The "Oregon Stag" shirt at Greg's on Hawthorne. Photo by Daniel Ronan.

PDXppl is a series of profiles of Portlanders and area residents and what they do.

In any city, flashy marketing tends to take off more than in other localities. Take the "I ♥ NY" shirt or any sports team products as prime examples. Here in Oregon, we've come across one such example of a product as a part of a groundswell love for all things Oregon; the curiously designed "Oregon Stag" shirt with the state's boundaries. After a bit of research, I managed to contact the designer of the shirt and ask him a few questions (as you'll see below). Time will only tell the other products of OR love that will (literally) be in store, but I'm excited to see what the artists and dreamers of Portland and Oregon can come up with!

PDXme: Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Chris Stevens, I'm a graphic designer by trade but I make t-shirts for a living. My company's name is Northwest Shirts and I primarily make and print my own designs which I sell in stores and at fairs and festivals around the Northwest.

PDXme: What brings you to printmaking/ shirt making?

Well as I said I'm a graphic designer by trade which in Portland means that I was bartending and catering, whatever I could do to get by. I bought a bunch of equipment off of a friend a few years ago and taught myself how to print. It was something I always wanted to do and apparently I'm pretty good at it because it's five years later and I haven't slung a drink since.

PDXme: Your shirt design bears remarkable resemblance to the University of Oregon's proposed redesign of the Made in Oregon sign, is this just a coincidence? If so, how did you get the idea to make the "Oregon" shirt?

Well, this is a funny story, I'll tell you how the design came around and what's happened with it since. About 5 years ago or so my landlord came to me and wanted me to make some shirts for his friends that own the Florida Room in North Portland. He wanted me to put "Florida" inside of the Oregon stag sign, which I did but afterwards I thought, "why don't I just put Oregon inside of it and sell them?" I've been selling them for many years now, well before the U of O sign controversy. I even have a federal copyright on the image but after consulting with a copyright lawyer he said I wouldnt stand a chance of fighting the city on it, but I could probably stop other t-shirt people from doing it. I just didn't want anybody to shut me down from making them. I sent one to city commissioner Randy Leonard and I found a picture of him holding it up on the Mercury blog. So I don't think I'm in any danger of infringement or anything.

PDXme: Where can people buy this shirt in the Portland area?

You can get it Greg's on Hawthorne at 3707 SE Hawthorne, or if your outside of the city you can get them on my etsy page at: http://www.nwshirts.etsy.com

PDXme: Anything else you like us to know?

I originally started doing this because I hated working for other people, and pretty much working period. The funny thing is this is the hardest job I've ever had. If you want to make money being a craft vendor, my advice is to be adaptable and ready to roll with the punches. Some days are miserable and some days are awesome you've just got to be there for all of them. I thank everyone who's purchased and enjoyed one of my shirts.

Amtrak ticket stubs for round trip train reservations and bike reservations.

This past weekend I took a trip up to Portland from Eugene with my bike. I really appreciate the fact that I can bring my bike on the train, as it gives me the choice to do whatever I like when I arrive at Union Station. Upon arrival, one can bike to the nearest bus line to get home, go to Powell's for the newest read, or relax at a nearby café. At any rate, the fact that Amtrak permits bikes on board does wonders for a visitor's experience in the Rose City.

As a pretty much monthly visitor to Portland, surprisingly enough, this past weekend marks the first time I have brought a bike on board. Accordingly, I've given some thought to how bikes on Amtrak trains fit the Portland goal of diverse travel options. In short, "choices." If you offer citizens choices in terms of their travel options, the more likely they will make a different choice than insisting on riding alone in their cars. Be it train, light rail, bus or bike, Portlanders get around. Amtrak's inclusion of bicycles on board increases the number of choices people can make upon arriving to town as to where and when they want to go. Accordingly, I've written a brief list of ideas and suggestions in light of my trip that might make arriving "from train with bike" that much more desirable and convenient.

