Southern Oregon Historical Society

08/03/2026

Windows in Time — History of St. Mary’s in Jacksonville, 1865 to Today

This lecture will cover the history of St. Mary’s School, from its beginnings in Jacksonville in 1865 to its move to Medford in 1908 and attempts to shut it down—including a famous anti-Catholic law overturned by the Supreme Court. Presenter Kevin Keating will showcase the more famous alums and sports championships and its revival today as a premier school.

Kevin Keating is a UCLA history alum who has taught history at St. Mary’s since 2010. He is a local history hobbyist and has written a local history book creatively titled “Medford.” He and his wife Nikki’s four kids graduated from St. Mary’s and have flown the coop. He is on the JCLS library board and Medford City Council.

The monthly Windows in Time lunchtime lectures feature well-known writers and historians and bring alive the people, values, and events that shaped our southern Oregon heritage. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS) and Jackson County Library Services. Programs are presented in Medford (first Wednesdays, in-person) and again in Ashland (second Wednesdays, in-person). Recordings of Medford presentations are available on the JCLS Beyond YouTube channel.

August 5th, 12pm-1pm: Large Meeting Room, Medford Library
August 12th, 12pm-1pm: Gresham Room, Ashland Library
Registration: https://jcls.org/local/windows-in-time/

08/03/2026

Thursday, August 20, 4pm to 8pm.
SOHS Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Rd., Central Point, OR.
FREE

For more than a decade the Archaeology Roadshow has been inviting the public to learn about the science and adventure of archaeology. This year the project is collaborating with the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology and the Southern Oregon Historical Society to bring the event to the Rogue Valley for the first time!

This year’s theme is “Fire & Water,” two things fundamental to the human story for all times and places. Representatives from universities, Tribes, government agencies, archaeology companies, museums, and historical societies will be offering exhibits and hands on activities that share the ways that human lives in our region have been shaped by fire and water.

07/19/2026

WE'RE HIRING! EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Answer phones, transfer calls and take messages for staff
2. Sort, collate and distribute mail
3. Prepare memos, emails, invoices and other correspondence as needed
4. Schedule appointments and meetings
5. Take and maintain minutes from meetings
6. Manage contracts for Hanley Farm events
7. Participate in coverage of weddings at Hanley Farm. This may include night
and weekend shifts
8. Manage wedding accounts and track payments for Hanley Farm events
9. Point of contact for and scheduling for all photographers
10. Assist with event banks (cash) for scheduled events
11. Purchase office supplies, janitorial supplies, event supplies and outside
vendor orders for main building and Hanley Farm
12. Maintain office supply area
13. Maintain building maintenance schedules and contracts
14. Schedule repairs for main building, Hanley Farm and White City warehouse
15. Act as the primary contact for vendors
16. Manage the event calendar for all locations
17. Assist in the organization’s special events
18. Other duties as assigned

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
1. High School Diploma
2. Some college, preferably in business

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
1. Excellent communication skills
2. Ability to manage events and volunteers positively
3. Comfortable with use of Excel, Word and E-Mail
4. Ability to take comprehensive minutes

Apply and view more information:https://sohs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Executive-Assistant-JD.pdf

07/03/2026

Thank you to Mike from Applegate Field Mowing Services for generously donating his time and equipment to tackle roughly 5 overgrown acres at Hanley Farm, including raking and removing the hay! 🚜

Another big thank you to Papé Machinery for providing the hay rake for us to use.

We are so grateful to them both for their generosity and support of Hanley Farm! 💚

Applegate Field Mowing Services can be reached at: (541) 979-9950

06/30/2026

SOHS 80th Anniversary BBQ & America’s 250th Anniversary Celebration

July 11 * 11am-3pm (Lunch served at Noon)
Tickets: Adults/$20 * Children 12 & Under/$10
Purchase Tickets online at https://sohs.org/bbq/
SOHS Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Road, Central Point, Oregon

Join the Southern Oregon Historical Society as we celebrate two extraordinary milestones: SOHS 80th Anniversary and America’s 250th Anniversary. Join in the festivities! Enjoy a delicious barbecue, live music by the local Old Time Fiddlers, tours of the Hanley House, and the opportunity to experience our new Historical Interpretive Center.

