Conference brings together people from across Oregon who work with and support Oregon’s heritage for three days of meetings, workshops, and sessions. The public is invited to participate in the following free sessions without registering for the conference. From 9:35-10:50 a.m. the Oregon Heritage Fellows and the Women’s History Consortium’s Junior Fellow will present their research findings at the “Oregon Students Researching Oregon” session. Emerging scholars will present on an investigation into women convicted of homicide in Oregon, archaeological work using LiDAR (light detection and ranging) in the Willamette Valley, and the historic preservation of structures located in federally designated wilderness areas in Oregon. From 10:50 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Jennifer Joyce, McMenamins artist, and Kerry Conroy, McMenamins historian, will present a plenary session titled, “Historic Surrealism: the Intersection between McMenamins Art & History.” This fun and casual program will address why McMenamins has historians and artists, how the two departments work together, ways in which their process has evolved over the years, and how this return-on-investment is measured. Presentation includes a slideshow and discussion of the artist’s work at Old St. Francis School. From 12:30- 1:45 p.m. archaeologists Sarah Silbernagel, Scott Thomas, BLM, and David Ellis, Willamette CRA will present “Recent Discoveries in Oregon Archaeology: A Reason to Preserve Sites.” Studying the remnants of past human activity intact within original surroundings is the best way for archaeologists to piece together the scientific, ethnographic, historical, and geographical data they need to learn about the past, but sites are sometimes eroded by natural and human causes. In this session, learn about recent discoveries made possible by State and federal archaeological laws that outline a process to preserve and gather information from archaeological sites. From 2:15- 3:30 p.m. archaeologists Pat O’Grady, University of Oregon, Chelsea Rose, Southern Oregon University, Jamie French, State Historic Preservation Office, and John Pouley, State Historic Preservation Office, will present “Interacting with Archaeology.” Many people don’t know about the volume and impact of archaeological work that goes on every day in Oregon, but some communities are using public archaeology to promote community involvement. Presenters will share public engagement projects including investigations at a Chinese Shrine in Salem, the 1884 Jacksonville fire, and the Applegate homestead. From 2:15- 3:30 p.m. in McMenamins Father Luke’s Room, State Historic Preservation Office staff will engage participants in a session titled, “Significant Places: Setting National Register Priorities in Oregon.” This interactive session will be participant-driven and include small and large group discussions to generate ideas on new partners and approaches for promoting a more inclusive and thematically representative National Register of Historic Places list. The Oregon Heritage Conference April 11-13 brings together staff and volunteers from historical societies, historic landmark commissions, schools and universities, humanities groups, local and state agencies, museums, tourism and economic development organizations, federal agencies and tribal governments. To find more information and register for the conference, visit www.oregon.gov/oprd/HCD/OHC/Pages/Conference.aspx.
