Pray tell…what is the “coffee campaign”? A campaign to get people to drink more coffee? A campaign to provide coffee to those in need of more coffee during the depression?
He likely served in The Great War. Survived the Great Influenza Epidemic. He stands in the midst of The Great Depression, burning sparse calories for bare minimum, perhaps volunteering to get hot coffee to people who clearly and dearly need it. The second Great War will come. And the Greatest Generation will be forged.
Maybe the coffee is for workers, maybe the homeless or unemployed, maybe the Bonus Army.
From coffee to compassion and service to community, from Walter Waters to Herbert Hoover, this photo evokes so much of the soul all decent Oregonians, then and now.
If any master researchers can put some context to this particular “Coffee Campaign”, that’d be much appreciated.
The only “Coffee Campaigns” in the early 1930’s I could find were sponsored by Safeway and Pay’n Takit.
On October 14, 1933, Safeway’s ad on p. 7 of the Oregonian reads: “Another Big Coffee Event! Our big Coffee Campaign this week is more than just a coffee sale! We’re going to strive mighty hard to prove to you that Safeway has a blend of coffee to suit your individual taste….” The ad advertises the Edwards coffee for 25 cents for a 2 pound can, Airway is 18 cents for 1 pound, and Nob Hill for 23cents a pound.
About six month later (April 13, 1934), The Oregon Daily Journal has a front-page story, “Pay’n Takit inaugurates Huge Campaign on Coffee: Great Organization-Wide Drive April 13 to 21 for New Coffee Customers Will Break all Records” characterizing this as a “major selling event” which “promises to be the most important drive of the year, the Spring Coffee Campaign.” Later in the article, a subheading reads, “Three Blends Fit All Tastes: Airway, Nob Hill and Edwards’ Dependable Among Largest Sellers in the Northwest.” This is followed by several paragraphs describing the flavor and aroma of the coffees.
On October 5, 1935, the Oregonian ran a Safeway ad on page 5 mentioning the same three brands, announcing that there is a contest for the month-long Fall Coffee Campaign, promising that fifty persons will win prizes: “All you do is get a supply of Contest slips at any of our stores, pass them out to your friends with your recommendation of our coffees. Isn’t that easy? Why not start right away and turn your spare time to advantage—you may win one of these big cash prizes!”
All those tin cups. Painful with hot coffee in them no doubt.
I like this in so many different ways.
Like others I have not found and information on the “Coffee Campaign”, but perhaps the city of Portland assisted by supplying coffee to the charitable organizations.
Oregonian April 10, 1932 Community Chest Caring For Many. — Five Organizations Regular Aid, Besides Call From Welfare Bureau.
Approximately 900 men have been receiving a meal a day at the Portland Commons, Front and Burnside Streets, but during March and so far in April, reports the Community Chest which has been meeting increased demands through its emergency allotments. These 900 men consume daily about 55 gallons of coffee, 18 gallons of cauliflower, 30 gallons of beans, 30 gallons of mashed potatoes, 25 gallons of rice pudding, 175 pounds of bread and 600 buns.
I would imagine that in 1932 the coffee campaign was an effort to give coffee to those people in soup line or other places where the unemployed gathered.
Liz, I haven’t thought of Pay’nTakit in decades. The only one I knew of was on Chautauqua and Fessenden. Loved their Aunt Jane’s pickles. Next to Chautauqua Bowl, which became the Portland Sports Arena.
Oregonian, May 6, 1932, pg. 22 (Parts illegible)
Free Coffee Given to Workers
A feature of the unemployment situation and one entirely unknown to the general public and unheralded by its sponsors is the furnishing of free coffee to all men on all the different jobs. This is the contribution of the Civil Service Employes’ association, who donate one day’s pay each moth for the purpose. Each day 125 gallons of coffee, together with milk and sugar is (illegible) trucks to the various (illegible).
And what a busy place (illegible) this coffee is made. One (illegible) twenty-five thermos (illegible) clean, 1200 tin cups is (illegible) wipe, with the proper (illegible) milk and sugar to (illegible) next day.
Vintage Portland 
This may have been the start of Starbucks!
Here’s an article from 1932 about The Bonus Army movement in which Portland played a notable part…
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/marching-on-history-75797769/
Here’s an article timelining Portlands coffee history…
https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2016/12/java_flashback_what_portlands.html
Pray tell…what is the “coffee campaign”? A campaign to get people to drink more coffee? A campaign to provide coffee to those in need of more coffee during the depression?
