Learning & Tech❯Talks & Lectures❯History Talks

Join Israeli-American storyteller and public historian Yuval Malchi for a look at the lesser-known Americans who helped shape and defend the State of Israel. Through personal stories of nurses, social workers, intelligence operatives, and military leaders, Malchi explores the contributions of figures such as Rose Kaplan, David “Mickey” Marcus, Al Schwimmer, and Hank Greenspun, and their lasting impact on the relationship between the United States and Israel. In partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.

*The talk is geared toward adults, but welcoming participants ages 13 and up. *

MUST RSVP.

Join Cheri Arthur, an Ambassador for American Wild Horse Conservation. Learn about Velma Johnstone, the first woman advocate for wild horses and burros, and the history of Oregon's wilds horses. You'll hear about the challenges of land management and access, and learn ways to get involved if you are interested.

Todd McGrain’s original bust of York, the enslaved man who was the only African American member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, was secretly installed on Mount Tabor Park in 2021. It was placed on the vacant pedestal where a statue of Oregonian editor Harvey Scott (1830-1910), a known racist, once stood. The surprising appearance of York, with no artist name attached to the work, is a local example of the protest art being created in the wake of political and social unrest. The unsanctioned installation of the original bust made a significant contribution to the spirited dialogues on American history, systemic inequality, and public monuments happening across the nation.

Made of mere plaster and paint, the original bust sustained damage from several acts of vandalism, inspiring McGrain to come forward and offer a bronze version of the bust to the city. This Spring, the Portland Art Museum debuted the bronze bust of York, temporarily, as a part of the 2026 Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial: The Price of the Ticket. In collaboration with Oregon Contemporary and the City of Portland’s Office of Arts & Culture, Portland State University, a community survey was offered to give Portlanders the opportunity to share their thoughts on where the monument should be placed for the long term.

Join us for a thoughtful discussion around McGrain’s act of protest and York as a historical figure significant to the history of Portland and the wider nation. Led by biennial curator and historian TK Smith, the panelists will include: Todd McGrain, artist of the York portrait; Intisar Abioto, artist and curator who recently curated Black Artists of Oregon at the Portland Art Museum; Eric Fredericksen, the public art administrator of the City of Portland; and Zachary Stocks, historian and executive director of Oregon Black Pioneers.

TK Smith is an award-winning writer, curator, and cultural historian. He has over ten years of experience as an independent curator. Most recently, he served as Curator, Arts of Africa and the African Diaspora, Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. Previously, Smith served as Assistant Curator: Art of the African Diaspora at the Barnes Foundation. Smith’s writing has been published in exhibition catalogues, academic journals, and periodicals, including Art Papers where he is a contributing editor. He has been a visiting lecturer at numerous academic and cultural institutions, including Cornell University. Smith is a doctoral candidate in the History of American Civilization program at the University of Delaware, where he is completing his dissertation entitled, “Granite, Power, and Piss: The Transformation of a Confederate Symbol.”

Intisar Abioto, born in Memphis, TN, is an explorer-artist working in dance, writing, photography, and curation. In long-form projects encompassing the visual, folkloric, documentary, and performing arts, her works consider the breath/ breadth of people of African descent against the expanse of their storied, imaginative, and geographic landscapes. She has produced The People Could Fly Project and The Black Portlanders, among others. In 2017 she began original research on the history and presence of Black artists in Oregon which led to the curation of the 2023 Black Artists of Oregon exhibition at the Portland Art Museum. Black Artists of Oregon: Continuum, an accompanying exhibition catalogue is forthcoming in 2026.

Eric Fredericksen is the public art administrator of the City of Portland, where he oversees the management of the City’s 1,700-piece collection and guides the Percent for Art program. From 2017 to 2025 he led the public art program at the City of Vancouver, BC, with a focus on artist-led approaches to public art: extending open invitations for artists to propose ideas outside the limits of a predetermined site, theme, or medium. He also worked with public and private partners to dramatically increase the visibility and voice of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations on their unceded territories through art commissions in traditional and contemporary forms. He was previously the Waterfront Art Program Manager for the City of Seattle, where he commissioned significant public artworks by Ann Hamilton, Qwalsius – Shaun Peterson, Norie Sato, Buster Simpson, Oscar Tuazon, and Stephen Vitiello. As the founding director of Western Bridge, Seattle, he organized exhibitions and commissions from 2004 to 2012, and he began his career as a writer and editor at Architecture magazine and The Stranger. As an independent curator, he has curated exhibitions at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Or Gallery, and Artspeak, all in Vancouver; the Noorderzon Festival, Groningen, the Netherlands; and Open Satellite, Bellevue, Washington.

Born in 1961, artist Todd McGrain’s early career as a sculptor involved apprenticing in bronze casting facilities, where he gained hands-on experience assisting prominent sculptors of the previous generation. In 1996, McGrain received a Guggenheim Fellowship, enabling him to study major art collections across the United States and Europe, with a focus on Italian Renaissance art. In 2000, his focus shifted to creating public memorials for bird species that have become extinct in the modern era, permanently installed at sites of historical significance to each species. This ongoing project has been widely exhibited at art centers, galleries, and public gardens, including the Smithsonian Institution, Cornell University, and Stanford University.

