The University of Portland history museum was the brainchild of Dr. James Covert, Professor of History (1961-1997), while researching his 1976 book “A Point of Pride: The University of Portland Story“. Dr. Covert realized the need to save, preserve, and display treasured memorabilia and photographs connected to UP history. The “Heritage Room” was dedicated and opened to the public on October 15, 1992 during the four-day celebration of 90 years of Holy Cross at UP and the rededication and renaming of West Hall to Waldschmidt Hall; a one-room museum space in Shipstad Hall housing items donated by faculty & staff, alumni, and friends.
In the 30 years since its opening many students, campus members, alumni and friends have visited the museum to learn about UP history and reconnect with the past. Display cases in campus buildings share event or theme displays drawn from our collections, and the museum contributes to the Library’s Covert Gallery and a display case on the Library’s lower floor.
In recent years the museum has been actively engaged in outreach opportunities to bring the museum directly to event spaces at the alumni reunion, family weekends, orientation, to name just a few. Archives & Artifacts staff host “PortLog“, a blog to share UP history in the form of posts to reach people across campus and beyond. PortLog posts and collection pieces are also shared on the Clark Library’s Facebook page.
In our efforts toward preservation goals, the museum collaborates with the Clark Library Digital Services team to digitize elements of the museum collection and present them online allowing visits to the museum from any device or location from around the world.
Dr. Covert’s vision continues on.
PortLog Posts highlights:
Dr. James Covert
Hours and Bases
A Given Life: Naming Rights
Digital Collections:
Digital Museum
University Songs
UP Presidents
Museum Displays
Leave a Reply