Reid Blackburn Collection

2.5 linear feet

This collection consists of photo negatives taken by Reid Blackburn during his time at Linfield University. The collection spans from 1971 to 1976. It includes campus candids, photos of faculty, sports, and more.

Arranged in 1 series of 35mm photographic slides, nominally in alphabetical order by subject. Arranged in 7 boxes.

Access is by appointment only. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment.

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• English

https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1044&context=lca_findingaids

Donated by Fay Blackburn on July 19, 2019.

Jereld R. Nicholson Library, Linfield University

Summary: This collection contains photos taken by Reid Blackburn during his time at Linfield University and spans from 1971 to 1976.

Biographical Note: Reid Blackburn was born in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 11, 1952. His family moved to Oregon in 1962. He attended Wilson High School in Portland. His time there was when he first became interested in photography. By the time he started at Linfield University, then College, he had already chosen photojournalism as his career.

Reid loved the outdoors and could often be found backpacking, bicycling, mountain climbing, and cross-country skiing. He had climbed Mount St. Helens at least 3 times. Reid also loved music and taught himself how to play the guitar, the mandolin, and the flute.

Reid met his wife, Fay (Mall) Blackburn when they both worked at The Columbian in the 1970’s. They were married in 1979 and spent a week hiking around the perimeter of Mount Hood to celebrate. At the age of 27, Reid was killed in the unexpected eruption of Mount St. Helens. Reid agreed to camp at a site above Coldwater Creek to capture photos of the mountain for a collaboration between National Geographic magazine and Geological Survey. The mountain’s conical top had collapsed in the largest landslide in recorded history that let loose a lateral blast that devastated 150 square miles of forest on the mountain's northwest side. Reid was found in his car after it was uncovered 4 days after the explosion.

Processed by archives technicians Sofia Zielinski and Olivia Rogers-Koch, with the assistance of archivist Rich Schmidt.