Portland Children's Museum records
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the records and memorabilia of the Portland Children's Museum of Portland, Oregon. Records include annual reports, program schedules, architectural records relating to the museum's move to Washington Park, and design documents, proofs, and samples for exhibits, signage, mailers, and other promotional materials. Other materials include programs for the museum's "Be a Kid Again" gala; a scrapbook of clippings, photographs, programs, and ephemera from the 1940s through the 1980s; advertisements and other promotional materials; and ephemera.
Dates
- 1946-2019
- Majority of material found within 1997-2019
Creator
- Portland Children's Museum (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative History
The Portland Children's Museum in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1946 by Portland Parks Commissioner Dorothea Lensch. Until 1970 it was known as the Junior Museum. Although the museum was originally located in the former residence of Jacob Kamm at NW Main and 14th, it moved to SW 2nd Avenue in the Lair Hill neighborhood in 1950. In 2001, the museum relocated once again, this time to a building in Washington Park formerly used by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. For the first few years after the move to Washington Park, the museum rebranded itself as Children's Museum 2nd Generation, or CM2, but in 2004 the name officially changed to Portland Children's Museum. The museum at Washington Park was also the location of Opal School, a pre-kindergarten to fifth grade charter school. Citing financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the museum and school closed in June 2021.
Extent
1.74 Cubic Feet (1 record carton; 1 flat box (16x20))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Administrative records, design documents, promotional materials, and memorabilia of the Portland Children's Museum in Portland, Oregon. The museum was founded as the Junior Museum in 1946 by Dorothea Lensch. After being located in the Jacob Kamm House and then on SW 2nd Avenue, it moved to Washington Park in 2001. The museum closed at the end of June 2021.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in four series: Series 1. Administrative records; Series 2. Museum move to Washington Park; Series 3. Designs for exhibits, signage, and promotional materials; Series 4. Promotional materials, memorabilia, and ephemera.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Portland Children's Museum, July 2021 (RL2021-068).
Separated Materials
Artifacts were separated to Museum Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
Processing Information
Some materials were removed from binders for preservation and space purposes. These materials were kept in their original order.
Creator
- Portland Children's Museum (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Portland Children's Museum records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jeffrey A. Hayes
- Date
- 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org