Zachary Stocks is a public historian, interpreter, and the Executive Director of Oregon Black Pioneers. Zachary previously served as Program Director of Historical Seaport and Visitor Services Manager of Northwest African American Museum. He is a former intern of Colonial Williamsburg and Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, and a former seasonal Park Ranger at Lewis & Clark National Historical Park. He holds a BA in History from the College of William & Mary with a certificate in Public History from the National Institute for American History and Democracy, and an MA in Museology from the University of Washington. Zachary is a 2025 graduate of the prestigious History Leadership Institute, sponsored by the American Association of State and Local History. Zachary lives in Astoria.

• Exhibitions Todd McGrain: Debut of York General accessibility

  Mar 31, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027

  1219 SW Park Ave

Join us for another Pints from the Past Program! This month's discussion is presented by Kathryn Sinor titled Horsin' Around: History of the Lake Oswego Hunt Club.

What started as a group of locals riding their horses in Oswego Lake pivoted to a long-standing community institution nearly 100 years ago. Through the work of real estate developer Paul Murphy, the determination of club members, and the spirited horses who carried countless riders through the years, the Lake Oswego Hunt Club tells the intertwined story of Lake Oswego's development and horses. Discover the history of the Lake Oswego Hunty Club through the Oswego Heritage Council's newest exhibit!

This program is supported by the Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library. Participation is free, and no registration is required. Please note, seating is limited due to the size of the space. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A livestream will be available.

Lake Oswego Public Library is located at 706 Fourth Street, Lake Oswego. For more information, contact Joshua Macias at [email protected] or 503-675-2535.

Join acclaimed historian Lord Andrew Roberts for a fascinating look at the men who helped build — and ultimately unravel — Napoleon Bonaparte’s empire. In his new book, Napoleon and His Marshals, Roberts brings to life the extraordinary generals who served at Napoleon’s side, from the courageous Ney and flamboyant Murat to the tenacious Masséna, iron-willed Davout, and meticulous Berthier.

In 1804, Napoleon created the Marshalate, the highest military honor of the French Empire, and over the next decade elevated 26 of his most accomplished generals to the rank. Roberts explores their personalities, ambitions, rivalries, and complex relationships with their emperor, revealing how Napoleon’s leadership both inspired fierce loyalty and fueled destructive competition among his marshals. Ultimately, only two of the 26 would ride beside him at Waterloo.

Drawing on years of scholarship on Napoleon and his era, Roberts offers a dramatic and richly detailed portrait of the men whose military brilliance helped create Napoleon’s extraordinary empire — and whose rivalries helped bring it down.

This event is a co-production with The Chartwell Society of Oregon, a chapter of the International Churchill Society.

After years of research, award-winning Seattle author David B. Williams joins Mount St. Helens Institute at a special Portland event for a conversation on his newly published book, In the Range of Fire and Ice: A Human and Natural History of Washington’s Cascades.

Blending human and natural history into a vivid portrait of one of North America’s most dynamic landscapes, In the Range of Fire and Ice is a lively, groundbreaking exploration of Washington’s Cascade Range. Drawing on conversations with anthropologists, park rangers, ecologists, and climate scientists, as well as firsthand experience, Williams brings readers into the mountains to uncover stories etched in the landscape over millennia.

From traditional Indigenous huckleberry harvesting grounds and ancient footpaths to erupting volcanoes, shifting glaciers, and forgotten mining camps, In the Range of Fire and Ice reveals the Cascades as a place of both deep time and constant change. While past logging, mining, and fires left lasting scars, the Cascades also tell powerful stories of recovery and resilience–returning wolverines and wolves, the remarkable rebirth of Mount St. Helens, and growing stewardship in the face of climate change. Through rich storytelling and careful research, Williams invites readers to see the Cascades not only as mountains, but as a living, evolving realm of fire, ice, and hope.

Join Professor Dr. Schreiber and the Skeleton Key Odditorium for an historical magic experience unlike any other. Beyond Belief: Magic & Mysteries with The Historical Conjurer

Since the earliest days of the ancient ancestors, conjurers have illuminated the strange, the mysterious and the unexplained for all to see. Now, Professor Dr. Schreiber, the Historical Conjurer, will lead you on a journey through the past centuries of magic. You'll see parlor magic from a bygone era just as it was enjoyed by the elite audiences of antiquity. You will enjoy the tales of old times and smile and laugh together and experience this history of magic.

Guests are encouraged to dress in their best old-fashioned attire or whatever makes you feel comfortable. Very limited tickets are available for this exclusive event.

This performance will be followed by a brief question-and-answer time to discuss magic and history.

Guthrie’s music has seen a resurgence in the past several months, having been featured in recent concerts by artists such as Bruce Springsteen. It resonates with audiences today as much as, or maybe even more than, it did when This Land Is Your Land was released and gained widespread popularity in 1949.

Guthrie composed 26 songs in 30 days while riding along the Columbia River and touring the Grand Coulee Dam Project in 1941. With his unique, authentic voice, he chronicled both the grandeur and the perils of what he called “The Greatest Thing That Man Has Ever Done” as an employee of the Bonneville Power Administration. His time here in the Pacific Northwest inspired a swell of patriotism that led Guthrie to enlist in the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II, after which he returned home to fame and notoriety, but also to tragedy and tremendous personal loss.

