Secretary of the Senate Senate History

History and the Oregon State Senate

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Oregon has a citizen legislature, and for over 150 years citizens from throughout Oregon have served in the State Senate. Please join us as we share the history of the Oregon State Senate, the Legislature, and the State Capitol.

Oregon's Historic Senate Chamber

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The Secretary of the Senate's Office is the guardian of Oregon's historic Senate Chamber. The Senate Chamber is a unique treasure within Oregon's State Capitol. For those interested in Oregon's historic Senate Chamber, please see the following:

Video: Tour of the Senate Chamber

In 2011, the Oregon Senate dedicated five rooms behind the historic Senate Chamber to honor five notable Oregonians.

During every legislative session since 1939, the same historic Senate floor desks have been used by members of the Oregon State Senate.

The Oregon Senate Chamber includes art rich in beauty and symbolism.

Historical Listing of Secretaries and Chief Clerks of the Oregon Senate

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Note: Title of "Chief Clerk of the Senate" was changed to "Secretary of the Senate" in 1963.

Name	Date-Span	Edit
George Carpenter	1858
E. E. Haft	1859
J. C. Peebles	1860
Samuel A. Clarke	1862
E.P. Henderson	1864
J.C. Peebles	1865-1866
J.M. Simpson	1868
Sylvester Simpson	1870-1878
J.C. Peebles	1880
Austin Mires	1882
J. W. Strange	1885
E. G. Hursh	1887
John H. Shupe	1889
O. P. Miller	1891-1893
Walter Sinclair	1895
S. L. Moorhead	1897-1905
Frank S. Grant	1907
William H. Barry	1909
E. H. Flagg	1911
John W. Cochran	1913-1919
John P. Hunt	1921-1937†
Elizabeth J. Glatt	1937*
Zylpha-Zell Burns	1939-1959
Carl H. Cover	1959 (1 month)
Meda Cole	1959-1963
Dale Henderson	1963
Cecil L. Edwards	1965-1975
Maribel Cadmus	1977-1987
Donna Merrill	1989-1993
Judy M. Hall	1995-2011
Robert L. Taylor	2011-2014
Cynthia Johnston	2014*
Lori L. Brocker	2014-2023
Britton Taylor	2023*
Obadiah "Obie" Rutledge	2024-Present

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* Acting secretary/clerk. † Died in office, February 18, 1937.

