This section lists the societies of Oregon, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.
Statewide and Regional Societies
County and Other Societies
Statewide and Regional Societies
Oregon Genealogical Forum
Many indexes are on-line, which include:
- 1890 Veterans Census
- Death Certificates 1903-1905
- Donation Land Claims(Granted to Settlers who arrived prior to 1853)
- Early Settler Forms(Settlers who arrived prior to 1900)
- Indian War Pensions(Pension Applications for Indian Wars Service between 1817-1898)
- Jackson Co. Funeral Cards
- Little Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Homes
Databases also incorporate:
- Marriages by William T. Milliken 1916-1948.
- Masonic Proceedings 1851-1910
- Military Sources
- Multnomah Co. Marriages 1855-1910
- Multnomah Co. Naturalisations 1943-1945
- Multnomah Co. Poor Farm Records
- Multnomah Co. Probates 1852-1939
- Newspaper Clippings
- Obituaries
In addition, other databases are also accessible:
- Poor Farm Cemetery
- Portland Death Certificates 1881-1917
- Portland Birth Certificates 1903-1905
- Provisional Land Claims 1845-1849
- St Mary’s Cemetery: Portland’s Pioneer Catholic Cemetery
- Soldiers’ Home Register
- State Office Holders
- Waterfront Passes
- Westergaard Index to Deaths 1881-1940
- WWI Draft Registration
- Yearbook Pictures
Many resources are available in the Library and an On-line Catalogue is available on the site.
These include:
- City Directories
- County Directories
- Federal and State Census Returns
- Funeral Home Books
- Historical Books
- Newspaper Indexes
- Probate Records
- Tax Rolls
- Vital Records
Archives relate to the State, other US States and further afield, such as England and Wales.
Website:
http://www.gfo.org/
Oregon Genealogical Society
Many resources can be accessed in their Research Library, including Books and Periodicals for most Localities, Pedigree Charts and Trail Material.
County Records held by the society incorporate:
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Death Indexes
- Donation Land Claims
- Eugene/Springfield City Directories
- Metzger’s Lane County Maps
Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- 1854 Lane County Agricultural Census
- Bible Records
- Cemetery Inscriptions
- Early Settlers Information
- Lane Co. Will Abstracts 1867-1904
- Lincoln Co. Marriages 1893-1926
- Malheur Co. Marriages 1877-1911
- Newspaper Clippings
- Pioneers
Many books relating to other US States and further afield can be purchased from the association. In addition, they sell American Passenger Arrivals, Books relating to Lineage Societies and Research Aids.
Website:
https://oregongs.org/
Oregon Historical Society
Many resources can be accessed in the Davies Family Research Library, including:
- Books
- Census Returns
- City Directories
- DAR Index
- Donation Land Claim Index
- Films
- Genealogical and Biographical Material
- Government Documents
- Indian War Pension Papers
- Manuscripts
- Maps
Archives also include:
- Newspapers
- Obituaries
- Oral Histories
- Personal Papers
- Photographs
- Pioneer Card File
- Scrapbooks
- Serials
- Provisional and Territorial Papers Index
- Vital Records Indexes
It is also possible to search these resources using the On-line Catalogue.
Website:
http://www.ohs.org
County and Other Societies
Bend Genealogical Society
The aim of the association is to provide resources to help preserve family history records and to help further research.
The Society has a Library where many resources are available, which include more than 2100 Books and Journals, Video Tapes, DVD’s and CD-ROMs covering most States in the United States and further afield.
For a fee, the society is prepared to send you a copy of an Obituary that appeared in the Bend Bulletin if you send them the relevant information. They are also prepared to search their Resources.
On payment of a fee, the Society is prepared to issue an Early Pioneer Certificate to people who can prove they are descended from pioneers who settled in Central Orgeon before 1950.
Many publications are sold by the society, including Deschutes Co. Cemetery Books, Land Deeds of Deschutes Co. CD 1895-1928 and The Hauslein Family of Illinois.
Website:
https://bendgenealogy.org/
Benton County Genealogical Society
The society was established in 1971 as Mid-Valley Genealogical Society, changing its name in 1996. Their aims are to help people conducting genealogical research, to educate people with regard to the right ways of conducting research, to collect materials for their library and to preserve and publish local history.
Many resources can be accessed in their Library, which incorporate:
- Booklets
- Catalogues
- CDs
- Genealogies
- Genealogy Books for most US States and further afield
- Pedigree Chart Files
- Quarterlies
- Surname Files
An Index to the Shelf List of the BCGS Library is accessible.
