This Week Back Then

Wasco County, Oregon, was once a relatively sleepy community. But in the 1980s it became home to members of a group who called themselves the Rajneeshees. As the group morphed from a peaceful following into a militarized and exclusive community, they began to butt heads with Wasco county residents. Host Kim Andrews looks at the Rajneeshees and the battles between communities.

The Snake begins in Wyoming, crosses through southern Idaho, forms the western boundary between Idaho and Oregon, and joins the Columbia river in Washington. The Supreme Court’s decision in Udall v. Federal Power Commission of 1967, which temporarily halted the damming of this river coincided with the rise in the environmental movement. Taylor Bailey hosts this weeks show that takes a look at the government’s relationship to the environment.

Vanport is a highly covered tragic event in Oregon History. Take another look at the horrific flood and the events that followed with Jeffrey Stone as he uncovers attempted coverups and reveals the stories of those who lived through the event.

Portland’s charm as a quirky town on a river is framed through the 12 bridges that cross over the Willamette River. The history of Portland as a growing city is often forgotten in that image. Using the various reconstructions of Portland’s famous Morrison Bridge as her timeline, Jazmine Kelly examines the growth of the city and what has been the true cost of its development. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/05/21/morrison-bridge-bridge-portlands-growth/

Corruption takes center stage in this week’s episode. In late nineteenth-century Portland, vote-buying was a common occurrence as political bosses provided owners of local boarding houses and vice establishments with the funds necessary to pay their patrons to vote for specific candidates. Don’t miss host Alecia Giombolini’s account of mayoral candidate James Chapman’s admitted vote-buying scheme. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/05/14/1882-portland-mayoral-election-scandal/

In this episode, listen as Mike Mata chronicles the life of Oregon’s first murderess, Charity Lamb after she murdered her husband, Nathaniel, on May 13, 1854. Some say she was abused, some display her as a cold blooded killer, regardless, Charity was convicted for the murder of her husband and sentenced to hard labor. After listening to this episode, what do you think? More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/05/07/oregons-lizzie-borden-unfaithful-axe-wielding-killer-mentally-unstable-abused-wife/

NASA’s 1971 Apollo 14 mission to the moon brought along seeds from various tree species to test whether the seeds would still germinate once they returned back to earth. To everyone’s surprise, the seeds germinated and sprouted! One of these moon trees was planted in Salem, Oregon. Learn more about the Moon Tree Experiment in this episode of This Week Back Then, hosted by Will Schneider. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/04/30/salem-moon-tree/

No history of Oregon activism is complete without mentioning Julia Ruuttila. Ruuttila devoted her life to advocating against war and for workers rights and human rights. Don’t miss Kim Andrews detailing the life and work of this outstanding Oregon activist. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/04/23/who-is-julia-ruuttila/

Singing in front of packed stadiums as young children would be nerve wracking enough. Not only did the Hyers sisters actively tour around the states’ in the late-nineteenth century, they did so while simultaneously combating racial stereotypes and segregation. Will Schneider explores the careers of two talented young African American sisters and their impact on the music industry. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/04/16/hyers-sisters-concert-debut/

The fight for Women’s suffrage was long and hard. In this episode, Jeanette Butts focuses specifically on Oregon, detailing how activists in the state worked to expand women’s rights as citizens and enfranchise women as voters. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/04/02/marching-victory-briefest-history-womens-suffrage-oregon/

In the early 1980s, the Portland school board voted to dismantle the last elementary school within a black neighborhood without any attempt to discuss the change with the community. Yet the community made sure their voices were heard. In this episode, Evan Smiley discusses the history of Portland’s integration and busing programs, and how community organizers fought institutional racism within the school districts. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/03/26/harriet-tubman-middle-school-protests-black-united-front-vs-portland-school-board/

On March 21, 1910, rioters attacked the East-Indian population in the heart of St. Johns near Portland. Two hundred local residents, including prominent members of the community took part in the riot. Listen as Alecia Giombolini outlines this violent event and discusses its causes and implications. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/03/19/1910-st-johns-riot/

