We are very pleased to announce the Asotin County Library and the Asotin County Museum have become the latest contributing institutions to the Washington Rural Hertiage initiative!

With nearly 200 items to date, the Asotin County Heritage collection presents images, maps, records, and artifacts from Clarkston, Asotin, Anatone, Washington, and the surrounding area including Lewiston, Idaho. The collection was made possible by a Washington Rural Heritage grant from the Washington State Library, funded by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) through the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

According to Jennifer Ashby, Director of the Asotin County Library, “The Rural Heritage project has enabled us to bring together items from private collections as well as the museum and library and to make them available to anyone, anywhere. In addition, it provides a way to preserve these materials for future generations. We will continue to add to the collection as materials become available to us.”

Some collection highlights include:

• Nez Perce tools and beadwork
• Agricultural implements and artifacts
• A collection of regional cattle brands
• Early buildings in Clarkston
• Aerial photographs of Clarkston, Asotin, and the Port of Wilma
• Several local histories on the area
• Historic postcards
• Items regarding the impact of the Lower Granite Dam

Marjean Riggers, Allisha Parot, and Jennifer Ashby, all of Asotin County Library completed their initial digitization efforts with the assistance of a 2010 Washington Rural Heritage grant from the Washington State Library. Through an additional grant, they will begin digitizing another photograph collection this year loaned to the Library by a local resident which documents the history of the Silcott area and the Wilson Banner Ranch.

The Asotin County Library and the Asotin County Museum join more than 65 cultural institutions throughout the state that have digitized material with assistance from the Washington Rural Heritage initiative. These collections include historic photos, texts, objects & artifacts, and audiovisual materials that were, in some cases, previously inaccessible.  To date, Washington Rural Heritage has published 22 collections including more than 10,000 unique items which document local history from every corner of the state.

If you have comments or additional information about any of the items in the Asotin County Heritage Collection, or would like to contribute your own material for digitization, please contact the Asotin County Public Library or Asotin County Museum.

Tags: digitization, Washington Rural Heritage

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