Edward and Donna Caldwell Collection, 1951-2012

Title: Edward and Donna Caldwell Collection, 1951-2012

Predominant Dates: 1959-2003

ID: MSS EDCaldwell

Primary Creator: Caldwell, Donna (1941-)

Extent: 0.35 cubic feet. More info below.

Date Acquired: 00/00/2021

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

The Edward and Donna Caldwell Collection consists of materials generated and assembled by alumni Edward and Donna Drinkard Caldwell documenting their receipt of awards for student scholarship at Oregon State University, and their careers as pharmacists in the Portland area.

Along with Donna's research papers and a draft of her graduate thesis, other materials in this collection that reflect the Caldwells' student experience include correspondence, event programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, publications, certificates, academic transcripts, and artifacts.

The Caldwells' pharmacy careers are primarily illustrated through newspaper clippings and photographs, but also through nametags and professional licenses issued by the State Board of Pharmacy. Edward's Portland Center Pharmacy is reflected in newspaper stories, photographs, and a flyer announcing its grand opening in 1971.

The Caldwells' involvement on organizational boards and committee is reflected in correspondence, newspaper clippings, and certificates. Among the publications is a 2012 calendar printed by the Portland organization "The Coalition of Black Men" that celebrates Edward as a distinguished member of the local African-American community.

Lawrence Edward Caldwell Jr. was born in Portland, Oregon on February 3, 1933. He resided there until graduation from Washington High School in 1952 after which he enlisted with the U.S. Army and served with the 88th Reconnaissance Company.

Donna Drinkard was born in 1941 and grew up in the vicinity of Harrisburg, Oregon.

Edward and Donna went on to attend Oregon State University where they pursued coursework in the School of Pharmacy and earned undergraduate degrees in 1960 and 1963, respectively. As students, both Edward and Donna submitted papers that were awarded the national Kilmer Prize for research in pharmacognosy. Donna also won the Newcomb Prize for her student scholarship.

When Edward graduated in 1960, he was the first African-American enrolled at Oregon State University to earn a degree from the School of Pharmacy. After receiving her bachelor's degree, Donna continued to pursue graduate work at the OSU College of Pharmacy and earned a masters degree in 1968.

Professionally, Edward and Donna began their pharmacy careers in Portland, where they remained for the duration of their working lives. Interested in pharmacy work in a hospital setting, Donna worked as a staff pharmacist at Providence Hospital and then within the Kaiser Permanente network, where she remained until retirement in 2002. She also served as an instructor in pharmacology with the Clackamas Community College School of Nursing from 1968 to 1971. Edward worked at Providence Hospital and Riggs Pharmacy until 1971, when he opened up the Portland Center Pharmacy. When Edward started the business, Portland Center Pharmacy became the first African-American owned pharmacy in Oregon. After the business closed in 1986, Edward returned to Providence and worked in the St. Vincent Medical Center's outpatient pharmacy until retirement in 2003.

In 1968, Donna and Edward were married and together they raised two sons.

The Caldwells were active in professional and community organizations and they were both longtime members of the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) and it's Oregon Chapter. Donna's interest in postmenopausal hormone replacement research prompted her to serve on advisory committees within Kaiser and the Oregon Health Resources Commission relating to policies governing estrogen therapy.

In addition to his involvement in ASHP and the Oregon Society of Pharmacists, Edward served on the boards for a number of regional non-profit organizations, including the Portland Rose Festival Association, the William Temple House, and the Parry Center. He was known for his deep love of jazz and helped to organize music events for the Rose Festival.

Edward died in 2010.

More Extent Information: 18 photographs; 1 box

Statement on Access: This collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: These materials were donated to the OSU Special Collections and Archives Research Center by Dalene Nelson in 2021.

Related Materials: Other collections that document students and faculty in the College of Pharmacy include: the College of Pharmacy Records (RG 105); the School of Pharmacy Photographic Collection (P 166); the Leo Sciuchetti Collection (MSS Sciuchetti); and the Adolph Ziefle Photograph Collection (P 076). Oral history collections that contain interviews with OSU pharmacy faculty can be found in the Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Collection (OH 26) and the Voices of OSU Oral History Collection (OH 009).

Preferred Citation: Edward and Donna Caldwell Collection (MSS EDCaldwell), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Caldwell, Donna (1941-)
Caldwell, Edward (1933-2010)

Oregon State University--Alumni and alumnae.
Oregon State University. School of Pharmacy
Pharmacists--Oregon.
Pharmacy--Research.

Artifacts (object genre)
Photographic prints.