Stephen Dow Beckham is an American historian known for his work with
Native Americans and the
American West
The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...
, especially the
Pacific Northwest and the
Lewis and Clark Expedition. He has authored many works, and is a Professor Emeritus of History at
Lewis & Clark College in
Portland, Oregon.
Beckham earned his bachelor's degree in history and biology at the
University of Oregon in 1964. He earned a master's degree and PhD in history/anthropology at
University of California, Los Angeles in 1966 and 1969, respectively. Since 1977 he has been teaching at Lewis & Clark College. Beckham is also a leading authority on
Indian law. He has been called as an expert witness in many
land-use issues, including
reservations, casinos, and fishing rights. He also is the lead instructor for the Indian Law Summer Program at
Lewis & Clark Law School.
Additionally, Beckham has helped to develop many museums and exhibits both in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Some of his projects include ''The Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition'' touring exhibit, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in
The Dalles, the
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is a interpretive center about the Oregon Trail located northeast of Baker City, Oregon on Oregon Route 86 atop Flagstaff Hill. It is operated by the Bureau of Land Management in partnership ...
in
Baker City, The
High Desert Museum
The High Desert Museum is located near Bend, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1982, it brings regional wildlife, culture, art and natural resources together to promote an understanding of natural and cultural heritage of North America's high ...
in
Bend, and ''
Oregon, My Oregon
"Oregon, My Oregon" is the regional anthem of the U.S. state of Oregon. Written for a song contest in 1920, the 16-line, 2-verse song became the state's official state song in 1927.
The lyrics, widely considered to convey racist sentiments, were u ...
'' at the
Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is an organization that encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of the Oregon Country, within the broader context of U.S. history. Incorporated in 1898, the Society collects, preser ...
.
Selected bibliography
* ''George Gibbs, 1815-1873 : historian and ethnologist'' (1969)
* ''Coos Bay: The Pioneer Period, 1851-1890'' (1973)
* ''Indians of Western Oregon: This Land Was Theirs'' (1977)
* ''Land of the Umpqua: A History of Douglas County, Oregon'' (1986)
* ''Tall Tales from Rogue River: The Yarns of Hathaway Jones'' (1990)
* ''Lewis & Clark College'' (1991)
* ''Many Faces: An Anthology of Oregon Autobiography'' (1993)
* ''Hoffman Construction Company: 75 Years of Building'' (1995)
* ''Requiem for a People: The Rogue Indians and the Frontiersmen'' (1996)
* ''Lewis and Clark in Oregon Country: From the Rockies to the Pacific'' (2002)
* ''Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition'' (2003)
* ''Oregon Indians: Voices from Two Centuries'' (2006)
References
Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Society
External links
Historians of the United States
Writers from Portland, Oregon
University of Oregon alumni
University of California, Los Angeles alumni
Lewis & Clark College faculty
Living people
21st-century American historians
21st-century American male writers
Year of birth missing (living people)
American male non-fiction writers
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