About Us - Historic Photos at Old Oregon

John Klatt  1948 - 2021

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the death of John Klatt, sole proprietor and passion behind Old Oregon Photos. This is a unique collection that has been curated and restored by John to encompass the Oregon Territory, focused on the Willamette Falls area and dated from the 1840s to the 1940s. They are chosen according to John’s “three-legged stool philosophy”, of artistic merit,  technical quality to allow bigger prints, and historical interest. His restorations were done with meticulous attention to detail so that the image is not only providing history but shines as a work of art.

John’s passion was for the history of the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Oregon territory. Between his photo collection and an extensive book and papers collection, he has provided background history for many of the photos. The West Linn Historical Society has John to thank as one of the founding board members.

John was multitalented with an interesting past that included missionary work in Mexico as a teenager, caring for patients in McLean Hospital in Boston to meet his requirements as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war, and being a part of the first communal vegetarian restaurant in Boston. With a move to Oregon and being a part of the communal Cherry Grove Conference Center his interest in Oregon history began. His experiences in Oregon ranged from used car salesman to becoming interested in the computer networking systems. With a move to the Willamette area of West Linn and the purchase of an historic home in need of restoration, he was hooked. His desire to write articles about local history led to the need for historical books for research and photos to go along with the stories. Once he retired, he was able to pursue his passion for history and restoration work full-time and Old Oregon Photos was born.

His legacy includes his library of books, papers, and restored photos. All have been donated to the Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition, centered at Willamette Falls. Under their care, Old Oregon Photos will continue to provide access for the purchase of the photos for prints or licensing for use in publications or other uses. Services may be limited initially as we work through the transition. A large portion of John’s collection details the visual history of the designated heritage area. His wish is that these images will continue to provide enjoyment and inform the historical record long into the future.

 John Klatt

The Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area Coalition formed in 2006.

It is a partnership of public, private and nonprofit organizations with a shared passion for the 56-river-mile heritage area: its rich heritage, natural beauty, agriculture and recreational opportunities. We are working collaboratively to see it established as a National Heritage Area.

To learn more about the Coalition, please follow the link ot our website.

History of Old Oregon Photos and John Klatt

He was a history buff and started collecting vintage photographs while writing history articles - wanting to invite readers into stories by illustrationg them with photos. As it turned out, the photos pulled him in, andhe began concentrating on images rather than words.

In early 2009 John began this website to share the images he had grown to love. He called it "Old Oregon", which to him meant the original Oregon Territory, allowing the inclusion of photographs from Washington and parts of other northwestern states. Early on he worked with other collectors, paying them royalties when prints of their images sold. More recent inclusions to the collection were from a few institutions, such as the Clackamas County Historical Society. He carfully restored each image, trying to realize the original intent of the photographer. He did not consider himself a photographer, though he briefly had his own darkroom years ago. Today the works are all digital - beginning with high-quality scans and making all of the changes in Photoshop and other software.

From John "Whether you choose to purchase prints for your home or business, or are just browsing the photos on this site, I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do. It's comforting to recall how we arrived here, and the perspectives of those who proceeded us."

John Klatt - Old Oregon