I just bought a 1990 Escort for my daughter this past Friday. As we replaced the front brakes and rotors, decided to do an oil change.

Anyone have a clue where the filter is in one of these things. 3 different people looked and none of us could find it. Is it by chance in the oil pan itself?

Many Thanks

Not likely in the pan. What you should do is just get the new one so you know waht it looks like, then find it on the engine.
It should be on the passenger side firewall (near the oil pump).
Check close in this area because it is possible someone has made modifications and there is no oil filter at all.... which is bad.

Scrath that... not ON the firewall... but on the firewall side of the engine :D