3 PAST TENSE Gordon Dodds: the Savior of Portland State’s History s an historian, Gordon B. Dodds (1932-2003), Professor Emeritus of History, recognized the void in the literature about the school’s past, and he acted to remedy such neglect. A highly respected and prolific scholar in his field, Dodds convinced the PSU administration to take action. In the late 1980s he was appointed University Historian, with the assignment of preparing a history of PSU in time for the institution’s 50 th anniversary, celebrating the period 1946-1996. Although numerous persons assisted him in various aspects of the book’s development, producing the manuscript became a monumental task for Dodds. Pertinent records of historical significance – written, oral, images – were literally scattered across the campus in academic units and offices. In large part, this woeful situation occurred because Portland State did not have a full-time university archivist for archiving key records to support such an endeavor. In addition to accessing primary materials, Gordon was faced with the challenge of identifying, reviewing and organizing the materials, interviewing individuals whose knowledge of Portland State’s history spanned five decades, and shaping the resulting jumble of information into a coherent package. Fortunately, Dodds’s passion, work ethic, and dedication enabled him to persevere. His groundbreaking book, The College that Would Not Die: The First Fifty Years of Portland State University 1946-1996, was published in 2000. The publication was marked with a book signing on campus, celebrating not only the book but the remarkable man who wrote it. More than a decade has passed since its publication, and The College That Would Not Die is now firmly established as the landmark book on PSU’s history. In 1946, Stephen E. Epler founded Portland State University. In 2000, Gordon B. Dodds assured that the history initiated by its founder would be preserved and celebrated in perpetuity. --Steve Brannan PAST TENSE features glimpses into Portland State’s history. To submit a story (or an idea), email the RAPS History Preservation Committee at raps@pdx.edu. RAPS club reports . . . cont. from page 2 RAPS Hikers to walk Tryon Creek trail On Friday, Sept. 14, we will make a local hike in Tryon Creek State Park. Meet at the park information desk at 9:30 am. We will take one or more of the many loop trails in the park. Lunch at a local restaurant will be determined at the hike. Please confirm your participation to Larry Sawyer by Thursday, Sept. 13 at 503-771-1616 or larry_sawyer@comcast.net. –Larry Sawyer Bridge Group deals Sept. 11 The RAPS Bridge Group meets at 1:00 pm Tuesday, Sept. 11 at Friendly House (corner of NW 26 th and Thurman). For information about the group, please call Colin Dunkeld, 503-292-0838. If you would like to play, please call before noon Friday, Sept. 7. This gives us time to invite guests to join us if we need to make up a table. –Colin Dunkeld A Gordon Dodds with Vic Dahl and Nohad Toulan at PSU book signing in 2000.
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