Oregon Historical Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AS THE STEWARD OF OREGON'S HISTORY, THE OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY EDUCATES, INFORMS, AND ENGAGES THE PUBLIC THROUGH COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND INTERPRETING THE PAST....IN OTHER WORDS, OREGON HISTORY MATTERS.
- Income
- $12.4 million
- Spending
- $12.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 7.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 81
- Volunteers
- 85
- Highest pay
- $340,510, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2537 of 37 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $4.6 million spent. EXHIBITS - OHS COLLECTS, PRESERVES, DOCUMENTS, AND EXHIBITS THE STATE'S MATERIAL CULTURE WITH MORE THAN 85,000 ARTIFACTS. ITS MAJOR PERMANENT EXHIBITION, THE AWARD WINNING EXPERIENCE OREGON EXHIBIT, OPENED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON FEBRUARY 14, 2019, ON OREGON'S 160TH BIRTHDAY. A DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT, EXPERIENCE OREGON ALLOWS VISITORS TO LEARN ABOUT THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE, PLACES AND EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED OREGON.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THE THEME OF 2024'S EXHIBIT SERIES WAS OREGONIANS AS INNOVATORS AND ARTISTS, PORTRAYING THE DIVERSITY OF PLACES, PEOPLE, AND INTERESTS OF OREGONIANS THROUGH VARIOUS ARTISTIC MEDIUMS. THROUGH HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE OHS RESEARCH LIBRARY PAIRED WITH CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM PETER MARBACH, THE EXHIBITION PORTLAND PAST AND PRESENT VISUALLY EXPLORED HOW PORTLAND HAS CHANGED OVER TIME. RIVERS, ROSES, AND RIP CITY: THE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF PORTLAND, OPENED IN JUNE, WHERE VISITORS CAN LEARN ABOUT PORTLAND'S DISTINCTIVE LANDSCAPE, THE COMMUNITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ITS DYNAMIC IDENTITY, AND THE WAYS PORTLANDERS COME TOGETHER OVER EVENTS LIKE THE ROSE FESTIVAL, A TRAILBLAZERS' WIN, OR THE BLOSSOMING OF CHERRY TREES-THIS EXHIBITION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AND CELEBRATE COMMUNITY. MODELS IN MOTION: THE IVAN L. COLLINS COLLECTION OF HISTORIC VEHICLES IN MINIATURE, FEATURED 61 HISTORICALLY ACCURATE MODELS OF HORSE-DRAWN VEHICLES CREATED BY IVAN COLLINS BETWEEN 1940 AND 1971, REPRESENTING TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY BEFORE THE AUTOMOBILE. OREGON'S SLEEPY HOLLOW EXHIBIT DISPLAYED OBJECTS FROM JOHN LEACH AND LILLA LEACH, WHOSE CAREERS ENCOMPASSED BOTANICAL EXPLORATIONS AND DISCOVERIES, CIVIC LEADERSHIP, AND TRANSFORMATION OF THEIR HOME INTO THE PRESENT-DAY LEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN IN PORTLAND.A FOUNTAIN OF CREATIVITY: OREGON'S 20TH CENTURY ARTISTS AND THE LEGACY OF ARLENE SCHNITZER: TWO EXHIBITIONS HIGHLIGHTED ARTWORKS ON LOAN FROM THE JORDAN SCHNITZER FAMILY FOUNDATION. CROSSING BOUNDARIES: PORTRAITS OF A TRANSGENDER WEST, CURATED IN COLLABORATION WITH HISTORIAN PETER BOAG AND THE WASHINGTON STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND CROSSING BOUNDARIES IS TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHARING SELDOM-SPOTLIGHTED HISTORICAL NARRATIVES OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN THE WEST. ON-SITE EXHIBITS ARE SHOWN IN SEVEN GALLERIES. THE SOCIETY ALSO LOANS OBJECTS TO MORE THAN 30 HISTORICAL INSTITUTIONS ON A YEARLY BASIS.THE STORIES COMMUNICATED BY OUR EXHIBITS ARE NOT CONFINED BY OUR MUSEUM WALLS. IN ADDITION TO BECOMING THE INSPIRATION FOR TRAVELING EXHIBITS, OUR MUSEUM EXHIBITS ALSO SERVE AS JUMPING OFF POINTS FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THEY OFTEN ARE PAIRED WITH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING, USED BY THE OHS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CREATE CURRICULA, AND TO LEAD GUESTS TO DIG DEEPER INTO A SUBJECT USING THE OHS RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE, INCLUDING DIGITIZED PRIMARY SOURCES AND DIGITAL HISTORY WEBSITES LIKE THE OREGON ENCYCLOPEDIA.OHS OFFERS TRAVELING EXHIBITS, AN IN-PERSON OUTREACH PROGRAM, TO HOST LOCATIONS MAKING OREGON HISTORY ACCESSIBLE TO AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES AND EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE STATE. IN 2024 ALL TRAVELING EXHIBITS WERE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE, LOANED 26 TIMES TO 18 DIFFERENT PARTNERS (HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES). IN 2025 TWO NEW EXHIBITIONS WILL BE ADDED BRINGING THE NUMBER AVAILABLE TO 15 IN TOTAL.
