Photograph of Lola Knutson, representing the Bagdad Theatre, waving as she walks across an outdoor stage during a beauty contest at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929. She is wearing heels, a sash with the words “Miss Bagdad Theatre” printed on it, and a swimming suit. Musicians are playing on the stage behind her. Knutson was one of 23 women to participate in the beauty contest at a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. She took second prize in the contest. A brief story about the contest and picnic was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, under the headline “Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp.”

Photograph of Lola Knutson, representing the Bagdad Theatre, smiling and posing with one hand on her hip as others look on in the background. She is wearing heels, a sash with the words “Miss Bagdad Theatre” printed on it, and a swimming suit. Knutson took second place in a beauty contest held at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929, as part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. The contest had 23 participants, each representing a business or organization. A cropped version of this photograph was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, alongside pictures of Jerry Chenoweth (image No. 371N3050), who won the contest, and Mary Benoit (image No. 371N3052), who took third place. The photographs were published under the headline "East Side's Winning Maids," and accompanied a short article about the contest, titled "Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp."

Photograph of Jerry Chenoweth, representing the Oriental Theatre, smiling and posing with one hand on her hip as others look on in the background. She is wearing heels, a swimming suit, and a sash with the words “Miss Oriental Theatre” printed on it. Chenoweth won a beauty contest held at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929, as part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. The contest had 23 participants, each representing a business or organization. A cropped version of this photograph was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, alongside pictures of Lola Knutson (image No. 371N3047), who took second place, and Mary Benoit (image No. 371N3052), who was third. The photographs were published under the headline "East Side's Winning Maids," and accompanied a short article about the contest, titled "Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp."

Photograph of Mary Benoit, representing Sears Roebuck Co., smiling and posing with one hand on her hip as others look on in the background. She is wearing heels, a swimming suit, and a sash with the words “Miss Sears Roebuck Co.” printed on it. Benoit took third place in a beauty contest held at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929, as part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. The contest had 23 participants, each representing a business or organization. A cropped version of this photograph was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, alongside pictures of Jerry Chenoweth (image No. 371N3050), who won the contest, and Lola Knutson (image No. 371N3047), who took second place. The photographs were published under the headline "East Side's Winning Maids," and accompanied a short article about the contest, titled "Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp."

Photograph of Jerry Chenoweth, representing the Oriental Theatre, walking across an outdoor stage during a beauty contest at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929. She is wearing heels and a swimming suit. Musicians are playing on the stage behind her. Chenoweth won the contest, which had 23 participants and was part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. A brief story about the contest and picnic was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, under the headline “Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp.”

Photograph showing a group of women, all wearing swimming suits and sashes, walking in a line during a beauty contest at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929. The woman on the far left is Mary Benoit; the other women are unidentified. Twenty-three women participated in the beauty contest, which was part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. A brief story about the contest and picnic was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, under the headline “Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp.”

Photograph showing a group of unidentified women walking in a line during a beauty contest at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929. Twenty-three women participated in the beauty contest, which was part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. A brief story about the contest and picnic was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, under the headline “Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp.”

Portrait of a group of women posing with a car at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929. They are wearing sashes and swimming suits. The women, each representing a business or organization, participated in a beauty contest held as part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. The woman at front center, sitting on the bumper of the car and wearing an “Oriental Theatre” sash, is Jerry Chenoweth, who won the contest. Standing next to her is Mary Benoit, representing Sears Roebuck Co., who took second place. A brief story about the contest and picnic was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, under the headline “Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp.”

Portrait of a group of women posing with a car at Jantzen Beach in Portland on August 15, 1929. They are wearing sashes and swimming suits. The women, each representing a business or organization, participated in a beauty contest held as part of a picnic sponsored by the East Side Commercial Club. The woman at front center, sitting on the bumper of the car and wearing an “Oriental Theatre” sash, is Jerry Chenoweth, who won the contest. Standing next to her is Mary Benoit, representing Sears Roebuck Co., who took second place. A brief story about the contest and picnic was published on Page 10 of the Oregon Journal on August 16, 1929, under the headline “Bathing Girls Not Afraid to Get Hair Damp.”

Previous winner Jane Hoberg, left, stands with the 1948 Miss Portland, Colleen Miller, at the Nortonia Hotel in Portland. Hoberg is holding a bouquet of roses, while Miller is wearing a bathing suit and a “Portland” sash. A similar photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, July 3, 1948 (negative 1 of 7).

Participants in the Miss Portland contest, at the Nortonia Hotel at 1337 S.W. Washington Street. The women are standing in two rows and wearing gowns. A similar photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Friday, July 2, 1948 (negative 1 of 7).

A contestant in the 1948 Miss Portland contest at the Nortonia Hotel, modeling a bathing suit. People are seated at tables around the room. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, July 3, 1948 (negative 2 of 7).

A contestant in the 1948 Miss Portland contest at the Nortonia Hotel, modeling a bathing suit. People are seated at tables around the room. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, July 3, 1948 (negative 3 of 7).

Participants in the Miss Portland contest, at the Nortonia Hotel at 1337 S.W. Washington Street. The women are wearing bathing suits and standing on stage, next to a man speaking into a microphone. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, July 3, 1948 (negative 5 of 7).

A participant in the Miss Portland contest, wearing a bathing suit, on a stage at Jantzen Beach Park. A small child stands next to a set of benches on the ground, looking upward at the woman on stage. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on June 23rd and 24th, 1949 (negative 4 of 10).

Beverly Elaine Dean, after winning the title of Miss Portland, 1949. She sits on a velvet lined stool while a man hands her a bouquet of roses. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Friday, June 24, 1949 (negative 1 of 10).

Beverly Elaine Dean, after winning the title of Miss Portland, 1949. She sits on a velvet lined stool, holding a bouquet of roses and wearing a “Miss Portland” sash. Another woman, wearing a long coat, stands next to Dean. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Friday, June 24, 1949 (negative 3 of 10).

Contestants on a stage during the Miss Portland contest, at Jantzen Beach Park. The women are wearing bathing suits and standing in a line. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on June 23rd and 24th, 1949 (negative 5 of 10).

Beverly Elaine Dean (right), after winning the title of Miss Portland, 1949. She stands next to another woman, who also wears a bathing suit. A man holds a “Miss Portland” sash next to Dean, who is looking upward and smiling. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on June 23rd and 24th, 1949 (negative 6 of 10).

“Miss Oregon” contestants from Eugene and Portland sit together on a piece of driftwood on a beach in Seaside. They wear matching bathing suits and sashes. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 29, 1951 (negative 11 of 37).

“Miss Oregon” contestants from Newport, Tillamook County and The Dalles pose together on a lifeguard stand on a beach in Seaside. They wear matching bathing suits and sashes. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 29, 1951 (negative 18 of 37).

“Miss Oregon” contestants from Astoria, Lebanon, and Tongue Point, posing together on swings in Seaside. They wear matching bathing suits and sashes. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 29, 1951 (negative 21 of 37).

Thirteen contests for the “Miss Oregon” contest pose as a group on a beach in Seaside. They each wear a matching bathing suit and sash representing their city or town. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 29, 1951 (negative 2 of 37).

Audrey Ann Mistretta being crowned the 1951 “Miss Oregon” winner. She wears a crown and cape while holding a bouquet of roses. She looks upward at a man in a suit. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, July 30, 1951 (negative 7 of 37).

“Miss Oregon” contestants ride in the back of cars at the Seaside promenade on the Oregon Coast. The cars are looping around a monument for the Lewis and Clark trail, as one man stands in the middle holding a microphone. Spectators are gathered around the edges of the loop, and the beach can be seen in the distance. Thirteen contests for the “Miss Oregon” contest pose as a group on a beach in Seaside. They each wear a matching bathing suit and sash representing their city or town. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 29, 1951 (negative 8 of 37).

“Miss Oregon” contestants on a stage at Seaside. They wear dresses and tutus, as they stand in a line in front of a painted background. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 29, 1951 (negative 9 of 37).

"Miss Portland" Marilyn Craghead leaving Portland for the “Miss Oregon” competition in Seaside. She sits on the hood of an automobile waving, as a smiling man stands next to her holding a suitcase. Several multi-story buildings in downtown Portland can be seen in the background (negative 2 of 3).

Contestants for “Miss Flame” of 1954 at a Junior Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Multnomah Hotel in Portland. The contestants are wearing bathing suits while standing on chair, each holding a sign with a number and name. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Wednesday, September 29, 1954 (negative 1 of 3).