Hidden Landmarks of Albina's Black Community is Digital Exhibit Mapping Historic African American Properties in Albina to Deepen the History of Portland's Historically-Black Neighborhood

 

Today at the Oregon Heritage Conference, in an effort to tell an inclusive story of Oregon's past and raise awareness of Albina’s rich cultural heritage, Oregon Black Pioneers and Moreland Resource Consulting, in collaboration with Restore Oregon’s Albina Preservation Initiative, released an all-new digital exhibit that documents historic Black properties and the untold stories and achievements of the African American leaders who lived and made history in Portland’s historically-Black Albina neighborhood.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Portland’s Albina area has many historic properties associated with the neighborhood's African American history; however, few of these structures are formally designated as historic landmarks. This easy-to-use digital exhibit highlights 30 structures hidden in plain sight, which together reveal the social, political, and entrepreneurial bonds of 20th-century Black Portlanders. “Not all histories are treated equally in the preservation field. Historic landmarks are typically designated based on their relationship to the dominant historical narrative of the area,” said Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers Executive Director. “As a result, structures associated with people of color, women, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ folks are often overlooked by preservation agencies. This erasure minimizes the achievements of marginalized groups and limits resources which could be directed toward the maintenance of these structures.”

Unknown numbers of historic places and homes have been demolished or lost to neglect due to poor public policy, misallocation of resources, and intentional discrimination. To bridge the gap between traditional historic preservation practices and the lived experiences of BIPOC communities, Oregon Black Pioneers and Moreland Resource Consulting approached the digital exhibit with three main goals in mind:

  • Advance Black historic preservation in Oregon
  • Identify Black historic resources vulnerable to redevelopment
  • Help reverse the damages of displacement and gentrification in Portland’s historic Black community

Mapping Albina’s African American History: Research Methodology

The digital exhibit was developed based on new and continuing research led by Kim Moreland of Moreland Resource Consulting. Moreland appreciated the opportunity to dive deeper into African American history in Albina and was pleasantly surprised by the number of sites still standing. “The best part of the project was working with dedicated volunteer researchers who provided additional information about a few of the properties,” said Kimberly Moreland. “Training by local historian Val Ballestrem and Oregon Historical Society Archivist Renato Rodriguez added a special touch and valuable knowledge for the research team.”

History Revealed

Among the research, one notable property, located on NE 14th Street, revealed the hidden history of an amazing Black pioneer couple. The home was owned by James N. and Mary Fullilove, and built by the couple. James was the founder and treasurer of the Afro-American League founded in 1903, and the organization sponsored the civil rights bill in the State Legislature in 1919. He was also the owner of Fullilove & Moore Barbers in SW Portland. Mary was the founder and leader of the Lucy Thurman WCTU League in 1899. This is just one of 30 properties included in the exhibit, uncovering the hidden history in the Albina area.

The Albina Preservation Initiative, launched in spring 2023, is a collaboration with the University of Oregon (UO) Just Futures Institute, Restore Oregon, Oregon Black Pioneers, Moreland Resource Consulting, Clatsop Community College Historic Preservation Program, The Mayo House, and the Architectural Heritage Center, to document and share Black preservation methods and stories with the public, create a safe space for difficult discussions regarding Oregon’s racist past, and establish a path forward for inclusive preservation statewide. “Restore Oregon’s strategic work to amplify the untold stories, voices, and histories that are grounded in the physical spaces of Albina is a critical step in valuing and protecting these places for future Oregonians to better understand and appreciate,” said Nicole Possert, Executive Director for Restore Oregon.

Several members of the Albina Preservation Initiative, including Mariah Rocker, Public Programs and Exhibits Manager for Oregon Black Pioneers, Kim Moreland of Moreland Resource Consulting (a 2024 Oregon Heritage Excellence Award recipient), and Nicole Possert, Executive Director for Restore Oregon, will host a panel discussion at the Oregon Heritage Conference today, April 18th in Forest Grove, to unveil the digital exhibit and discuss the future of black preservation in Oregon.

The release of the digital Hidden Landmarks of Albina's Black Community Exhibit is just one of many goals of The Albina Preservation Initiative, including ongoing urban racial justice field school, delivering tools and resources focused on Oregon’s Black community, and hosting the Future of Oregon’s Black Preservation Movement symposium in Fall 2024 to share the work of the Albina Preservation Initiative.

 

About the Just Futures Institute for Racial and Climate Justice

The PNW Just Futures Institute for Racial and Climate Justice is an interdisciplinary collaboration between leaders from the UO’s College of Arts and Sciences and College of Design, and other institutions in the region, including the University of Idaho, Whitman College, and Heritage University on the Yakama Nation. With capacity made possible by the Mellon Foundation through a $4.52 million grant awarded in January 2021, the institute is tackling the intertwined issues of racial and climate justice and working toward a more just future for the region.