This interactive musical history performance will have you singing along to “Roll on Columbia,” “Pastures of Plenty,” and of course, “This Land is Your Land,” and learning the—sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic—stories behind the songs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”chino” border_width=”3″ css=””][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1793378910642{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Tickets are $18 in advance and include any applicable taxes and fees. Space is limited and tickets may sell out prior to the event. If available, tickets will be sold at the door for $25 each.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”BUY TICKETS” color=”warning” size=”lg” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fthehistorictrust.rezdy.com%2F785642%2Fstories-and-songs-of-woody-guthrie-a-musical-history-performance-by-joel-underwood%3F_gl%3D1*1lfr4za*_gcl_au*MTY5MjM4MzMwNy4xNzkzMTE0NTQ4LjIwOTI0MjQzNDQuMTc5MzExNDU1MS4xNzkzMTE0NTU1LjE1OTcwMTU0MTcuMTc5MzExNDU1MS4xNzkzMTE0NTU1*_ga*MTM2NDc5Mzk1NS4xNzczODQ4NTkw*_ga_J7SXS0R0D6*czE3OTMxMTQwNTIkbzE1MSRnMSR0MTc5MzExNTEyMyRqNTAkbDAkaDE1MzQzMzQzMTQ.”][vc_column_text margin_bottom=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1793378820300{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]General admission seating in Providence Academy Chapel pews will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. (30 minutes prior to performance start time). Free parking is available in the Providence Academy lot (the Aeon Apartments parking lot is NOT available for event parking).

This event is a fundraiser for The Historic Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Proceeds from ticket sales support its mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, preservation, and celebration of our community’s history.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”15″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Discover the rich history of Oregon's original theater pub on our Mission Theater History & Art Tour! Hear all the dramatic details, from our Swedish Mission days to hosting Portland's longshoremen union during one of the largest dockworkers strikes in the country to the playhouse whose short-lived residency may or may not have had something to do with "the Scottish Play," and beyond!

Tour will take about 60-75 minutes; entrance is at the main doors of Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St, Portland, OR 97209). Doors open approximately 15 mins before the tour starts, and entry may not be guaranteed after 1pm.

Please note: Tour may include stairs and standing for extended periods of time.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Mission Theater location stamp and an Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

A talk by Glynnis Fawkes.

How does a cartoonist go about adapting a work of history, specifically Eric H. Cline’s 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed? In this talk Fawkes will describe the process of interpreting Cline’s text in comics, an exercise during which she repeatedly asked herself how she might tell this story visually. Through page compositions and dramatizations in which historical figures (such as Ramses III) speak, she imagined characters for whom we have no record offering commentary and opinions. To guide the narrative, she introduced two new young characters, Pel (of the Sea Peoples) and Shesha, (an Egyptian scribe) who ask the central question of the book: Why after three prosperous centuries did the civilizations of the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age suddenly come to an end?

Glynnis Fawkes is the co-author with Eric H Cline and illustrator of 1177 BC: A Graphic History of the Year Civilization Collapsed (Princeton University Press). She is also the author-illustrator of Charlotte Brontë before Jane Eyre (Little, Brown)and Persephone’s Garden (Secret Acres), among other books, and her comics have appeared on the website of The New Yorker. She has worked as an archaeological illustrator around the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and teaches at the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.

Sponsored by the Archaeological Institute of America and Reed's department of Greek, Latin, and Ancient Mediterranean Studies. Free and open to the public.

Technology has always shaped the way we’ve stayed informed, expressed ourselves, and stayed connected as communities. What lessons do earlier technologies, like print, hold for us today in the age of AI and digital overload? And why, despite the speed and convenience of newer technologies, is print more popular than ever?

At the end of the talk, audiences will get the chance to try printing on a portable press.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Geoffrey Turnovsky is professor of French at the University of Washington. His teaching and research focus on the cultural history of early modern France and Europe, and the history of print, books, authorship, and reading. He is the author of Reading Typographically: Immersed in Print in Early Modern France.

Geoffrey lives in Seattle.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”turquoise” border_width=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1793313188911{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Reservations are now open!

Admission is FREE, but reservations are required due to limited seating.[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”RESERVE A SEAT” color=”warning” size=”lg” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fthehistorictrust.rezdy.com%2F781920%2Fpermanent-ink-why-we-still-love-print-in-the-digital-age%3F_gl%3D1*zutbgg*_gcl_au*MTA5ODE3MTY3MS4xNzkwMjg5MTQzLjY2NDI0MTc5MS4xNzkwMjg5MTQ2LjE3OTAyODkxOTkuODQzMTY1ODM2LjE3OTAyODkxNDYuMTc5MDI4OTE5OQ..*_ga*MTM2NDc5Mzk1NS4xNzczODQ4NTkw*_ga_J7SXS0R0D6*czE3OTAzNTA1OTIkbzEyNSRnMSR0MTc5MDM3NTAyMSRqMzckbDAkaDY0Njc2MjQ1MQ..”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”turquoise” border_width=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1791842995682{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Historic Trust Fall Speakers Series is Presented by University Village

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Join us for a talk with Dr. Nazanin Hedayat Munroe, Mary Ausplund Tooze Endowed Visiting Professor of Islamic + Ancient Art!