Chronological List of Oregon Senators

Photo	Legislator	Role	District	Party	Residence	Desk Number	Occupation	Notes
Session : 2026 Session - February 2 - March 6, 2026 ‎(30)
Session : 2025 Special Session - August 29 - October 1, 2025 ‎(30)
Session : 2025 Session - January 13 - June 27, 2025 ‎(31)
Session : 2024 Special Session - December 12, 2024 ‎(30)
Session : 2024 Session - February 5 - March 7, 2024 ‎(30)
Session : 2023 Session - January 9 - June 25, 2023 ‎(30)
Session : 2022 Session - February 1 - March 4, 2022 ‎(30)
Session : 2021 Special Session 2 - December 13, 2021 ‎(30)
Session : 2021 Special Session 1 - September 20 - September 27, 2021 ‎(30)
Session : 2021 Session - January 11 - June 26, 2021 ‎(30)
Session : 2020 Special Session 3 - December 21, 2020 ‎(30)
Session : 2020 Special Session 2 - August 10, 2020 ‎(30)
Session : 2020 Special Session 1 - June 24 - June 26, 2020 ‎(30)
Session : 2020 Session - February 3 - March 8, 2020 ‎(30)
Session : 2019 Session - January 14 - June 30, 2019 ‎(31)
Session : 2018 Special Session - May 21, 2018 ‎(30)
Session : 2018 Session - February 5 - March 3, 2018 ‎(30)
Session : 2017 Session - January 9 - July 7, 2017 ‎(30)
Session : 2016 Session - February 1 - March 3, 2016 ‎(31)
Session : 2015 Session - January 12 - July 6, 2015 ‎(30)
Session : 2014 Session - February 3 - March 7, 2014 ‎(30)
Session : 2013 Special Session - September 30 - October 2, 2013 ‎(30)
Session : 2013 Session - January 10 - July 8, 2013 ‎(30)
Session : 2012 Special Session - December 14, 2012 ‎(30)
Session : 2012 Session - February 1 - March 5, 2012 ‎(30)
Session : 2011 Session - January 10 - June 30, 2011 ‎(30)
Session : 2010 Special Session - February 1 - February 25, 2010 ‎(30)
Session : 2009 Session - January 12 - June 29, 2009 ‎(30)
Session : 2008 Special Session - February 4 - February 22, 2008 ‎(32)
Session : 2007 Session - January 8 - June 28, 2007 ‎(30)
Session : 2006 Special Session - April 20, 2006 ‎(30)
Session : 2005 Session - January 10 - August 5, 2005 ‎(31)
Session : 2003 Session - January 13 - August 27, 2003 ‎(34)
Session : 2002 Special Session 5 - September 1 - September 18, 2002 ‎(30)
Session : 2002 Special Session 4 - August 16 - August 20, 2002 ‎(30)
Session : 2002 Special Session 3 - June 12 - June 30, 2002 ‎(30)
Session : 2002 Special Session 2 - February 25 - March 2, 2002 ‎(30)
Session : 2002 Special Session 1 - February 8 - February 11, 2002 ‎(30)
Session : 2001 Session - January 8 - July 7, 2001 ‎(30)
Session : 1999 Session - January 11 - July 24, 1999 ‎(30)
Session : 1997 Session - January 13 - July 5, 1997 ‎(32)
Session : 1996 Special Session 2 - February 1 - February 2, 1996 ‎(30)
Session : 1995 Special Session 1 - July 28 - August 4, 1995 ‎(31)
Session : 1995 Session - January 9 - June 10, 1995 ‎(31)
Session : 1993 Session - January 11 - August 5, 1993 ‎(31)
Session : 1992 Special Session - July 1 - July 3, 1992 ‎(30)
Session : 1991 Session - January 14 - June 30, 1991 ‎(31)
Session : 1990 Special Session - May 7, 1990 ‎(30)
Session : 1989 Session - January 9 - July 4, 1989 ‎(30)
Session : 1987 Session - January 12 - June 28, 1987 ‎(33)
Session : 1985 Session - January 14 - June 21, 1985 ‎(30)
Session : 1984 Special Session - July 30, 1984 ‎(30)
Session : 1983 Special Session - September 14 - October 4, 1983 ‎(30)
Session : 1983 Session - January 10 - July 16, 1983 ‎(30)
Session : 1982 Special Session 4 - September 3, 1982 ‎(30)
Session : 1982 Special Session 3 - June 14, 1982 ‎(30)
Session : 1982 Special Session 2 - January 18 - March 1, 1982 ‎(30)
Session : 1981 Special Session - October 24, 1981 ‎(30)
Session : 1981 Session - January 12 - August 2, 1981 ‎(30)
Session : 1980 Special Session - August 4 - August 8, 1980 ‎(30)
Session : 1979 Session - January 8 - July 4, 1979 ‎(30)
Session : 1978 Special Session - September 5 - September 9, 1978 ‎(30)
Session : 1977 Session - January 10 - July 5, 1977 ‎(30)
Session : 1975 Special Session - September 16, 1975 ‎(30)
Session : 1975 Session - January 13 - June 14, 1975 ‎(30)
Session : 1974 Special Session - January 24 - February 24, 1974 ‎(30)
Session : 1973 Session - January 8 - July 6, 1973 ‎(30)
Session : 1971 Special Session - November 16 - November 22, 1971 ‎(30)
Session : 1971 Session - January 11 - June 10, 1971 ‎(30)
