There is an uneasy relationship between the buildings of public social welfare
institutions and historic preservation because of the stigma associated with those persons
housed there and the unpleasant social history they can represent. These and other issues
present preservation challenges unique to public social welfare institutions. Using the Oregon
State Hospital and the Multnomah County Poor Farm as case studies, this thesis explores the
history of these two sites within a national context of the development of state psychiatric
hospitals and county poor farms. Using case study methodology, the recent experiences with
historic preservation policy and practice at the two sites will be used to demonstrate typical
challenges at such stigmatized sites and offer recommendations for preserving them in Oregon.
