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Crossroads History Program at new time

The Washington County Museum’s long running “Crossroads” Lecture series moves to a Noon-1 pm time slot beginning September 18. The lectures, always on the third Wednesday of each month, generally focus on Washington County and Oregon history. They are free after museum admission. Guests may bring a brown bag lunch to the lectures that will be held in the Museum’s gallery on the second floor of the Hillsboro Civic Center Plaza building, 120 E Main, on the corner of First and Main in downtown Hillsboro.

“Since our move to downtown Hillsboro last November, we have seen an increase in lecture attendance and many, many requests from local business people that they’d love to come, but the former 2 pm time didn’t work very well. We have a great slate of lectures for folks to try this fall!” says Marcia Hale, Director of Guest Services and Public Programs, who coordinates the monthly lecture series.

The September 18 lecture is “The Bracero Program and Trafficking in Undocumented Mexican Workers in Post World War II” with Dr. Ilene O’Malley. O’Malley has a PhD in History with a specialty in Mexican Popular Culture, including film. The presentation complements the Museum’s current exhibit on the Bracero Program, “The Braceros: Americans All,” and the museum’s focus on Hispanic Heritage Month that features a classic Mexican Film Series with four films about the Bracero program told from the Mexican perspective.

The Crossroads lecture will focus on how the relatively well-controlled Bracero (guest worker) program set the stage for the expansion of US Agriculture’s use of Mexican workers and worsening conditions for those workers during the 1950’s and 60’s. After the lecture, the film, “Border Incident,” a 1949 police drama about the smuggling of farm workers into the US, will be shown.

On October 16, noted former Oregonian newspaper columnist John Terry will present a program on the legendary pioneer Mountain Man, Joe Meek. Terry will discuss the reality of the Mountain Man in the early Northwest.

November 20, Gaston author Ken Bilderback presents “Finding History Beneath Our Feet: The Road to the Past Begins Wherever You’re Standing.” He will talk about how tracing the history of a creek with no name near his Gaston home led him to exploring every major trend in Oregon history, one step at a time and two books later.

Wrapping up the fall series on December 18, Aloha resident Janelle Josephson will talk about her new book on the history of the Aloha-Reedville area. The book includes many images found in the archives of the Washington County Museum.

Details about the lectures can be found on the museum website. Members attend the lectures free, general admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, (ages 60 +), military, and students. Admission may be purchased at the door the day of the lecture.

The Washington County Museum is located at 120 E Main in downtown Hillsboro in the Civic Center Plaza building, on the second floor above Starbucks. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 am-5 pm and Sundays Noon to 5 pm. The Museum website is www.washingtoncountymuseum.org; the phone number is 503-645-5353.

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