Project Research
4/8/2015 – Thinking Like a Historian
Last night, over dinner with my aunt and uncle, who were visiting from Massachusetts, we got into a discussion about the historical research we do at SHRA, its links to current environmental issues, and methodology, something that sounds boring and mundane, but something that had us sitting around the dinner table far into the evening…. Read the Rest »
11/22/13 – Favorite Reading Rooms: Archives II
Reading rooms are a funny thing. Some are quaint and a breeze to navigate. Others are a maze both in how records are organized and where you can find a seat. At a recent staff meeting, our researchers began talking about their favorite archives and reading rooms. We’ve researched in a range of places, including… Read the Rest »
6/7/13 – Talking History
At SHRA, we specialize in putting history to work. For us, this most frequently means combing archives and weaving narratives from a variety of written or photographic records. However, SHRA is also proud to be a part of the growing trend of oral history projects that are occurring across the country. Currently, the oral history… Read the Rest »
4/26/12: Electronic Records in the National Archives
My associate and I just returned from a week in the Washington, D.C. area doing research in the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The sheer volume of material that was relevant to the subject of our research was astounding. Back in the… Read the Rest »
8/11/2011 Local Water Organizations Hosting October 18 Conference on Boise River
Boise-area residents value and love the Boise River for its proximity to downtown, the recreational opportunities it offers, and the water it provides for local farmers. But the Boise River is not the same river it once was. The meandering series of shallow channels that criss-crossed the valley floor in the late 19th century has… Read the Rest »
7/26/2011 The Evolving Historical Profession
The NY Times printed an article today (7/26/2011) about how Geographic Information Systems have helped historians “see” the past in more unique and arguably more accurate ways. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/arts/geographic-information-systems-help-scholars-see-history.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&hp Although the article does not specifically discuss SHRA’s specialty – environmental history — the use of Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, represents a major leap forward in… Read the Rest »
12/10/2010 SHRA in The Advocate
SHRA client Moffatt Thomas recently used the information in a report prepared by our firm for an article in the Idaho Bar Association’s newsletter. Attorney Scott Campbell cited the SHRA report in his article, “Irrigation Water Drainage Development in the Treasure Valley.” History of Irrigation and Drainage in the Treasure Valley The report, entitled, A… Read the Rest »
11/12/2010 County Records and Haunted Hotels
I had occasion to be in Baker City, Oregon last week on a research trip. The city itself has made a concerted effort to preserve its historic architecture, and the small downtown is charming. City Hall is a beautiful turn-of-the-century (20th) quintessential stone hall with a clock tower, and there are many National Register plaques… Read the Rest »
9/3/2010: The Mining Law of 1866
SHRA has spent quite a lot of time in recent months doing work related to the 1866 Mining or Right of Way Act. Among many other things, the law provides perpetual ROWs for uses that existed on public land at the time the land was withdrawn from the public domain. There is a provision of… Read the Rest »
7/26/2010 SHRA working to complete Boise’s new Historic Preservation Plan
SHRA is putting the finishing touches on Boise’s new Historic Preservation Plan. The plan has not been updated since it was first written in 1979. Much has happened since that time, and society values historic properties differently now than it did then. Many things had to be addressed in this plan, including how to merge… Read the Rest »
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