Session : 1969 Session - January 13 - May 23, 1969 ‎(31)
Session : 1967 Session - January 9 - June 14, 1967 ‎(30)
Session : 1965 Special Session - May 21 - May 25, 1965 ‎(30)
Session : 1965 Session - January 11 - May 14, 1965 ‎(30)
Session : 1963 Special Session - November 11 - December 2, 1963 ‎(30)
Session : 1963 Session - January 14 - June 3, 1963 ‎(30)
Session : 1961 Session - January 9 - May 10, 1961 ‎(31)
Session : 1959 Session - January 12 - May 6, 1959 ‎(30)
Session : 1957 Special Session - October 28 - November 15, 1957 ‎(30)
Session : 1957 Session - January 14 - May 21, 1957 ‎(30)
Session : 1955 Session - January 10 - May 4, 1955 ‎(30)
Session : 1953 Session - January 12 - April 21, 1953 ‎(30)
Session : 1951 Session - January 8 - May 3, 1951 ‎(27)
Session : 1949 Session - January 10 - April 16, 1949 ‎(27)
Session : 1947 Session - January 13 - April 5, 1947 ‎(29)
Session : 1945 Session - January 8 - March 17, 1945 ‎(30)
Session : 1943 Session - January 11 - March 10, 1943 ‎(32)
Session : 1941 Session - January 13 - March 15, 1941 ‎(31)
Session : 1939 Session - January 9 - March 15, 1939 ‎(30)
Session : 1937 Session - January 11 - March 8, 1937 ‎(28)
Session : 1935 Special Session - October 21 - November 9, 1935 ‎(34)
Session : 1935 Session - January 14 - March 13, 1935 ‎(30)
Session : 1933 Special Session 2 - November 20 - December 9, 1933 ‎(31)
Session : 1933 Special Session 1 - January 3 - January 7, 1933 ‎(31)
Session : 1933 Session - January 9 - March 9, 1933 ‎(30)
Session : 1931 Session - January 12 - March 6, 1931 ‎(30)
Session : 1929 Session - January 14 - March 4, 1929 ‎(30)
Session : 1927 Session - January 10 - February 25, 1927 ‎(30)
Session : 1925 Session - January 12 - February 26, 1925 ‎(30)
Session : 1923 Session - January 8 - February 22, 1923 ‎(30)
Session : 1921 Special Session - December 19 - December 24, 1921 ‎(30)
Session : 1921 Session - January 10 - February 23, 1921 ‎(30)
Session : 1920 Special Session - January 12 - January 17, 1920 ‎(30)
Session : 1919 Session - January 13 - February 27, 1919 ‎(30)
Session : 1917 Session - January 8 - February 19, 1917 ‎(30)
Session : 1915 Session - January 11 - February 20, 1915 ‎(30)
Session : 1913 Session - January 13 - March 5, 1913 ‎(30)
Session : 1911 Session - January 9 - February 18, 1911 ‎(30)
Session : 1909 Special Session - March 15 - March 16, 1909 ‎(30)
Session : 1909 Session - January 11-February 20, 1909 ‎(30)
Session : 1907 Session - January 14 - February 23, 1907 ‎(30)
Session : 1905 Session - January 9 - February 17, 1905 ‎(30)
Session : 1903 Special Session - December 21 - December 23, 1903 ‎(31)
Session : 1903 Session - January 12 - February 20, 1903 ‎(30)
Session : 1901 Session - January 14 - March 4, 1901 ‎(30)
Session : 1899 Session - January 9 - February 18, 1899 ‎(30)
Session : 1898 Special Session - September 26 - October 15, 1898 ‎(25)
Session : 1897 Session - January 11 - March 2, 1897 ‎(29)
Session : 1895 Session - January 14 - February 23, 1895 ‎(30)
Session : 1893 Session - January 9 - February 17, 1893 ‎(30)
Session : 1891 Session - January 12 - February 20, 1891 ‎(30)
Session : 1889 Session - January 14 - February 22, 1889 ‎(30)
Session : 1887 Session - January 10 - February 18, 1887 ‎(30)
Session : 1885 Special Session - November 11 - November 24, 1885 ‎(30)
Session : 1885 Session - January 12 - February 21, 1885 ‎(30)
Session : 1882 Session - September 11 - October 23, 1882 ‎(30)
Session : 1880 Session - September 13 - October 23, 1880 ‎(30)
Session : 1878 Session - September 9 - October 18, 1878 ‎(30)
Session : 1876 Session - September 11 - October 20, 1876 ‎(29)
Session : 1874 Session - September 14 - October 21, 1874 ‎(30)
Session : 1872 Session - September 9 - October 23, 1872 ‎(22)
Session : 1870 Session - September 12 - October 20, 1870 ‎(22)
Session : 1868 Session - September 14 - October 28, 1868 ‎(22)
Session : 1866 Session - September 10 - October 20, 1866 ‎(25)
Session : 1865 Special Session - December 5 - December 18, 1865 ‎(17)
Session : 1864 Session - September 12 - October 22, 1864 ‎(18)
Session : 1862 Session - September 8 - October 17, 1862 ‎(16)
Session : 1860 Session - September 10 - October 19, 1860 ‎(16)
Session : 1859 Special Session - May 16 - June 4, 1859 ‎(16)
Session : 1858 Session ‎(16)