Uncovering the past

Historic Research Services

Searching to uncover the history of your home? Looking for the story of a past resident of Clark County? Want to know the tale of a local event? Through our paid research service, we help answer your burning historical questions. We address research regarding a variety of historical topics. Additionally, we have a robust understanding of resources and archives available both in physical archives and digitally within and beyond Clark County.

Through our work, we can find, distill, and present historical documentation for individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout Clark County. As one of the preeminent archives and research facilities in Southwest Washington there are few questions we can’t answer.

Glass display case holding images of individuals & local newspaper pages on white background, Clark County Historical Museum

RESEARCH REQUEST FORM

Clark County Historical Museum Research Request Form

WE ARE CURRENTLY PROCESSING A LARGE NUMBER OF REQUESTS AND HAVE PAUSED NEW REQUEST FOR THE TIME BEING.
Thank you for your interest in the Clark County Historical Museum’s collections and resources. Please fill out this form with as much detail as possible so we can assist you effectively. Our staff will contact you regarding your request, fees (if applicable), and research timeline.

Full Name (required)

Organization or Affiliation (if applicable)

Email Address (required)

Phone Number

Mailing Address

What type of research are you conducting? (required)

Please describe your research topic or question in detail. (required)

What specific information, documents, photographs, or artifacts are you hoping to access?

Do you know any specific dates, names, locations, or collection items that will help us locate materials for you?

Have you previously conducted research at the museum or used our collections?

YesNo

How do you plan to use the information you find? (required)

If for publication or presentation, please describe where and how it will be used.

Please note: Research requests are handled in the order received. A courtesy hour of free research is provided for each request. Fees may apply for additional staff-conducted research, reproductions, or usage rights. We will inform you of any estimated costs before proceeding with your request.

Please note: Research requests can take a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks to complete and, depending on complexity and staff availability, may take several months.

If you are interested in additional fee-based research or in obtaining reproductions of materials, please contact us at research@cchmuseum.org.

Would you like museum staff to conduct research on your behalf if you cannot visit in person?

YesNo

If yes, what is your maximum budget for staff research time and materials?

Is there anything else you would like us to know about your request?

EXHIBIT AND INTERPRETIVE DESIGN

LOOKING TO TELL YOUR OWN CLARK COUNTY STORY?

From the narrative on your website to a multi-display exhibit, with over 50 years in interpretative exhibit experience, the Clark County Historical Museum can help bring your story to life. We provide complete services in exhibit development and historical interpretation. From planning, budgeting, research, historical analysis and interpretation, and writing we’ll take the lead or assist you through the process of telling your own compelling and unique history. Contact us to discuss your story and get a quote.

HISTORIC BUILDING PLAQUE PROGRAM

Sharing the story of important historical landmarks.

The CCHM Historic Buildings Plaque Program is designed to provide interpretive plaques for buildings, structures, and/or locations, which are selected by the CCHM and recognized on local, state, and/or national registers of historic places. Funds for this program are provided by the Courtney Irvin Trust and require a match.

The mission of the Historic Building Plaque Program is the following:

Engagement: Create a cost-effective and engaging way to educate the public about the rich histories of buildings throughout the Clark County area, which in turn creates a better sense of stewardship, community, and draws tourism.

Development: The program will create an opportunity for CCHM to research, identity, engage, and grow long-term meaningful relationships with owners of historic buildings, structures, and/or locations and community stakeholders connected to those locations. In addition, CCHM will seek out partnering organizations or entities to broaden the reach and resources of the program that will feed into other CCHM efforts.

Outreach: Provide a tangible representation of the CCHM work in the community and create an opportunity to easily expand its outreach and membership.

Recognition: Promote the local efforts for preservation and rehabilitation of registered historic buildings that represent a variety of historical eras, styles, and stories. The program can help educate property owners and potential stakeholders about the local, state, and national historic registers and encourage the listing of a building, structure, and/or location.

HISTORIC REGISTER NOMINATIONS

Saving Clark County’s history one nomination at a time.

Want to ensure the story of your building lives on and it gains the recognition and protection its story deserves? With over 50 years of research and preservation experience let us at the Clark County Historical Museum work to get your property listed on the local, state, or national register.

We will work with you in the process to assess your property’s eligibility, the necessary research, interpretation, and writing for the application, and present to the applicable preservation entities.

While not every property can ensure eligibility of listing we have a sterling and proven track record of success. See the links below to see the site we’ve worked to get listed and read the words of those we worked with.