This episode wishes Happy Birthday to James Butler Elkins, better known as “Big Jim.” Listen as Jeffrey Stone exposes the vice scene of Portland and the man who controlled the industry from 1940 to 1956. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/03/12/big-jim-elkins-gangsters-unions-pinball/

The California Condor was added to the endangered species list on March 11, 1967. Now, there are more than 400 of these large birds alive today. Taylor Bailey takes a look at the California Condor’s success story and the programs that have helped save the species. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/03/05/returning-california-condor-pacific-northwest/

Hattie McDaniel is best remembered for her role as “Mammy” in the film Gone with the Wind. In this episode, Jazmine Kelly follows McDaniel’s career from a struggling actor trying to find meaningful work to the first African American woman to win an Academy Award. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/02/26/academy-award-goes-hattie-mcdaniel/

The holding of Oregon Zoo’s famous elephant “Packy” in a secluded cell brings continuous critiques of the Zoo from animal rights activists. Packy has been at the Oregon Zoo since his birth in 1962. Follow along as Taylor Bailey chronicles Packy’s life since his birth and the subsequent battles fought on his behalf. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/02/09/birth-packy-elephant/

In the early- to mid-twentieth century, labor lawyers fought for hard-working Americans who felt taken advantage of by employers. However, the Supreme Court repeatedly struck down protective labor legislation. The one exception was with 1908’s Muller v. Oregon. This week, Tanya Monthey traces the gendered ideas of twentieth-century labor to reveal how the Supreme Court came to their decision. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/02/19/object-public-interest-women-labor-muller-v-oregon/

Dr. James C. Hawthorne died on February 15, 1881. Portlandians recognize Hawthorne’s name because of the street named for him, but what is less well known is his work in mental health facilities. In this week’s episode, Mike Mata traces the history of Dr. Hawthorne and his impact on Portland, OR. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/02/12/james-c-hawthorne-asylum-boulevard/

The city of Portland, Oregon was incorporated on February 8th, 1851, but people had been living and thriving in the region for millennia. In this episode, follow along with Will Schneider as he delves into the contingencies behind Stumptown’s founding. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/02/05/portland-incorporated-city/

Violence stunned Portland January 31, 1960 when 10 trucks owned by The Oregonian had been rigged with dynamite. This unexpected tragedy followed the third longest strike in history. Follow Jeanette Butts as she explores the tenuous labor history behind Oregon’s famous newspaper. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/01/22/firebrand-portland-iconoclast/

How a short lived Portland Anarchist Newspaper Jumpstarted a National Movement | In this episode, Alecia Giombolini explores the rise and fall of Portland’s influential anarchist newspaper, The Firebrand, whose first issue was released on January 27, 1895. Its founders were criticized for reasons you might not expect. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/01/22/firebrand-portland-iconoclast/

Queen Lili’uokalani of Hawaii was overthrown on Janunary 17, 1893. In this episode, Kim Andrews explores the United States’ imperial history with Hawaii and the narratives that have spawned from this relationship. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/01/15/liliuokalanis-fight-hawaii/

The late Maurine Neuberger was Oregon’s first woman elected to the Oregon Senate and the third woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Though she is best remembered for wearing an apron on the floor of the house legislature, this Oregon politician dedicated her life to public service and this podcast, hosted by Tanya Monthey, takes a look at her life while wishing her a happy birthday. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/01/08/oregon-trailblazer-maurine-neuberger/

On January 1, 1972, Oregon became the fourth state to decriminalize homosexuality in the U.S. after revised Sodomy Laws went into effect. Previously Oregon, like other states, criminalized non-heterosexual intercourse as “deviant” behavior. Portland State University history major Evan Smiley explores the the long struggle for civil rights in this podcast. More at: http://www.publichistorypdx.org/2017/01/01/a-blow-to-bigotry-oregon-decriminalizes-homosexuality/