From luxury silks to patched wool, dress across the early modern Islamic world communicated the inner and outer states of its wearers through a shared language of regional and religious codes. In this lecture, Dr. Munroe examines how clothing and textiles expressed social status, political allegiance, spiritual devotion, and personal taste.

Nazanin Hedayat Munroe is Director of Textiles and Associate Professor of Fashion at City University of New York. An artist and art historian, she is author of several books and articles, including Sufi Lovers, Safavid Silks and Early Modern Identity (Amsterdam University Press, 2023/Routledge, 2025), winner of the R.L. Shep Award from Textile Society of America.

This talk is made possible by the generous support of the Mary Ausplund Tooze Endowed Visiting Professor of Islamic & Ancient Art fund.

Image: Man's Robe (Jama) with Poppies, 17th Century (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 29.135)

Join us for an evening where learn how to break cycles that police normalcy and control information in society. From the creator of the Bedlam Book Club podcast comes a workshop about how to identify and disrupt the ableist social dynamics that often cloud discussions of truth and power.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about how definitions of madness have been used to direct power throughout history, and how to avoid replicating these cycles in our personal lives.

The first half will focus on the basics of mad studies and the history of madness in the West. After a break, the workshop will detail how these ideas show up in daily life, how to interrupt them, and healthier ways of building knowledge and trust together.

Workshop will be very hands-on and will contain lots of opportunities for discussion and questions. Zines, reading lists, and other resources will be available.

RSVP required! Sliding scale suggested donation $5-$25 (No one turned away for lack of funds!)

X-Prov is a fully improvised, never-before-seen episode of the X-Files where you choose the case and your favorite FBI agents solve a brand new mystery. Is the truth really out there?

Remember the X-Files? What if you got to see one more episode, never before seen and never to be seen again?

In X-Prov, the audience decides which X-File agents Mulder and Scully will investigate. This completely improvised homage to America’s favorite conspiracy-laden ‘90s procedural will feature shadowy government organizations, small-town secrets, and at least one unexplainable creature.

Featuring Tessa Waring (as seen in Group Shower) as Scully, Mo Merrill (as seen waiting for the bus on Glisan) as Mulder, and a supporting cast of Kickstand favorites.

So ask yourself: Do you want to believe?

Friday, November 6, 2026
6:00-8:30pm
with Elsy

Why Do Haitians Eat Pumpkin Soup (Soup Joumou)?

Soup Joumou is much more than a delicious Haitian pumpkin soup. It is a powerful symbol of freedom.

During the colonial era in Saint-Domingue, now Haiti, enslaved Haitians prepared elaborate foods for their French colonizers while living under a brutal system of slavery that denied them freedom and dignity. Soup Joumou was one of the dishes the slaves were not permitted to enjoy.

After Haitians defeated the French and declared their independence in 1804, this pumpkin soup (Soup Joumou) became a symbol of their newly won freedom. Today, Haitians around the world continue the tradition of eating Soup Joumou on January 1st to celebrate Haiti’s Independence Day and honor the courage, resilience, and freedom of their ancestors.

In this hands-on class, we’ll explore the history and cultural significance of Soup Joumou while learning different ways to prepare this delicious Haitian soup.

We’ll also make French baguette and Haitian bread from scratch to enjoy alongside our Soup Joumou.

• Students may choose to use beef in their Soup Joumou or keep it vegan.

• Registration for this class will close on Wednesday, November 4 at 6pm, so we have time to shop for ingredients and prep class materials.

Please view our FAQs before registering.

In March of 1977, Milwaukie had our own "madness" experience.

With no warning at all, Milwaukie’s HS Boys Basketball team won two Play-In games to qualify for the AAA State Tournament. The basketball play was earnest, but not extraordinary. The FAN support from the school and the community was amazing and fueled the dark horse ride.

We invite any and all who wish to revive the energy of high school basketball showdowns to a special pop-up event!

On Tuesday, November 10, The Riff on Main Street welcomes Ken Yarnell, a key member of the Medford Black Tornado team that derailed Milwaukie’s trip at the ball in the round of eight.

Ken recently published Coaching Against Champions, which draws from his long, highly respected career as a coach. He’ll tip things off by sharing a handful of stories that recapture the magic every community knows as Oregon HS Basketball.

Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Tip Off: 5:00 PM
Final Buzzer: 7:00 PM

No-host Beverages and Light Snacks

Location:
The Riff in Milwaukie
10801 SE Main St., Milwaukie, OR 97222
(971) 206-8896

After the final buzzer at 7 PM, ALL are encouraged to explore the MANY amazing eats within easy dribbling distance!

Learn More

After the performance of Do You Feel Anger? ends (approx. 9:00 pm), P.I.E. (PSU Impro Ensemble) will take over the stage for an hour of "unscripted" (that is, improvised) post-show fun! You don’t need to attend Do You Feel Anger? to enjoy this high-spirited performance. It’s available to everyone for free!

Learn more about the School of Music & Theater.

P.I.E. graphic created by PSU student collaboration: Leslye Gonzalez Juarez, Alex Herd, and Danger Swatosh.

Spooky season doesn’t end with Halloween! Join us for a ghost tour and investigation of the Stevens-Crawford House and a haunted history tour of the Ermatinger House. The Falls Distilling will also be joining us to serve up samples of their “spirits” and will have their gin products available to purchase. $45 More info and tickets at bit.ly/OCSaturdayNightSpirits

• Location: LO Adult Community Center
• Cost: Free for all participants
• Registration Required: Call (503) 635-3758
• Early registration is encouraged due to limited seating.

