Research Resources

The Carl & Ada Zimmerman Research Room contains Gresham Historical’s non-circulating special collections library and archives.

The Gresham Historical Society collects and preserves archival materials that document Gresham and East Multnomah County History.

At this time, the Gresham Historical Society does not have a searchable online catalog. Please contact the museum if you have any questions regarding our collections’ content.

Our Collections

Serials

The Gresham Historical Serials Collection contains regional print publications, including:

  • 72 bound volumes of the Gresham Outlook (1927–1999)
  • The Gresham Historical Quarterly
  • The Oregon Historical Quarterly
  • Various historical society newsletters
  • Regional periodicals and magazines

Government Documents

The Gresham Historical Archives contains a collection of Gresham city, various regional organizations, boards and commissions, and U.S. government documents.

School Documents

The Gresham Historical Archives contains a collection of materials that document the history of regional school districts, including:

  • Yearbooks (1913–2005)
  • Institutional documents such as strategic plans & budgets
  • Course catalogs
  • Alumni reunion ephemera

Oral Histories & Recollections

The Gresham Historical Society began collecting verbal histories in the 1980s. These materials contain personal accounts of Gresham and East Multnomah County history from their perspectives.

Photographs

The Gresham Historical Photograph Collection is our most extensive archival collection containing over 3500 prints, reproductions, slides, negatives, and tintypes.

Flat Files

The Gresham Historical Flat Files contains regional maps and blueprints of the Gresham Carnegie Library.

Vertical Files

The Gresham Historical Vertical Files document the regional history of a myriad of topics including various businesses, churches, clubs, events, historic buildings, industries, government endeavors, natural events, neighborhoods, organizations, and programs.

Research Room Appointment

Appointments must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. Please contact Gresham Historical Society prior to your appointment with information regarding your research request.

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Current Exhibits
See what’s on at the museum now!

We expect the Museum to be closed for several months, at least through October, as repairs due to the fire are completed. Indoor events at the Museum have been canceled for the next two months, at the least. While the weather is good, we will participate in outdoor events such as Third Thursday, and we will be setting up a booth at the Farmers Market on Saturdays. Volunteers are needed to staff these events. 

The Gresham Historical Society is a non-profit organization that is funded by memberships, grants, and fundraising events. To help with renovations from the fire and to make the building a safe place to store our collections, we have established the Gresham Historical Society Fire Account at the Gresham branch of Riverview Community Bank at 225 NE Burnside Rd. Donations can also be sent to PO Box 65, Gresham, OR 97030, or online at greshamhistorical.org.

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