The Forum has a small volunteer staff who search Forum resources for up to one hour for people who live outside the Portland area. The fee is $ 10.00 per half hour, ($ 10.00 minimum fee) plus $.25 for each copy made for you.
One inquiry per letter should be made. For instance: search for the death date of my ancestor; or copy the census index listings of my ancestor; or search the Multnomah County Marriage Index for my ancestor. If you want extensive research, you will have to contact a private researcher.
Records available for research include the following:
- Oregon Federal Census Records - 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920.
- Portland City Directories, 1887 to 1985.
- Oregon Death Index, 1903 to 1991. Series of 12 microfilms and three inches of microfiche. Please try to give an approximate date of death.
- Early Settlers File. Family group sheets submitted by members of early Oregon pioneer families. "Early" is considered to be before 1900.
- Oregon and Washington Donation Land Claim Abstracts. Land given to settlers who were in the Oregon Territory before December 1855.
- Oregon Biography Index. Index to Oregon historical books.
The Forum does have a few obituary files. Otherwise, the Oregon Death Index may provide the death date and county of death. A private researcher can then be hired to obtain an obituary from newspapers on microfilm at either the Multnomah County Library or the Oregon Historical Society Library.
The Forum is unable to accept e-mail, phone, or fax research requests at this time.
Please mail your research request to:
Attn: Research Committee