Help Document Black History in Albina via Historic House Research

Restore Oregon, the Architectural Heritage Center, and Moreland Resource Consulting are partnering to present the Albina Historic House Research Workshop - Scholarships Available

Have you ever wondered who built your house or lived in it before you? Are you curious about who lived in your neighborhood when your home was first constructed, or how your neighborhood has changed over the decades? If so, then please join Restore Oregon and Moreland Resource Consulting at the Architectural Heritage Center on Saturday, August 12 from 10 am - 3 pm for our Albina House History Research Workshop, where attendees will learn historic home researching skills while also learning how to help to document and preserve Black history in Northeast Portland’s Albina District. 

This workshop is being offered by the Architectural Heritage Center in support of the Albina Preservation Initiative, a collaborative program dedicated to researching, celebrating, and educating people about Black history and preservation in Portland’s Albina neighborhoods. Anyone is welcome to attend to learn the basics of historic house research. Tickets are $50 each, and 50 spots are available. A limited number of free scholarships are open to Albina residents (current or former) and students, allowing them to participate free of charge in exchange for agreeing to spend 3 - 5 hours researching one house in an Albina neighborhood and sharing their findings with our team.  Interested parties can request a scholarship, and a stipend to cover the cost of lunch, by filling out this form.

“The Architectural Heritage Center has been offering house history research classes for at least 20 years,” says Val Ballestrem, Education Manager for the Architectural Heritage Center.  “While we are tailoring this class to demonstrate what history one might discover about a home in Albina, the same tools can be utilized to learn about homes throughout the city.”

 

Research conducted as a result of this workshop will augment research into Albina’s historically and culturally significant resources being conducted by Kimberly Moreland of Moreland Resource Consulting. Much of what will be uncovered as a result of Ms. Moreland’s work, and the contributions of workshop attendees, will be included in a future digital StoryMap exhibit hosted online by Oregon Black Pioneers.

 

“It is critical that we document and preserve the historic places within Portland's historically-Black neighborhoods,” said Zachary Stocks, executive director of Oregon Black Pioneers. “Albina in particular has seen some of the most dramatic transformations in the city over the past fifty years, as displacement and demolition have erased evidence of the Black community that once called the area home. By recognizing the homes and social hubs of Black Albina which still remain, we can ensure that the neighborhood's African American heritage is not forgotten.”

“This project is important because it advances Black historic preservation, identifies Black historic resources vulnerable to redevelopment, and helps reverse the damages of displacement and gentrification in Portland’s historic Black community,” added Kim Moreland of Moreland Research Consulting.

“The Albina Preservation Initiative is a step forward in making preservation work better for Black communities and will be a transformative shift for Oregon. This workshop will help document and share Black history in Albina with the public and contribute to establishing a path forward for inclusive preservation statewide,” said Nicole Possert, executive director of Restore Oregon.