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Fred Meyer Oral History Project

  • SR FM
  • Collection
  • 1970-1990 (bulk 1988-1990)

The Fred Meyer Oral History Series discusses the business operations and the man behind the Fred Meyer stores, one of the first self-service grocery stores in the nation. They were innovators in the concept of one-stop shopping, paving the way for the modern superstore.

Academy of Science of St. Louis

Oregon Historical Society Nominated Oral Histories

  • SR Oregon Historical Society Nominated Oral Histories
  • Collection
  • 2017-2021

A series of oral history interviews with Oregonians. The subjects were selected from a pool of nominees by a staff committee appointed by the OHS Executive Director. The purpose of these interviews was to create historical documents of enduring value to enhance and expand the range of Oregon voices preserved by the OHS Research Library, complement existing collections and programs of the Oregon Historical Society, and address goals for collection development and community engagement. The program ended in 2020.

Oregon Historical Society

Japanese American Oral History Project

  • Japanese American Oral History Project
  • Collection
  • 1992-1998

A series of oral history interviews conducted between 1992 and 1998 with Japanese Americans in Oregon. Loen Dozono of the Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL) collaborated with OHS on this project. The interviews were conducted by JACL and OHS staff and volunteers. They aimed to interview Issei (first generation Japanese Americans), and ultimately also interviewed several Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans).

Drive-in Restaurants of Portland Oral History Project

  • SR Drive-ins
  • Collection
  • 1980-09-10 - 1980-11-21

A series of oral history interviews conducted by Curtis Johnson about the history of Drive-in restaurants in Portland, Oregon with a particular emphasis on Tik-Tok and Yaw's Top Notch.

Johnson, Curtis

Oregon Labor Oral History Program

  • SR OLOHP
  • Collection
  • 1993 - 2018

The Oregon Labor Oral History Program, building upon the work begun in the 1980s of former Oregon AFL-CIO officer Nellie Fox Edwards, collects oral histories of individuals who have advocated for working people of Oregon, including public figures, union members, and workers. OLOHP accomplishes this work in affiliation with the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association and with the support of the Amalgamated Transit Union 757, volunteers and students.

Oral history interview with Monroe and Lil Sweetland

  • SR 1129
  • Collection
  • 1976-08-17

This oral history interview with Monroe and Lil Sweetland was conducted by their daughter, Barbara Sweetland, on August 17, 1976. In this interview, the Sweetlands discusses their college experiences. Monroe Sweetland talks about attending Cornell University and Syracuse Law School in New York. Lil Sweetland discusses attending Smith College in Massachusetts. They both discuss meeting through their political activism while in New York; their reasons for being anti-war during the lead-up to World War II; and their involvement with the Socialist Party.

Sweetland, Monroe, 1910-2006

Oral history interview with Stafford Hansell

  • SR 88
  • Collection
  • 1983 October 17 - 1986 June

This oral history interview with Stafford Hansell was conducted by Barbara Reynolds from October 17 to November 15, 1983, and in June 1986. In the interview, Hansell discusses his family history and early life on a farm in Umatilla County, Oregon, including having diphtheria and polio as a child and the long-term effects on his health. He also talks about his education at the University of Montana and Whitman College, including his involvement in athletics and drama. Hansell talks about the early years of his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Ennis; making ends meet during the Depression; farming with his father; hog farming with his brother, Bill; and adopting his son, John. He also discusses serving on his local school board from 1953 to 1957, including implementing kindergarten and increasing school funding. Hansell then discusses his involvement with the Republican Party and representing Umatilla County in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1957 to 1974. He discusses legislation on land-use planning, taxation, labor, reapportionment, education, agriculture, and marijuana. He also discusses his failed bid to become Speaker of the House in the 1967 session, as well as many of the representatives he served with. Hansell also discusses his role on the Ways and Means Committee; the Boeing Space Age Park and Boardman; salary increases for legislators; and the Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall administrations. He speaks briefly on his feelings regarding the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. He also talks about working for the administrations of Governors Bob Straub and Norma Paulus after leaving the Legislature, including serving on the Oregon Liquor Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Governor's Taskforce on Land Use Planning. He also discusses the Rajneeshees. Hansell closes the interview by talking about his personal life and family, as well as his involvement with the Oregon Historical Society and his interest in Native American cultures and art.

