About
The Center for Columbia River History is a consortium of the Washington State Historical Society, Portland State University and Washington State University Vancouver formed in 1990. CCRH conducts interdisciplinary research projects, publishes material in text and electronic formats, sponsors free public programs and teacher seminars, and develops curricula. It collaborates with other historical and cultural institutions and offers programs to schools, libraries, historical societies and public groups throughout the Columbia River Basin, a region that includes territory in seven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) and one Canadian province (British Columbia).
James B. Castles Heritage Endowment
Castles Programs are funded through a generous endowment from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in honor of James B. Castles, a founder of the Trust and a strong supporter of public, informal education. Through the Castles Endowment, CCRH sponsors the James B. Castles Endowment Lectureship, the Castles Fellowship, and other public programs. The James B. Castles Endowment Lectureship brings regional and national specialists on Columbia River Basin history, literature, art, or politics to present public lectures at Portland State University, Washington State University Vancouver, and other locations around the basin. The James B. Castles Fellowship supports original scholarly research that contributes to public understanding of the history of the Columbia River Basin. The fellowship is open to graduate students, professional historians and independent scholars. Castles Public Programs are offered free and open to the public throughout the year. They feature a variety of subjects and formats and are held at venues throughout the Basin.
Public Programs
CCRH produces high-quality, accessible programs focused on Columbia Basin history. It collaborates with other regional institutions to offer these programs free to the public throughout the Basin. Past programs have included Woody Guthrie in song and story, a dramatic interpretation of Columbia Basin history by Vancouver School of Arts and Academics students, tugboat operators' reminiscences of navigating the Columbia, a Tears of Joy Puppet Theater production of Bridge of the Gods, and a Native American film and discussion series. Click here for a schedule of current programs.
Programs for Students and Teachers
CCRH provides professional development and resources for classroom teachers through seminars and workshops that offer participants clock hours, readings, resources and the opportunity to meet with distinguished historical practitioners. It partners with teachers and other agencies to develop curriculum and classroom resources. CCRH programs for teachers have included National Endowment for the Humanities workshops for teachers and community college faculty, participation in a Department of Education Teaching American History Grant, and teacher seminars held in conjunction with public programs on Lewis and Clark, Japanese-American internment, and other topics. CCRH engages students in a wide range of activities and projects through the Portland State University Capstones Program and public history internships. CCRH supports National History Day and has offered the Castles Award in Columbia River Basin History to students at Oregon and Washington State National History Day competitions.
Research and Resources
CCRH supports and disseminates the research of university faculty, students and public historians on Columbia River Basin subjects. CCRH research projects have included a social history of the Vancouver National Historical Reserve; community studies of Moses Lake, Crewport and Camas, Washington, Sandpoint, Idaho,Umatilla and Cottage Grove, Oregon, andNative communities of the basin. It has conducted oral histories of Columbia River dissenters and women in the timber industry, African Americans in Vancouver, and the Columbia River Slough in Portland. CCRH makes the results of its research projects available in print and online. Its online collections include historic photographs, oral history transcripts, document archives, and electronic exhibits. The pictures in this brochure are an example of the resources available on the CCRH website.
Support
CCRH activities have received generous support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Washington, Oregon Council for the Humanities and the U.S. Department of Education. CCRH offices are located on the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.
For more information about CCRH, please feel free to contact us.