History of the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission
Our long history shows OCHC to be strongly mission driven. We have produced many successful events and projects that have raised the profile of one of our region’s most unheralded assets, our creative cultural heritage, and the many great individuals who have made it unique.
“The C.E.S. Wood Celebration was WONDERFUL! It was delightful, and very appropriate for the Library to participate in the festivities. Wood is a fine emblem of Portland. Your vision, hard work, and good cheer made it happen. Working with you was a pleasure, and we all benefited from your good work.”
— Ginnie Cooper, Former Director of Libraries, Multnomah County
Poet-artist-attorney Charles Erskine Scott Wood set high standards for our region’s culture and was instrumental in the creation of many of its primary cultural institutions.
Strong history of community support and project completion funding for OCHC has primarily come from private individuals and the charitable sector. Memorials and cultural programs have been completed in a timely fashion with very finite budgets. Resources for symposia, programs, memorials and operations have come from the following foundations, public entities, and granting institutions:
Clark Foundation
The Collins Foundation
The Friends of the [Multnomah County] Library
H&M Fund – Howard & Manya Schapiro
Irvington Community Association
The Library Foundation, Inc.
North Star Foundation – Stan Amy & Christy Eugenis
Oregon Community Foundation
Oregon Council for the Humanities
Peninsula Optimist Club
Portland Public Schools
Regional Arts & Culture Council
Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation
Tri-Met
Tektronix Foundation
Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust
The Wyss Foundation
Concerned that arts organizations were focusing only on contemporary literary authors, Brian Booth co-founded the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, which promotes the state’s literary and cultural heritage.
“Oregon is a good place for artists. It’s a good place to live. It breeds artists.
I’m not saying it’s Paris in the ’20s, but intellectuals, independents, eccentrics —
they find others here for support. It’s an encouraging atmosphere.”
— “All About Oregon,” Old Oregon, Winter 2001
Collaborations with public and private sectors OCHC programs, exhibits and memorials have depended on extensive collaboration from regional, national, and international institutions and their representatives. A partial list of our colleagues and collaborators includes:
Multnomah County Library
Oregon State Library
Center for the Book
Portland Public School District 1
Orondo Schools – Washington
University of Oregon –
Labor Education & Research Center
School of Journalism
Archives & Special Collections
The University of Portland
Portland State University – several departments
Reed College
Pacific University
Marylhurst University
Chemeketa Community College
Portland Community College
Oregon Historical Society
Clackamas County Museum of History
Pacific Northwest Labor History Association
Oregon State Parks
Portland Parks and Recreation
Metro Washington Park Zoo
Tri-Met
Portland Repertory Theater
Regional Arts & Culture Council
Portland Art Museum
Northwest Film Center
Oregon Historic Preservation Office
Pioneer Cemetery Commission
Oregon Pioneer Cemetery Association
Cimetire des Gonards – France
International Herald Tribune – France
VPRO Television – Holland
Ediciones Curso – Spain
Edizioni Pantarei – Italy
Association for the Study of the Western – Germany
The Oregonian
Northwest Examiner
The Alliance
KBOO-FM
KOPB-FM
Fox 49 TV O
Oregon State University Press
University of Nebraska Press
Ahsahta Press – Boise State U.
Powell’s Books
Klindt Bookstore – The Dalles
Looking Glass Bookstore
Great Northwest Bookstore
Far Corner Books/Breitenbush Press
Urion Press
Irish Setter Typesetting
The Oregon Literary Coalition
Fishtrap
Literary Arts, Inc.
Oregon State Poetry Association
Sam Simpson Society
Joaquin Miller Newsletter
ORLO / The Bear Deluxe
Timberline Lodge
The Sovereign Collection
Mark Woolley Gallery
ArtSpace Gallery
Inkling Studio