1. Improve ticketing of bicycles upon purchase. The decision to bring my bike from Eugene to Portland came after I had already bought my ticket north. For me to add my bike to my reservation, I had to cancel my previous ticket and be charged an extra $10 dollars on top of the ticket price to bring my bike roundtrip. Days after, I was reimbursed for the initial transaction. The easier we make it easy for “leisure riders” to make reservations for their bikes on the fly, without needing reimbursement of previous Amtrak fares, the more accessible trains will be and the more popular the prospect of riding one’s bike at one’s destination.
2. Standardize bike boarding information, waver forms and tagging. On Saturday morning, I arrived at Eugene Station to wait in line for the appropriate ticketing to bring my bike on board. To bring your bike you need to sign a form acknowledging that Amtrak has no liability for potential damage that may occur on your trip. After signing, I received a carbon copy of the form explaining the terms of agreement along with a tag for my bike. On the return from Portland, I was given a perforated form to perform the same task. The text was easier to read and more intuitive as it looked like it was printed off the same printing system as my tickets. The tag ripped off the form to be hung on my handlebars. Regardless of the differences in waver forms and bike tags, the actual round tickets, four in all (two for the fare and two for the bikes) looked the same. It would great to bring this sort of standardization to the bikes on board. Lastly, at the end of my ride to Portland, I wasn’t required to give proof that my bike belonged to me, whereas after arriving in Eugene I was required to give the other part of the ticket I received before boarding. To sum it up, Amtrak needs to be better with making a more seamless system for transporting bikes, especially when it comes to showing proof that a bike belongs to a certain individual.
3. Increase the capacity for bicycles on board. A quick call to Amtrak revealed that trains the Amtrak Cascade line only have capacity for six bikes, that is, six bike hooks to hang bikes if they are not already taken. I imagine more bikes could be accommodated if brought in boxes, but boxing your bike for less than a two-day stint in Portland doesn’t make sense. If Amtrak and Portland got together to find away to accommodate more bike hooks on trains, this could potential decrease the demand for rental cars, taking more cars of the road and encouraging visitors to see Portland and its neighborhoods on two wheels. To put this point into perspective, if I wanted to come to Portland with a group of friends to participate in the Bridge Pedal this coming weekend, and we all brought our bikes, then everyone else would be sweet out of luck. If we started off in Vancouver B.C., we would essentially take up all available bike parking for passengers boarding in Washington.

So there you have it. It would be great if people could suggest ways to make some of these suggestions happen. I was sure to send in these comments on the cards that were provided on the train, but more people pushing for better access to Amtrak's trains with bikes will surely make for a better case. You can leave your comments online here. And if you are post prone, (word on the street is you can get a ticket for a free drink on Cascade trains if you send them a comment) you can send your comments to:

Washington State
Department of Transportation
Rail Office
P.O. Box 47407
Olympia, WA 98599-7407

With the coming Winter Olympics in Vancouver, not to mention the fact that people just want to bring their bikes on board, it's important that we work to increase bike capacity on Amtrak as well as streamline current policies towards our two-wheeled friends. I also see this as a potential improvement that could come of Washington and Oregon's application for stimulus funds to update the Cascade line's crossings and aging infrastructure. If we're set on making the riding the train a viable transportation option, it's important that we make it viable for all users, those with and sans vélo. The more bikes at Union Station, the more money in the Portland's, and not to mention the Pacific Northwest's economy.

Ottavia of Italy & Quincey of New Jersey. Rendez-vous with a Southern European and current Eugenian: 1

Cup & Saucer Café on SE Hawthorne. Number of Cupcas visited: 1

Biker on SE Hawthorne. Number of "bike walkers" observed: 20+ Number of those 20+ hipsters: huh?! you don't know?

