Our History

1887 – Founding

Portland grew from a single cabin on a muddy riverbank to a fast growing frontier town. The population was predominantly male with an ample supply of saloons among the new buildings.

Some of the women, wives of prominent businessmen, became concerned about the welfare of the young women coming to town to work. They gathered in the Unitarian chapel and formed an organization that they called the “Portland Women’s Union.” The word “union” was borrowed from an Eastern social service agency and caused confusion during the time of organized labor.

Their lofty purpose was stated in their constitution: “. . . in order to forward and uphold the ideals and advancement of American womanhood, to establish a hotel for self-supporting young women, coming strangers to Portland, for a suitable residence, to provide counsel and assistance when necessary, and to minister to their well-being and happiness.”

First Residence Hall

Within 6 months after the Union's organization and through the energy of members and friends, a small building was purchased at 15th and Flanders streets from the Children's Home Society which has recently built a new home in South Portland. Member, Mrs. Mann made a generous donation, and it was called the Anna Lewis Hall in her honor. It accommodated twenty young women. They employed a manager and provided laundry and meals. Their goals exceeded protection and physical comfort. The PWU provided the cultural and social benefits of a home; furnishing a library, planning programs and concerts for the residents..

Financial support came from public-spirited citizens - a large membership donated a $1.00 membership fee. They gave annual balls in the Parson’s Hall or Portland Hotel to meet their annual deficit. The floral décor, music and gowns at these events were elegant. In addition, the events received good publicity.

1886 – Portland’s First Night School

PWU started a night school for working women with volunteer teachers offering arithmetic, grammar, penmanship and bookkeeping. It became so popular that young men clamored for admission. Miss Sabin, Public School Superintendent, assumed the management of Portland’s first night school.

1890 – Residence Hall Expansion

More space was urgently needed at Anna Lewis Hall. Subscriptions raised funding for the $9,000 addition; the Hall now accommodated sixty young women.

To help pay off the mortgage during the depression of 1890, PWU presented a Pardon and Kermis, an evening of grand entertainment, dinner and dancing in the old world tradition. Held at the Exposition Building, the event continued for a week and involved 500 participants as dancers and participants. Miss Eager came from New York to choreograph the dances; the dancers wore elaborate costumes. The dances and booth represented various countries. The PWU also offered matinees for children. The events raised $7,000 in total proceeds with a net income of $4,000 for the PWU. The PWU executed this event two times for the community.

1894 – “The Depot Matron and Traveler’s Aid”

Records show that in 1894 the union in conjunction with the Oregon Washington Railroad and Navigation Company, also known as the O.W.R. & N. Railroad Company, that money was collected toward the hiring of a “depot matron.” The depot matron had a desk at the railway or bus station, and her duty was to direct young women to ‘respectable” housing and employment.

The Union also began a “travelers’ aid” program with social agencies in the community. Volunteers of American, The Catholic Women’s League, Women’s Protective Division, and the Public Welfare Bureau. Its mission was to “provide protection, guidance, and aid to helpless women and girls forced to travel alone.” In 1905 over 9000 cares were handled. Members of the YWCA and also the Council of Jewish Women were also part of the Traveler’s Aid Committee.

1898 – Industrial School

PWU started an industrial school to teach sewing, gardening and the rudiments of housekeeping from dishwashing to making a bed. Classes were held at the Children’s Hall on North Seventh. Charges for the classes were fifteen cents a month.

1904 – Women’s Exchange

Concern for a worthy class of women who could not help themselves led the PWU to open a Women’s Exchange. The Exchange began with a table in the Portland Hotel and at the YWCA. It was considered the place to eat and meet your friends. At the Exchange, working women and men and shoppers could enjoy a hot, inexpensive lunch. Preserves and baked goods were for sale as well as beautiful embroidered linens. Later, the Exchange incorporated into a separate organization, relocating to Fourth and Alder and lasting until the start of World War I.

1905 – The Women’s Restroom

PWU made a great contribution to the World’s Fair, furnishing and staffing the Women’s Restroom. This tremendous accomplishment for such a small city must have involved every citizen.

1911-1924 – The Martha Washington Hotel for Women

By 1911, the Union acquired the quarter block at the corner of 10th and Montgomery for the site of their new boarding house through the generosity of Ms. Mann, who provided from various reports a sum of between $14,000 or 15,000 towards the purchase price - However 75,000 dollars was still needed to complete the project. So fundraising began. Mrs. Elliott R. Corbett, than the president of the union, along with her finance committee set off to get contributions from friends to start the new building fund. A. E Doyle was chosen as the architect and soon plans were underway.

The Union’s 1st president - Mrs. Burrell - had left a gift of 10,000 that was used towards the new building - which was being called The Martha Washington. Mrs. Corbett and her finance committee were successful in raising $35,000 through a plea to the public and $30,000 was borrowed from Penn Mutual.

