Portland Observer
| "Committed to Cultural Diversity" | |
 | |
 | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Rev. Alfred L. Henderson |
| Publisher | Mark Washington |
| General manager | Lucinda Baldwin |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | 4747 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Portland, OR 97211 |
| Country | United States |
| ISSN | 2997-3910 |
| OCLC number | 9286929 |
| Website | portlandobserver |
| Free online archives | University of Oregon Libraries |
The Portland Observer is one of the oldest African-American newspapers in Oregon.[1][2][3] Established in 1970, it is published weekly[4] (on Wednesdays), in Portland, Oregon. Rev. Alfred L. Henderson founded the paper in 1970, in the tradition of the People's Observer, a 1940s publication that had ceased publication in 1950.[5] Another paper had the same title in Portland, Michigan, from 1876 into the 20th century.[6][7]
History
[edit]The Portland Observer was launched by William H. McClendonn in 1938, but due to the Great Depression, folded in 1939.[8] In June 1943, McClendon revived his newspaper as the People’s Observer, which ceased again in July 1950.[9]
Decades later Rev. Alfred L. Henderson re-established the Portland Observer in November 1970. At the time he was pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.[10] Six years later Henderson moved to Berkley, California, but planned to commute back to Portland every two weeks to manage the paper.[11]
In October 1987, Henderson named Leon L. Harris, who owned the Seattle Observer in 1962-63, was named general manager. In 1988, the Observer moved into its own building, owned by Harris. At that time the paper had about 5,000 paying subscribers and a circulation of 12,000.[12]
After several changes in ownership, Joyce Washington purchased the Portland Observer in 1989. Her son Corey Washington, who was involved in the paper, was shot to death after a basketball game dispute at Peninsula Park in 1991. He was 27. The company's corporation was named Corey Publishing in his memory.[13]
Upon her death in 1996,[14] Washington's son Charles "Chuck" Washington, a Portland native and a graduate of Jefferson High School, took over as publisher until his death in December 2012.[1] The paper was then passed on to Mark Washington. Portland politician, radio host, restaurateur, and veteran Bruce Broussard has held a leadership position at the paper.[15] Additionally, Albert Williams has also contributed to the paper as general manager.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Tims, Dana (December 10, 2012). "Charles Washington, longtime Portland Observer publisher, dies at age 60". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ "Portland Observer Publisher Charles Washington, 1951-2012". The Skanner. December 11, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ Brenner, Sammy (December 10, 2012). "Charles Washington, Publisher Of Portland Observer, Is Dead". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ Sabatier, Julie (December 10, 2012). "Remembering Charles Washington". Think Out Loud. Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ Stan Fonseca. "William McClendon (1915–1996)". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ "New P. M. Paper for Lansing". Editor and Publisher. Duncan McIntosh. January 15, 1921. p. 38. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "About Portland observer. (Portland, Mich.) 1887-1939". National Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ^ "Portland Observer | Historic Black Newspapers of Portland | Portland State University". PDXScholar. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
- ^ Fonseca, Stan (June 9, 2022). "William McClendon (1915-1996)". Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "Honors due editor, pastor". The Oregonian. February 5, 1977. p. 24.
- ^ "Berkley Calls Observer Boss". Oregon Journal. October 4, 1976. p. 2.
- ^ Richards, Suzanne (August 5, 1988). "Portland Observer to open new building". The Oregonian.
- ^ Spicer, Osker (December 7, 1995). "The Portland Observer: A survivor turns 24". The Oregonian. p. 5.
- ^ Spicer, Osker (March 19, 1996). "Publisher of The Portland Observer Dies". The Oregonian. p. 14.
- ^ Perry, Douglas (August 4, 2016). "Oregon Libertarian Party seeks to raise profile with long-time Republican's endorsement". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ^ White, Brian (September 14, 1987). "Black newspapers add to media". Portland Business Journal. p. 4.