Medieval Portland

Overview

Medieval Portland gathers resources connected with the premodern and early modern past of Europe and the Middle East that are now found in Portland collections. Much of the work, which is housed in our Medieval Portland website, was created by students in the Medieval Portland Capstone taught by Anne McClanan, Professor of Art History at Portland State University.

Objects

The Medieval Portland database offers the opportunity to explore hundreds of objects from our community. Most of the pre- or early-modern works are from places we now label as Europe and the Middle East and are housed in the larger Portland, Oregon region. Items include manuscripts and early printed book leaves, but there are also paintings, sculptures, lamps, glass, metalwork, and more.

The following collections are currently all or partly included:

• Lane Community College Library
• Mount Angel Abbey Library Illuminated Manuscripts
• Multnomah County Library Wilson Rare Book Room
• Portland Art Museum Gilkey Collection
• Portland State University Library Special Collections
• Portland State University Middle East Studies Center Bogue Lamp Collection 
• Reed College Library Special Collections
• Reed College Cooley Art Gallery
• University of Portland Library
• Willamette University Library Special Collections

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by the many people at each institution who have given ongoing and generous guidance to the Medieval Portland Capstone students over the years of the project.

Buildings

In addition to the Medieval Portland objects that have found their way to the Pacific Northwest, the capstone students have also researched aspects of the built environment that have been shaped by the medieval past.

Regional Research Resources

Want to know more? In addition to researching these structures at your university library, the Architectural Heritage Center and the Oregon Historical Center libraries often have valuable resources in this area as well.

Experiences

Music

The Portland area is lucky enough to have a varied and active set of groups that perform and bring to the area performances of early music.

• Cappella Romana 
• Early Music Guild of Oregon
• In Mulieribus
• Phil and Gayle Newman Historic Instruments
• Portland Baroque Orchestra

Teaching

We’ve developed a number of resources to support teachers (Links to be activated soon)

• Study Guides
• Assignments
• Community Outreach

Learning

We hope that this project has piqued your interest in discovering more about the medieval world. At the university level, courses are taught that delve into this period all across the city, including Lewis and Clark College, Reed College, and the University of Portland, and of course here at Portland State.

You can learn about Medieval Studies in many different ways even within one institution. At Portland State, you can earn a Medieval Studies Minor, focus on the Middle Ages in the Interpreting the Past Cluster, or take individual classes in the Art History, English, History, Music + Theater, and World Languages + Literature programs.

Don’t forget the Medieval Portland Capstone, too!