Coos County Historical Museum

The Coos Historical Museum will fully evaluate the content and scope of its Victor C. West collection and begin storing, indexing, and digitizing the photographs according to archival standards. The Victor C. West collection of maritime images includes more than 60,000 items chronicling the important history of the maritime lumber shipping industry that dominated the West Coast from the 1850s to the 1970s. As a result of this project, the Museum will be able to respond to research requests efficiently and with minimum disturbance to the images. The important collection will be made available for research, will provide a more complete picture of the timber and maritime industries on the West Coast, and can be used for future exhibitions to educate the public about the important role of maritime activities in the development of coastal communities.