Protecting history
Historical society project set to safeguard family, business stories
By: Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:30 AM PDT
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| Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
Dr. Dorin Daniels shows some of the family photos in volume two of the original ‘History of Malheur Country' published in 1988. Deadline for submissions to the updated volume is the end of August. |
ONTARIO—Area residents have until the end of August to submit family or business histories for the updated edition of the “History of Malheur Country,” a project of the Malheur Country Historical Society.
The historical society venture is designed to record the history of southeast Oregon, including Malheur County and outlying areas.
The name “Malheur Country” was designed to include greater Harney, Grant and Baker counties, plus Idaho and Nevada.
“It’s not limited to county lines,” retired Dr. Dorin Daniels, a member of the “History of Malheur Country” book committee, said.
These books are not just about pioneer families and early history, but about families living in the region today and what is happening here and now, he said. That will be the history grandchildren and great-grandchildren may be reading in the future, he added.
“It doesn’t cost to put a history into the book (500 words or less),” Daniels said. The historical society is counting on selling enough books to cover their cost of publication. All the work is volunteer, but the cost of printing will be much higher than when the first two-volume edition was printed in 1988.
Back then, there were no computers Daniels noted.
“It was by typewriter and the cut and paste method,” he said.
The historical society is also seeking help from the public to help with the project.
“We have an active committee, but, as more material is received, more volunteers are needed.”
More histories are coming into the committee, and people are getting excited about the project, Daniels said. However, more histories are needed and the committee would like to do updates on communities, churches, schools civic groups and other organizations.
One picture can be put in the book with a history at no charge, but there will be an extra charge on histories which are more than 500 words in length and for each extra picture to cover printing costs.
Copies of the original set are becoming limited, Daniels said, but may be viewed at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce office, public libraries in Ontario, Vale and Nyssa and Scout Books in Vale.
The committee asks that history submissions be made electronically, if possible in Microsoft Word format, but will accept handwritten or typed material, and photographs in either electronic or print form.
The e-mail address for submissions is: MalheurHistoryBook@gmail.com.
Submission may also be mailed to Dorin Daniels, 4457 Community Road, Ontario, Or., 97914. Other committee members are Gary McClellan, Linda Nuessle, Theron Richardson, Al Hicks, Coralee Williams and Nancy Butler.
The cost of each volume will be $60, but only the second volume will have the new information.
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Confused wrote on Aug 13, 2009 3:47 AM: