Portland State Magazine Spring 2008

Small white and red flags blanket the Park Blocks for an Iraq Body Count Exhibit that came to campus in March. The display is mesmerizing in its beauty and sober message: Each flag represents five Iraq War casualties-at least 655,000 Iraqi deaths and 3,972 American casualties. The Lewis and Clark Exposition held in Portland in 1905 is one of the many events to be included in the new online Oregon Encyclopedia. (Photo 25137 courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society) ◄ An encyclopedia for us all PORTLAND STATE IS partnering with Oregon Historical Society to create an online encyclopedia of"everything or anyone in Oregon." Under the guidance of history Prof. Bill Lang, a Web site was launched-now it's up to all Oregonians to flesh out the information. At www.oregonencyclopedia.org, people can suggest entries or write actual submis– sions. There are guidelines asking that entries be significant to Oregon, and nothing will go live until experts review content and check it for accuracy. 1he Oregon Encyclopedia already has information on Japanese internment, KBOO radio, and the Lewis and Clark Exposition, to name a few entries. The volunteer organizers of the new resource are also actively seeking information. They plan to visit about 30 communities in Oregon during the next year. Lang hopes this community outreach will make people "aware of what's important about their places and encourage them to put their own energies into some of the . " entnes. 1he Oregon Encyclopedia should be ready for the state's sesquicentennial next year, but Lang and the other editors, Rick Hardt and Linda Tamura, want the project to live on, with continuous updates and revisions. SPRING 2008 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 3