South Umpqua Historical Society Receives Grant for Pioneer Indian Museum Collection

A grant from the Lilja Family Fund of Oregon Community Foundation will help the Pioneer Indian Museum in Canyonville catalog and digitize its collection, making local historical materials easier for the public to search.

The South Umpqua Historical Society, which operates the museum at 421 SW Fifth Street, will use the funding to pay for staff assistance in the coming year. The collection includes thousands of artifacts, photographs, documents, and books that require detailed registration.

Susan Waddle, president of the historical society, said that help is essential to the museum’s work.

“Staff assistance is hugely valuable to the detailed registration of our collection of thousands of artifacts, photos, documents and books,” Waddle said.

Research and digitization also helped the museum create an extensive exhibit honoring local veterans earlier this year as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Waddle thanked the Lilja Family Fund and Oregon Community Foundation on behalf of the society’s board and members, saying the nonprofit could not complete its collection work without funding assistance.

The Canyonville Pioneer Indian Museum website can be located here.