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Letitia Carson Legacy Project envisions creating, on Letitia Carson’s land, a 21st-century version of her Soap Creek homestead to inspire, educate, and nurture Oregon’s future generations of Black and Indigenous growers, gatherers, foragers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Additionally, they imagine experiential learning and applied research opportunities for OSU students and faculty. This site is unique: nowhere else in the country can the public visit and participate in programs on land once owned by a Black pioneer.

2022

In 2022, the LCLP celebrated Juneteenth on the site of the former Carson homestead, Soap Creek Valley, Benton County, OR. Many community members, team members, researchers, historians, and even a descendant of Letitia gathered to celebrate the occasion as well as our access to that land.

  • LCLP partners (from left): Arthur, Sekou, and Shantae Johnson, Black Oregon Land Trust; Lauren Gwin, Oregon State University; Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers; Larry Landis, Oregon State University. The photo was taken June 18th, 2022 at the LCLP Open House and Juneteenth Celebration.

  • A photograph of attendees walking in the Oregon State University Beef Cattle Ranch to the LCLP Open House and Juneteenth Celebration at the site of former Carson homestead, Soap Creek Valley, Benton County, OR on June 18th, 2022.

  • A photograph of the surrounding landscape at the LCLP Open House and Juneteenth Celebration on June 18th, 2022. The event was held on the site of the former Carson homestead, Soap Creek Valley, Benton County, OR.

  • A photograph of Executive Director Zachary Stocks of the Oregon Black Pioneers delivering a speech at the LCLP Open House and Juneteenth Celebration on June 18th, 2022.

  • A photograph of speaker Jason J. Dorsette, President of the Linn Benton NAACP at the LCLP Open House and Juneteenth Celebration June 18th, 2022.

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2023

In 2023, the LCLP continued using the site of the former Carson homestead to foster education and community through Juneteenth celebrations, partner meetings, community events, and school visits. On June 19, 2023, community members, LCLP team members, and historians gathered on the land to celebrate Juneteenth. 

October brought several gatherings and visits to the Carson land. On October 4, 2023, the LCLP partners met on the land and gathered where it is believed that Letitia and David’s home once stood. On October 5, 2023, Kelly Bosworth and other OSU faculty organized a Grandma's Hands Community Meal at the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center for students and other interested parties. Grandma's Hands is a collaborative community initiative that pairs Black grandmothers with their traditional family recipes and locally grown food from Black farmers. It is a program led by the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition out of Portland, Oregon. The day before the event, the Grandmas were invited to visit the site of Letitia Carson's former Benton County land and homestead. 

On October 18, 2023, young students from Letitia Carson Elementary School visited the land. During this field trip, they learned from OSU Director of the Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems (SFCFS) Lauren Gwin, OSU Archivist Larry Landis, and OSU Beef Ranch employees. Three different learning stations were set up across the main field, allowing students to create artwork, ask questions, and learn about the land while experiencing it firsthand.

Juneteenth 2023

  • This is a photograph taken on Juneteenth 2023 at the site of former Carson homestead, Soap Creek Valley, Benton County, OR. A group of people gather in the field where the Carson homestead once stood.

  • This photograph was taken on Juneteenth, 2023, at the Benton County History Museum. Oregon Black Pioneers Public Programs and Exhibitions Manager Mariah Rocker presents to a crowd at the Benton County Museum.

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Grandma's Hands 2023

  • Grandma's Hands is a collaborative community initiative that pairs together Black grandmothers, their traditional family recipes, and food locally grown by Black farmers. It is a program lead by the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition out of Portland, Oregon. In October, Kelly Bosworth and other OSU faculty organized a Grandma's Hands Community Meal at the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center for students and other interested parties. The day before the event, the Grandmas were invited to visit the site of Letitia Carson's former Benton County land and homestead. This photograph, taken October 5, 2023, captures the grandmas and LCLP partners under a canopy, sharing stories.

  • Grandma's Hands is a collaborative community initiative that pairs together Black grandmothers, their traditional family recipes, and food locally grown by Black farmers. It is a program lead by the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition out of Portland, Oregon. In October, Kelly Bosworth and other OSU faculty organized a Grandma's Hands Community Meal at the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center for students and other interested parties. The day before the event, the Grandmas were invited to visit the site of Letitia Carson's former Benton County land and homestead. This photograph, taken October 5, 2023, captures the grandmas at the land that Letitia once lived on.

  • Grandma's Hands is a collaborative community initiative that pairs together Black grandmothers, their traditional family recipes, and food locally grown by Black farmers. It is a program lead by the Black Food Sovereignty Coalition out of Portland, Oregon. In October, Kelly Bosworth and other OSU faculty organized a Grandma's Hands Community Meal at the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center for students and other interested parties. The day before the event, the Grandmas were invited to visit the site of Letitia Carson's former Benton County land and homestead. This photograph, taken October 5, 2023, captures the grandmas and LCLP members at the former homestead site.

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Letitia Carson Elementary School Visit 2023

  • On October 18, 2023, students, parents, and teachers from Letitia Carson Elementary School took a field trip to visit the Carson's former homestead site in Benton County. This photo shows two LCLP team members greeting the first bus of Letitia Carson Elementary School visitors.

  • On October 18, 2023, students, parents, and teachers from Letitia Carson Elementary School took a field trip to visit the Carson's former homestead site in Benton County. This photo shows the groups walking across the Davis DLC pasture to the Carson lands.

  • On October 18, 2023, students, parents, and teachers from Letitia Carson Elementary School took a field trip to visit the Carson's former homestead site in Benton County. This photo shows OSU Director of the Center for Small Farms and Community Food Systems (SFCFS) Lauren Gwin and LCES librarian Christy Koegler.

  • On October 18, 2023, students, parents, and teachers from Letitia Carson Elementary School took a field trip to visit the Carson's former homestead site in Benton County. This photo shows an OSU Beef Ranch employee talking to the students about cattle and the beef ranch’s operations on the former Carson land.

  • On October 18, 2023, students, parents, and teachers from Letitia Carson Elementary School took a field trip to visit the Carsons former homestead site in Benton County. This photo shows examples of student artwork made during the visit. Vonda Peters.

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Next Page: Letitia Carson Heritage Project: Archaeological and Botanical Work

Previous Exhibit:  H. Carson and Lavadour Genealogy         Next Exhibit:  J. Zybach and Meranda Historiography

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