Obama on yo' fixie. Number of Obama images: undefined

SW 9th and Burnside Number of Artsy photos: all of them

A sweet print with the neighborhoods of Portland! Birthday gifts received (four months late): 1 A sweet print with the neighborhoods of Portland! Birthday gifts received four months late: 1

Ottavia (Otti) of Italy and Aida of Spain. Rendez-vous with Southern Europeans: 1

United States Government General Services Administration: 911 Federal Building! Number of semi-neglected yet still timeless government buildings passed on rambling walks through the Pearl: 1

Bike corral at Powell's! Number of bike corrals passed at Powell's with pictured friend Leanne: 1

Peace in Oregon on W Burnside. Spoof on "Made in Oregon" Sign 1/2

"Oregon" on SE Hawthorne. Spoof on "Made in Oregon" Sign 2/2

Union Station at dusk before heading home. Number attempts at this picture: 7

A family shot before heading to Union Station. Number of pictures shot in Jamison Square Park: 5

Things I couldn't get pics of:

My hairdresser, James, at Bishop's salon in the Pearl, soon to be tying the knot.
Haute politico Andrew Plambeck at Marco's in Multnomah Village.
The oh so beautiful Willamette River.

And with that, I hope you have a great start to your week. Lucky are the people who live, work and play in our beautiful City of Roses.

Beating the heat at SW Broadway & Madison, Summer 2007.

Portland in Heat by Amelié Rousseau

Portland in heat:
A blushing rose, propped up in its ornate vase: wilting.

Rectangular fans silhouette the windows and doors in SE Powell, the west hills, Sellwood, and St. John’s.
“Why pay thousands for air conditioning?” they say.
“It’s only hot in Oregon three weeks a year,” they say.

Tonight a tiny frog darted under my garage door.
Why should it want a night in this concrete hole?
I covet the frog's cool swamp to my hot sheets.

Portland in heat:
A boat waiting to sail: yearning.
Sea legs lost until the river breeze cools,
Only then can it fill its sails again. Freedom.

Other PDXpoesy may be viewed on the PDXpoesy page!

The Oregonian rose their daily's price to $1 at the beginning of July. Would you even buy this if Palin wasn't on the cover? Oh, what news!

I read a lot of Portland news. Each day I try to keep up with the latest happenings of the "Rose City" while reading the online weeklies, including the Portland Tribune, Willamette Week and the Portland Mercury. The Oregonian, the state's flagship newspaper, (with the most dreadful-looking website of any major publication I know) has fallen off of my "must read" list as of late. Beyond the more traditional media I, as any college student would, frequent local blogs.

My favorite blogs include Bike Portland and Portland Transport, two blogs dedicated to transportation issues in the Portland Metro Area. I've been an alternative transportation reader since my formative years in high school when I volunteered on the board of the Hillsdale Neighborhood Association. Watching livable communities organize and thrive is something I take much interest in and hope to pursue on the career level someday.

My career aspirations aside, I fear that the traditional media is loosing (if not having already completely lost) its relevance. With my blog reading, I have taken to reading authors that have specialized knowledge in their respective fields that offer professional analysis that Joe the Editor just can't showcase, much less produce. I would argue that when it comes to livability, or any issue for that matter, the media has the duty to inform and inspire those to take action.

Your run-of-the-mill hipster, Congressman Earl Blumenauer.

Yesterday, over at Bike Portland, blog editor Jonathan Maus brought to my attention to an Oregonian opinion piece titled "The bike as a fashion accessory." The "story" consisted of a writer frustrated with the Portland hipster set that does nothing but ride their bikes all day, and when not riding, making sure to be seen with them walking down the sidewalk. Interesting premise, if this were at all news. Yes, we have hipsters, big deal. But is it really only the hipsters that walk their bike down the sidewalk? Is this news anyway? Is this at all informing or inspiring coverage of the goings on in Bridge City? The answer to each of these questions is a resounding "no."

That's why, as mentioned in a previous post, my family ended our subscription to the Oregonian. I ended up only wanting the subscription to read the moderately enjoyable "inPortland" section in Thursday's paper, but came to realize that the majority of the Oregonian's opinions are not worth the forests sacrificed to print them. What had before resulted in month-mounds of Oregonians, resulted in several trips to the recycling cart. And a'bloggin' I go!