Uncover the transformative power of wonder and its tangible biological impacts. Dr. Lynne Shinto walks us through how intentional, everyday moments of awe physically reshape the neural architecture of the aging brain. Discover the fascinating science behind how experiencing wonder sparks fresh neural pathways, lowers cellular inflammation, and actively stimulates cognitive vitality to keep our minds sharp and resilient.

About the Instructor:
Dr. Lynne Shinto is a Professor of Neurology at OHSU, focusing on neurological health, brain longevity, and integrative medical approaches to cognitive well-being.

Course ID: 34834 – Free

Step onto the rugged, untamed frontier to uncover a vital yet frequently overlooked chapter of American heritage. Through meticulous historical research and vibrant archival illustrations, author Dale Hom brings the deeply impactful legacy of Chinese cowboys to life. Explore how these resilient individuals shaped the ranching industries and livestock traditions of the 19th-century American West despite structural and cultural hurdles.

About the Instructor:
Dale Hom is a dedicated author and researcher who specializes in unearthing and preserving marginalized histories and cultural narratives of the early American West.

Course ID: 34829 – Free

Unlock the profound linguistic history hidden within the early Pacific Northwest landscape. Dr. David Douglas Robertson guides us through a fascinating linguistic deep dive into Chinook Jargon, the historic trade language that blended Indigenous and European tongues. Learn how this unique hybrid form of communication served as a cultural bridge and vital economic lifeline that fundamentally shaped the early communities of the Willamette Valley.

About the Instructor:
Dr. David Douglas Robertson is an expert linguist and leading authority on Pacific Northwest languages, specializing in the historical preservation of regional dialects.

Course ID: 34830 – Free

Look behind the digital curtain of our hyper-connected lives. PSU Professor Dr. Christof Teuscher reveals the immense, often invisible environmental impact of the massive data centers and straining power grids that fuel our daily internet use and the current AI boom. This talk breaks down the physical resource realities of modern technology and offers practical frameworks for practicing sustainable digital stewardship in our personal lives.

About the Instructor:
Dr. Christof Teuscher is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at PSU, researching next-generation computing architectures and the intersection of technology and sustainability.

Course ID: 34892 – Free

• Diverse Course Offerings: Explore wide-ranging topics that stimulate curiosity and broaden understanding.
• Engaging Learning Environment: Lectures encourage thoughtful discussion and shared insights.
• Community Connection: Build relationships with fellow lifelong learners.
• Expert Instructors: Courses are taught by accomplished university scholars.
• Supports Cognitive Health & Well-Being: Lifelong learning promotes curiosity, connection, and mental vitality.

• Cost: Free for all participants
• Registration Required: Call (503) 635-3758
• Early registration is encouraged due to limited seating.

Explore recordings, resources, and summaries from previous Senior Scholar presentations:

• Who Tells the Story? (June 18, 2026)
  Presented by Dr. David G. Lewis, Oregon State University. Discover how Native histories are researched and reconstructed through federal archives. Highlights the importance of Indigenous perspectives and representation in reshaping historical narratives.
  OSU Faculty Profile | PSU Profile | NDN History Research Website
• The Global Rise of Authoritarianism (May 12, 2026)
  Presented by Dr. Lindsay J. Benstead, Portland State University. Discover the global forces shaping democracy today, including democratic backsliding, election interference, and the rise of authoritarian leaders worldwide.
  PSU Faculty Profile | Wilson Center Profile
• Social Media & Society (June 9, 2026)
  Presented by Donna Z. Davis, Ph.D., University of Oregon. Explore how social media has transformed relationships, civic life, and community, highlighting isolation, algorithm-driven polarization, and structural platform decline.
  UO Faculty Profile | Oregon Reality Lab
• CANCELLED - Protest in America (March 17, 2026)
  Presented by Dr. Patricia A. Schechter, Portland State University. An planned in-depth conversation about the history of protest movements, civic engagement, and social activism within the United States.
  PSU Faculty Profile

• Witches & Witch-Hunters: Fear and Power in History
  View Past Talk Summary
• Medical Gaslighting
  View Past Talk Summary
• The Epidemiology of Gun Violence
  View Past Talk Summary
• Deconstructing Deception: Understanding Conspiracy Theories
  View Past Talk Summary
• Walls that Speak: Murals and Street Art as Voices of Social Change
  View Past Talk Summary
• Family Estrangement in Modern Families
  View Past Talk Summary
• How A.I. is Shaping Our Future and the Ethical Implications
  View Past Talk Summary
• The Role of Immigration in Shaping Our Communities
  View Past Talk Summary
• The Science of Climate Change
  View Past Talk Summary

Samantha Swindler, a reporter with The Oregonian, will talk about the newspaper's history as it celebrates its 175th anniversary. The Oregonian was founded in 1850. It’s the oldest newspaper on the West Coast and one of Oregon’s oldest continuously operating businesses. The talk will include ties to Clackamas County, such as the race between Portland and Milwaukie to see who would get a newspaper first, and Oregonian editor Thomas Dryer’s infamous feuds with Asahel Bush, editor of the Oregon Statesman, originally founded in Oregon City.