Numerous publications are available for sale, including:
- Benton Co. Pioneers
- Bible Records
- Cemetery Inscriptions
- Church Registers
- Commissioners Journals
- Marriages 1850-1924 and 1925-1945
- Polk Co. Pioneers
- WPA Interviews of Benton County and Corvallis Pioneers – Conducted During 1937-1940
Website:
http://www.bcgs-oregon.org/main-site/
Blue Mountain Genealogical Society
The association has an extensive collection of resources that are accessible in Pendleton Public Library, which incorporate:
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Church Registers
- Death Certificates Index 1971-1994
- Divorces 1971-1988
- Donation Land Claims Records
- Grant Co., Umatilla Co., and Walla Walla Co. Marriages
- Local Histories
- Marriages 1971-1988
- Marriages – Umatilla County 1862-1894, Walla Walla County 1862-1899 and Grant County
- Newspapers
- Obituaries
- Oregon Census Returns
- Oregon State Death Certificates Index
- Polk City Directories
A small list of surnames found in Umatilla County and some links to other sites you may find useful are also accessible.
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~orbmgs/
Clackamas County Family History Society
Many publications are available for sale, including:
- 1910 Clackamas Co. Soundex
- Back Issues of their publication The Legacy
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Civil War Veterans in Clackamas Co.
- Clackamas Co. Early Births 1907-1910
- Clackamas Co. Weddings
- Funeral Home Books
- Jail Registers 1882-1925
- Naturalisations
- Oregon City Births 1918-1949 compiled from Hospital Cards
- Oregon City Hospital Registers 1931-1947 and 1951-1955
Website:
https://www.clackamasfamilyhistory.com/
Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society
Many publications are sold by the society, which incorporate:
- Birth and Death Extracts from The Dalles, OR Newspapers 1865–1879, 1890-95
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Circuit Court Cases of Wasco Co. Index 1854-1900
- Court Records Index 1865-1881
- Deaths Index
- Declarations of Intentions and Naturalisation Records 1854-1906
- Directories
- History of the Early Methodist-Episcopalian Churches of Hood River County 1871-1914
- Hood River, Wasco Co. 1860, 1870 and 1880 Census Returns
- Marriages 1884-1914
- Military Records Guide
- Oregon-Washington Telephone Company Directory 1919
- Power of Attorney 1873-1888
- Probate Index 1854-1949
- Surname Occurrences From 3 The Dalles, OR Newspapers 1880-1889
- Wills 1864-1897
Links to other sites you may find of use are also accessible.
Website:
https://gorgegen.blogspot.com/
Cottage Grove Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1975, its aims being to promote and encourage interest in Genealogy and collect and preserve genealogical information, especially in Cottage Grove and surrounding areas.
An extensive collection of archives are available in the Society’s Library, which include Family Histories, County Histories, Atlases, Research Aids and many materials on Microfilm and Microfiche.
Website:
http://www.cggenealogy.org
Douglas County Genealogical Society
Some Databases and Indexes are available, including a Cemetery Index(Includes list of Cemetery Locations), Mildred Brown Herman Photo Collection, Death Certificate Index 1903-1955, Newspapers, Biographical Sketches of Early Settlers and an Index to Probate Records.
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Cemetery Books
- Declarations of Intent to Become Naturalised 1850-1972
- Douglas Co. Marriages 1853-1910
- Out of County Marriages 1912-1960
- Umpqua Co. Marriages 1851-1863
Publications available for sale also incorporate:
- Births and Delayed Births
- Census Returns
- Circuit Court Records
- Divorce Suits
- Government Land Office Records and Probate Records
- Guardianships
- Inquests
- Military Records
- Newspaper Indexes for Ensign and Plaindealer 1867-1874, Plaindealer 1875-1877 and Western Star 1877-1880
- Old Age Pension Applications
- Tax Lists
Website:
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~orgsdc/
Josephine County Historical Society
The association was incorporated in 1960, their aims being to establish a museum to house artefacts and exhibits and to maintain a research library to house paper documents and research.
Many archives can be accessed in their Research Library, which incorporate:
- Books
- Census Returns
- City Directories
- Clippings
- Family Histories
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Newspapers
- Obituaries
- Pamphlets
- Periodicals
- Photographs
Numerous publications and photographs can be purchased from the Society.
Website:
http://www.jocohistorical.org
Lebanon Genealogical Society
Many documents are accessible in Lebanon Public Library Genealogy Room, which incorporate:
- Atlases
- Births
- Cemetery Records
- Census of 1849 Citizens
- Deaths
- Diaries
- Directories
- Funeral Home Books
- Land of Linn
- Linn Co. Census Returns
Resources available also incorporate:
- Linn Co. History
- Linn Co. Pioneer Interviews
- Marriages
- Militia Lists
- Newspapers
- Obituaries
- Pioneer Stories
- High School Yearbooks
- Telephone Directories
- Widows Pensions
- Wills
In addition, the society also has many Books relating to other States in America, which include:
- Atlases
- Bibles
- Census Returns and Indexes
- Early Immigrants
- Early Settlers
- Estate Records
- Family Histories
- Genealogies
- Vital Records published in Newspapers
- Will Abstracts
An Index to Surname Folders in Vertical Files in Lebanon Public Library Genealogy Room is also on the site.
