What are the benefits for members?
How can I access your services?
Will you come to our group/region to provide assistance?
Do you provide look up assistance for genealogy?
Is the OHCA a governmental organization?
What is the difference between the OHCA and the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries?
How do I start taking care of cemeteries?
What help does the OHCA need?
How do I contact you?

What are the benefits for members?
Members receive many benefits, the foremost being a secured subscription to the OHCA Ledger, a tri-annual publication filled with regional and national news, preservation tips, events, and more. Members receive voting privileges on organizational issues and Board members. Members often attend our tri-annual meetings and our special events located throughout the state. Also, members get full access to the OHCA library. Click here for more information on how to become a member of the OHCA.

How can I access your services?
Access to services begins by sending written correspondence to our email address, ohca@oregoncemeteries.org or to OHCA, PO Box 14895, Portland, OR 97293. Because we are an all-volunteer organization, phone calls are impractical.

Will you come to our group/region to provide assistance?
Yes! We are happy to provide direct in-person assistance with your cemetery, group, or class. Keep in mind that we are an all-volunteer organization, and we have no funds for travel or lodging. So we may need assistance with those needs.

Do you provide look up assistance for genealogy?
Requests for genealogical research have come in to us from around the globe. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to every request for genealogical information. We understand the great need for this type of research and the ease at which it can be conducted online. Our focus is to help preserve cemeteries and provide education about cemeteries. Sometimes, this work crosses with genealogy and we highly respect that connection.

Is the OHCA a governmental organization?
No. The Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association is a non-profit, tax exempt, membership organization. We partner with state agencies, as well as other non-profit and for profit organization, but we are not a state organization.

What is the difference between the OHCA and the Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries?
The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (formerly the Oregon Pioneer Cemetery Commission) was established by the legislature in 1999. A pioneer cemetery is defined as any burial place that contains the remains of one or more persons who died before February 14, 1909, the 50th anniversary of Oregon Statehood. The OCHC is a part of the Heritage Conservation Division of the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department.

Oregon is the only we state we are aware of that has both a statewide non-profit organization (OHCA) and a state government organization (OCHC) with a focus on preservation of historic cemeteries. Both groups work together to achieve a common goal.

How do I start taking care of cemeteries?
We strongly recommend letting us know that you want to start as we may know of others in your area that want to help as well. We operate as a network for our members and the community at large to help provide services.

We also suggest checking our list of publications, specifically under instructional handouts. If you like what you see, great! If you need more help, let us know! If you think it’s too much for you, that’s OK too – but still let us know so that we might contact you if we learn of opportunities/issues in your particular area.

What help does the OHCA need?
We can always use lots of help! Please look at our volunteer page for open positions. We are NOT a Portland area only organization, despite our address. Our mission is to address the entire state so you can help from Jacksonville, Vale, Vida, or Vernonia.

How do I contact you?
Send postal mail to: OHCA, PO Box 14279, Portland, Oregon 97293. Send email to: ohca@oregoncemeteries.org. We are not able to staff a phone at this time.