How to Learn Civil War History at Oregon Historical Society Portland

The American Civil War (1861–1865) is often portrayed as a conflict confined to the battlefields of the South and the industrial heartlands of the North. Yet, the war’s echoes reached every corner of the United States—including the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) in Portland holds a unique and often overlooked collection of artifacts, documents, and narratives that reveal how Oregonians experienced, responded to, and were transformed by the Civil War. For students, historians, educators, and curious visitors, learning Civil War history at the Oregon Historical Society offers a rare opportunity to explore regional perspectives that challenge national myths and deepen understanding of the war’s true scope. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to engaging with Civil War history through the resources and expertise available at OHS, ensuring a meaningful, accurate, and enriching educational experience.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Understand Oregon’s Role in the Civil War

Before visiting the Oregon Historical Society, it’s essential to recognize that Oregon was not a battleground state, but it was deeply involved in the political, economic, and social currents of the Civil War. Oregon entered the Union as a free state in 1859, just two years before the war began. Its population was small—fewer than 50,000 people in 1860—but its strategic location on the Pacific Coast made it vital for Union supply lines, gold shipments, and communication with California. Many Oregonians volunteered for the Union Army, particularly in the 1st Oregon Cavalry and the 1st Oregon Infantry, which were deployed not to Virginia or Tennessee, but to the American West to protect settlers, suppress Confederate sympathizers, and fight Native American tribes allied with the Confederacy.

Understanding this context allows you to approach the OHS collections with a critical eye. The Civil War in Oregon was less about Gettysburg and more about Fort Dalles, the Snake River, and the Oregon Trail’s western terminus. Recognizing these distinctions will help you interpret exhibits and archives with greater nuance.

Step 2: Plan Your Visit to the Oregon Historical Society

The Oregon Historical Society is located at 1200 Southwest Park Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Its museum, research library, and archives are open to the public, but access to certain materials requires advance planning. Begin by visiting the official website at www.ohs.org to review current hours, admission policies, and any temporary closures or special events.

Consider visiting during weekdays to avoid crowds and maximize access to staff and archival materials. The museum is typically open Tuesday through Saturday, with extended hours on Thursdays. Admission is free for members, and discounted rates are available for students, seniors, and Oregon residents. If you are conducting serious research, inquire about research visitor passes, which grant extended access to the research library.

Step 3: Explore the Permanent Exhibits

Begin your visit in the museum’s permanent exhibition, “Oregon History,” which includes a dedicated section on the Civil War era. This exhibit contextualizes Oregon’s development between 1850 and 1870, highlighting how national events shaped local life. Look for artifacts such as:

• Uniforms and weapons from Oregon Union volunteers
• Letters from soldiers stationed in the Pacific Northwest
• Official proclamations from Oregon’s territorial and state governors regarding loyalty to the Union
• Political cartoons from Portland newspapers like the Oregonian and Weekly Statesman

These objects are not merely relics—they are windows into the lived experiences of Oregonians. Pay attention to the language used in newspaper editorials; many Oregonians were divided over emancipation, federal authority, and the role of the military in the West. The exhibit often includes interactive touchscreens that allow you to read digitized letters and diaries, offering direct access to primary voices.

Step 4: Schedule a Research Appointment at the OHS Library

The Oregon Historical Society Research Library is one of the most comprehensive repositories of Pacific Northwest history in the country. It houses over 20,000 linear feet of manuscripts, 500,000 photographs, and 100,000 published works. To access Civil War-era materials, you must schedule a research appointment in advance.

When booking, specify your interest in “Civil War in Oregon” or “Union military units in the Pacific Northwest.” Library staff will prepare relevant collections for your visit. Key collections to request include:

• John E. Ross Papers: Letters and military records from a Union officer who served in the 1st Oregon Cavalry.
• William H. Gray Collection: Diaries and correspondence from a Methodist missionary and early Oregon settler who commented on secessionist sentiment in the Willamette Valley.
• Oregon State Archives – Civil War Enlistment Records: Digitized muster rolls listing Oregonians who enlisted between 1861 and 1865.
• Portland Daily News Microfilm (1860–1865): Contemporary reporting on war news, draft resistance, and fundraising efforts for the Union cause.