You can read more about my thoughts on Portland publications and blogs on the PDXmedia page.

Stumptown Roasters at Ace Hotel

When home in Portland, I go to cafés. And to the local ones I go. My favorites include the previously mentioned Broadway Café and the "Downtown" location of Stumptown Roasters. The World Cup in Powell's is not that bad, nor is the one on NW Glisan and Floyd's Coffee Shop in Old Town is a good place to get some work done.

As far as coffee fixes in Eugene, I spent Friday afternoon at Full City Café pinging for my Portland roast. Some imaginings came to mind. Reminiscing about Portland is a daily occurrence, and this blog makes it all okay. Voilà! A taste of PDXpoesy!

July 24, 2009 - by Daniel Ronan

Sound

The sweetest sounds I have ever heard have been in cafés.

The ones, sitting pressed against the wall, the coffee tastes so good,

The local, ready and open, cup in hand.

One day, the local will be with me.

The Sketch

She sketched the cityscape with meticulous care.

Today would be her best work.

Each item she took out of her pouch, each with it’s own purpose,

Each working for the sketch.

Other PDXpoesy may be viewed on the PDXpoesy page!

Nancy Stovall, Image compliments of Nancy Stovall.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been a harsh critic of the University of Oregon's (UO) plans to alter the design of the "Made in Oregon" sign and the Water Tower, two Portland icons in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. Realizing the compromise for the "Made in Oregon" sign to read "Oregon," was reasonable given the circumstances, I took to the University's proposal to place its "O" logo on the adjacent water tower that currently reads "Old Town."

In my quest to learn more about the key players in this debate, among them UO, Portland City Council, the Historic Landmarks Commission, I found that one key entity was missing. Although this may have seemed obvious in our process-loving town, it seems the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association has yet been given its own soapbox to stand on. I left a message for the Neighborhood Association, and Nancy Stovall was kind enough to give me a call back. Below is her and her neighborhood association's take on the debate that has pervaded Portland's publications for four months as well as more information about Old Town Chinatown, one of Portland's many prized neighborhoods.

PDXme: Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Nancy Stovall; I'm the Vice Chair of the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association.

PDXme: What do Portland and the Old Town Chinatown (OTCT) area mean to you?

I live in Old Town, it's my neighborhood. I love living in an urban environment; I moved here from suburban Atlanta almost 3 years ago. Within the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood boundaries there are two National Historic Districts: Skidmore-Old Town and Japantown-New Chinatown. Most Portlanders don't realize that this is where Portland began. Captain Couch's land claim encompassed what is now Old Town, Chinatown, the Pearl, Nob Hill and some of NW Portland, but there's very few historic buildings anywhere except Old Town Chinatown. Those of us who live here understand that we're only caretakers for the next generation--but there needs to be a balance. Portland needs to take action to preserve what's remaining and revitalize this historic neighborhood.

PDXme: Can you give us an idea as to what the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association has done in the past?

The neighborhood association has partnered with the city of Portland, Portland Development Commission (PDC), the OTCT Business Association, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and other public and private organizations to preserve and document the neighborhood's history, and champion new development. The Visions Committee grew out of the NA to plan and document a neighborhood charter for preservation and development. The OTCT Visions Plan was adopted by the City, and has been revisited and updated over the past 10 years as work has developed.

PDXme: Regarding the much-publicized debate around the “Made in Oregon” sign and “Old Town” water tower, can you give us the neighborhood association’s perspective of the proposed design changes?

"Made in Oregon" sign and "Old Town" water tower for now as seen from the Burnside Bridge. Photo courtesy of m.johns of Flickr, Creative Commons.

