Chester Orloff
Encyclopedia
Chester Lloyd "Chet" Orloff (born February 22, 1949) is a historian, writer and professor in Portland, Oregon
, called "one of [Oregon's] favorite history teachers" by The Oregonian
.
to business financier Monford Orloff
and Janice Diamond Orloff, and raised in Washington and Portland, Oregon. His brother is physicist Jon Orloff
. Orloff attended Lincoln High School, went to Boston University
to prepare for law school, then transferred to the University of Oregon
where he ran under legendary track coach Bill Bowerman
. Orloff studied anthropology at University of Oregon, graduating in 1972 with a degree in archaeology
. Orloff later received a masters degree in history and historical agency administration from Portland State University.
area of Portland. He is vocal about Portland history and politics.
and lived and taught in Afghanistan
with his wife until 1975. They returned to Portland where he interned at the Oregon Historical Society
(OHS), then became assistant director from 1982 to 1986. In 1987 he left OHS and founded the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society in Pasadena, California
. In 1991, he returned to OHS as executive director, replacing Bill Tramposch, who had resigned after a tumultuous two-year tenure in which approximately 30 staff members had resigned due to complaints about Tramposch's leadership style. He held this position for ten years, retiring at the end of 2000. Orloff was the founder and editor of the journal Western Legal History and was the Senior Editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly.
In 2001, Orloff assembled a Columbia River
maritime museum in a concourse at the Portland International Airport
. It was "98 percent complete" as of the September 11 attacks, which limited visitors to ticketed passengers.
Orloff is an adjunct professor of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University
and an instructor at the University of Oregon
School of Architecture. He is also principal of Oregon History Works, a consulting firm for historical applications in design and development, president of Museum of the City and has served on the Portland Planning Commission, Portland Landmarks Commission, Regional Arts and Culture Counsel, Portland Parks Board, Center City 2035 Plan Committee, (co-chair), and other various assignments.
Chapter and article contributions
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, called "one of [Oregon's] favorite history teachers" by The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
.
Early life
Orloff was born in Bellingham, WashingtonBellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
to business financier Monford Orloff
Monford Orloff
Monford Arthur Orloff was an American businessman, financier, lawyer and philanthropist. He was married to Janice Orloff and had three children Jon, Carole and Chester. Mr...
and Janice Diamond Orloff, and raised in Washington and Portland, Oregon. His brother is physicist Jon Orloff
Jon Orloff
Jon Orloff is an American physicist, author and professor. He is the eldest son of the lumber mogul Monford Orloff and brother of pianist Carole Orloff and historian Chester Orloff...
. Orloff attended Lincoln High School, went to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
to prepare for law school, then transferred to the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
where he ran under legendary track coach Bill Bowerman
Bill Bowerman
William Jay "Bill" Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers...
. Orloff studied anthropology at University of Oregon, graduating in 1972 with a degree in archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. Orloff later received a masters degree in history and historical agency administration from Portland State University.
Personal life
Orloff lives in the Willamette HeightsSouthwest Hills, Portland, Oregon
Southwest Hills is a neighborhood in the West Hills in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States. The northeastern part of the neighborhood, above Goose Hollow and Downtown Portland, is known as Portland Heights...
area of Portland. He is vocal about Portland history and politics.
Career
Orloff enlisted in the Peace CorpsPeace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
and lived and taught in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
with his wife until 1975. They returned to Portland where he interned at the Oregon Historical Society
Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon Historical Society is an organization that encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of the Oregon Country, within the broader context of U.S. history. Incorporated in 1898, the Society collects, preserves, and makes available materials of historical character...
(OHS), then became assistant director from 1982 to 1986. In 1987 he left OHS and founded the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. In 1991, he returned to OHS as executive director, replacing Bill Tramposch, who had resigned after a tumultuous two-year tenure in which approximately 30 staff members had resigned due to complaints about Tramposch's leadership style. He held this position for ten years, retiring at the end of 2000. Orloff was the founder and editor of the journal Western Legal History and was the Senior Editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly.
In 2001, Orloff assembled a Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
maritime museum in a concourse at the Portland International Airport
Portland International Airport
Portland International Airport is a joint civil-military airport and the largest airport in the U.S. state of Oregon, accounting for 90% of passenger travel and more than 95% of air cargo of the state. It is located within Portland's city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah...
. It was "98 percent complete" as of the September 11 attacks, which limited visitors to ticketed passengers.
Orloff is an adjunct professor of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
and an instructor at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
School of Architecture. He is also principal of Oregon History Works, a consulting firm for historical applications in design and development, president of Museum of the City and has served on the Portland Planning Commission, Portland Landmarks Commission, Regional Arts and Culture Counsel, Portland Parks Board, Center City 2035 Plan Committee, (co-chair), and other various assignments.
Selected publications
Author/editor- Western Legal History Volume 2, Number 2, Chet Orloff, editor, 1989, Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society
- Portland's Public Art: A Guide and History, Norma Catherine Gleason and Chet Orloff, 1986, ISBN 0875950590
- Willamette Heights: a history, 1980
- Gifts that preserve Oregon's past for the future, 1980
Chapter and article contributions
- Museums of Cities and the Future of Cities, in Robert R. Macdonald's City Museums and City Development, 2008, ISBN 0759111804
- If Zealously Promoted by All: The Push and Pull of Portland Parks History, in The Portland Edge: Challenges and Successes In Growing Communities, 2008, Connie Ozawa, editor, ISBN 1559636955
- Maintaining Eden: John Charles Olmsted and the Portland Park System, in Yearbook of the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers 66, 2004