Bring a laptop or tablet to take notes, and consider bringing a digital camera (without flash) if permitted. Some materials are fragile and may require gloves, which the library provides.

Step 5: Engage with Primary Sources

One of the most powerful ways to learn Civil War history is by reading original documents. At the OHS Research Library, you can examine handwritten letters from soldiers describing the harsh conditions of life in frontier forts, or petitions from Oregon women organizing aid societies to send socks and medicine to Union troops. These documents reveal that Oregonians were not passive observers—they were active participants in the war effort.

Look for recurring themes: fear of Confederate infiltration, debates over slavery’s morality, economic hardship due to disrupted trade routes, and the complex relationship between Union loyalty and the displacement of Native peoples. Many soldiers wrote home expressing confusion about why they were fighting in the West instead of the East. One letter from a private in the 1st Oregon Cavalry reads: “We ride the desert while the boys in Virginia bleed in the mud. Do they know we are here, holding the line?”

Compare these personal accounts with official reports from the War Department to understand the gap between military strategy and individual experience.

Step 6: Attend Public Programs and Lectures

The Oregon Historical Society regularly hosts public programs on Civil War history, including lectures by historians, panel discussions, and film screenings. These events often feature scholars who specialize in Western history and are published in peer-reviewed journals. Check the OHS events calendar monthly for upcoming offerings.

Recent programs have included:

• “Oregon’s Forgotten Soldiers: The 1st Oregon Cavalry in the West” – a talk by Dr. Linda H. Smith, author of Frontier Loyalties: Oregon and the Civil War
• “Slavery and the Pacific Northwest: Myths and Realities” – a moderated discussion on Oregon’s exclusionary laws and their connection to pro-slavery sentiment
• “Women, War, and the West” – an exploration of how Oregon women managed farms, raised funds, and wrote propaganda during the war

These events are often recorded and made available on the OHS website for later viewing. Even if you cannot attend live, watching recordings provides expert analysis and curated context you won’t find in exhibits alone.

Step 7: Utilize Online Digital Collections

If you cannot visit Portland in person, the Oregon Historical Society offers an extensive digital archive accessible at digital.ohs.org. Search for keywords such as “Civil War,” “Oregon volunteers,” “Union Army,” or “Pacific Northwest.”

Notable digital holdings include:

• Over 1,200 digitized Civil War-era photographs, including images of soldiers at Fort Boise and military parades in Oregon City.
• Transcribed letters from the Ross and Gray collections, fully searchable by name, date, or location.
• Digitized versions of the Oregon Spectator (1846–1855) and Portland Daily News (1861–1865), allowing you to read wartime journalism as it appeared.
• Interactive maps showing troop movements, supply routes, and the locations of Union forts in Oregon and Idaho.

These digital tools are invaluable for remote learners, K–12 educators, and university students. You can download high-resolution images for educational use (with proper attribution) and create your own timelines or digital exhibits using the metadata provided.

Step 8: Connect with OHS Educators and Archivists

The Oregon Historical Society employs professional educators and archivists who specialize in Civil War history and regional studies. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Whether you’re a high school student writing a paper or a lifelong learner seeking deeper understanding, staff are trained to help you navigate complex materials.

Ask for recommendations on secondary sources, such as books or academic articles. Request a guided tour of the Civil War exhibits if available. Some educators offer customized lesson plans for teachers, and many are open to collaborating with researchers on independent projects.

Consider emailing the education department at education@ohs.org with specific questions. Responses are typically provided within 48 hours, and staff often suggest additional resources you may not have considered.

Step 9: Conduct Comparative Analysis

To deepen your understanding, compare Oregon’s Civil War experience with that of other non-battlefield states. For example:

• How did Oregon’s exclusionary laws (which banned Black settlement) contrast with Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation?
• Why did Oregonians volunteer for the Union Army in disproportionate numbers despite the distance from battlefields?
• How did the discovery of gold in Idaho and Montana influence Oregon’s strategic importance?

Use OHS materials to answer these questions. You’ll find that Oregon’s story is not an outlier—it is a critical case study in how national crises manifest in geographically distant communities. The Civil War was not just a conflict over slavery; it was also a struggle over the future of the American West, and Oregon was at the center of that debate.

