In 1932, Ted Jordan Jr. was a young black man on the way up, so he took a competitive examination for a better-paying Southern Pacific Railroad job. He got a higher score than a young white man, but a special agent for the SP decided no black man should triumph over a white.

On March 7, 1911, President Taft mobilized 20,000 troops on the Mexican border with orders to cross into Mexico if needed to protect 40,000 U.S. residents and American businesses during the Mexican Revolution.

Some presidents play golf, others retreat to their ranches or luxury beach resorts, but the 31st president, Herbert Hoover, found relaxation in fly fishing. He said fishing “reduces our egoism, soothes our troubles and shames our wickedness.” Hoover grew up in Oregon and his favorite place to fish was the Rogue River.

Michigan timberman L. G. Porter was one of the first settlers in Medford, Ore., after purchasing timberland around Prospect in the 1890s.

The Fort Klamath to Jacksonville Military Wagon Road that soldiers built in 1865 under the command of Capt. Franklin Sprague improved transportation routes in Southern Oregon.

In 1921, Oregon became the first U.S. state through its State Board of Aeronautics to begin licensing pilots and certifying handmade aircraft. Five years later the federal Air Commerce Act declared the aircraft “unsafe and illegal,” and those who continued to build and fly them became known as “Oregon Outlaws.”

The U.S. Army rushed to build an airport in Lakeview, Ore., in 1942, completing two 5,200-foot-long runways in 18 months.

As World War II continued to rage overseas in January 1942, the U. S. Navy and other federal agencies called for assistance from regional and local groups.

Born in 1846, Annie Gaines loved the outdoors, and no obstacle seemed too great for her when she wanted adventure.

In 1893, John L. Childs installed improved printing equipment at the Crescent City News . His previous press, a Ben Franklin model, was still serviceable, so he leased it to the Harbor (Ore.) Herald.