Notson, Robert Carver

Robert Carver Notson was born in Lexington, Oregon on December 28, 1902, to Samuel Edward Notson (1867-1937) and Mary Ann Notson (nee Nelson), a family whose ancestors came to North America on the Mayflower. He attended grade school in Heppner, Oregon, and high school in Salem, Oregon. Notson’s career in journalism began at age twelve when he edited and printed a community newspaper, The Heppner Budget. While at Salem High School, Notson served as editor of The Clarion newspaper and The Clarion Annual. After graduating in 1920, he enrolled at Willamette University, where he wrote for The Collegian and edited The Wallulah yearbook his junior year. During his senior year Notson served as news editor of The Oregon Statesman. Notson also participated in debate teams both in high school and college and toured nationally with Willamette’s debate team. Notson’24 married classmate Adelia White’25 on June 5, 1926, and they had two children, Jane (Notson) Gregg ‘54 and Ann (Notson) Poling’57.

After graduating from Willamette Notson attended Columbia University School of Journalism in New York City, and then worked for the Brooklyn Eagle. He returned to Portland and was hired by The Oregonian to cover the Rose Festival in June of 1925, the start of a 50-year career at that newspaper.

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