Step 10: Create Your Own Research Project

After gathering materials, synthesize your findings into a personal project. This could be:

• A research paper analyzing Oregon’s role in Union logistics
• A digital exhibit using OHS photographs and letters
• A podcast episode featuring dramatized readings of soldier letters
• A lesson plan for middle or high school students

Many students have used OHS collections to win regional history fairs and publish in undergraduate journals. The society even offers a small grant program for student researchers. Inquire about the Oregon History Student Research Fellowship on their website.

Best Practices

Always Verify Sources

While the Oregon Historical Society is a reputable institution, not all materials in its collection are equally reliable. Diaries and letters reflect personal opinions, not objective facts. Cross-reference claims with official records, such as muster rolls, government correspondence, or census data. For example, if a soldier claims “all Oregonians support the Union,” check newspaper editorials from rival towns to see if that was true.

Contextualize, Don’t Anachronize

Avoid judging 19th-century Oregonians by 21st-century standards. Many white Oregonians opposed slavery but also supported laws banning Black people from settling in the state. This contradiction is uncomfortable but historically accurate. Understanding moral ambiguity is key to studying history responsibly.

Use Multiple Formats

Don’t rely solely on exhibits or digital archives. Combine physical artifacts, written documents, oral histories (if available), and scholarly analysis. Each format reveals different layers of meaning. A uniform tells you about military organization; a letter tells you about fear and hope; a scholarly article tells you about broader trends.

Take Notes Systematically

When researching, use a consistent method to record sources. Include:

• Collection name and number
• Box and folder number
• Date of access
• Page or item number
• Your own observations or questions

This ensures you can properly cite your sources later and avoid accidental plagiarism.

Respect Fragile Materials

Many Civil War documents are over 150 years old. Handle them with care. Use book cradles, avoid ink pens near paper, and never fold or staple anything. If you’re unsure how to proceed, ask a librarian. Their guidance preserves history for future researchers.

Engage with Diverse Perspectives

While much of the Civil War narrative focuses on white soldiers and politicians, Oregon’s history also includes Native American tribes, Chinese laborers, and free Black families who lived in the territory. The OHS has begun to expand its collections to include these voices. Seek out materials on the Umatilla, Nez Perce, and Chinook peoples during the war era. Their experiences were shaped by the conflict, even if they were not directly involved in it.

Tools and Resources

Primary Sources

• OHS Digital Collections – digital.ohs.org
• Oregon State Archives – Civil War Enlistment Records – sos.oregon.gov/archives
• Library of Congress – Chronicling America – Search digitized Oregon newspapers from 1836–1922
• FamilySearch.org – Free genealogical records of Oregon Civil War soldiers

Secondary Sources

• Frontier Loyalties: Oregon and the Civil War by Linda H. Smith – The definitive scholarly work on Oregon’s Civil War experience
• The Civil War in the American West by Alvin M. Josephy Jr. – Places Oregon in the broader context of Western theater operations
• Oregon: A History by A. L. Hart – Includes a detailed chapter on territorial politics during the 1860s
• Slavery and the American West by Michael D. Green – Analyzes how slavery debates shaped Western statehood

Technology Tools

• Zotero – Free citation manager to organize sources and generate bibliographies
• Timeline JS – Create interactive timelines using OHS photos and documents
• Google Earth – Plot locations of Union forts in Oregon using historical coordinates
• Canva – Design educational posters or digital exhibits from digitized materials

Academic Databases

• JSTOR – Search for peer-reviewed articles on “Oregon Civil War” or “Union Army Pacific Northwest”
• Project MUSE – Access journals like Western Historical Quarterly and Pacific Northwest Quarterly
• ProQuest Historical Newspapers – Full-text access to Oregonian archives from 1861–1987

Real Examples

Example 1: The Case of Private William T. Moore

Private William T. Moore of Coos Bay enlisted in the 1st Oregon Cavalry in 1863. His letters, preserved in the OHS Ross Collection, reveal a man deeply conflicted. He wrote to his sister: “I came here to fight rebels, but we spend our days chasing Indians. Are we not all Americans?” His words reflect a common sentiment among Oregon volunteers who felt disconnected from the war’s central cause.

Researchers at OHS used Moore’s letters to create an exhibit titled “Fighting the Wrong War?” which sparked public debate about the moral complexity of military service in the West. The exhibit included a map showing how Oregon cavalry units were spread thin across 1,000 miles of territory, and a side-by-side comparison of Union enlistment motivations in Oregon versus Pennsylvania.

