Art classes by Donna Beverly, heirloom doll making with with Erika Antonia Schoell, and Writing and Publishing Your Family History workshop by Sheridan McCarthy will be offered this autumn at the museum.

Please view a full event schedule

The Kenneth Munford articles were originally published in Horner Museum Tour Guide Series, and over time the Society plans to embellish the online articles with historic and contemporary photographs. Pioneer Trails from Corvallis to the Coast and Pioneer Trails from Benton to Douglas Counties are fun travel companions for summer drives.

Included in the online database are excerpts from McKenney, Langley and Polk Business Directories with emphasis on Corvallis, Monroe, and Philomath, Oregon. Visitors may search by name of individual or company name, as well as categorically by type of business or year. The business directories are a frequently used resource for historians and genealogists.

The data entry was done by volunteer Walter Frankel, who said "As I was cataloguing the 950 photographs from the Harriet Moore estate, I was constantly using the directories to verify information. I knew this information would be useful to others, and am delighted the BCHM web site can now support a searchable database. I only wish it had been available when I was doing that round of cataloguing!"

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2008
Contact: Mark Tolonen, Curator of Exhibitions
Phone: 541.929.6230

intertwined: an exhibit of handmade baskets

Philomath, Ore. - The Benton County Historical Society is proud to host "intertwined: an exhibit of handmade baskets" by three Oregon artists Bud Lane, Mariana Mace and Margaret Mathewson. The exhibition will open to the public from May 17 through July 19, 2008. An opening reception will be held Friday May 16 from 5-7pm.

Each artist brings passion and diverse talents to their basketry, from the harvesting of materials to the methods of weaving. Much of the basketry, being shared publicly for only two months, is from private collections. Some are ceremonial tribal headgear. Others are utilitarian. All are inspirational works of art.

"I have had an almost lifelong fascination for using my hands to make things, to put materials together, to interconnect elements: yarns, beads, fabric pieces, parts of plants. Each small stitch, or row, or piece of fabric is much like every other, but how they combine leads to endless variety" says artist Mariana Mace.

Enjoy a visit to Oregons past AND present! The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00  4:30. Admission is always free!

Located six miles west of Corvallis on Hwy 20/34, at 1101 Main Street, Philomath, Oregon, the Benton County Historical Society operates the Museum facilities for the preservation of history and culture. Its goal is to preserve the material culture of Benton County, Oregon. It strives to enrich peoples lives through interesting exhibitions and educational programs.

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Walter Frankel, Kate Mathews, Marcia Cutler, Joyce Nesson, Martha Fraundorf, Marjorie Goss, Channa Farber, Sandi Schindler, Bill Myers, Bill Ayers, Bob Fessenden, Wayne Schultz, Dianna Hanson, Rod & Ruby Frakes, Patti Larkin, Linda Holcomb-Bryant, Karen Brockett, Karen Tornaw, Wayne & Marjorie Parker, Sharon Franklin, Molly Eckert, Selby Gunter, Peggy Poling, Jim Vomocil, Tarillis Adams, Andrea Blake, Duane & Marty Cavit, Irene Sussman.

Working in collaboration with other artists on one piece is the most challenging, satisfying, frustrating, invigorating, soul-searching endeavor that I could put myself through-and I love it.

I was approached by Judi to do the mixed media show almost 2 years ago. Then the three of us started meeting monthly at our studios to share ideas, art, and wine. Though I knew of their work as individuals, I hadn't ever worked with them on a show or project. This newness was very exciting for me. It is so typical for each of us to work long periods of time alone in our studios without interacting, creatively, with others. So I would leave these meetings feeling more inspired and putting pen to paper with new ideas and designs. I am very excited to see this show come together. It will certainly be a feast for the eyes and there will be something for everyone to see. - Lauren Ohlgren

I've always enjoyed collaborating on a work with other artists. One learns so much about working in the moment and being able to trust. The challenge on these 3 collaborative pieces was the difference of mediums: glass, wax, paint, oil pastel, paper and objects. We also picked a rather large size which I think surprised us all. I found it interesting that in Webster's Dictionary the words collaborative and collage fall right next to each other. - Judith Sander

The exhibition runs through May 10, 2008.

The Collins Foundation has awarded a $40,000 grant to help purchase powder-coated steel oversize shelving for Collection Care Facility. Total cost of the shelving is $83,000; the Society received $25,000 from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund and $10,000 from the Brauti Family Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation.

These grants will assure that our valuable collections will be properly stored on shelving that will not collapse, bend or be subject to earthquake.

The Benton County Historical Society committed over $2 million to erect a state-of-the-art storage facility for its collections. The Society accepted the responsibility of the Horner Collection, formerly owned by Oregon State University. The 60,000 object collection will be combined with the Society’s 20,000 objects in the new facility. Funds are still needed to support this project. For more information please call Ron Thiesen, Development Director, at the Museum 541-929-6230.

For more information about the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation go to: www.pacificpower.net/ppfoundation. Information about the Collins Foundation can be found at: www.collinsfoundation.org

Mark Tolonen was hired as the new Curator of Exhibitions in February.

Mark holds a BA in History from the University of Connecticut and a graduate diploma in Cultural Conservation from the University of Victoria, Canada. He worked at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Clatsop County Historical Society and the Seaside Museum and Historical Society before moving to Eugene in 2006 so his wife could attend graduate school at the University of Oregon. Mark most recently worked at the Lane County Historical Museum in Eugene as the Exhibit Curator. He is a web master, has taught a variety of college-level computer classes, and brings graphic design skills to his position. In addition, Mark has worked on high lifts and scaffolding, reached the summit of the tallest mountain in the lower 48, driven a 62’ twin screw boat on the Columbia River, and pulled the fur of many an 800 lb. wild sea lion and still has all ten fingers!

Irene Zenev, who served as the curator of exhibits for the organization for more than eight years before retiring in November, starts her new job Oct. 1.

"It will be really nice to be back," said Zenev, of Eugene.

"She's a wonderful person to work with. She's very knowledgeable about her field. I'm very much looking forward to working for her," said Mary Gallagher, collections manager for the historical society and museum.

"It's a good time for the Benton County Historical Society right now, and I'm very optimistic about the future," Gallagher added.

Zenev's first task will be overseeing the move of 60,000 items from the mothballed Horner Collection.

Those artifacts, currently stored in the basement of Gill Coliseum at Oregon State University, will be moved to a new $2.3 million collections care facility near the Philomath museum.

The building, under construction, is scheduled to be completed this fall.

"I really felt like I was the perfect person to lead that," Zenev said.

She previously oversaw the move of a collection into a new facility at the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History in Roseburg. That facility was where she began her museum career, in 1985.

The museum also has plans to showcase items from the Horner Museum in a new downtown Corvallis museum. That facility, however, likely is years away.

In the 1990s, Oregon State University closed the Horner Museum because of budget cuts.

Although Zenev "retired" in November, she kept busy working as a marketing and exhibits specialist for the Lane County Museum in Eugene, as a clerical specialist with Linn-Benton Community College's Benton Center, and by teaching Pilates classes.

About a year ago, she also was appointed by Gov. Ted Kulongowski to the Oregon Heritage Commission, and she also is the Oregon Museum Association's past president.

Zenev sees herself as leading the Benton County Historical Society and Museum for at least five years. She plans to move to Benton County as soon as she can.

Written by Kyle Odegard of the Gazette Times. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.