We’ll also unveil new monument signs as we celebrate Southern Oregon’s rich heritage and our nation’s history.

05/27/2026

Windows in Time: The History and Evolution of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area

MEDFORD: 06/03/2026, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
ASHLAND: 06/10/2026, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

The Mt. Ashland Ski Area, which encompasses over 240 acres of national forestland, is situated on and near the summit of Oregon’s highest peak west of the Cascade Range. Started largely by local ski enthusiasts, the ski area has been an important community and regional asset since the early 1960s. With five lifts, forty-four ski runs, and a ski lodge, the area operates under a U.S. Forest Service special-use permit and draws skiers and boarders primarily from southwestern Oregon and northern California. The area is managed as a non-profit by the all-volunteer Mt. Ashland Association Board of Directors. Mt. Ashland Association recently initiated year-round activities, including weddings, summer day camps for kids, concerts, disc golf, and business meetings. Join us to learn more about the history of this beloved destination of our region.

Presenter Blair Moody retired after 38 years of practicing forestry in both private industry and government land management agencies in Northern Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Southern Oregon. Blair has served on the Board of Directors for Mt. Ashland for 26 years, is a past President, and currently is the Chair of the Development Committee.

The monthly Windows in Time lunchtime lectures feature well-known writers and historians and bring alive the people, values, and events that shaped our Southern Oregon heritage. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS) and Jackson County Library Services. Programs are presented in Medford (first Wednesdays) and again in Ashland (second Wednesdays). Recordings of Medford presentations are available on the JCLS Beyond YouTube channel.

05/15/2026

The Oregon Historical Society is offering a special deal for new Southern Oregon Historical Society members! For one week only, if you become an SOHS member, you'll receive a FREE OHS membership. Valued at $100.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to explore more of Oregon's past!

Join SOHS by May 22 at SOHS.org

04/27/2026

An Evening with Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Rick Atkinson

The Southern Oregon Historical Society, in partnership with the Oregon Historical Society’s Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series and the official America 250 Oregon statewide commemoration, is proud to host a special evening with acclaimed historian Rick Atkinson.

Recently featured on NBC5 News with anchor Emily Storm, Atkinson discusses how his background in war journalism drew him to the American Revolution and its profound impact on our national identity.

Join us on May 14 as he shares insights from his trilogy focusing on the pivotal years of the Revolutionary War from 1777 to 1780.

WHEN: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
WHERE: Rogue Valley Country Club
TICKETS: Visit sohs.org/events for tickets and additional information.

In this Five on 5 interview, News Anchor Emily Storm interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Atkinson. Atkinson, who has a background in war journalism, discusses how that experience drew him to the Revolution and its profound impact on American identity. He shares details on his trilogy focus...

04/16/2026

In recognition of America's 250 Semiquincentennial, the Southern Oregon Historical Society is inviting the public to share photos they have taken that reflect America the Beautiful. Our goal is to collect 250 photos. We will display them in the windows at our main site at 106 N Central in downtown Medford, post them on our website, share them on our social media sites, and archive
them into our collection.

PHOTO RULES:
—First come, first served basis.
—Ideally, 4"x 6" photos. If different size, we may have to crop the photo.
—Email photos to [email protected], or deliver by hand or mail to SOHS at 106 N Central, Medford 97501.
—One photo per family taken by a family member.
—The person submitting should be a resident of Southern Oregon.
—Photos cannot be returned.
—Photos will be displayed on the SOHS website, social media, and in our front window at 106 N
Central. The photos and descriptions will be archived within the SOHS collection.
—Photos cannot show weapons, violence, nudity, political promotion, or be discriminatory in any way.
—SOHS reserves the right to not display photos that do not fit these criteria. We will, however, maintain them in our collection.
—Participants are solely responsible for ensuring that their submitted photos comply with all applicable copyright laws.

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
—Name of person submitting photo:
—Name of family (optional):
—Location of the photo (if known):
—Date of the photo (if known):
—Who took the photo (if known):
—Explanation of photo:

LINK TO PRINTABLE FLYER & FORM:https://sohs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/America-the-Beautiful-Flyer.pdf

04/07/2026

For more information and to apply, visit https://sohs.org/about-us/employment-opportunities