Washougal historian Donna Sinclair to open Clark County Historical Museum’s 2024 Speaker Series

Clark County Historical Museum will open its 2024 Speaker Series season with “Black Woman in Green: The Voice of Gloria Brown,” presented by Washougal historian and author Donna Sinclair, PhD, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at the museum, located at 1511 Main St., Vancouver. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m.

Join Sinclair as she discusses her book, “Black Woman in Green: Gloria Brown and the Unmarked Trail to Forest Service Leadership.” Co-written with Gloria Brown, the book details Brown’s journey from an agency transcriptionist with the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C. to the first African American woman to attain the rank of forest supervisor for the agency.

“Gloria’s journey from a young widow and East Coast city girl to western forester and agency leader pulls together unexpected threads of African American, environmental, and Northwest history,” Sinclair said. “Most importantly, it is an inspiring story with lessons about overcoming challenges, self-advocacy, determination, and putting dreams into action. I was honored to write ‘Black Woman in Green’ with Gloria and am excited to share her story with the Clark County community.”

Sinclair, a former member of the Washougal Planning Commission and the Washougal School Board member, is a historian and scholar specializing in oral history and the history of the Pacific Northwest. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington State University, Vancouver (WSU-V) and her master’s degree in history and Ph.D. in urban studies from Portland State University. She teaches as an adjunct for WSU-V and Western Oregon University.

The CCHM Speaker Series is presented by the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission. The Feb. 1 presentation is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Clark County. General admission is $5; seniors and students are $4; children under 18 are $3; and the evening is free for CCHM members, veterans and active-duty military personnel.

For more information, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.

The Clark County Historical Society and Museum is committed to responsible collections stewardship, innovative collaboration and inspiring exhibitions and programs that engage the community in an exploration of Clark County’s past, present and future. Its purpose is to share an understanding of the past that will help to build a better future for generations to come.