University Club of Portland

Rooted in Portland. Shaped by Purpose. The idea for the University Club of Portland began not in a boardroom, but in a riverside tavern. In December of 1897, a group of Yale alumni gathered over drinks on the Portland waterfront and sparked a conversation about creating a place where educated minds could connect across professions, alma maters, and ideas.Just six months later, on May 2, 1898, that idea became real. A group of distinguished graduates met in the office of architect William M. Whidden, an MIT alumnus who was immediately elected the Club’s first president. Joined by L. Allen Lewis of Princeton, Ralph Bisbee of Harvard, and William L. Brewster of Amherst, the founding board reflected both prestige and intention: to establish a community that valued intellectual exchange, civic leadership, and lasting camaraderie.The original Charter was signed by 56 alumni representing 26 colleges and universities. While many charter members hailed from Eastern institutions like Yale, Harvard, Amherst, and MIT, the group also included graduates from Western universities like Oregon, Stanford, Utah, and California, signaling an early commitment to both tradition and growth. In its earliest years, the Club held meetings in borrowed spaces across the city, including the office of the Multnomah County Republican Club, where in 1898 the initiation fee and dues were set: just one dollar per month. By 1900, the Club had leased its first semi-permanent space, an unfurnished room above Sixth and Alder, and soon after moved to a full suite of rooms in the Failing Estate building at Third and Washington. Here, members gathered for lunch, cocktails, conversation, and live entertainment by some of Portland’s most beloved musicians.Those who wanted a full dinner would walk to Quells Restaurant at Fourth and Alder for a T-bone steak, a downtown indulgence that cost 75 cents at the time. The Club was officially incorporated on June 24, 1901, and after more than a decade in temporary quarters, members came together to invest in a permanent future. In 1912, they purchased the site where the Club still stands today; a landmark location in the heart of downtown. Just a year later, in 1913, the current clubhouse opened its doors.Designed by the architectural firm of Whidden & Lewis, the new building was a reflection of Portland’s rising civic ambition and the shared commitment of the Club’s membership. From the beginning, it was a member-owned endeavor, both financially and philosophically. Members didn’t just build the Club; they became stewards of its future, ensuring that decisions would reflect shared values and collective vision for generations to come. With elegant gathering rooms, rich woodwork, and a dedicated library, the building was more than a clubhouse. It was a sanctuary for ideas, relationships, and community. A physical expression of the Club’s purpose and permanence. In a thoughtful and uncommon move for the era, the University Club’s 1913 building was designed with dedicated spaces for women, spaces that were used from the Club’s earliest days. While women did not hold full membership at the time, they were active participants in the life of the Club through the women’s annex, located at what is now known as the Jefferson Street entrance and coworking area. These spaces offered room for gathering, hosting, and connection, long before such inclusion was standard.That early presence laid the groundwork for change. In 1984, the Club formally welcomed its first woman to full membership and expanded its policy to include all individuals, regardless of gender. It was a defining moment that reflected the Club’s broader commitment to evolve alongside the city it calls home.Today, the University Club is a multigenerational and multidisciplinary community, one that brings together individuals and families with a diversity of backgrounds, professions, and perspectives. The Club continues to grow, shaped not only by its legacy, but by the pe