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Idaho State Historical Society




The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) is a Historical Society in the U.S. State of Idaho Vertical File. "Idaho State Historical Society”. Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library.that preserves and promotes Idaho’s cultural Heritage . The society's vision is to inspire, enrich and reach out to all Idahoans by providing Leadership in the areas of Preservation and dissemination of the state's dynamic cultural heritage.

The Idaho State Historical Society has given the people of Idaho a sense of direction from the beginning. Eighteen years after the Idaho Territory was established in the midst of Civil War and Westward Expansion , and nine years before Statehood in 1890 , a room full of early settlers created the Historical Society Of Idaho Pioneers . As Technology accelerated in the late 19th century, several of these founders sensed how much of their own Heritage was about to be lost, and how much Native heritage remained to be discovered. Their efforts led to the establishment of the Idaho State Historical Society as a State Agency in 1907 .

People have wrested a living from Idaho ’s remarkable Resources for more than 13,000 years. Idaho has a rich history and Prehistory ; the Idaho State Historical Society is charged with responsibility for this Preservation in accordance with Chapters 41 and 46 of Title 67 of the Idaho Code , and other statutory capacity assigned by Titles 14, 31, 33, 58, and 63. A seven member appointed board of Trustees has statutory authority for setting policy for the Society, which serves as agency of the State Board Of Education .

From its original “ Library and cabinet” meant to preserve “ Literary and Scientific objects” the Society has evolved in its first Century to include the Idaho State Historical Museum , the Public Archives And Research Library , the State Historic Preservation Office , the Historic Sites Program , and the Administration unit. With a staff of 47 Professionals , 500 volunteers, and a board of Trustees who represent the seven Legislative districts of the state, the Society now directly reaches more than 100,000 people annually and serves an additional 700,000 on its web site.


HISTORIC SITES


This Historic Sites program oversees sites at Pierce, Franklin, Rock Creek, and Boise. These include the National Historic Landmark Assay Office where the State Historic Preservation Office is located.

The ISHS Historic Sites Division historic sites at four locations across Idaho . Through the preservation and interpretation of these sites the Society gives visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in locations where Idaho History transpired. The Historic Sites managed by the ISHS include:


The Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site is the largest site managed by the ISHS and one of the largest National Register of Historic Places sites in Idaho. The Old Idaho Penitentiary’s primary focus is interpreting the rich history of the site for visitors in an effort to encourage those visitors to become advocates for its preservation. To that end the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site offers:
  • Self-guided tours of the Old Penitentiary to the general public. The Old Idaho Penitentiary is open 7 days a week year round.

  • Guided walks of the Old Penitentiary to the general public;

  • Interpretive programs of the Old Penitentiary for school/educational groups;

  • Interpretive Exhibits located throughout the various prison buildings;

  • The Old Idaho Penitentiary Walking Tour Guide Booklet; and

  • Information about and resources regarding the Old Idaho Penitentiary on the internet for example the Old Idaho Penitentiary Educational Resource Kit and Old Penitentiary Worksheets .




PUBLIC ARCHIVES AND RESEARCH LIBRARY (PARL)


The Public Archives and Research Library provides Public and Scholarly access to holdings in many Media dealing with Idaho’s History and Genealogy . These include Manuscripts , State Archives , Books , Periodicals , Oral History Interviews , Photographs , Films and Videos , Microfilms , and Maps .

The Public Archives and Research Library holds a large collection of material relating to the History Of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest . The Collection is extremely varied in subject, geographic area, and time period. It includes both historical and genealogical information and covers a wide variety of mediums, including:


The Public Archives and Research Library is open to the public and serves over 12,000 on- and off-site Researcher s on an annual basis. The staff also provides technical assistance on Records Management issues to Governmental Agencies in Idaho and general workshops on research methodology and other topics for the public.


Public Archives

On March 12, 1947, the Idaho Legislature enacted legislation assigning state archival Authority to the Idaho State Historical Society (Idaho Session Laws, C.161'47, pp.416-417.) The Society was charged to establish a unified state archives "in order to preserve and protect the historically important state, county, city, and village archives, and thus facilitate the use of Idaho records for official reference and historical research."

The law further authorized and empowered custodians of state, county, city, or village records of historical significance and not in current use to deliver them to the Idaho State Historical Society for permanent preservation; provided for the certification of such records by the Idaho State Historical Society; and authorized the Idaho State Historical Society to require and supervise the collection of historically important state, county, city, or village archives. These powers and duties are currently captured in Idaho Code 67-4126. The State Archives has been known as the Idaho Public Archives and Research Library (PARL) since 2006.

