The college was founded in September 1907 as the Arts and Crafts Society. Initial classes were held in the homes of members of the society, and included classes on sculpting, painting, metal works, and photography, among others. The school moved to a permanent site in Downtown Portland, the Kramer Building, in 1934 before merging with the Allied Art and Metal Guild in 1952. After the merger, the combined schools moved to Northwest Portland where in 1962 they moved into a larger space at a former hospital building.