Description

During his time in Portland Denorval Unthank would serve the black community as both physician and civil rights leader. Dr. Unthank moved to Portland in 1929 after graduating from Howard University to treat black employees at the Union Pacific Railway and in a few years he would be the only African-American physician in Portland. Early in his career Dr. Unthank was forced to relocate both his practice and home after opposition from white residents. While Dr. Unthank would later lead the fight against such injustice as co-founder of the Urban League and head of the NAACP; he also served as the first African American member of the City Club of Portland & a member of the Pacific Northwest Council of the YMCA. As a medical practitioner he continued to treat patients, both black and white, until his retirement in 1970. He is shown here with sisters Terry (left) and Dorris Alexander. Find more information on Dr. DeNorval Unthank in the Oregon Encyclopedia https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/unthank_denorval_1899_1977_/#.Wvn5fKQvxaQ

Record Contributed By

Oregon Historical Society Research Library

Record Harvested From

Northwest Digital Heritage