Example 2: The Portland Ladies’ Aid Society

Founded in 1862, the Portland Ladies’ Aid Society collected over 12,000 pairs of socks, 3,000 blankets, and $15,000 in cash for Union soldiers. Their records, held in the OHS Women’s History Collection, show that many members were widows or daughters of merchants who had lost income due to the war’s disruption of trade.

A recent student project at Portland State University used these records to analyze gender roles in wartime Oregon. The project found that women’s participation in aid societies was not merely charitable—it was political. By organizing fundraisers and writing letters to Congress, these women asserted a public voice in a society that denied them the vote.

Example 3: The 1864 “Oregon Secession” Petition

In 1864, a small group of pro-Confederate sympathizers in Josephine County circulated a petition calling for Oregon to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy. The petition was never signed by more than 12 people, but it was reported in the Oregonian and led to arrests.

The original petition, now digitized by OHS, is one of the most controversial documents in their collection. Historians use it to examine the limits of dissent in wartime. The document’s survival—rather than its destruction—shows how Oregon’s institutions, even during a national crisis, upheld the rule of law.

FAQs

Is there a Civil War exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society?

Yes. The “Oregon History” permanent exhibit includes a dedicated section on the Civil War era, featuring uniforms, letters, newspapers, and interactive displays. Temporary exhibits may also focus on specific aspects, such as Oregon soldiers or women’s wartime roles.

Can I access Civil War documents remotely?

Yes. The OHS Digital Collections website offers over 1,200 digitized items related to the Civil War, including letters, photographs, and newspaper articles. You can search, view, and download these materials for personal or educational use.

Do I need to make an appointment to use the research library?

Yes. The OHS Research Library requires appointments for access to archival materials. Walk-ins are not permitted for research purposes. Schedule at least 48 hours in advance.

Are there educational resources for teachers?

Yes. The OHS Education Department provides free lesson plans, primary source kits, and virtual classroom visits focused on Civil War history in Oregon. Contact education@ohs.org for materials aligned with Oregon state standards.

Was Oregon a Confederate state?

No. Oregon was admitted to the Union as a free state in 1859 and remained loyal to the United States throughout the Civil War. However, there were small pockets of Confederate sympathy, particularly in southern Oregon counties, and a few Oregonians did travel south to join Confederate units.

How many Oregonians fought in the Civil War?

Approximately 3,000 Oregonians enlisted in Union military units during the Civil War. Most served in the 1st Oregon Cavalry and the 1st Oregon Infantry, primarily in the Pacific Northwest, not in the Eastern Theater.

Why is Oregon’s Civil War history important?

Because it challenges the assumption that the Civil War was only a Southern or Eastern conflict. Oregon’s experience reveals how national crises reshape distant communities, how loyalty is negotiated in frontier societies, and how war affects Indigenous populations and marginalized groups. It expands our understanding of the war beyond the battlefield.

Can I donate Civil War-era materials to OHS?

Yes. The Oregon Historical Society actively collects artifacts, letters, photographs, and diaries related to Oregon’s Civil War experience. Contact the Collections Department at collections@ohs.org to discuss potential donations.

Conclusion

Learning Civil War history at the Oregon Historical Society is not about memorizing dates or reciting battle names. It is about uncovering the human stories behind the headlines—the soldier who questioned his purpose, the woman who stitched socks for strangers, the Native leader navigating a war that wasn’t his, the newspaper editor who risked his livelihood to speak truth. Oregon’s role in the Civil War may be small in geographic scale, but its significance is immense in moral and historical depth.

By following this guide—from planning your visit to analyzing primary sources and engaging with expert interpretations—you transform from a passive observer into an active historian. The documents preserved at OHS are not relics of the past; they are invitations to think critically about power, loyalty, identity, and justice in America.

Whether you are a student, a teacher, a lifelong learner, or a descendant of Oregon’s Civil War generation, the Oregon Historical Society offers a path to understanding not just what happened, but why it matters. The war ended in 1865, but its questions—about freedom, belonging, and the meaning of nationhood—continue to resonate. At OHS, you don’t just learn history. You become part of its ongoing conversation.