The Benton County Historical Society plans to host the latest in its Discovery Day series from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at Philomath Museum with a program that focuses on Black pioneer Letitia Carson.
As part of the free Feb. 1 family event, participants can try their hand at making butter from cow’s milk. The scientific process of emulsion and how liquid turns into solid will be illustrated. Participants will be invited to taste their projects at the end.
Carson, who had been enslaved, came to Oregon in 1845 and was one of the first Black woman settlers in Benton County. She and her husband, David Carson, settled on land in an area near Soap Creek.
Because of Oregon’s exclusion laws and the whites-only provision of the 1850 Oregon Donation Land Claim Act, Carson was forced off her land. She filed two lawsuits and despite the Oregon Territory’s exclusionary laws, Carson won both cases.
Registration for the free family event is not required but organizers said they appreciate courtesy RSVPs for those planning to attend. Visit the event page on the museum’s website to find a registration link.
For individuals unable to attend this event, but interested in learning more about Letitia Carson and her history in Oregon, my 75-minute presentation on her life in Roseburg Last November was videotaped and indexed for online student access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwEsi8YPAY0