Evelyn Crowell

Evelyn Crowell (March 17, 1936 - June 5, 2017) was a librarian, author, speaker, activist, and community organizer in Portland, Oregon. She was the first single Black woman in Oregon to adopt children.

Life Born in Saginaw, Michigan on March 17, 1936, she moved with her father, grandfather, brother, and uncle to Oregon in 1942. They lived in North Portland and the men worked in the shipyards. She attended Boise Elementary school, the Girls Polytechnic High School, and Portland State College. She earned a Master's degree in library science from the University of Washington in 1960.

Community involvement and activism Evelyn Crowell was first Black Portland YWCA president and served the Portland Public Schools Board for one term. She was a generous donor to education and established numerous scholarships: The Evelyn I Crowell Endowed Opera Scholarship (PSU), The Evelyn I Crowell Endowed Theater and Film Scholarship (PSU), The Albert Crowell, Jr Memorial Scholarship (PSU), The Evelyn Crowell Scholarship through the PCC Foundation, and The Evelyn Crowell Endowed Scholarship (University of Portland).