Special Collections and University Archives

Preserving a part of Black history with Oregon Black Pioneers

News, PDXScholar (Campus Repository), Special Collections and University Archives
In 2018, Oregon Black Pioneers, a unique historical society dedicated to preserving and presenting Black history in Oregon, received a collection of historic photographs from the owners of a house in Portland’s Albina neighborhood. Two fragile photo albums, which the homeowners had discovered stored under a stairwell, contained pictures dating primarily from the 1940s-1960s of … Continue reading the article: Preserving a part of Black history with Oregon Black Pioneers →

New Exhibit for Fall 2022

News, Special Collections and University Archives
The Library is excited to announce our newest exhibit for Fall 2022! Entitled “An Urgent Appeal: Coalition Activism in Response to Oregon’s Ballot Measure 9” and curated by PSU Library Special Collections & University Archives staff in partnership with the Gay & Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, “An Urgent Appeal” presents primary materials related … Continue reading the article: New Exhibit for Fall 2022 →

Summer 2022 Exhibit: Medieval Portland Explores the Nuremberg Chronicle

Exhibits, News, Special Collections and University Archives
The Liber chronicarum or Weltchronik of 1493, more commonly known as the Nuremberg Chronicle, is a world history that is one of the most famous early printed books or incunabula. This summer, the PSU Library exhibit presents interpretations of leaves of the Nuremberg Chronicle by students in the Spring 2022 Medieval Portland Capstone taught by … Continue reading the article: Summer 2022 Exhibit: Medieval Portland Explores the Nuremberg Chronicle →

The Copper Beech Tree

Special Collections and University Archives
Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica v. purpurea) Resources and information about Portland State University Library’s historic tree Portland State University Library’s curved façade encircles a towering copper beech tree planted in approximately 1890. The tree was designated as a City of Portland Heritage Tree in 1995 and an Oregon State Heritage Tree in 2022. This site … Continue reading the article: The Copper Beech Tree →

How Portland State Became the “Vikings”

Special Collections and University Archives
Why are Portland State teams called the Vikings? First, we were the Vanport Vikings! Vanport Extension Center, the college that became Portland State University, opened its first classes in summer term 1946. By November of that year, Vanport students were competing in intercollegiate sports, but the teams needed a name and a mascot. The Vanport … Continue reading the article: How Portland State Became the “Vikings” →

Winter 2022 Exhibit: The Art and Social Practice Archive

Exhibits, Special Collections and University Archives
Loose Body: A Survey of Ephemera from the Art and Social Practice Archive   Part of PSU Library Special Collections & University Archives, the Art and Social Practice Archive was founded in 2018 in collaboration with the PSU Art and Social Practice MFA program and is the first public archive dedicated to socially engaged art … Continue reading the article: Winter 2022 Exhibit: The Art and Social Practice Archive →

Portraits of PSU Veterans

PDXScholar (Campus Repository), Special Collections and University Archives
As we honor and remember those who have served in the military this Veteran’s Day, Portland State Magazine presents interviews with six veterans who have also been students, faculty, or administrators at Portland State. Veterans were Portland State’s first students and teachers, and these interviews express the centrality and importance of veterans’ experiences and contributions … Continue reading the article: Portraits of PSU Veterans →

Art + Social Practice Archive

News, PDXScholar (Campus Repository), Special Collections and University Archives
Since 2018 we have been working with archivists, students, community members, artists, researchers and web developers and PDXScholar to establish the Art and Social Practice Archive at the Portland State University Library Special Collections. The digital component of this archive is now launched for public access and access to researchers globally! The Art and Social … Continue reading the article: Art + Social Practice Archive →

Athanasius Kircher and Other Curiosities from Special Collections

Exhibits, Special Collections and University Archives
Welcome to Special Collections’ Spring 2019 exhibit: especially for bibliophiles! “Master of a Hundred Arts” Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) was regarded as a great intellectual during his lifetime. With insatiable curiosity, access to the expansive knowledge networks of the Jesuit order, and the power to disperse his ideas in print, Kircher produced over forty “seat-cushion-sized” tomes … Continue reading the article: Athanasius Kircher and Other Curiosities from Special Collections →
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