Oregon Experience: Fort Vancouver

Historical Research | Curation | Public History

My services included historical research and curator of still images for this Oregon Public Broadcasting special on the Fur Trade. Sourcing and licensing materials from archives across the globe, I located historically accurate drawings, paintings,  and records that helped tell the history of the eighteenth and nineteenth century fur trade — a time period before photography.

Environmental History of Albina
Neighborhood Improvement
Committee’s Tree Program

Cultural Resource Management | Historical Research | Public History

This historic resource study was produced for the City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services. The study focused on the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Program’s tree planting and neighborhood beautification efforts from 1961 – 1972. This innovative program was one of the first of its kind in the nation and included tree planting to correct an “Environmental Deficiency” identified by the neighborhood. The wealth of historical records that document this project are housed at City of Portland Archives and serve as the basis for this historical analysis. Although mentioned in many other studies as an interesting footnote, this study is one of the first to dive deeply into the history of ANIP. Focused mainly on tree planting, this study also aims to encourage further studies of ANIP’s other innovative, community driven programs.

National Historic District: Laurelhurst Neighborhood 

Historical Research | Historic Preservation

Coordinating with the nominator, my research on the environmental history of Portland’s Laurelhurst Neighborhood focused on the design, planning, and planting of the neighborhood’s treelined streets, parks, and parkways. Investigating the historic context of the neighborhoods driveways, alleyways, roads, utility corridors revealed important details that contributed to the National Park Service successfully listing the district on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. 

Download the nomination form here.

Revealing Our Past: A History of Nineteenth Century Vancouver Barracks through 25 Objects

Historical Research | Curation | Public History

"This is a first in the national park system, a project that reflects the cutting-edge of creativity and originality in digital interpretation," Christine Lehnertz, Regional Director for the National Park Service's Pacific West Region.

Working with a team of historians we developed the National Park Service’s first e-book. Using the museum's extensive collection, we selected 25 objects that reflected the overall scope of collections and interpretive goals for 19th century history. The individual narratives focus on a tangible object and universal themes to tell the story of the U.S. Army post through multiple perspective and learning styles. The project manager, Chief Ranger Greg Shine, received the Freeman Tilden Award for the project.

City of Gresham Historic Landmarks

Cultural Resource Management | Historical Research | Public History

I researched and authored an updated inventory of local historic landmarks in the city of Gresham. Significantly expanding the projects historical analysis, I included detailed architectural and social histories for each property. Coordinating with the city’s public communications and the Gresham Historical Society, I developed and authored web page content and participated in a public summit  to celebrate and protect the city’s historic resources.

Download part one and part two

From Stumptown to Treetown

Environmental History | Curation | Public History

I authored, developed, and produced a publication entitled From Stumptown to Treetown: A Field Guide for Interpreting Portland's History Through its Heritage Trees. The guide is a ten stop walking tour of Portland Heritage Trees in the downtown core. The book features archival collections from several regional institutions and I secured partnerships to print the book and distribute it through Portland Parks & Recreation free of charge.  In addition to presenting the work at numerous professional conferences and academic journals, this project received the Portland State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Science Dean's Award for Community Engagement. You can download a free copy of the booklet here.

Urban Forestry Interpretive Walks and Talks

Environmental History | Public History

Since 2015, I have regularly lead interpretive talks and walks for Portland Parks and Recreation Urban Forestry. I organize these interpretive programs around the natural and cultural history of each neighborhood. Pairing archival collections from City of Portland Archives with physical trees along neighborhood streets and parks, I connect visitors to intangible concepts like class, gender, race, as well as botanical and horticultural knowledge. In fostering personal connections to the trees, I engage visitors imaginations and am able to garner an appreciation of the trees that embraces multiple perspectives and backgrounds. My interpretive walks have helped Urban Forestry expand its community outreach and engagement beyond their typical audiences demographics.

Masters Thesis: “As long as the Mighty Columbia River Flows”": the Leadership and Legacy of Wilson Charley, a Yakama Indian Fisherman

Environmental History | Historical Research

My Master of Arts in History thesis profiles the leadership of Wilson Charley, a Yakama Tribal Councilman and Columbia River Indian Fisherman in the 1940s - 1960s. One of the first scholars to analyse his extensive cache of personal correspondence, I demonstrate how Charley used the language of twentieth century conservation to resist efforts to curtail treaty protected  Native fishing rights and the construction of The Dalles Dam. My research received an Oregon Heritage Fellowship and I organized and participated in two conference panels at the American Society for Environmental History and the Western History Association conference.

Link to full thesis.

Historical Research Guide for Portland Urban Forestry 

Environmental History | Public History | Education

Working for Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry, I developed a “how to” guide on researching historic and historical trees. In some ways similar to property history I also provided helpful specifics and suggestions on how to find a tree’s history in regional archives. The guide has helped the Heritage Committee better document and select trees with proper historical documentation.

Pinnacles Historic Resource Study 

Environmental History | Cultural Resource Management | Historical Research

Working on a contract, I assisted Dr. Timothy Babalis, Park Historian, in researching and writing sections of a Historic Resource Study for the Pinnacles National Park.  My research focused on documenting the landscape history for Mexican-era Rancho Land Grants, irrigation, and nineteenth and twentieth agricultural resources in Monterey and San Benito Counties.

Just old trees 

Environmental History | Documentary Film | Historical Research

I curated an interpretive walk and talk on the trees of the Henry E. Dosch Estate in Southwest Portland. Researching the history of Dosch’s work in Oregon Horticulture, I also facilitated an extensive interviews with Dosch’s decedents. I assisted James Krzmarzick in producing a short documentary about the trees and their history.

Editorial Fellow for Pacific Historical Review

Environmental History | Public History | Education

During my graduate studies I served as the Caroline P. Stoel Editorial Fellow for the Pacific Historical Review. As the chief customer service representative for the West Coast’s longest continuously published history journal, I managed all incoming manuscripts and facilitated the peer review process.  Assisting the Production Editor, I also edited articles selected for publication—from developmental edits to copy edits for publication. My appointment spanned the transition between two editorial teams,  and my leadership helped transfer the institutional knowledge of the retiring editors to the new team. In less than a year, I led the launch of an entirely online platform for journal submissions.

Business and Property Histories

Historical Research | Public History | Environmental History

My most commonly utilized service is in short business and property histories. I offer flexible rates and tailor-made research projects for your needs. These projects take forms such as: site histories, property narratives for marketing and development,  formal and informal presentations about your building and neighborhood history, and detailed historical site documentation and evaluation. I’m a nimble and precise researcher and always deliver original, primary source, material for your specific project and budget.

In the classroom

Education

I bring my field experience into the classroom as well. I have taught formal university courses as well as community-based workshops on history, interpretation, and environmental studies. Teaching is an important part of my philosophy as a historian, I am always looking for part-time and temporary teaching opportunities.