Heritage Talk – 1863 Salem Scandal: When White Elites Defied Custom to Attend a Black Wedding
Sunday, March 15, 2026 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
| BUSH HOUSE MUSEUM
We are excited to continue our lecture series, Heritage Talks. This series offers a deeper look into the rich history of the Bush House Museum. Brian Waldo Johnson will talk about the 1863 Salem Scandal.
African Americans Richard Bogle and America Waldo were married in Salem on January 1, 1863—the same day the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.
The wedding quickly became notorious across the West Coast due to the unprecedented attendance of prominent members of White society at a Black wedding. This presentation will explore the backgrounds of those in attendance, the circumstances that made the event so extraordinary, and the hostile reaction from much of the press, which viewed the wedding as a bold assertion of equality.
Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
Time: The talk will begin promptly at 1:30pm and will conclude at 2:30pm.
Location: Bush House Museum, Mission Street Southeast, Salem, OR, USA
About the presenter:
About the presenter:
Throughout his professional career Brian Waldo Johnson has focused on the collection and analysis of research data in both the biological and social sciences, most recently as Associate Research Fellow at Western Oregon University. Since retiring in 2018 he has turned his research skills to family genealogy and Oregon history, with a main focus on members of the Daniel Waldo family and their relatives, including America Waldo Bogle. Brian also regularly provides historic research on early Oregonians for his daughter’s archaeological company.
This talk is capped at 25 guests, so please be sure to register to hold your spot!
In order to plan for our talk, please register by Friday, February 27 at 4pm; we will close the registration page after that time and we can not accommodate walk-ups for this talk.
The recommended ticket price is $20. Our ticket fees directly support the work we are doing at Bush House Museum. Please consider adding an additional donation in support.
*At the Salem Art Association, we prioritize inclusivity. To ensure that our arts and culture events remain accessible to all, we have set aside a limited number of free tickets. Please reach out to laura@salemart.org if you would like a promo code to waive the admission fee.
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