UO has spent a great deal of time, money and energy in faithfully restoring the White Stag Block. The "Made in Oregon" sign has a wonderful past--I wish more people knew about it and could see some of the old pictures. It has always represented the building's tenant--first White Satin Sugar, the White Stag, then Made in Oregon and now U of O. The University understands what historic preservation means to Portland, Oregon and to the neighborhood, and have engaged the NA throughout their process. The water tower has been restored to a working condition thanks to U of O. The NA is completely in support of the historic restoration that U of O has brought to Old Town.

PDXme: What is your personal view towards the proposed changes?

If you take the larger view, the perspective changes. I applaud the University's agreement to lease the Oregon sign and restore the water tower. Portland is famous for its recycle, re-use ethic--this is a great example of the University's commitment to sustainable use. The White Stag Block--the entire Old Town neighborhood, actually--was originally a center for commerce. From the first time that Captain Couch sailed into the port, he knew that he'd make his fortune--and his home--in Old Town. I wonder what he would think of this debate.

PDXme: What has the University of Oregon done to include the neighborhood association in its decision-making?

The U of O has regularly attended our meetings, presented their plans and asked for input and support from the NA. Their work has always been carefully researched and is appropriate from the NA perspective.

PDXme: What would you suggest to Portlanders that just can’t let go of these two Portland landmarks?

There's no need to let go of them--thanks to the U of O they'll still be landmarks. The sign is owned by Ramsay Signs, and leased to the tenant of the building. The lease to Made in Oregon was up, and U of O stepped up to take over the lease. The history of the sign continues. The sign will not change dramatically; the major component of the sign have been constrained to prevent that. The shape, the stag, the colors and pattern of the lights, and even the font are all required to remain the same. The water tower has been saved and restored for Portland. There needs to be more of this type of work in Old Town--without restoration, many buildings will crumble and we'll lose these historic landmarks.

PDXme: Anything else you’d like to tell us?

I'd like to invite all of Portland to come down to the neighborhood--visit the history of the city, and feel the vibe of the area. Old Town is a friendly area--we know our neighbors. I like to say that we're "living history". There's retail, restaurants, arts, culture, commerce and education in Old Town--all in historic buildings and surroundings. Portland is great because of it's small block sizes and diverse neighborhoods. That all started here. Check out our website--oldtownchinatown.org--to see where to shop and eat and what to see and do. All ages and all walks of life will find something fun to do in Old Town Chinatown.

* * *

So there you have it. It looks like the University of Oregon has made the effort to work with its new community in Portland, unlike the way I had characterized the University in previous posts. Although I am not for the proposed changes to the "Made in Oregon" sign, and much less those to the "Old Town" water tower, I respect the fact that communication has been taking place between the University and the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association. Now it's up to the Historic Landmarks Commission to decide on the validity of the proposed redesigns. If you'd like to attend the Commission's meeting to speak for or against the proposed changes, please see the information below.

Landmarks Commission Hearing
Monday, July 27, 2009 at 1:30PM
1900 SW 4th Ave, Room 2500A

View the hearing agenda.

If you would like to testify in front of the commission, it would be best to arrive before 1:30pm to see the clerk in order to put your name on the list. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person.

For related "Made in Oregon" sign and "Old Town" water tower information, visit the general information page updated by the Bureau of Development Services.

Marshall McFarland

When I started the PDXpoesy of PDXme, I didn't how I would approach posting other people's poetry. How would I introduce it? What would be its subject matter? I would think Portland. But no less, a good friend of mine here at the University of Oregon, and a graduate of Lincoln High School, Marshall McFarland, has given me a taste of Portland as I live out my lazy summer days in Eugene. I leave it to Marshall, an avid photographer and poet to introduce himself:

Marshall: I've taken over 45,000 photos. My inspirations include Sally Mann, Diane Arbus, Salvador Dali, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, Louis Greenfield, Zebidiah Andrews (a contemporary Portland local) and many more. I enjoy all photography (portrait, nature, fashion, journalism, abstract, studio) but I feel more and more drawn to the life style of a fine art photographer - having work displayed in art galleries. My plan is to finish my BA, get a Masters of Education, and teach high school while pursuing a career in fine art. In my future also see working in 3rd world countries to build bridges, help build communities, play soccer with children, and see and share God's love.

