Black Pioneers Exhibit Opens Jan. 14 at Oregon Historical Society

Starting Jan. 14, the Oregon Historical Society will present "Perseverance: Black Pioneers in Early Oregon."

Throughout Oregon's early history, the presence of African Americans in all parts of the state are recorded in documents and photographs. They came to Oregon as slaves and free in spite of Black Exclusion Laws and worked and lived alongside other pioneers as farmers, blacksmiths, lumbermen, miners, bootblacks, cowboys and mid-wives. Their children went to school, they volunteered for local fire departments and they donated money and land to their communities.

Though small in number, through determination and perseverance their presence added to the fabric of the community in the new territory and state called Oregon. This exhibit is one which highlights the environment and stories of those early Oregon black pioneers who lived in this state prior to World War II.

The exhibit will be available until April 3 at the Oregon Historical Society Museum, 1200 SW Park Ave. in Portland. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.