About
Thanks to a generous donation from the Covert family, the Clark Library created a dedicated a gallery space in honor of Dr. James T. Covert. Dr. Covert had a long and influential career on the Bluff starting as an undergraduate from 1955 to 1959, then a history professor from 1961 to 1997, and as the founder and first director of the University Museum.
Documenting and preserving the University's history was one of Dr. Covert's passions. He authored A Point of Pride: The University of Portland Story and was further inspired to collect and preserve University-related artifacts including mascot heads, student nurse uniforms, and letterman sweaters.
Gallery Exhibits
Exhibits showcase the University's history and the scholarship and creativity of University students, faculty, and staff. Many of the exhibited items can also be seen online in the Pilot Scholars repository.
We welcome exhibit proposals. See exhibit information and proposal criteria.
Current Exhibit
June-October: Excellence in UP Women's Athletics
University of Portland women's intercollegiate athletics began 50 years ago with basketball (1977), soccer (1980), and cross country (1982). Since then, these teams have achieved multiple conference championships and three national championships as members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the West Coast Conference (WCC), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Cross Country started with just two athletes in 1980. Five years later, the women's team won UP's first NAIA national championship. In 1986, they became an NCAA Division I sport, earning NCAA bids in 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Led by coach Clive Charles (1989-2003), women's soccer became a nationally recognized program with eight College Cup appearances in the NCAA Final Four and two national championships (2002 and 2005).
The women's basketball team found success in the 1980's with three NAIA appearances between 1983 and 1985. Since moving to NCAA Division I, the Pilots have won multiple WCC championships and earned six playoff berths between 1994 and 2024.
