Events: ILLUMINATION

The Springfield History Museum is working to overcome the white supremacy inherent in museum institutions including gatekeeping and erasure. We are working to address this harm with projects and special exhibits like ILLUMINATION, that build relationships and trust with members of the community who have been historically marginalized and left out of the historical narrative.

It is our intention that 25-100 years from now and beyond, the History Museum will offer a more inclusive representation of the people of Springfield today -- their stories, contributions, struggles, successes etc.

The land we call Springfield today is home to more than 60,000 people, all of whom have unique personal and ancestral stories that contribute to our collective history, and our rich, multicultural present.

ILLUMINATION invites us to discover more about our neighbors, our forebears, and perhaps a little more about ourselves along the way…

We use interviews, photographs and personal objects to share stories that illuminate the intersectionality of our Springfield identity. This year our talented team includes Michael Klindt, Marcus Holloway, and Irene Rasheed who are working with the community to explore the Black and African American experience in Springfield and rural east Lane County, Oregon.

The culminating works from this project will all become part of the Springfield History Museum archive, available to the public. Selected images and narratives will also become part of the permanent heritage exhibit on display at the museum.