The purpose of the Guemes Island Historical Society is to collect, catalogue, store display and preserve the oral histories, papers, photographs, artifacts and any other materials that document the history of the Island.

To date the Society has developed a data base and has catalogued numerous articles and photographs, clippings, maps, posters of both early history and current events that will, in time, be part of that history. It is documenting Island sites, and artifacts for reference when storage space is available.

Current and Future Projects

In addition to continuing the above work, we are seeking ways to display our growing collection in Island venues, and will soon be creating a letterhead and promotional flyer. A full size figure of founding spirit Charlie Gant is planned in cooperation with the Store. Our cataloguing will soon include the “Bubble” and “Gertie Howard” Collections, and we are looking for Island phone books, posters, Tee shirts, and lists of Island school graduates.

A “mapping project” has just started based on interviews, and the tapes of Henry Hammill and Bud Strom. We’d like to develop a large-scale “ old map” of home sites, locations of interest, key buildings, and events, perhaps eventually with small historical signage and a guide to Island historical places. Eventually we would like to write monographs and maybe a new book on Island history. An historical skit or Revue nd a book of Island stories are not out of the question. We are hopeful of some day having a historical museum, either a separate building or as part of an expanded Community Center.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed on the Board where you would attend monthly meetings, vote on business, and serve on an existing committee. Volunteers are also welcomed for specific tasks and programs of the Society. Opportunities and contact members are below.

Oral histories: interviewing Island elders on tape (Paul Bushue)

Transcribing taped items into manuscript: a solo job for a patient person

Events: helping design, plan and promote GIHS - related Island activities (Janice Veal)

Acquisitions:promote donations and meet with donors to recieve new materials (J. Gent)

Cataloguing: Experienced person to help librarian catalog larger collections (Nan Cardon)

Displays: Work on venues, display strategies and preparing displays (Janice Veal)

Incorporation: Person with experience in by-laws and non-profit incorporation (Al Bush)

Graphic Design: Preparing letterhead, promotional flyer, other logo uses. (Win Anderson)

Fundraising and Grant-writing: Persons with experience in either.

Research: Helping locate Guemes information in past media, etc. (Nanette Cardon)

Scrounging: For old phone books, Island Tee Shirts, graduate lists, etc. (Nancy Bush)

Mapping: Map locating information from tapes, interviews. (Al Bush, Bob Anderson)

Creative Writing: Historical monographs, articles, stories for publication. (Betty Crookes)

Drama: Research and produce a Revue of Island history.

Please consider ways you can foster the purpose of the GIHS. Consider donating historical items as originals or copies. And Charitable donations are always welcome.

Current Members of GIHS

The membership list and contact information is being revised and will be available soon.