- $3.2 million spent. RESEARCH SERVICES - THE OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY RESEARCH LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST HISTORICAL LIBRARIES IN THE COUNTRY AND MAINTAINS AN UNPARALLELED COLLECTION RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF OREGON AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. ITS HOLDINGS INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS, GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS, AND SERIALS; MAPS; MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS; ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS AND OTHER SOUND RECORDINGS; AS WELL AS MILLIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHS; MILLIONS OF FEET OF ARCHIVAL FILM FOOTAGE; AND A GROWING COLLECTION OF DIGITIZED AND BORN-DIGITAL IMAGES, DOCUMENTS, SOUND, AND VIDEO.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THESE COLLECTIONS BROADEN AND ENRICH THE UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETATION OF THE CULTURAL, POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC, AND TECHNOLOGICAL LIFE IN OREGON. OHS'S RESEARCH LIBRARY REOPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2021 FOLLOWING NEARLY TWO YEARS OF RENOVATION. THE NEW LIBRARY SPACE FEATURES A MODERNIZED READING ROOM, WITH ENHANCEMENTS FOR RESEARCHERS INCLUDING A RECONFIGURED REFERENCE DESK, A NEW MAP AND ARCHITECTURE VIEWING STATION, TECH HUB, AND PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL USERS. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE NEW SPACE IS THE PIETRO BELLUSCHI ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A FOCAL POINT TO HIGHLIGHT THE LIBRARY'S ARCHITECTURAL COLLECTIONS AND A WELL-EQUIPPED MEETING SPACE FOR INSTRUCTION.THE RESEARCH LIBRARY ONLINE CATALOGUE IS THE PRIMARY POINT OF DISCOVERY FOR RESEARCHERS SEEKING TO USE ITS HOLDINGS. ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS ARE ALSO DESCRIBED IN MORE DETAIL IN ARCHIVESWEST, AN ONLINE CONSORTIAL RESOURCE FOR ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND MOUNTAIN STATES. THE LIBRARY'S DIGITAL ARCHIVE, OHS DIGITAL COLLECTIONS, PROVIDES DIRECT ONLINE ACCESS WORLDWIDE. A ROBUST SUITE OF DIGITAL HISTORY WEBSITES, INCLUDING THE OREGON HISTORY PROJECT, THE OREGON ENCYCLOPEDIA, AND THE OREGON HISTORY WAYFINDER, PROVIDE PRIMARY SOURCES AND AUTHORITATIVE CONTENT THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, WITH BROAD APPEAL TO A GENERAL AUDIENCE. COMBINED, WEBSITE VISITS NOW TOP OVER 1,000,000 ANNUALLY. THE RESEARCH LIBRARY PROVIDES RESEARCH SUPPORT TO ALL SOCIETY PROGRAMS AND DEPARTMENTS AND COLLABORATES WIDELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM AROUND THE STATE. THE SOCIETY ALSO PUBLISHES THE OREGON HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, WHICH HAS BEEN A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP SINCE 1900. THE QUARTERLY IS A PEER-REVIEWED, PUBLIC HISTORY JOURNAL THAT BRINGS DOCUMENTED HISTORY ABOUT OREGON AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO BOTH SCHOLARS AND THE GENERAL AUDIENCE. THE QUARTERLY IS SUPPORTED BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF SCHOLARS, PUBLIC HISTORIANS, AND EDUCATORS FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
- $1.8 million spent. EDUCATION - THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT AT OHS PROVIDES SCHOOL-GROUP TOURS OF EXHIBITIONS, TRAVELING TRUNKS, CURRICULUM, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, WITH A FOCUS ON GRADES K-12. OHS OFFERS 6 TRAVELING TRUNKS ON URBAN, RURAL, AND MULTICULTURAL TOPICS, EACH FILLED WITH OBJECTS AND IMAGES FOR HANDS-ON AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, TRAVELING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OREGON TO GRADES K-12 CLASSROOMS. OHS CREATES CURRICULUM AND OTHER CLASSROOM-READY RESOURCES THAT HELP EDUCATORS MEET OREGON'S SCIENCES STANDARDS INTEGRATED WITH ETHNIC STUDIES AND PROVIDES IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL TRAINING TO EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALSO MANAGES THE OREGON HISTORY DAY PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PART OF THE RENOWNED, AWARD-WINNING NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PROGRAM. IN 2024, MORE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE HISTORY DAY PROGRAM THAN EVER BEFORE. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ENTERED THE ANNUAL COMPETITION TRIPLED OVER 2023, WITH 292 STUDENTS FROM 12 SCHOOLS COMPETING. OF THE 153 GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS OUR VOLUNTEER JUDGES CONSIDERED AND EVALUATED, 31 QUALIFIED TO ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CONTEST, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C., FROM JUNE 9-13. FOR THE STUDENTS WHOSE PROJECTS ADVANCED TO THE NATIONAL CONTEST, OHS SCHOLARSHIPS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR 28 STUDENTS FROM THE PORTLAND METRO AREA AND 12 STUDENTS FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES TO COMPETE.OHS SERVED 4,260 K-12 STUDENTS AND 86 COLLEGE STUDENTS ON EXHIBITION TOURS IN 2024. OHS PROVIDES A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO EDUCATORS INFORMING THEM OF WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES THAT WILL ASSIST THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1951.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
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