Lewis & Clark College

Lewis & Clark College is a private liberal arts college located in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1867, the college operates on a residential campus in the Collins View neighborhood overlooking the Willamette River. Lewis & Clark College includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and Counseling, and the Law School. The institution is known for its emphasis on undergraduate liberal arts education, environmental studies, international affairs, and study abroad programs. Its Portland location and forested campus attract students interested in small class sizes, interdisciplinary learning, and engagement with social, environmental, and global issues.

Lewis & Clark College was founded in 1867 as Albany Collegiate Institute in Albany, Oregon, by Presbyterian pioneers seeking to provide higher education in the Willamette Valley. The Oregon Legislature granted its charter in 1867, and William J. Monteith served as the first president. The institution was coeducational from its early years, with its first graduating class in 1873. In 1905, the school became known as Albany College. Financial challenges during the Great Depression led to expansion efforts in Portland, and in 1939 the college relocated there. In 1942, after acquiring the Lloyd Frank "Fir Acres" estate in southwest Portland, the institution adopted the name Lewis & Clark College. After World War II, enrollment grew and new academic divisions developed, including the law school and graduate programs. Today, Lewis & Clark College continues to operate as a private liberal arts institution in Portland, Oregon.