In memoriam: Evelyn I. Crowell, 1936-2017 EVELYN (EVIE) CROWELL, an associate professor who served Portland State for 30 years as the University’s interlibrary loan librarian and coordinator of library services to off-campus sites, died June 5, 2017. She was 81 years old. Professor Crowell was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on March 17, 1936, the second child of Cedric Crowell, Sr., and Elva (TuckerCrowell) Bagley. In 1942 the family, along with Mr. Crowell’s brother and father, moved to Portland to work in the war industries. Professor Crowell graduated from Girls Polytechnic High School, which in 1967 became James Monroe High School. In 1959 she received a bachelor’s degree from Portland State and in 1961 she completed a master’s in librarianship at the University of Washington. She joined Portland State in 1972 and retired in 2002. She also served Fisk University and Linfield College. Her uncle, Albert Crowell, Jr., was a profound influence. When Professor Crowell was 12 years old, her father died, and her uncle stepped forward to become her guardian. He sacrificed to ensure that his niece could attend Portland State, and he also encouraged her to save money. Professor Crowell honored her uncle with the Albert Crowell, Jr., Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to PSU students who exhibit a deep understanding and appreciation of African American culture and experience. She was an avid supporter of Portland State opera and theater productions, and established the Evelyn I. Crowell Endowed Opera Scholarship and the Evelyn I. Crowell Theater and Film Scholarship. Her passion for education was also reflected in the Evelyn Crowell Scholarship at Portland Community College, as well as annual and endowed scholarships for students enrolled in technical programs at PCC’s Swan Island Trades Center. She also established the Evelyn Crowell Endowed Scholarship at the University of Portland. In addition, PCC’s Cascade Center library in North Portland is home to the Evelyn Crowell Center for African American Community History. Professor Crowell had deep roots in North Portland, where she raised her son, Russell, and daughter, Kymberlee. She was active in the community and served on many boards, including the Portland School Board, Oregon State Library Board of Trustees, and the boards of Portland Center Stage and Oregon Symphony. She was the first African American board president of the YWCA of Greater Portland and was an active member of The Links, a volunteer service organization of nearly 15,000 professional women of color, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Professor Crowell was preceded in death by her parents; her uncle, Albert; and her half-sister, Roxie (Bagley) Clemons. She is survived by her two children, Russell Crowell, of Mill Creek, Washington, and Kymberlee Crowell, of Portland; her brother, Cedric Crowell, Jr., of Portland; many nieces and nephews; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family requests remembrances to the American Cancer Society. —Doug Swanson 4
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