The State Archives serves as a focal point for Public Record s management standards guidelines, procedures and educational offerings covering:

  • Essential records protection

  • Files classification/maintenance

  • Electronic Records Management

  • Microfilm preparation/transfer

  • Non-current records storage and retrieval

  • Security storage of microfilm copies of essential records

  • Disaster Preparedness and recovery information

  • Records retention and disposition

  • Archival records transfer procedures



Research Library


The Research , Old Idaho State Penitentiary records, genealogical assistance, and microfilm access to many of Idaho's founding newspapersIdaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library (2007, June 28), "Newspapers", (Idaho State Historical Society Public Archives and Research Library), Available: http://idahohistory.net/library_collections.html#anchor566425 (Accessed: 2007, June 29).

PARL has been working with the , photograph collections from photographer E. L. "Shorty" Fuller , and native plant records for Idaho.Northwest Digital Archives (2007, August) "Idaho State Historical Society Finding Aids" (Northwest Digital Archives), Available: http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/nwda-search/results.aspx?t=i&q=4&p=0 (Accessed: 2007, June 29).

There is a finding aid for oral histories from guards of the Old Idaho State Penitentiary that involves the prison, prison architecture, Prison Riots , Prisoner's Rights , etc.Whitney, Britney; Reeves, Troy (2006) "Guide to the Idaho Old Penitentiary Former Guards Oral History Project 1940s-1970s" (Northwest Digital Archives), Available: http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/nwda-search/findstyle.aspx?doc=oihohguard.xml&t=i&q=4 (Accessed: 2007 June 29).


Idaho Oral History Center


The Idaho Oral History Center collects the reminiscences of Idahoans who have lived through much of Idaho's history. Topics covered in the collection are as varied as frontier and pioneer life, the Civilian Conservation Corps , Mining , the Women's Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and various ethnic groups in the state. The Oral History collection is held within the Idaho State Historical Society's PARL.

Since 1999 the IOHC's Oral Historian and Office Specialist have conducted interviews and have begun processing those interviews and interviews donated to the IOHC by interested individuals. The IOHC has placed basic information about processed interviews-conducted between 1969 and 1998-in the collection on the website.

The Oral Historian has finished interviews with former forest Fire Fighter s, particularly forest service rangers, fire control officers, and Smokejumper s.

The Idaho Oral History Center is also an official partner and archive of the National Veterans History Project .

The oral history collection currently includes almost 3,200 Interviews , on both audiotape and videotape. Nearly all have been indexed, and many have been fully transcribed. Interviews are available to researchers at the PARL and, with a few exceptions, through interlibrary loan services.

The Center also offers information on Oral History methods by means of workshops and instructional guides.


IDAHO STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM


From its Origin as a “ Cabinet of Curiosities ” the Idaho State Historical Museum has become the largest and most visited Museum in the state. Its many interactive programs educate Children , Students , Working Adults , and Retirees in the historical Value of its diverse and comprehensive collections.

The Idaho State Historical Museum is the official state historical museum. Located in Idaho’s capitol city of Boise, it is the official repository of artifacts reflecting Idaho and regional history and holds over 250,000 objects. It was the first Idaho museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums.

Additionally the Museum :
  • Hosts over 30,000 Visitors each year, including approximately 12,000 Schoolchildren ;

  • Offers a comprehensive permanent exhibit on Idaho’s history and maintains exhibits on the state’s varied Cultures , Occupations , and Experiences ;

  • Is one of the first Western institutions to be Accredited by the American Association Of Museums and strictly follows the professional standards and procedures set by the AAM;

  • Produces and hosts special temporary and traveling exhibits on a wide variety of historical and cultural subjects;

  • Developed the J. Curtis Earl Exhibit at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, featuring one of the nation’s largest collections of historic Arms and Military Memorabilia ;

  • Developed and maintains educational trunks and exhibits that travel to communities statewide;

  • Provides statewide technical assistance to small museums and individuals; and

  • Developed and maintains Pioneer Village adjacent to the Museum, which includes some of the oldest buildings in Idaho: the Isaac Coston log cabin (1863), Thomas Logan adobe house (1865), and the Richard Adelmann house (1870-80s). Currently under construction in the village is the Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail, an outdoor, hands-on interpretive area focused on the scientific legacy of the Voyage of Discovery.



STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE


The Idaho State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is the lead historic preservation agency in the state. Established in 1966, the Idaho SHPO undertakes a wide variety of statewide educational activities, including:
  • Managing the National Register of Historic Places program for the state. The National Register is the official listing of cultural resources significant to our nation’s history and worthy of preservation;

  • Maintaining Idaho’s inventory of records for archaeological sites and Historic Buildings and structures. Currently, there are approximately 70,000 properties in the inventory;

  • Working with Federal and State agencies and Tribes to minimize project effects on historic properties;

  • Planning Preservation activities and Cultural Resource Management ;

  • Assisting developers in obtaining Federal tax incentives for appropriate rehabilitation of historic buildings;

  • Working with cities and counties on local preservation policies and projects;

  • Overseeing the Archeological Survey of Idaho and caring for its collections;

  • Conducting and overseeing Archaeological Investigations in Idaho.




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