Samantha Swindler joined The Oregonian in 2013 as editor of the weekly Forest Grove Leader suburban newspaper and has since been a columnist, video producer, editor and reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Before moving to the Portland area, she was publisher of the Tillamook Headlight-Herald on the Oregon Coast, and served as editor of rural newspapers in Texas and Kentucky. In 2010, she received the Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism following a series of reports on corruption within an East Kentucky sheriff’s department. She currently covers news and features from Oregon City and other parts of Clackamas County, where she also lives.

J Names is one of the area’s longest running improv teams. A prominent comedy supergroup of local comedy veterans whose first names (most!) start with the letter “J”. This is high-quality improvisation you won’t want to miss. Featuring: Jay Flewelling, Jed Arkley, Justin Himes, Jenn Hunter, Jon Bolden, SJ Santa Cruz, Katie Behrens, Craig McCarthy.

All ages welcome, though assume PG13 content.
$15 online / $20 at door

How We Show Up Closing Panel November 15, 2026 Admission: $10 general admission, $5 for members with code on back of membership card Location: Auditorium, OJMCHE Share × " class="share-btn"> Share on Facebook &text=How We Show Up Closing Panel" class="share-btn"> Share on Twitter Email Sunday, November 15 | 2-3:30pm What does civic participation look like? How has the Jewish community shaped Oregon throughout its history? Panelists will discuss these questions and more in a lively discussion exploring Jewish civic engagement in Oregon, from building towns and holding office to advocating for civil rights, immigrant communities, and social justice. Speakers include Ellen Eisenberg, lead advisor to the exhibition and preeminent Western Jewish scholar; Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon’s former attorney general and first woman elected to the role; Paul Solomon, criminal justice advocate and grandson of federal judge Gus J. Solomon; and Portland City Councilor Elana Pirtle-Guiney. This program is presented as part of How We Show Up: Oregon Jews in Civil Society, An America 250 Exhibition . About the Panelists Ellen Eisenberg holds the Dwight and Margaret Lear Professorship in American History at Willamette University. Her published work includes five books on American Jewish history and, particularly, the history of Jews in the American West, including National Jewish Book Award finalist The First to Cry Down Injustice? Western Jews and Japanese Removal during WWII and a two-volume history of Jews in Oregon, Embracing a Western Identity: Jewish Oregonians, 1849–1950 and The Jewish Oregon Story, 1950–2015. A former federal prosecutor and state trial and appellate judge, Ellen Rosenblum was first elected as Oregon’s 17th Attorney General in November 2012, and was reelected in November 2016. She is the first woman to serve as Oregon’s Attorney General. As Attorney General, Rosenblum has focused on standing up for the most vulnerable Oregonians. Her priorities included consumer protection and civil rights, as well as advocating for and protecting Oregon’s children, seniors, immigrants and crime victims, and those saddled with education-related debt. She currently leads Freshfields’ State Attorneys General (State AG) practice. Ellen and her husband have two children and live in Portland, Oregon. Elana Pirtle-Guiney was elected as a District 2 City Councilor in November 2024. She has spent her career standing up for working families – as a union organizer, a policy expert, an

'Who can be a Japanese Emperor?: Japan's Insistence on Male-Line Succession'
A Presentation by Prof. Thomas Naruse, Kokushikan University
Hosted by the Center for Japanese Studies

　The Japanese imperial system has been facing a declining number of imperial family members. Under the current system, only male members of imperial family are eligible for succession. However, at present, there is only one male member under the age of 50. While there are 5 female members under 50 years old, since current legislation stipulates that female members leave the imperial family upon their marriage, there are concerns about the shrinking number of imperial family members.

　Regarding this situation, the Japanese Diet and government are considering countermeasures. While there is strong public support for allowing a female emperor, the Diet and government continue to insist on succession through the male-line. As of June 2026, the government is drafting amendments for Imperial House Law to deal with the situation, but the policy of maintaining male-line succession remains unchanged.

　In this lecture, Prof. Naruse will examine why the Japanese Diet and government continue to adhere to male-line succession and what lies behind this policy. Beginning with the history of the emperor system and the rules governing imperial succession, he will discuss the current challenges facing the imperial system and the measures proposed to address them, how and why the Japanese Diet and government insist on male-line so strongly.

12:45 PM, Thursday, November 12, 2026
Fariborz Maseeh Hall Room 333
Free and Open to the Public
Please use the Broadway Entrance

For more information on the Center for Japanese Studies and our upcoming events, please visit: https://www.pdx.edu/japanese-studies

Cited by The Portland Mercury as "One of the funniest (and most educational) comedy shows in town": Comedy, queer history, and dangerously delightful shenanigans collide at Be Gay Do Crime.

July features a Know Your Rights presentation by community activist Frances Portillo, with scenarios acted out in sections by the featured BIPOC improv troupe Brown Sugar.

**This presentation is specifically geared towards allies wanting to know more about how to support their immigrant and BIPOC neighbors and community members.**

Also featuring the talents of local comedians and performers, including:

• Stand-up comedy from Lindy Tongol (Host of qu eer, BIPOC show House Party)
• Improv from Brown Sugar
• Stand-up from Julia Corral (host of Comedy in the Park, House Party, and Bruja-ja)

July's show will be hosted by Jane Dillinger and Jenna Britann.

