City seeks Black history archives by Dec. 15

The city of Eugene is accepting public submissions of stories, photographs, and documents through Dec. 15, 2026. These materials will help finalize a Black History context statement currently in progress.

Lorna Flormoe, an equity and access planner for the city, stated that historical records are incomplete. She noted that history has often been passed from grandparents to grandchildren, meaning the full record may never be complete. The city aims to capture as much of this information as possible.

Eugene and the state of Oregon have historically been unwelcoming to Black residents. However, communities existed and thrived in the area. One such community was located on the north side of the Willamette River, an area now occupied by Alton Baker Park. This neighborhood was known as the across the bridge community.

In the first phase of the project, the city partnered with Oregon Black Pioneers to gather oral histories. They interviewed families that have remained in Eugene for generations. Fabio Andrade, manager of the office of Equity and Community Engagement, said these elders described their arrival in Eugene and the hardships they faced.

Andrade added that the interviews also captured details of daily life. He said the elders described the resilience of the community and the joy found in mutual support. These accounts provide a picture of how Black families survived and thrived in Eugene.

The city is now expanding its request to the general public. Andrade said the goal is to better understand the experiences of people living in the 1940s and 1950s. The project also seeks to understand why some families are no longer in the city.

Submissions are open until Dec. 15, 2026. The collected materials will serve as the foundation for the final Black History context statement.