History

The Eugene Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded and chartered by the national office of the Association in 1976. The Eugene Branch was the third NAACP local chapter to function in the state of Oregon following the Portland Branch (1914) and the Klamath Falls Branch (1947). The founding members of the Eugene Branch included: Rev. Michael Jackson, Corvallis native Calvin O.L. Henry, Mattie Reynolds, Larry Carter, Dr. Ed and Charmaine Coleman, and long-time Branch President Willie Polite.

After a twelve year reign as president, Willie Polite was succeeded by Charles Dalton. Dalton was instrumental in extending the scope and influence of the Eugene Branch in the local metropolitan area by re-chartering the branch in 1989 as the Eugene/Springfield Branch NAACP.