Oregon Black Pioneers and the Oregon Historical Society Presents All Aboard: Railroading and Portland’s Black Community. The exhibit opening is:
January 15, 2013 thru April 21, 2013.
Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
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Working together with the Oregon Historical Society and a community advisory committee, the Oregon Black Pioneers presents a new interactive exhibit that will focus on the work and lives of the African American community that grew up around Union Station from 1800s to 1940s. Visitors will learn about the various jobs that were available to blacks working for the railroad, and experience the sight and sounds of community life during this era. Life-size mannequins will display the period clothing and the various uniforms worn by black workers. Learn more about the establishment of black-owned businesses, churches and other social institutions within the context of Oregon’s racial history. The exhibit content will feature a video entitled “Black Families and the Railroad” produced by Portland’s own Michael “Chappie” Grice that highlights the lives of Portland’s railroad workers. In addition, visitors will have a rare opportunity to sit at a newspaper binder and read remnants of historical black newspapers (New Age, Advocate and Portland Times) that were established as early as 1896. Come take a picture with a Pullman Porter or in front of platform backdrop of the Union Pacific’s Portland Rose, once herald as “A Triumph in Train Comfort.”
A community advisory aommittee consisting of former railroad men, the children of former railroad men and local historians has enhanced the exhibit planning through their expertise and personal knowledge of railroad history, as well as generous use of their historical artifacts and family collections. Under the leadership of Gwen Carr, Exhibit Project Director for Oregon Black Pioneers, the committee members are the Honorable Robert Boyer, Michael “Chappie” Grice, Honorable Avel Gordly, Honorable Charlotte Rutherford, William Rutherford, Dr. Darrell Millner and Jacqueline-Peterson-Loomis. Funding for All Aboard was provided by National Railway Historical Society, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Humanities, and Trust Management Services, LLC.
For more information about All Aboard please contact Gwen Carr, Exhibit Project Manager and/or Kimberly Moreland, Marketing and Communication Coordinator at
blackpioneers@qwestoffice.net
