Well-known Pacific Northwest historian Lorraine McConaghy will present a program based on her new book, “New Land, North of the Columbia.” The research project for “New Land” involved more than a year of travel throughout Washington, drawing from archival material ranging from maps, correspondence and public records to patent drawings, menus and paper dolls. This presentation is highly visual and deeply engaging.

The book “New Land, North of the Columbia” features nearly 400 documents, including a telegram to Washington territory’s governor signed by Abraham Lincoln, the rough draft of Theodore Roethke’s “The Rose,” and a NASA map of Washington, shot by Landsat satellites. Copies of “New Land” will be available for signing and sale at each program.

Richly illustrated by a colorful PowerPoint presentation, this program explores the rich shared heritage of public archives in Washington state, documenting who we were, who we are, and who we might become. This program concludes with suggestions on caring for personal archives, including a list of printed and web-based resources.

This program is jointly sponsored by the Lopez, San Juan and Orcas Historical Museums, and Humanities WA. McConaghy will present her program Friday, Aug. 24 on Orcas at 7 p.m. at (venue TBD), Saturday, Aug. 25 on Lopez at 7 p.m. at Port Stanley Schoolhouse and Sunday, Aug. 26 on San Juan at 4 p.m. at the San Juan Historical Museum. Admission is free and open to the public.