Tickets are GAYAF — give as you’re able, friend. Ticket sales will go towards compensating the hosts and performers. All additional tips collected during the show will support a different local community non-profit organization each month.

(Please note, this show is about history and adult themes, and adult content is often included, including themes of violence, racial discrimination, homophobia, sexual violence, sexual content, drug use, mature language, etc. There are also "dishonorable guests" whose comedy or artistic material could include similar themes. Recommended for ages 14+ and parental discretion for those under age 18.)

Unscripted, family-friendly improv right here in Vancouver, Washington!

Tickets $10 + fees. Show two hours plus one 15-minute intermission.

Learn how to create brick stitch & fringe style beaded earrings using seed beads, thread and a beading needle. Natalie Mitchell will briefly discuss the history of seed beads in the Native American community and their uses in regalia, jewelry and art. Registration required and opens October 18. Both sessions are required, please be able to attend 11/8 and 11/15.

Experience Portland's paranormal heritage and investigate several historic ghost lore gathered from elders, books, medical journals, alienists, spiritualists, and 100s of newspaper accounts of hauntings in NW Portland. Ghost tours stop at three locations where the spirits are known to be less than peaceful and locations where the spirits have moved on. Seek out the ghost of Agnes Reid's son, little Ernest Harp's poltergeist playmate, and the Lady Over the Bar. These ghost tours are not for the faint of heart or those under the age of 12.

Tour entrance is at the Box Office on SW 14th and entry may not be guaranteed after 10am.

Join us as we explore the rich history of the Crystal Ballroom, including police raids, visits by silent screen idols and Beat poets, psychedelic light shows, R&B and rock legends, dancing throughout the decades and narrow escapes from ruin.

This tour may require standing for long periods of time and is mostly accessible via elevator. One stop on the tour, the balcony, can be seen but not accessed, except by stairs.

Passport holders: This tour is eligible for the Crystal Ballroom and Lola’s Room location stamps and the Attend a History Sponsored Event experience stamp.

For private group tours, contact [email protected]

Samantha Swindler, reporter with the Oregonian, will talk about the history of the newspaper, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary. The Oregonian was founded in 1850. It’s the oldest newspaper on the West Coast and one of Oregon’s oldest continuously operating businesses. The talk will include ties to Clackamas County, including the race between Portland and Milwaukie to see who would get a newspaper first, and Oregonian editor Thomas Dryer’s infamous feuds with Asahel Bush, editor of Oregon Statesman, originally founded in Oregon City.

Samantha Swindler joined The Oregonian in 2013 as editor of the weekly Forest Grove Leader suburban newspaper and has since been a columnist, video producer, editor and reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Before moving to the Portland area, she was publisher of the Tillamook Headlight-Herald on the Oregon Coast, and served as editor of rural newspapers in Texas and Kentucky. In 2010, she received the Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, integrity and tenacity in rural journalism following a series of reports on corruption within an East Kentucky sheriff’s department. She currently covers news and features from Oregon City and other parts of Clackamas County, where she also lives.

Live, in-person, history programs are at the Museum of the Oregon Territory with the Look Back Lecture Series! See experts recount histories from our region, ranging from culture and community to nature and ecology. Click this link to see what lecture series are coming next.

By the 1890s, Portlanders had fouled their own water supply with sewage. Typhoid followed. Their audacious solution was to reach into the forests below Mount Hood, capture the cold, clear water of Bull Run, and carry it 24 miles into town. Bull Run water helped drive out typhoid and made Portland's explosive growth possible. Yet pipes and public health are only half the story. Bull Run became Portland's forbidden forest: closed, fiercely protected, and wrapped in mystery and civic pride. This is the story of a city that built a water system-and of the remote watershed that, in turn, built the city.

Joshua Ward Jeffery is a historian of American culture and religion. He has taught history, Native American studies, and law enforcement at Navajo Technical University in Chinle, Arizona, where he also managed the Navajo Police Training Academy. In a former life, Josh spent ten years working in the Bull Run Watershed, six of them leading Portland's Watershed Ranger Unit and protecting the watershed from trespass, fire, and environmental degradation.

This event will be held at Edgefield's Blackberry Hall on Monday, November 9. Doors open at 6pm for a 7pm program start. Admission is $5.

Imagine Oregon more than 12,000 years ago. The coastline stretched miles fartherwest, vast lakes filled today’s high desert, and megafauna like mammoths, giant groundsloths, and camels still roamed the land. People were raising families, sewing clothing with bone needles and thread, harvesting plants, caring for one another, and adapting to a rapidly changing world. How do archaeologists uncover stories as old as the Ice Age? Join archaeologist Dr. Katelyn McDonough for a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers piece together the past using clues like stone tools, pollen, campfires, animal bones, microscopic plant remains, proteins preserved on tools, and even ancient poop. Hear some of archaeology’s biggest misconceptions and explore how discoveries at every scale—from molecules under a microscope to entire ancient landscapes—are transforming our understanding of the past.This talk also explores what archaeology looks like today. Discover how archaeologistscollaborate with Tribal Nations, geologists, paleoecologists, and many other specialiststo better understand the past while respecting Indigenous histories and knowledge.

