Better than a Shoebox: Preserving Your Community History with OQHC!

The Portland City Archives, in partnership with Oregon Queer History Collective, invite you to attend a free archiving workshop that offers hands-on instruction from experienced archivsits, oral history experts, and community memory workers.

Attendees are encouraged to bring 1-2 items from their family (chosen or biological) and community collections including photographs, documents, and artifacts to use as examples as they practice proper handling, labeling and storage of their materials. Each attendee will be provided with an archival supply kit to get them started on their preservation journey!

In addition to preservation techniques, attendees will have the opportunity to scan their archival items and learn about recording oral histories to digitally preserve their stories for generations to come.

We are excited to have special guest and full spectrum doula, Catherine Braxton (In Search of a Garden), join us for a guided opening reflection activity.

Light refreshments and beverages will be provided.

Have an accessibility request? Email cGFyYyB8IHBvcnRsYW5kb3JlZ29uICEgZ292 in advance of your visit to our center. If there are ways we can improve the accessibility in person or online, we also appreciate your feedback.

The Portland Archives & Records Center (PARC) is located within the Academic & Student Recreation Center (ASRC) on Portland State University campus.

We are located at the PSU Urban Center/SW 6th & Montgomery stop for the Green, Yellow, and Orange MAX lines. The Portland Streetcar stop is near us and there are numerous bus lines that stop within a couple blocks of our building so click here to check for your best option with TriMet.

There is some street and surface lot parking available, or you can pay to park in the PSU parking garage at 1812 SW 6th Ave. You can view the PBOT Disability Parking map for accessible street-level parking. The nearest disability parking street spots are located between SW Mill St. and Montgomery St. on Broadway.

We are the building located on the south side of the brick Urban Plaza. There are ADA-accessible ramps to access the Urban Plaza from both SW 5th Avenue, SW 6th Avenue and SW Mill St. Upon arrival at the front entrance, use the intercom to call up to our office. The building is currently key-card accessible only, so we will buzz you in. There is a push button door opener located underneath the intercom for entrance assistance.

Once inside, take the ADA-accessible elevators to the 5th floor. The entrance to our center will be directly to the right as you exit the elevator. There is a doorbell located on the left side of the door that you can ring, Archives & Records staff will be onsite to greet you into PARC.

Pandemic Considerations

Indoor masks are no longer be required by the State or the City and are now optional in the Research Room. Masks and sanitizer will be available and air purifiers will be runnings throughout the course of the event.

Also check out other Workshops in Portland, Arts events in Portland, Craft events in Portland.