Dana, Marshall N. (Marshall Newport), 1885-1966

Marshall Newport Dana was a newspaperman and publicist.

From the description of Marshall Newport Dana papers, 1949-1962. (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 55670233

Marshall Newport Dana, journalist and civic leader, was born on October 17, 1885 in Milltown, Ohio.

He was educated at Denison University in Granville, Ohio and moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1908. He joined the Oregon Journal as a reporter, then rose to become editor of the Editorial Page from 1938 to 1951. He travelled to the Far East with General McArthur's forces in 1947, the first of several trips to Asia and other regions. He retired from the Oregon Journal in 1951 and the following year published his history of the newspaper. He then served as Assistant to the President of the United States National Bank in Portland until 1963, dealing with regional civic and business activities and writing a history of the bank. His interest in the development of harbors, waterways and conservation led him to serve on numerous public and private boards and panels, including Portland Commission of Public Docks, and the Northwest Regional Planning Commision, both of which he chaired. He was active in Portland civic affairs and authored many books, including Their world and ours (1949). He died in 1966. His second wife was historian and author Martha Ferguson McKeown.

From the description of Marshall N. Dana papers, 1869-1969 (bulk 1910-1966). (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 54354044

Marshall Newport Dana, journalist and civic leader, was born on October 17, 1885 in Milltown, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools of Newport, Ohio, Doane Academy, and Denison University in Granville, Ohio.

Dana moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1908 and joined the Oregon Journal as a reporter. After several years he was assigned to the editorial staff, advanced to Associate Editor in 1920, then editor of the Editorial Page from 1938 to 1951. He was chosen by the U.S. Department of War to go to the Far East with General McArthur's forces in 1947, the first of several trips to Asia. Other trips were to Alaska, the Canal Zone, Mexico and the Middle East.

Dana retired from the Oregon Journal in 1951 and the following year published his history of the paper, The first fifty years of the Oregon Journal . He then served as Assistant to the President of the United States National Bank in Portland until 1963, dealing with civic and business activities relating to the building of the state and region. He conducted extensive research and wrote on the history of the bank.

Dana's interest in the development of harbors, waterways and conservation led him to the following positions: member, Portland Commission of Public Docks 1954 to 1960 (Chairman in 1957, named Honorary Lifetime Commissioner in 1960); Chairman, Portland Metropolitan Waterfront Planning Committee; president, National Reclamation Association & Oregon Reclamation Association; National Rivers & Harbors Congress, Regional Director for the Northwest and member of its National Advisory Council; advisor for the National Recovery Act in the Pacific northwest (appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt); Works Progress Administration, Regional Chairman; National Resources Board, District Chairman; National Park Service, Consultant; Inland Empire Waterways Association, Regional Director; Portland Chamber of Commerce Waterways Committee; Agricultural and Recreational and Natural Resources Committees, Chairman and member; Columbia Basin Inter-Agency Committee Recreational Sub-Committee, Chairman; National Committee of Forest Credits; Northwest Rivers and Harbors Congress Projects and Resolutions Committee, Chairman; Master Harbor Plan, Chairman.

Other bodies on which Dana served were: Battleship Oregon Commission, Chairman; State Patrol Board; Oregon Economic Council; Pacific Ports Mayors and Chamber of Commerce; President's Conference, Osaka, Japan; Lewis & Clark Trail Commission; Boy Scouts of America, Oregon Branch; President; State & Portland Councils of Churches; Portland Symphony; Secretary, Highway Lifesavers; Linfield College Board of Trustees, Chairman; War Loans 1917-1918, Director; Oregon Tuberculosis Association, Director; Portland Presidents Council, President 1918-1920; Sons of American Revolution, President; Oregon and Portland Advertising Clubs, President; Pacific Coast Advertising Clubs Association, President; Northwest Regional Planning Commission, Chairman.

In 1951 Dana was chosen Oregon's Man of the Year, and in 1958 he received the U.S. Department of Interior's Conservation Service Award. Dana was also a member of the First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School. A lifelong democrat, he was urged to run for Governor in 1948 but declined. He was the author of many publications aside from his history of the Oregon Journal, including Mr. Tourist in Oregon (1915), More power to you (1934), and Their world and ours (1949).

Dana was married twice. His first wife was Nora Valentine Carl, whom he married in 1910. They had three children, Marjorie Elizabeth, Marshall Norman, and Mary Lois. Nora Dana died in 1959, and the following year Dana married the widow Martha Ferguson McKeown. He died at the age of 80 on 24 June 1966.

From the guide to the Marshall Newport Dana Papers, 1869-1969, 1910-1966, (Oregon Historical Society Research Library)