Photo and poetry on the jump!

Street performers perform at "Last Thursday" on NE Alberta. Photo courtesy of Marshall McFarland.

The work you see here: I took this photograph on Alberta St. at 'Last Thursday' on June 25th. Last Thursday is a wonderful event where anyone can set up a plot on the street to sell their art. This may include anything from LCD lit skateboards to bundles of lavender to earrings made of recycled clothing (yes, recycled underwear included). The poetry is inspired by the photo's location in Portland.

Find me here.

Sips of Portland's Best Refreshment

Portland

Sailing on her spirit
Holding his umbrella
Bathing in the bubbler
Made in Oregon

Climbing cranes in the Pearl
The homeless are honest
Need money for beer
The donuts delightful
The magic is in the hole

Sylvan Salmon
Ainsworth Alberta
Broadway Burnside
23rd 6th

Roses.
Play.
Bridges.
Stay.

Breathing
Watching
Smiling softly through drunken lips
Light

Summer in Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Pioneer Courthouse Square is my favorite place to meet someone. It's also the best place to attend a public event, as we saw last Thursday. It's got a long name, no doubt, but I find I have taken to shortening its name to "the Square" more than once. The space is often marketed as "Portland's Living Room," but I find this to be a little over the top. If anything it's a family room where Portlander's can be themselves.

Indeed, the Square is host to over 300 events each year according to Pioneer Courthouse Square Inc.'s (PCSI) website, but the space to me is much more than a place to showcase Portland's many talents; it's a place to meet and greet fellow Portlanders. MAX trains on the north and south sides of the square create an atmosphere ever in flux, but one can always count on the laid-back nature of the Square's ambience. The completion of the refurbished transit mall on SW 6th Avenue brings another MAX line and various buses to the center of Portland's vibrant downtown and family room, something that can only be described as "planned."

A postcard of Hotel Portland I was able to score at an antique store here in Eugene. The postcard was sent in January of 1909.

Over Portland Hotel's sixty year history, its guests included 11 U.S. Presidents, each visit prompting the dedication of a new set of china. In 1951, the planners of sprawl and automobiles took hold of Portland and razed Hotel Portland only to replace it with a two-story parking garage for the neighboring Meier & Frank department store. It wasn't until the early 1970s that the conversation to reclaim the block began.

The 1972-1974 the Downtown Portland Plan proposed that Block 169 be converted into open space, and with the help of $500,000 from Meier & Frank, along with a public campaign in 1981 by citizens a part of the "Friends of Pioneer Courthouse Square," the park became a reality. In 1984, after a personalized brick campaign and various donors of Square amenities, the Square opened to the public.

Pioneer Courthouse, the Square's namesake, in 1901. Note Hotel Portland behind the Courthouse.

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Square's presence in Portland. (You can sponsor a brick today!) In 1984, according to PCSI, over 9,000 Portlanders inaugurated the completion of Pioneer Courthouse Square with much fanfare. And what a gem they bestowed onto Portland! The Square's design, the brainchild of a team of Portland architects led by Will Martin, was selected after an international design competition. The chief architect, Martin, died tragically in a plane crash shortly after the Square's introduction to the Rose City.

Pioneer Courthouse Square, as one of Portland's most cherished Landmarks, holds a rich and vibrant past. My hope is that Portlanders young and old take this past into consideration, reflecting upon the successes and follies of past architects, planners and other visionaries and envision for themselves a city that is a reflection of us all. Certainly we Portlanders know how to enjoy and welcome each other in our own family room!

If you'd like to learn more and see more images of the Portland Hotel, be sure to visit PDXHistory! Many thanks to Jewel Lansing's book, Wikipedia, and PDXHistory for the content of this post.

