In Fall 2009 the Lewis & Clark College Special Collections made arrangements with the Jefferson County Historical Society and Ronald McDonald, the current owner of Hay Creek Ranch, for Special Collections to borrow the extensive and historic Hay Creek Ranch papers for the purpose of organizing and properly preserving the priceless collection. This agreement created a unique practicum opportunity for L&C senior, Nathalie Figueroa ’10. During the Spring 2010 semester, Nathalie processed the collection, completed a finding aid, and compiled a historical report highlighting the major events of the historic Oregon ranch. The collection consists of a wide array of documents and materials, including deeds, abstracts, contracts, financial records, and maps that bring to light the operations and the development of one of the nations largest sheep and livestock companies.

Located in the heart of the Ochoco Mountains, Hay Creek Ranch extended over 79 miles and over 70,000 acres of central Oregon. Established in 1873 by Dr. David E. Baldwin, the ranch continued to expand and develop under the hands of several prominent Portland businessmen. It wasn’t until the turn of the century, however, that Hay Creek Ranch became internationally renown for its superior “Sanderson strain” Rambouillet sheep. Recognized as the finest wool and mutton sheep of the world, the Hay Creek Ranch sheep were exported throughout Europe and parts of Asia as well as Soviet Russia in what was one of the nation’s largest foreign shipments.

Now that this project is complete, the collection will be returned to the Jefferson County Historical Society. Researchers and students interested in learning more about Hay Creek Ranch can view a finding aid for the collection in the Northwest Digital Archives Database http://nwda.wsulibs.wsu.edu. Students interested in a practicum similar to this project should contact Doug Erickson, Head of Special Collection, at dme@lclark.edu or 503-768-7254 for more information. Positions are limited, but according to Nathalie Figueroa, working with historical documents can be interesting and enjoyable way to gain practical work experience.

Lewis & Clark College Special Collections in cooperation with the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation hosts a series of three lectures on February 20 from 9:30-11:30 am in Miller 105. Stephen Dow Beckham, Gary E. Moulton, and Roger Wendlick have spent time working on historical projects in the Lewis & Clark College Special Collections, and at this event they will share their discoveries. This event is free to the Lewis & Clark College community and to the general public. “James Gilchrest Swan (1818-1900): Wilderness Intellectual” by Stephen Dow Beckham, Dr. Robert D. Pamplin, Jr. Professor of History, Lewis & Clark College. Dr. Beckham is editor of Oregon Indians: Voices from Two Centuries and curator of Watzek Library’s current exhibit on James G. Swan. “Onomastics of an Indian Woman” by Gary E. Moulton, Thomas C. Sorensen Professor Emeritus of History, University of Nebraska—Lincoln. Dr. Moulton is the editor of the authoritative edition of the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. “Recollections of Assembling a One-of-a-Kind Lewis and Clark Library and Thoughts on Writing an Autobiography” by Roger Wendlick, antiquarian book collector and Lewis and Clark expedition scholar, Portland, Oregon. Mr. Wendlick is the author of Shotgun on My Chest: Memoirs of a Lewis and Clark Collector.

This exhibit in the Watzek Library Atrium features printed and manuscript materials related to Swan as well as Northwest Indian artifacts and objects. The materials are from the Lewis & Clark College Special Collections and the personal collection of Stephen Dow Beckham, Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr., Professor of History.

This exhibit in the Library Atrium explores the early intellectual culture of the College. "A Selection of Interesting Books from Lewis & Clark's First Library" highlights a number of titles rediscovered during the past year when Lewis & Clark librarians began a thorough review of the College's library holdings. The exhibited books are from the College's first library in Albany, Oregon (1867-1942). On display through May 31, 2010.

Aubrey Watzek Library offers a glimpse into Oregon’s communal past in this exhibit on display in the Library Atrium.

The exhibit is inspired by the publication of Eden Within Eden: Oregon’s Utopian Heritage (Oregon State University Press, 2009) by Library Director Jim Kopp and the annual conference of the Communal Studies Association being held in Aurora on October 1-3, 2009. The exhibit has been a collaborative effort of several institutions and individuals. Materials for the exhibit come from the Aurora Colony Historical Society, Special Collections of the University of Oregon, Watzek Library, and Jim Kopp’s personal collection. Special thanks to Patrick Harris, Curator at the Aurora Colony Historical Society, and Linda Long, Manuscripts Librarian at the University of Oregon for their assistance and for loaning materials for the exhibit. On display through December 31, 2009.

Portland resident Katherine Dunn is the author of the novel Geek Love, an international bestseller and National Book Award finalist. This exhibition explores her career in print and opens the way to a fuller appreciation of a writing life. It runs through May in Watzek Library. For further information, see Special Collections' Current Exhibits.

Watzek Library's Special Collections will host an Open House during Alumni Weekend on Saturday, October 4 from 1-3 pm. Highlights include College memorabilia, rare materials from the collection, and items from the recently acquired William Stafford Archives.

This exhibit features lesser known items from the rare book collection at Aubrey R. Watzek Library to provide a brief visual overview of the history of book binding from the era of vellum through contemporary handmade books. It is on display through December in the Library Atrium. For further information, see Slideshow: Tracing the history of bookbinding in Special Collections exhibit.