To schedule an appointment or receive help with a research or reference question please fill out the form below.

Research

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In order to fulfill its mission, the Willamette Heritage Center has extensive collections documenting the history of the Mid-Willamette Valley. This includes everything from heavy textile machinery to fragile photographs to extensive archival holdings. Access to the collections for researchers is a vital part of the Willamette Heritage Center’s mission.  You can learn more about the WHC’s holdings here.

Got a research question.  Check out our Research FAQ page for quick reference guide for frequently asked questions:

Services Available

Cost Deliverables Approx. Turn Around
Reference Services Free .pdf list of cataloged materials in the WHC Collections ~1 week
In person Research Appointment Free Access to materials Subject to Availability.
Photo Request Varies based on quantity and nature of materials Digital image files (we don’t print materials, but there are many local businesses that will!) ~4 weeks
Guided Research Appointment Half Hour: $25.00

Hour Appointment: $50

Interactive Zoom call with staff/volunteers at the WHC who will provide real time remote access to materials and/or walk through the process of finding the answer to your research question Subject to availability
Research First 15 minutes free.

$40 per hour in minimum 15 min increments.  You will get a bid for services prior to undertaking

Written report with citations giving where information came from. Subject to Availability

Start Your Research Services Request!

Grow Your Research Skills

Couch Historian Web Courses

Have a computer? Stuck at home? Our Research Library and Archives mascot Maude A. Spider will teach you how to navigate the interwebs and learn more about your local history from the comfort of your own home. Hone your online research skills, learn about free web resources and learn how to spin your own histories in her weekly web episodes. Test your new skills with a skills test worksheet! Learn more about researching Mid-Willamette Valley History and the Willamette Heritage Center at www.willametteheritage.org/research.

Episodes:

Episode 1 (March 25): How old is this house?

An introduction to the Marion County Assessor’s Office Property Records, City of Salem’s Historic Building Map and the Oregon Historic Sites Database.

Download the practice exercises here: How Old is this House? Practice Exercises
Download the answer key here: How Old is this House? Answer Key

Episode 2 (April 1): All the News

Have a computer? Stuck at home? Our Research Library and Archives mascot Maude A. Spider will teach you how to navigate the interwebs and learn more about learn more about your local history from the comfort of your own home.

In this week’s episode we will explore two free, online newspaper databases:

All websites are free to use and open to the public!

Want to test out your newly honed research skills? Try your hand at this worksheet, that has challenges that can be answered by using the websites featured.

Download the practice exercises here: All the News Practice Exercises
Download the answer key here: All the News Answer Key

Episode 3 (April 8): Fun With Historical Maps

In today’s episode we go back to what Oregon looked like in the 1850s and 1860s and introduce how to use Government Land Office Records and translate them to modern maps.

We’ll explore:

Want to test out your newly honed research skills? Try your hand at this worksheet, that has challenges that can be answered by using the websites featured.

Download the practice exercises here: Fun with Historical Maps Practice Exercises
Download the answer key here: Fun With Historical Maps Answer Key

Episode 4 (April 15): Introduction to Census Records

In today’s episode we look at Census Records and what they can tell us about people living in our community in the past.

We’ll explore:

***Note: Both of these resources are free to access, but you will need to set up a free account with FamilySearch.org to access their materials.

Want to test out your newly honed research skills? Try your hand at this worksheet, that has challenges that can be answered by using the websites featured.

Download the practice exercises here: Introduction to Census Records Practice Exercises
Download the blank census tracking form here: Census Tracking Form

Download the answer key here: Introduction to Census Records Answer Key

Episode 5: Finding Historic Photographs Online

In today’s episode, explore eight websites that can help you on your search for historical photographs documenting this history of the Mid-Willamette Valley.

We’ll explore resources from:

Want to test out your newly honed research skills? Try your hand at this worksheet, that has challenges that can be answered by using the websites featured.

Download the practice exercises here: Finding Historic Photographs Online Practice Exercises
Download the answer key here: Finding Historical Photographs Online Answer Key

Episode 6: Marion County Surveys and Deeds

In today’s episode, we’ll introduce two simple tools for finding property records, deeds and surveys in Marion County, Oregon.

We’ll look at the:


Want to test out your newly honed research skills? Try your hand at this worksheet, that has challenges that can be answered by using the websites featured.

Download the practice exercises here: Marion County Surveys and Deeds Practice Sheet
Download the answer key here: Marion County Surveys and Deeds Answer Key

Episode 7: Walk around the Historical Block

In today’s episode, we’ll introduce two simple tools for accessing Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps in Salem, Oregon. These maps are like little time capsules outlining what blocks used to look like years ago.

We will look at the 1895 Map from the Library Congress Digital Collections (open and free access to anyone with the internet!): https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn07453_004/

We will also show you how to access an Online Sanborn Maps database for free with a Salem Public Library Card! https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/library.aspx

Questions?

You can reach the research library via email or phone 503-585-7012 ext 257.  Please be aware that our staff and research volunteers are not in the office everyday.  We will get back to you as soon as we can.  We thank you for your patience.