History from Below: Connecting Rural Oregon to Its Social Movement History

In this local history spotlight, historian Sarah K. Loose describes the Rural Organizing Project (ROP) travelling workshop, “History from Below: Exploring Rural Oregon's Social Movement History,” a project designed to engage citizens in their local history through primary document analysis. The workshops brought together politically diverse groups of community members in three locations around Oregon to discuss local history that is relevant to the present. Historians and scholars introduced community members to historical social movements, and they guided small groups through archival document review. Through those primary documents, residents found connections to challenges they face today.