Rare Opal Whiteley Book Sale Raises Funds, Expands Local Scholarships

On December 18, 2025 Singing Creek Educational Center sold a 1918 copy of The Fairyland Around Us by Opal Whiteley for $950 on eBay, using the proceeds to fund scholarships for low income children to attend the center’s history homeschool program. The book is rare, with only about 100 copies produced, and the copy came to Singing Creek through a donation of two volumes from historian and Whiteley expert Steve Williamson.

Williamson provided the donated books as part of an effort to support the center’s programming. He said Whiteley hand wrote notes in many copies, a detail that contributes to the volumes’ scarcity and collector interest. Singing Creek chose to monetize one of the donated copies to seed scholarships intended to reduce financial barriers for families who want to participate in the program.

Singing Creek recently relocated its operations to Dorris Ranch in Springfield, positioning the nonprofit on a site with historical ties and space for the immersive experiences it emphasizes. The center structures programs around Indigenous cultures and pioneer history, and leaders cite immersive learning as key to conveying regional history to children outside traditional classrooms. Karen Rainsong, Singing Creek’s executive director, said, "the scholarships will help ensure the program is affordable to families who want to participate."

The sale and scholarship allocation underscore two intersecting issues for Lane County residents. First, community based cultural education often depends on private donations and one time fundraising events to maintain affordability and reach. Second, the transaction highlights a policy choice about how public and nonprofit sectors share responsibility for local history education and access. When organizations rely on donated artifacts and online sales to fund scholarships, questions arise about the stability of programming and whether municipal grantmaking and school district partnerships are sufficient to meet community needs.

For families and civic leaders the episode is a reminder that preserving local heritage and expanding access are linked to funding decisions. The sale of a single rare book will expand immediate access for some children, while local institutions, elected officials, and voters face ongoing choices about how to resource place based education and ensure it is available to all residents.