1937 intersection at SE Powell Blvd. & 39th Avenue looking north, one of the many street scenes in the Archives' collections. Photo courtesy of Portland City Archives A2005-001.517

This spring term in my Honors College history class, I was assigned to write a ten to fifteen page research paper on a topic of my choice. Being the Portlandphile (or PDXphile, if you please) that I am, I took to researching Forest Park, a large, forested park no less, not ten minutes from the city center. Over Memorial Day weekend I took a trip up north to jump start my research. The process to secure the park's current size of over 5,000 acres, which began in 1947, was a treat to investigate. Much like the growth of a now cherished and developed Forest Park, the place of my research, Portland's City Archives, its records dating back to the beginnings of Portland, is a wonder in itself to behold.

The archives are located in Chimney Park in North Portland, in a building once designated as the center for waste collection of a former city dump. During my two visits to the archives, Diana Banning, the City Archivist, helped me work through numerous boxes and files for the primary sources I sought. To my surprise, Diana, a humble public servant, expressed her amazement, "normally, people your age don't know about the archives." "Really?" I enquired. The wealth of information pared with the diligence of Diana and her colleagues as the keepers of the City's history, impelled me to give them their due recognition. I got into contact with Diana again in an attempt to let people know more about one of Portland's lesser-known treasures.

PDXme: What is the Portland City Archives?

The Portland City Charter assigns the City Auditor responsibility over City records and so the Archives and Records Management division resides in the office of the City Auditor. The City of Portland Archives and Records Center is managed by Archives and Records Management and is the official repository for the City’s historical records.In addition to housing and managing the archives, we also provide off-site records storage for City bureaus.

While we provide many services to City bureaus and their employees, those that are available to the public are probably of most interest here! As a public archives, our collections are available for use by the public for free. I feel that this is one of the most important services we can offer citizens: free and open access to the documentation of the City at work.

Our collections are focused on records created by or for City agencies; our earliest official records begin in 1851, with the first City Council meeting. We have records detailing the activities of all bureaus, including those that are no longer active like the Motion Picture Censor Board and the Milk Inspector. Essentially, if you wonder what the archives contains, think about what services the City provides and you’ll have a sense of our subject matter: transportation, water, sewer, solid waste, recycling, police and fire protection, parks, planning, development, and neighborhood collaboration are only a few out a much longer list.

While most of our collections consist of correspondence, reports, studies, and project files, we also have photographs, maps, and plans. We don’t have an exact count, but I estimate that we have nearly 750,000 photographs in our collections and they document City officials, activities, and projects. Even though a large portion of our images were taken to provide evidence of public works projects, they also document the neighborhoods where the projects took place and capture how life in Portland has changed throughout the decades.

Although our collections are primarily bureaucratic by their very nature, they also document social history. Local governments are involved in so many aspects of our everyday lives that the official records can’t help but document society.

PDXme: What is your job? Can you describe an average day?

As the City Archivist, I’m convinced I have the best job in the City! Really, how cool is it to work with old records, photos, maps and plans? Add to that, I also get to help people find information they need. I’m the first to say that I’m not the City’s historian – there are other more qualified people out there doing excellent work interpreting the city’s history; rather, my job is to collect, protect and provide access to the documentation of the City of Portland.

One thing that people don’t realize is that archival records are being created as we speak – just because a record is new doesn’t mean it lacks historical significance! As such, I work closely with my colleagues, Tim Hunt and Brian Brown, on contemporary records issues. Now that more than 90% of our records are created in the electronic realm, archivists and records managers are presented with great challenges when it comes to preserving the public record.

As for an average day, I’m not sure there is one. I spend approximately 20-30% of my time working with researchers and answering reference questions. I also have the administrative duties that come with managing a facility and staff. I also work with bureaus on records management and archives issues, spend time on outreach activities and other professional duties.

PDXme: How did you become interested in archiving? What do you enjoy about your profession?

While I’d like to say that I wanted to be an archivist when I grew up, I can’t. In fact, I didn’t even really know what an archives was prior to my first job in one. When I was accepted into library school, I wanted to find a job working in a library. Listed on the job board was a post for a student processor at the King County Archives in Seattle. I never looked back. I’ve spent my career working for local government archives and records management programs and continue to love it.

