The Oregon State Archives is open for research by appointment.

Before the division was established, Oregon's record keeping had been delegated to various agencies resulting in disorganization and loss.

Following a fire at the capitol building in 1935 and in the face of possible air raids during World War II, the need for a state-level archivist became clear.

[2] In 1991 the two-story Oregon State Archives Building was opened, providing two vaults, climate-controlled storage, and 50,000 sq.

[2] Cecil L. Edwards (1906–1995),[3] who served as chief clerk of the House in 1963 and as state legislative historian from 1975 to 1993, died on December 22, 1995, after which the building was renamed in his honor.