​The Western History Room provides public access to local and regional historical resources.
Special collections feature over 2,500 publications, many of which were donated by local authors, historians, and rare-book collectors.
Genealogical resources include birth-death-marriage indexes, cemetery records, local oral histories, family histories, photographs and more.
A newspaper and microfilm archive contains 78 reels of microfilm. Historic brand record book of Harney County.

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LOCAL HISTORY 
 
The Western History Room features numerous publications detailing the history and settlement of Harney County. 

Topics of special significance include:

• Ranch History -- including P Ranch, Double-O-Ranch
• Edward Hines Lumber Company
• Camp Harney (also known as Fort Harney)
  
• Paiute Tribal History
  
• Basque Heritage and Culture
  
• Sagebrush Symphony Orchestra and Mary V. Dodge
  
• Harney County Fair, Rodeo and Race Meet
• Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and John Scharff
• Steens Mountain
• Schools, Post Offices and Settlements
• Wild Horses
• Historic Houses and Buildings 

 

Many of the publications archived in the Western History Room are cataloged in the SAGE online library catalog.

Search Library Catalog

The Chester and Helen Felt Oral History Recording Room

 ORAL HISTORIES 
           
An oral history project originated in the 1970s and continues to add new interviews with Harney County residents.
Over 500 oral histories focusing on Harney County settlement and pioneers are available as printed transcripts, PDF files, and digital audio files created from the original cassette tapes. Select oral history interviews are also available on VHS and DVD. 
  
A generous donation from the Helen and Chester Felt family partially funded the creation of an oral history recording room equipped with the latest digital technology for capturing the voice of the storyteller for permanent archival storage. 

Public use of the oral history recording room is encouraged. Contact staff for more information or to schedule an appointment.   

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Do you have a family reunion planned?  Consider adding a visit to the Western History Room to your family activities. 
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Record memories of family in our oral history recording room
Research local family and events
Display family photos and memorabilia
Scan and copy documents and photos to share    

 Images of America: Harney County

​The latest book about Harney County, compiled by staff of the Claire McGill Luce Western History Room, features photos from the combined collections of the Claire McGill Luce Western History Room and the Harney County Historical Museum along with photos from the private collections of families throughout the county.  This book can be purchased at the Harney County Library and other local retailers.

To view more titles in this series, visit Arcadia Publishing.

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