From the state motto of Alis Volat Propiis (She Flies with Her Own Wings) to the Keep Portland Weird bumper stickers, Oregonians have long demonstrated an appreciation for independent thinking and a high degree of tolerance for the unusual. A shared belief that it's different here is certainly part of how we define our state's zeitgeist. Benton County Historical Society is pleased to host an Oregon Chautauqua program from the Oregon Council for the Humanities. Author Connie Battaile will present an in-depth look at our state's eccentricities in "Out of the Ordinary Oregon." This free, public program will take place on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 12:00pm at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library (645 Monroe, Corvallis, OR 97330). Bring your brown bag lunch!

Retired reference librarian and author Connie Battaile wonders if revisiting curious events in Oregon history can help illuminate our conviction that Oregon is a unique place. Beyond their historical value, Battaile's research suggests that even seemingly unrelated events can tap into larger themes of a state's identity. In this engaging program she recounts some of the natural disasters, such as the Heppner flood of 1903 and the Vanport Flood of 1948, and human foibles, such as the Stumbo Strip and the infamous exploding whale story. Slides of maps and historical photos will illustrate her presentation.

Print Resources

Weather events:

Taylor, G. & Hatton, R. (1999). The Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press.

Maben, M. (1987). Vanport. Portland: Oregon Historical Society Press.

Cameron, D. C.(1931). "Great dust storm in Washington and Oregon, April 21-24, 1931." Monthly Weather Review, May, pp. 195-197.

Whales:

Lopez, B. (1988). Crossing Open Ground. New York: Scribners. "Presentation of Whales," pp. 117-146.

Copperfield affair:

Ashworth, W. (1977). Hells Canyon: Deepest Gorge on Earth. New York: Hawthorn Books.

Holbrook, S. H. (1952). Far Corner, A Personal View of the Pacific Northwest. New York: Macmillan. "The Affair at Copperfield", pp 176-185.

General:

Battaile, C. (1998). The Oregon Book: Information A to Z. Newport, Oregon: Saddle Mountain Press.

Connie Battaile: Profile

Connie Battaile (pronounced battle) grew up in Waldport on the Oregon coast and attended both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, where she graduated with a BS in psychology. She received a Master of Library Studies from the University of Hawaii, and worked as a reference librarian with the Jackson County Library System, the Southern Oregon University Library, and at Colgate University (Hamilton, New York).

While in New York, Connie authored Circulation Services in a Small Academic Library and also became more fully aware of her firm identity as an Oregonian. After returning, her interest in all things Oregon led her to a five-year endeavor compiling The Oregon Book: Information A to Z (published in 1998). Some of the intriguing stories that she came across while researching The Oregon Book are the basis for her talk.

Connie's program is made possible by funding from the Oregon Council for the Humanities (OCH), an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities that is dedicated to the belief that knowledge and ideas are fundamental to the health of our communities. More information about OCH's programs and publications, which include Oregon Chautauqua, Humanity in Perspective, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at www.oregonhum.org.