Historic Photo Archive

Portland’s first Black policeman.
George Hardin wearing his badge shortly after his appointment as a Multnomah County Deputy Sherrif in March, 1915. A Kewpie doll is attached to his radiator cap.
Since 1896, Hardin drove the Portland Police patrol wagon and had been a jailer. In 1914, Oregon voters approved a liquor prohibition law, and in March 1915 Multnomah county hired 20 additional deputies, inclucing Hardin. Prohibition in Oregon took effect beginning 1916, three years before the rest of the nation. Prohibition enforcement kept Hardin busy with liquor raids and smuggling busts.

Moving the photo archive to the Sellwood neighborhood from St. Johns. The office, drum scanners and collection of Portland city directories are now in a remodeled storefront at 8326 SE 17th. Over the course of this month all the filing cabinets, shelves, library and of course the darkroom are moving. I expect we will be fully functional by August.