I think what invigorates me and makes me very proud to be an archivist is that I feel like I’m helping connect people to their past. Connection to the past is much more than researching your family tree (although I believe genealogy is the nation’s second-most popular hobby); rather, it’s linking who we are to who we were as individuals, neighbors, communities, regions, and nations. There is a statue at the National Archivesthat contains a quote from Shakespeare’s The Tempest:  “What is past is prologue” and it well-defines the role of archives in society. Add to that, as a public archivist I absolutely believe in the role that archives play in government’s responsibility to citizens for an open and democratic process. After all, without the evidence of the government’s actions or documentation of a society, there is no accountability. It’s no coincidence that archives are often an early victim of a regime change.

PDXme: What kinds of people do you provide services to?

We provide services to everybody; archives are not just for scholars! Our researchers come from as close as down the street and as far away as Japan. We work with attorneys, students, neighborhood activists, businesses, government employees, and genealogists – to name a few. It’s difficult to fully classify all of the people who use our records. Serious scholars working on dissertations and publications can be researching next to a person doesn’t really see themselves as doing research. Rather, they have a need to find out something that pertains to them on a personal level. My favorite example of this is an elderly man who came to the archives many years ago looking for a list of approved street trees. It turns out that his sidewalk was damaged by tree roots and he was trying to prove that the tree he’d planted many years ago was recommended by the City as a tree that wouldn’t disrupt the sidewalk. We found a pamphlet for him and he happily took a copy away with him to help him prove his case. Unfortunately, I didn’t find out if he was successful, but I think he personifies my assertion that archives are important to everyone.

PDXme: The City of Portland has been working with Portland State University to move the Portland Archives into its new Student Recreation Center. Why is this happening, and what are some changes we can expect with this move?

The Archives and Records Center has been experiencing space shortages for years and we’d done as much as we could do to stay in the building as long as we could. The timing for the new PSU building was perfect and the City purchased space from PSU in a condo agreement so we could move the City’s Archives and Records Center. The new building will provide us room to grow (local, state and federal laws dictate how long we need to maintain records), and more importantly, we’ll be much more accessible. Our current location is 11 miles from City Hall and access via public transportation is spotty.  The new location sites us between the streetcar, the MAX and buses.

We anticipate that we’ll begin moving the collections sometime in January 2010 and that we’ll be closed to researchers for 6-8 weeks once the move commences. Moving nearly 30,000 boxes, thousands of maps and plans, hundreds of ledgers and a variety of other materials – all needing to be precisely tracked and relocated – means that we’re planning for a complicated and finely orchestrated move.

However, once we are moved into the new facility, our researchers are going to love it! The reading room will have a lovely view, lockers to place their belongings, and nice tables and chairs from which to do their research. We’re also planning for a wireless connection so people can search our online catalog,Efiles and other resources they might need. While the hours are not yet set in stone, we plan to offer some extended and drop-in hours to compliment our current by-appointment research times.

This is an exciting move that will bring City information resources closer to the community; after all, a core tenet of archives is access and soon we’ll be so much more accessible.

PDXme: If one wanted to visit the archives, what would you suggest that he or she do?

At this time, making a research appointment is all that is needed to begin the process of accessing the City’s archives. Currently, we are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, by appointment only.  One may make an appointment by calling 503-823-4631 or emailing. After our move, please check our website for updated hours and contact information.

PDXme: Anything else you'd like to tell us about the Archives?

I’d like to make a plug for our Annual Open House, which is scheduled this year for October 2^nd, 1-4 p.m. This is the public’s chance to get a “behind the scenes” tour and enjoy a root beer float as our thank you for stopping by. This year marks our 10^th open house and our 30^th anniversary at the Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center (SPARC). The celebration will take a fond look back on our time at SPARC, as well as forward to our exciting new location.