Numerous databases are accessible, which incorporate:
- Businesses and People in 1881
- Cemetery Records
- Census Transcripts
- Elkins Flour Mill
- Farm Name Registrations
- History of Lebanon
- Index to Linn Co. Donation Land Claims
- Lebanon Criterion Newspapers
- Main Street Lebanon 1884
- Military Lists 1874, 1893
- Photographs
- Prominent Men of 1919
- School Records
- Strawberry Festival Queens 1909 and 1918-1962
- Train Station Restoration Project
- Women’s Civic Club 1922-1923
An index to death records 1907-1927 is also accessible.
Website:
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/or/town/lebanon
Linn County Genealogical Society
The association has approximately 100 members from the United States, Canada and Japan. Its aim is to share, collect and preserve genealogical and historical information relating to Linn County.
Many archives can be accessed in Albany Public Library on 14th Avenue, which include:
- Ancestral Notes
- Cemetery Records
- Census Records
- Family Histories
- Genealogical Reference Books
- Linn County, Oregon Pioneer Settlers Donation Land Claims to 1855
- Maps and Atlases
- Marriages
- Naturalisation Records
- Newsletters and Journals
- Newspapers
- Pioneer Families
- Wills and Administrations Indexes
Some resources relate to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Links to other sites you may find of use are also accessible.
Website:
http://www.lgsoregon.org/lgswp/
Marion County Historical Society – Willamette Heritage Centre
Marion County Historical Society merged with Mission Hill Museum Association to become Willamette Heritage Centre, located in Salem.
The aim of the Centre is to preserve and present the history of Willamette Valley region. Numerous exhibits, including The Thomas Kay Woollen Mill and Early Settlement Homes can be examined in the Centre.
Many resources are accessible in the Research Library and Archives, which include approximately 13000 objects, 200000 Photographic Images, 4500 Books and thousands of Records. In addition, biographies of Pioneers and other Histories are also available.
You have to book in advance of any visit to the centre.
A PDF version of Willamette Valley Voices, Winter 2014 Volume 3 No 1 is available on the site.
Many publications can be purchased from the society, which include Willamette Valley Voices: Connecting Generations, Marion County History, South Salem Past and a reprint of the Historical Atlas Map of Marion and Linn Counties 1878.
Numerous links to other sites you may find of use are also accessible.
Website:
http://www.willametteheritage.org
Siuslaw Genealogical Society
The association was established in 1980, its aims being to help people researching their family history and genealogy, to promote and encourage interest in genealogy, and to collect and preserve genealogical and historical information, especially that relating to the Siuslaw Valley.
Many Books and Periodicals are held in Siuslaw Public Library.
Links to other sites you may find of use are also accessible.
Website:
https://siuslawgenealogy.org/
Washington County Historical Society – Washington County Museum (Five Oaks Museum)
Numerous archives are available at the Robert L. Benson Research Library located at Portland Community College – Rock Creek Campus, 17677 NW Springville Road, Portland, OR 97229, including Manuscripts, Images, Maps, Oral Histories and Books. State and Local Records and Newspapers are available on Microfilm.
Some of the documents available include Scrapbook Histories of Albert Tozier, Washington Co. Agricultural Society Minutes, Washington Co. Schools Registers and various diaries.
A vast collection of photographs and negatives are accessible. It is possible to view their collection of digital images through Washington Co. Heritage Online (WCHO).
For further information about their resources, please peruse their finding aids, which are all available in PDF Format.
Website:
https://fiveoaksmuseum.org/
Yamhill County Genealogical Society
Many resources can be accessed in their Library, which include:
- DAR Indexes
- Family Histories
- International Materials
- Linfield College Yearbooks and Directories
- Materials relating to other States
- Miscellaneous Quarterlies
- Missouri Collection
- Oregon Records
- Pedigree Charts
- Research Aids
- Yamhill Co. Indexes of Marriages, Deaths and Probates
Numerous publications are available for sale, which incorporate:
- Cemetery Records
- Census Returns
- Erwin Waddell Scrapbook – Miscellaneous Obituaries 1930-1953
- Morrow Co. Marriages 1885-1917
- Myrtle Wooden Scrapbook
- Pedigree Charts
- Siletz Family Register 1901
- Yamhill Co. Estates Master Index 1843-1910
- Yamhill Co. Marriages 1844-1918
Website:
http://www.ycgsociety.org/