Major Milestones
Lewis & Clark celebrates several landmark anniversaries of key places, programs, and initiatives.
The College’s Home on Palatine Hill: 80th
In 1942, the trustees of Albany College, the precursor of Lewis & Clark, acquired the Fir Acres Estate on Palatine Hill through a gift-sale made possible by the generosity of the Lloyd Frank family. Morgan Odell, a widely respected scholar of religion and philosophy, assumed the role of president. With a new name, a new location, and a new president, Lewis & Clark laid the foundation for the institution we know and love today.
Academic English Studies: 50th
As part of its commitment to international education, Lewis & Clark’s Academic English Studies (AES) program provides courses for English language learners to develop academic English and intercultural competency. The program, which was established in 1972, has been known by other names over the years, including the Institute for Study of American Language and Culture (ISALC) and, before that, the American Language Institute (ALI). In addition to its many courses and programs, AES offers the Roméo Dallaire Scholarship, a one-year scholarship for a Rwandan student, and the Michael Graham Scholarship, a one-year scholarship for Portland-area high school graduates who are refugees or immigrants and are English language learners.
Student Newspaper: 80th
In 1942, an intrepid group of Lewis & Clark students gathered to start a periodical devoted to campus news. Almost a full century later, their initial endeavor has transformed into The Mossy Log, a bustling student newspaper that informs, challenges, engages, and entertains the Palatine Hill community.
Literary Review: 50th
The 2022–23 academic year marks the 50th anniversary the Lewis & Clark Literary Review, a student-run initiative that showcases creativity while providing experience in magazine production. The Literary Review publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art made by students, faculty, and staff of the college.
Overseas Study Program: 60th
In fall 1962, Lewis & Clark launched its overseas study program, sending a handful of students—including several first-year students— to Chile, England, Japan, Mexico, and Peru. As the reputation of the program grew, it achieved some notable firsts. In 1965, it became the first U.S. program to be invited to Hiroshima since the 1945 bombing, and the first to send students to study behind the Iron Curtain. After President Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972, Lewis & Clark was the first undergraduate college to initiate an exchange program with a Chinese university. More than 60 percent of Lewis & Clark students end up studying abroad, often in countries outside of Western Europe. Since 1962, more than 11,000 students have participated in the Lewis & Clark overseas study program.
Year of Study in Munich: 50th
Willkommen in München! Lewis & Clark launched the Year of Study in Munich at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in 1972. The program was one of the first full-year programs of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Participants take a deep dive into German language and culture while pursuing a wide range of courses offered by Lewis & Clark and LMU. Each year, 20 to 30 students from Lewis & Clark College, Northwestern University, Reed College, the University of Puget Sound, and other American institutions participate in the program.
