Medford, OR (August 27, 2025) – What does it take to transform a beloved historic home into a place that truly reflects the land’s full story? This question is at the heart of the upcoming Windows in Time lecture, presented by Emma Walruff of the Southern Oregon Historical Society. The lecture will be held Wednesday, September 3rd from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at the Medford Library Branch and online via Zoom. A second opportunity to attend will be offered Wednesday, September 10th from 12:00 – 1:00 PM at the Ashland Library Branch (in-person only).
As places of beloved stories and memories, House Museums are often areas where history stands still. This, however, does not reflect the dynamic nature of humans and their passage through time. This lecture explores the process necessary to move Hanley House and the surrounding property into a place that better reflects our knowledge about the land and the people who lived there. This is done with a special focus on the Upper Takelma peoples who made the land their home for time immemorial and their current homes at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
Presenter Emma Walruff is the Registrar of the Southern Oregon Historical Society and a volunteer docent for Hanley House. She is a graduate of Southern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in history with honors as well as a minor in Native American Studies. In the Fall, she will be returning to her studies in pursuit of her master’s in business administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management.
The monthly Windows in Time lunchtime lectures feature well-known writers and historians and bring alive the people, values, and events that shaped our southern Oregon heritage. The series is co-sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS) and Jackson County Library Services. Programs are presented in Medford (first Wednesdays, in-person and online) and again in Ashland (second Wednesdays, in-person). Registration is only required to attend the Zoom version of Medford’s program. Recordings of Medford presentations are available on the JCLS Beyond YouTube channel.