A Project of the Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon Encyclopedia is a statewide digital resource of history and culture. It is the authoritative and creative resource on all things Oregon, a substantive and lasting recognition of the state's complex history and culture.
The OE is designed to expand and grow as new entries and essays are written and as new web-based features are created. Authors and editors review entries regularly to ensure that they include up-to-date information and sources.
Oregon EncyclopediaExplore Oregon's history and culture — from Athapaskan Indians to Zigzag Ranger StationThe OE is part of the Oregon Historical Society's Digital History Projects, in partnership with Portland State University and the Oregon Council of Teachers of English. The OE has also received support from the Oregon Cultural Trust through the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, Willamette University, and the Oregon State Library. The OHS Digital History Projects include The OE, the Oregon History Project (digitized and annotated primary resources), and the Oregon History Wayfinder (interactive map). Together, the sites provide the largest compendium of digitized material and scholarship about Oregon history and culture on the Web.
Significant financial support has come from Portland State University, the Chancellor’s Office of the Oregon Higher Education Board, Oregon Cultural Trust, Willamette University, and the Oregon Council of the Teachers of English, plus contributions from the public and grants. As of 2022, The Oregon Encyclopedia has published over 1,800 entries and essays written by over 1,000 contributors. The OE's twenty-seven-member volunteer Editorial Board, copy editors, and managerial staff produce a publication that averages nearly one million visits per year.
The Oregon EncyclopediaMission
The Oregon Encyclopedia of History and Culture provides definitive, authoritative information written in accessible and literate language about the State of Oregon, including significant individuals, places, institutions, events, peoples, and artistic expressions.The Oregon Encyclopedia Includes
- Entries on significant people, events, places, institutions, and biota from 10,000 years ago to the present;
- Essays on geographical subjects, movements, and groups providing a broad perspective on general topics;
- Images, documents, and maps;
- Information on how to use the OE for teachers and students.
Themes
Encyclopedia entries have been gathered into Themes, like with like, to guide readers to their interests (or school assignments). Most entries belong to two or more Themes, a reflection of history's refusal to be single-minded.
- Agriculture and Ranching
- Archaeology and Anthropology
- Architecture and Historic Preservation
- Arts
- Black History
- Education
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Exploration and Explorers
- Folklife
- Geography and Places
- Geology
- Government, Law, and Politics
- Labor
- LGBTQ
- Literature
- Native Americans
- Oregon Trail and Resettlement
- Oregoniana—you know it when you see it.
- Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality
- Religion
- Science, Medicine, and Technology
- Sports and Recreation
- Trade, Business, Industry, and the Economy
- Transportation and Communication
- Women
Who writes entries for The OE?
The Oregon Encyclopedia does not accept unsolicited entries. The encyclopedia is an authoritative publication, which means we adhere to a scholarly editorial process.Authors are vetted by the editors and invited to submit entries.
Authors
Our entries are written by experts in their subjects. They are meticulously researched and fact-checked. Over 600 contributors from around the state have given their knowledge, expertise, and their voices to this one-of-a-kind public history site.In the Classroom
Public history resources aligned with Social Studies standards
Public history resources are designed to serve wide audiences, and this one fulfills that purpose; but The OE is particularly suited for the classroom. The entries are written by experts in their subjects, and meticulously researched and fact-checked. Over 600 contributors from around the state have given their knowledge, expertise, and their voices to this one-of-a-kind public history site. The topics are varied, the entries are short, and the list of subjects is growing.By using The Oregon Encyclopedia in the classroom, teachers can address the following Oregon Department of Education Social Studies Standards:
State & Local History: Understand and interpret the history of the state of Oregon.
- Understand and interpret events, issues, and developments in Oregon history.
- Understand and interpret events, issues, and developments in local history.
Social Science Analysis: Design and implement strategies to analyze issues, explain perspectives, and resolve issues using the social sciences.
- Identify, research, and clarify an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon of significance to society.
- Gather, use, and evaluate researched information to support analysis and conclusions.
- Understand an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon from multiple perspectives.
- Identify and analyze characteristics, causes, and consequences of an event, issue, problem or phenomenon.
- Identify, compare, and evaluate outcomes, responses, or solutions; then reach a supported conclusion.