Dr. Katelyn McDonough is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Curator of GreatBasin Archaeology, and Affiliated Faculty in Native American and Indigenous Studies atthe University of Oregon. She is passionate about teaching, food (past and present),exploring the microscopic world, and making archaeology more accessible foreveryone.

In this presentation, green burial advocate Elizabeth Fournier will talk about natural burial, backyard burials, and other eco-friendly forms of disposition available in Oregon. She will discuss the history, regulations in Portland, and current green practices, highlighting the value of going out in green style.

Creo's signature Build-a-Bar experience is the perfect outing for a family, date night, or activity for tourists or visiting guests. Guests don hairnets and aprons and get a peek behind the scenes at how Portland's most award-winning chocolatiers craft their chocolates. Guided by one of the owners, guests will learn the history of chocolate and how Creo sources all their cacao from one family farm in Ecuador. Guests sample different types of chocolates throughout the approximately 90-minute experience, which culminates with guests making a custom chocolate bar of their own to take home.

Dates and times vary.

Join the Change Through Play Improv studio for an evening of improvisation. The showcases feature students from every level of classes, improvisers from around Portland, and the Founder and staff improvising as well. The showcases are fun and different!. Come see students demonstrating what they’ve been learning. Learn the difference between what beginning improvisers explore versus intermediate and advanced improvisers.

These showcases are VERY supportive and nurturing, and they're designed to let the students publicly show what they've been working on in class, so bring the spirit of support with you.

Come see sets from the Foundations, Intermediate and Advanced Workshop teams. Also featuring a Harold from the special guests: Mouth Stuff.

The evening will close out with a set from 3hree with Eric and Aden Nepom and the Founder, David Koff.

Stones, Bones and Blacked-Eyed Peas presents: The historical and cultural significance of black eyed peas. Join chef and owner of Finer Things Events and Catering, Michelle Guinn, along with her daughter, Sable Askew and take a trip back into history. Enjoy a cooking demonstration using traditional foods and recipes cooked by African Americans from the time of slavery, and explore their many modern interpretations.

Complementing the mansion's upcoming exhibit will be the 2026 Home for the Holidays — Holidays from Around the World annual celebration. Eighteen rooms throughout the mansion and Gate Lodge will be transformed into festive displays inspired by holiday traditions from Europe, the Middle East, China, India, South America, Mexico, and beyond.

Since March, dedicated volunteer decorators have been thoughtfully developing their design concepts and bringing their creative visions to life. For the first time, nine community organizations are joining the efforts. Through these new collaborations, Pittock Mansion introduces new members of the Portland community to the mansion while welcoming back familiar faces and longtime supporters to experience the warmth, beauty, and joy of the holidays at Portland’s beloved home — The Pittock Mansion.

Make this season the most memorable yet. Pittock Mansion‘s Home for the Holidays, Holidays Around the World. The Portland Then and Now: The Changing Demographics exhibit will also be open throughout the Home for the Holidays celebration. During the holiday season, visitors can enjoy both experiences with a single admission ticket.

Dive into France’s best vineyards, learn about the country’s historic grapes, and discover how these wines intertwine with the history, cuisine, and culture of France.

French Wine Essentials includes 2 interactive and engaging learning days guided by an expert wine educator.

In addition to in-person class sessions and tastings, your tuition includes your French Wine Essentials textbook; interactive, online learning resources; and an optional certification exam offered at the end of the course.

Take a warm, dry, “virtual” tour of the pioneer cemeteries of Clark County, led by our cemetery expert, Peri Muhich! Discover the stories beneath the headstones, from pioneer shenanigans to untimely deaths, from names you’ll recognize to names you should know, we’ll cover it all!

FREE event

Portland State University is honored to host the Oregon Tribal Language Speaker Series. Our tribal partners will present their language program’s history, revitalization efforts, and future projects.

Cowlitz Indian Tribe

Maiya Osife is the Language Program Manager for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and an enrolled member of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians. She attended Portland State University from 2014 to 2018, where she studied Social Science with a minor in Indigenous Nations Studies. With over a decade of experience supporting Indigenous communities and more than six years leading Tribal language revitalization initiatives, her work today focuses on community-centered language planning, curriculum development, digital accessibility, youth and family engagement, and sustainable approaches to Indigenous language transmission. Maiya has led language revitalization programs in both Southern Paiute and Cowlitz Coast Salish communities, emphasizing practical strategies that strengthen language use in everyday life.

Esther Smithlin is the Language Technician with the Cowlitz Language Program and is an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. She has been working for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s language program for one year and previously served the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe as a carver and graphic designer. Combining her background in graphic design, Salish carving, and Indigenous language learning, she supports language revitalization through educational resource development, language documentation, community instruction, and cultural engagement. Esther contributes to archival restoration projects, curriculum development, and the creation of language-learning materials that help increase community access to Cowlitz language and culture.

Join us for a lecture by Jordan Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design faculty member Carmen Ripollés, Professor of Art History, for a talk on her book, Josefa de Óbidos, which explores the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the Portuguese Baroque.

Drawing on years of research, Ripollés reexamines Josefa de Óbidos' remarkable career, revealing how she achieved extraordinary artistic and professional success in the 17th century while challenging traditional assumptions about women artists. The talk will offer new perspectives on Baroque art, women's history, and the enduring legacy of an artist whose work continues to reshape our understanding of the early modern Iberian world.