The opinions
expressed below are those of intern Victoria Hittner and not necessarily those
of Oregon State University Press.
Long holiday
weekends are lovely. They provide time for extra recreation, a little
relaxation, and perhaps even the opportunity to read a book! But they also
offer opportunities for reflection upon why that third day off exists. As
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day approaches, we may not all have the capacity to
effect change as Dr. King did. We do, however, have the tools necessary to
support and aid others within our own communities.
So, in honor
of MLK Day, here is a list of several powerful memoirs, biographies, and
histories. Follow the lives of the movers and shakers of the Pacific Northwest
as they stood up for what they believed in, achieved the near impossible, and
made our little pocket of the world an even more beautiful place to live.
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By
Kimberley Mangun
Willa Award
Winner
African
American journalist Beatrice Morrow Cannady bravely utilized her profession to
fight segregation and discrimination between 1912 and 1936. A Force for Change highlights Cannady’s
important role in advocating for better race relations in Oregon in the early
decades of the twentieth century. Using her skills as a reporter, editor, and
publisher, Cannady lobbied for the protection of human rights, no matter one’s
color or station in life. Mangun’s work helps dispel the myth that African
Americans played little part in Oregon’s history and restores due recognition
to a woman who played a vital role in developing Oregon politics.
Remembering
the Power of Words
By
Avel Louise Gordly with Patricia A. Schechter
Remembering
the Power of Words recounts the personal and professional journe
y of Avel Gordly, the
first African-American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate. A brave and
honest telling of Gordly’s life, the book follows the struggles of growing up
black in Portland in the mid-twentieth century and the incredible power and
resilience that stem from determination. Important as a biographical account of
one significant Oregonian’s story, Remembering
the Power of Words also contributes broader narratives on black history and
women’s rights within the state.
Sonny Montes
and Mexican American Activism in Oregon
By
Glenn Anthony May
Finalist,
Oregon Book Award
On
one level a biography of Oregon’s leading Mexican American activist, this book
also tells 
the broader story of the state’s Mexican American community during
the 1960s and 1970s, a story in which Sonny Montes had an important part.
Montes became a community leader and visible public figure after his work in
collective action like sit-ins, protest marches, and prayer vigils—always with
a consistently high level of Chicano support. May’s book deepens our
understanding of the Chicano Movement in Oregon and beyond as well as providing
a much-needed account of the Mexican American community in Oregon during that
time period.
By
David Peterson Del Mar
A
concise and compelling general history, Oregon’s
Promise explores familiar and neglected 
people and movements in the state’s
history, while challenging readers to view Oregon’s past, present and future in
a new way. Peterson del Mar shows there’s more to our beautiful state than just
Lewis and Clark and the Oregon Trail. Examining both the traditional center of
Oregon history and its often overlooked margins, readers will discover that the
state’s settlers were much more varied, contentious, complicated and
interesting than conventional heroic stereotypes would suggest.
By
Jean M. Ward and Elaine A. Maveety
Between
1871 and 1887, Duniway, a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, chronicled
this “true history” in the pages of The
New Northwest, one of the few newspapers in the nation devoted to women’s advancement.
This compilation of her work provides a vivid portrait of the pioneering
suffragist and the turbulent era during which she lived, when traditional
social attitudes and institutions were directly challenged. Duniway’s writing
sparks with life, her wit and love of adventure evident in tales of attending
séances, falling off stagecoaches, being hung in effigy, and barnstorming the
Pacific Northwest in the company of Susan B. Anthony.
By
Clifford Mead and Thomas Hager
One
of the most brilliant scientists and controversial figures of the twentieth
century, Linus 
Pauling was the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes.
This unique volume gathers his words and those of his contemporaries and
students, together with photographs, drawings, and reproductions from the
Pauling Papers. As both scientist and citizen, Pauling was passionate and
deeply thoughtful. From his penning of renowned book The Nature of the Chemical Bond to his work with vitamin C as a
cure for cancer and cold prevention, Pauling left an indelible mark upon the
scientific field.
By
Betty Roberts with Gail Wells
We
really can do it all, ladies. Take a page from Betty Roberts’ book and use a
combination of 
tenacity, passion and dedication to chase your own dreams. In
her memoir, Justice Roberts reflects on her role as a mother, wife and
political trailblazer. Her story is important to the history of women’s
struggles to challenge prevailing stereotypes, but it is also a deeply personal
story of a life sometimes stark, sometimes humorous, often exhausting, and
always brightened with friendships and family.
Edited
by Zoltan Grossman and Alan Parker
First
Peoples Series
With
cultures and economies among the most vulnerable to climate-related
catastrophes, 
Native peoples are developing responses to climate change that
serve as a model for Native and non-Native communities alike. Having survived
the historical and ecological wounds inflicted by colonization, industrialization,
and urbanization, Indigenous peoples are using tools of resilience that have
enabled them to respond to sudden environmental change and protect the habitat
of salmon and other culturally vital species. Asserting Native Resilience presents a rich variety of perspectives
on Indigenous responses to the climate crisis, reflecting the voices of more
than twenty contributors.
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Browse our
complete list of titles to find more on influential figures and groups in
Oregon’s history. While you’re at it, make sure to catch a sneak peek of some
our new and upcoming books; there’s always something exciting to read! Who
knows, you just may be inspired to effect some change of your own.