Still looking for info on Coffee Campaign. Coffee was in the news from 1931 to 1944 economically & politically.
https://dailycoffeenews.com/2021/09/22/90-years-ago-seeking-salvation-brazil-burned-billions-of-pounds-of-coffee/
He likely served in The Great War. Survived the Great Influenza Epidemic. He stands in the midst of The Great Depression, burning sparse calories for bare minimum, perhaps volunteering to get hot coffee to people who clearly and dearly need it. The second Great War will come. And the Greatest Generation will be forged.
Maybe the coffee is for workers, maybe the homeless or unemployed, maybe the Bonus Army.
https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/bonus_army/#.Yo-aci-B1QI
From coffee to compassion and service to community, from Walter Waters to Herbert Hoover, this photo evokes so much of the soul all decent Oregonians, then and now.
If any master researchers can put some context to this particular “Coffee Campaign”, that’d be much appreciated.
The only “Coffee Campaigns” in the early 1930’s I could find were sponsored by Safeway and Pay’n Takit.
On October 14, 1933, Safeway’s ad on p. 7 of the Oregonian reads: “Another Big Coffee Event! Our big Coffee Campaign this week is more than just a coffee sale! We’re going to strive mighty hard to prove to you that Safeway has a blend of coffee to suit your individual taste….” The ad advertises the Edwards coffee for 25 cents for a 2 pound can, Airway is 18 cents for 1 pound, and Nob Hill for 23cents a pound.
About six month later (April 13, 1934), The Oregon Daily Journal has a front-page story, “Pay’n Takit inaugurates Huge Campaign on Coffee: Great Organization-Wide Drive April 13 to 21 for New Coffee Customers Will Break all Records” characterizing this as a “major selling event” which “promises to be the most important drive of the year, the Spring Coffee Campaign.” Later in the article, a subheading reads, “Three Blends Fit All Tastes: Airway, Nob Hill and Edwards’ Dependable Among Largest Sellers in the Northwest.” This is followed by several paragraphs describing the flavor and aroma of the coffees.
On October 5, 1935, the Oregonian ran a Safeway ad on page 5 mentioning the same three brands, announcing that there is a contest for the month-long Fall Coffee Campaign, promising that fifty persons will win prizes: “All you do is get a supply of Contest slips at any of our stores, pass them out to your friends with your recommendation of our coffees. Isn’t that easy? Why not start right away and turn your spare time to advantage—you may win one of these big cash prizes!”
All those tin cups. Painful with hot coffee in them no doubt.
I like this in so many different ways.
Like others I have not found and information on the “Coffee Campaign”, but perhaps the city of Portland assisted by supplying coffee to the charitable organizations.
Oregonian April 10, 1932 Community Chest Caring For Many. — Five Organizations Regular Aid, Besides Call From Welfare Bureau.
Approximately 900 men have been receiving a meal a day at the Portland Commons, Front and Burnside Streets, but during March and so far in April, reports the Community Chest which has been meeting increased demands through its emergency allotments. These 900 men consume daily about 55 gallons of coffee, 18 gallons of cauliflower, 30 gallons of beans, 30 gallons of mashed potatoes, 25 gallons of rice pudding, 175 pounds of bread and 600 buns.
I would imagine that in 1932 the coffee campaign was an effort to give coffee to those people in soup line or other places where the unemployed gathered.
Liz, I haven’t thought of Pay’nTakit in decades. The only one I knew of was on Chautauqua and Fessenden. Loved their Aunt Jane’s pickles. Next to Chautauqua Bowl, which became the Portland Sports Arena.
Oregonian, May 6, 1932, pg. 22 (Parts illegible)
Free Coffee Given to Workers
A feature of the unemployment situation and one entirely unknown to the general public and unheralded by its sponsors is the furnishing of free coffee to all men on all the different jobs. This is the contribution of the Civil Service Employes’ association, who donate one day’s pay each moth for the purpose. Each day 125 gallons of coffee, together with milk and sugar is (illegible) trucks to the various (illegible).
And what a busy place (illegible) this coffee is made. One (illegible) twenty-five thermos (illegible) clean, 1200 tin cups is (illegible) wipe, with the proper (illegible) milk and sugar to (illegible) next day.