The commission was formed in 1988 in order to discover and commemorate important literary and cultural contributions to Oregon's history.

In July 1990, Portland mayor Bud Clark gave the group a boost by announcing the commission in a formal declaration.

The project raised money for a statue dedicated to poet and journalist, John Reed, to be erected in Portland.

[2] In 1998, three volunteers from the commission went to Paris to find the grave of former Portland resident Louise Bryant, which they discovered was crumbling, undated, and scheduled for removal.

Through the commission's efforts as well as donations, including some from relatives of Bryant and her last husband, William Christian Bullitt, Jr., the grave was restored.