Eugene Vocational School (EVS), 1938-1959, and Eugene Technical-Vocational School (ETVS), 1959-1965 are the predecessors of Lane Community College.

In response to the high unemployment during the Great Depression, Eugene Vocational School was established in 1938 to provide manual education and training to high school students and unemployed adults. It was a cooperative venture between Eugene School District #4 and the State Department for Vocational Education. The new vocational school held its first classes on February 1, 1938, in the original Geary School at Fourth and Madison in Eugene.

Lillian Van Loan was hired as the first full-time teacher and became the school's first director. In March 1938, over 300 students showed up for the first night-time classes. By fall 1938, 22 full and part-time teachers were on the staff of EVS.

Eugene Vocational School responded to the need for skilled workers during World War II and then made a successful transition to peacetime after 1945. In 1947, the radio station KRVM signed on as the first educational FM station in the northwest. In the 1950s the Licensed Practical Nursing Program, the Electrical Engineering Technician Program, and community-oriented adult education classes were added to the curriculum.

In 1958, the name of the school was changed to Eugene Technical-Vocational School, reflecting the addition of more technologically oriented courses. In 1960, new facilities at 200 North Monroe replaced the old Geary School building.

Local educational leaders recognized the need to expand ETVS into a regional institution that would better serve the diverse needs of the wider community. Following the October 1964 election, Lane Community College was founded and ETVS was folded into the new community college which opened for classes in 1965.

Directors: Lillian Van Loan, 1938-1944; Dale Perry, 1944-1945; LeRoy Erdmann, 1945-1949; W.W. (Bill) Cox, 1949-1964.