History in black and white

By Chelsea Yarnell

For the TODAY

Letitia Carson was born enslaved, but died in Oregon a free woman.

“In 1854, she brought an unprecedented lawsuit against a white man over the illegal sale of her property and won,” said Oregon Black Pioneers Executive Director Zachary Stocks. “In 1869, she became the first Black woman in the nation to receive a federal Homestead Act patent. Through Letitia’s story, one can trace the challenges and opportunities that Oregon offered for Black Americans of the pioneer era.”

The Oregon Black Pioneers’ traveling exhibit “Letitia Carson: An Enduring Spirit of Hope and Freedom” will be on display at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum from Feb. 1 through March 29. On the final day of the exhibit, Stocks will give a presentation about Carson, who was a rancher, farmer, midwife and one of the first Black women to live in Oregon.

Oregon Black Pioneers is Oregon's only statewide African American historical society.

“We work to research and share the history of people of African descent in Oregon through exhibits, public presentations, digital projects, lesson plans and much more,” Stocks said.

Peyton Tracy, executive director of the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, felt it was important to bring the exhibit to Tillamook, not only because it related to pioneering history, but because of Tillamook County’s past.

“I was really astounded by the depth of [Oregon Black Pioneers’] research and all of their projects,” he said. “We immediately wanted to work with them because in particular Tillamook County has a history of being a ‘sundown town.’ We have, unfortunately, a fairly racist historical background in terms of hate groups being really prevalent in the area.”

The museum previously contracted with the Oregon Black Pioneers organization to create a panel featuring Marcus Lopez, an indentured Black sailor aboard Captain Robert Gray’s ship. Upon landing on the shore of Tillamook Bay, Lopez was killed in a skirmish with the local indigenous people. After the incident, Gray named the area “Murder’s Harbor.”

“The panel is on display at the museum,” Tracy said. “We wanted that to have a place in the museum as a part of our regular interpretation.”

Stocks will also present "Oregon's Black History: 450 Years in 45 Minutes” at Nehalem’s North County Recreation District on Feb. 8. Admission is $10 with proceeds benefiting the Nehalem Valley Historical Society.

“This is our primary presentation and is a general overview of the key moments in Oregon's Black history,” Stocks said. “Our hope is that attendees will gain new knowledge and a greater appreciation for the struggles and perseverance of our local African American communities.”

In November, Oregon Black Pioneers, with support from the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, launched a special merchandise line of re-imagined logos of historic, coastal, Black-owned businesses.

“We chose a few of our favorites and worked with a designer to imagine logos for these long-gone businesses,” Stocks said.

Purchase a mug and learn about the history of Paquita & Zarate’s roadside stand, a business located in Lincoln City owned by Black jazz singer Myrtle Watkins “Paquita” and Mexican musician Samuel Zarate from 1962 to 1968. Together, the couple were a house act for a Depoe Bay hotel. They also sold ice cream, candy, seashells and driftwood from their covered wagon style stand.

Or, buy a logo sticker and learn about Alvin McCleary, who worked as a fisherman out of Waldport before opening McCleary’s Meats butcher shop with locations in Waldport and Newport between 1900 and 1910. He eventually went on to be the dining room manager at the Wakefield Hotel.

“It’s a fun way for us to share history while also creating some cool, branded products,” Stocks said.

For more information and to shop for the special merchandise series, go to oregonblackpioneers.org or shop.visittheoregoncoast.com.

Oregon Black Pioneers presentations:

Saturday, Feb. 8

"Oregon's Black History: 450 Years in 45 Minutes” 

North County Recreation District, 36155 9th Street, Nehalem. 3:30 pm. $10.

Saturday, March 29

Letitia Carson Talk

Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, 2106 Second Street, Tillamook. Time TBD.

Sunday, April 13

Oregon’s Black Exclusion Laws

Yachats Commons, 441 Hwy. 101 N. Time TBD.