Decades of Oregon history preserved in old newspaper pages, land records, photographs and public archives will become searchable from a laptop or smartphone during a hands-on research workshop this fall at Josephine Community Library.
The Grants Pass branch will host “History at Your Fingertips” from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at 200 NW C Street, giving residents an opportunity to learn how to navigate an extensive collection of free digital resources used for genealogy, historical research and the exploration of local family histories.
Rather than simply introducing the databases, the two-hour program will guide participants through the process of searching them. Historic newspapers will be among the featured resources, opening access to generations of reporting that documented Southern Oregon communities, families, businesses, property transactions and everyday life.
Participants will work with several of Oregon and the nation’s larger historical research collections, including the Oregon Digital Newspaper Program, Chronicling America, Oregon State Archives, State Library of Oregon, Archives West, Northwest Digital Heritage and the Oregon Historic Sites Database. The workshop will also explore Bureau of Land Management General Land Office records and Josephine County property records, providing additional avenues for tracing land ownership, family connections and the history of individual properties.
The range of records allows researchers to approach history from several directions. A family name discovered in a century-old newspaper can lead to property records, government documents or other archival material, while information found in a land record can provide the details needed to continue a search through newspaper collections.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone so they can follow the demonstration and conduct their own searches during the program. The library will have a limited number of laptops available to borrow for participants who do not have a device, with equipment provided while supplies last.
No library card is required to attend.
The workshop is being presented through a partnership between the Josephine County Historical Society, Josephine Community Library and the Southern Oregon Library Federation. The program is sponsored in part through 2026 funding from Oregon Heritage.
Space for the Oct. 10 program is limited, and advance registration is recommended. Registration is available through the library’s online event form. Additional information about library programs and events is available by calling 541-476-0571 or emailing info@josephinelibrary.org.