Portland University Student Organizations records

Portland University was a private, Methodist post-secondary school in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1891 in a split from Willamette University, the school closed in 1900. The campus was located in what is now the University Park neighborhood and later became home of the University of Portland. The original campus building, West Hall, still stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Willamette University chancellor Charles Carroll Stratton founded the Methodist school in Portland in 1891. Some faculty members and students from Willamette, including Willamette’s president Thomas Van Scoy, joined the new university, Van Scoy as the first Dean of Portland University. In 1891, the school built the Administration Hall that became West Hall. Portland University opened in September 1891 with an enrollment of 256 students the first year, with courses of study which included Latin, science, art, and literature. The school grew to an enrollment of 500 by 1894 and included a literary department, a school of theology, music and fine arts department, and a college preparatory division.

Following the Panic of 1893, the school suffered a series of financial setbacks. The panic led to decreased enrollment. Internal disputes and financial problems led the school to leave the campus in 1896 and hold classes in East Portland with Van Scoy as president of the institution. Others who served as president of the university were Arthur J. Brown and George Whitaker, the university’s last president.

Portland University finally closed in May 1900 with many of students and faculty reuniting with Willamette University in Salem. Alumni of the Portland school were then recognized as alumni of Willamette, and most of the records of the school were transferred to Willamette University.