The cornerstone was laid on January 29, 1917 in wet falling snow. In the small group that braved the storm were a number of Portland’s best-known women: Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Burrell, First President, Mrs. Jones, First Vice President, Mrs. Failing, Mrs. Helen Ladd Corbett, and several others who assisted in the organization of the PWU in May of 1887. Mrs. Jones placed a metal box containing the records of the PWU and a few other documents in the stone. A trowel of mortar sealed the box by the President, Mrs. Comstock, thus concluding the ceremonies.

The 4-story Martha Washington Hotel for Self-Supporting Women opened on October 21, 1917 as home to 90 female guests, with more classrooms, common areas, and even a gymnasium. The dedication and the 30th anniversary of the union were celebrated during a reception in the Hotel’s living room.

Soon they had such a large waiting list, it was decided to build an annex. It opened in 1924 was now able to accomodate 200 young women. 

1969 – The Martha Washington Hotel Moves

The Portland Development Commission purchased the Martha Washington Hotel building and Portland State University used it for dorms. The PWU purchased the Campbell Court Hotel at Eleventh and Main, renaming it the Martha Washington hotel for women. They advertised the modern downtown appeal and low rates that included meals and many amenities.

1983 – Hotel sold, Foundation Established

During the 1970’s the hotel started to see vacancy rates from 15 to 60 percent over the next decade and the Martha was incurring annual operating loses. The PWU decided that it was not financially feasible to continue operating a hotel for women in Portland. The PWU sold the hotel in January 1983 to the Rajneesh Investment Corporation and used the funds from the sale to establish a charitable foundation called the Portland Women’s Foundation (PWF). PWF retained rights to the name Martha Washington Hotel.

In 1986, the Rajneesh Investment Corporation sold the hotel building to Multnomah County, which used it as a work release center for county offenders. The Rajneesh Corporation paid the PWF Trust the balance of the money’s due to the PWU, as the Union had carried the loan themselves for the property.

1987 – 100 Years of Service

PWF celebrated one hundred years of service to women in the Portland community. The mission statement for PWF is to oversee the PWF trust fund and to grant financial assistance to agencies in the larger Portland community (Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington counties) that address the needs of women for housing, health, respite and child care while providing these women with the opportunity to achieve self-esteem and self-sufficiency.

2001

In 2001, in coordination with the Women’s Care Foundation, PWUF established the Women’s Technical Assistant Fund for the benefit of agencies receiving grants from one or both of the foundations.

2003

In 2003, the Portland Women’s Union website was launched

2007 - The Portland Women’s Union changed to Portland Women’s Foundation

The Foundation celebrated 120 years of service to the community; since the Foundation formed in 1987, 2.5 million dollars has been awarded to agencies serving women in the areas of housing, education, health, respite care and promoting self-sufficiency.

2008 - Renewed Focus

The Foundation narrowed the focus of grants to housing and education to promote self-sufficiency. Grant awards now include the opportunity for multi-year grants to increase the Foundation’s ability to meet the needs of agencies.

2009-2010 - Increased Community Need

In response to the increasing needs in our community, PWF initiated the Martha Washington Impact Grant - a 3-year $100,000 grant. The first grant was awarded in May to the Solid Ground Project of the Volunteers of America (VOA) - Home Free program. Solid Ground addresses a critical gap that prevents women from successfully escaping domestic violence by providing ongoing, targeted mental health counseling and support as women move beyond violence into independent living. As of April 2010, 3.36 million dollars has been granted to agencies since 1984.

2010 - 2012 The Foundation's Future

The stately Martha Washington apartments unveiled its stylish new look in a special grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.
During her lifetime, the Martha Washington Hotel has served as a women’s boarding house, a commune, a county restitution center, and now begins a new life in housing low-income women and others in need thanks to the Housing Authority of Portland. Quite a history!

The PWF licensed the name Martha Washington Hotel to the Housing Authority of Portland.

In 2011 the organization created a strategic plan to guide the organization for the next 5 years.

Sam Adams, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon proclaimed May 1, 2012 to be Portland Women's Foundation Day in honor of their 125 years of investing in women and strengthening the fabric of the greater Portland community. 

On June 4, 2012 the organization will celebrate their 125 year history with an event at the First Unitarian Church, where it all originally began. They will honor Sally McCracken as Outstanding Women Philanthropist and preview a documentary film "The Martha Washington & The Women Who Buit Her - The Portland Women's Union".  

The history information came from files at the Oregon Historical Society, with additions from PWF members, including Virginia Rupp Shearer, Ann Pierce, Sally Gram, Hazel Larpentur, Molly Bayless-Shank, Lynne Bangsund and Dana Plautz.