Hansell, Stafford (Marion Stafford), 1913-1995

Oral history interview with Cecil L. Edwards

  • SR 3901
  • Collection
  • 1995-02-20

This oral history interview with Cecil L. Edwards was conducted by Alfred Jones on behalf of the Marion County Historical Society in Salem, Oregon. The interview was held at Edwards' home in Salem on February 20, 1995. In this interview, Edwards discusses his family background, his early life and education in Salem, and his service in the National Guard. He also talks about his early involvement with the Oregon Legislature as a secretary, including an anecdote on the fire that destroyed the Capitol building in 1935. Edwards then discusses his activities after becoming chief clerk of the House of Representatives in 1963, and then secretary of the Senate in 1965. He also talks about some of the governors that he served under, as well as Abigail Scott Duniway and woman suffrage. He discusses landmark legislation, including the Bottle Bill; the state archives; and his interest in Arabian horses.

Edwards, Cecil L.

Oral history interview with Doug G. Houser

  • SR 3700
  • Collection
  • 2021-07-26

This oral history interview with Doug G. Houser was conducted by Kerry Tymchuk on July 26, 2021, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Houser discusses his family background and early life in Oregon City, Oregon, particularly his relationship with his cousin, Phil Knight. He talks about his experience as a child with a speech impediment, about his early education, and about his decision to pursue a law career. He discusses his experience at Willamette University, including working as a page for the Oregon Legislature during his sophomore year, and having Mark Hatfield as an advisor. He then briefly talks about studying law at Stanford University. He speaks about his marriage to Lucy Anne Latham and describes their courtship. He also briefly talks about his service in the U.S. Army. He discusses his career with the Bullivant law firm in Portland. He describes cases he worked on, talks about lawyers he worked with, and discusses serving as a pro-tem judge for a summer in the 1960s. He speaks at length about his work as a lawyer, and later a board member, for Nike, Inc.

Houser, Doug G. (Douglas Guy), 1935-

Oral history interview with Lynne E. Scott

  • SR 3272
  • Collection
  • 1978-05

This oral history interview with Lynne E. Scott was conducted by an unidentified woman in May 1978. In this interview, Scott shares her memories of life in Brownsville, Oregon, from 1900 to 1909. She talks about her education and her recreational activities. She describes the houses her family lived in, and downtown Brownsville. She talks about her marriage to David Sterling and about their life in Cottage Grove. She also speaks about her family's journey from Nebraska to Oregon in 1898.

Scott, Lynne E. (Lynne Etta), 1886-1978

Oral history interview with Jesalee Fosterling

  • SR 9028
  • Collection
  • 1978-04-11

This oral history interview with Jesalee Fosterling was conducted by Roberta Watts in Portland, Oregon, on April 11, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Fosterling discusses her early involvement with the Portland chapter of Planned Parenthood. She talks about funding the clinic, discusses Oregon's birth control laws, and describes opposition to the work of Planned Parenthood. She talks about the daily operations of Planned Parenthood, about the types of birth control and other services the organization provides, and about its staff. She closes the interview by discussing the future of birth control.

Fosterling, Jesalee K. (Jesalee Keffeler), 1930-2006

Oral history interview with Gene L. Brendler

  • SR 9108
  • Collection
  • 1982-02-26

This oral history interview with Gene L. Brendler was conducted by Kathleen D. Walsh at KPTV Studios in Portland, Oregon on February 26, 1982, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Brendler briefly discusses his early life and career before he moved to Portland in 1947. He talks about the history of KPTV, and speaks at length about his broadcasting career with that station, including his role as emcee for the musical variety program "See Here," hosting a localized version of "American Bandstand" called "High Time," and working as public affairs director. He discusses how broadcasting changed during his career, talks about how cable TV has affected local programming, and shares his opinion regarding increased diversity in television broadcasting. He closes the interview by talking about people he worked with, and by describing some of his photographs.

Brendler, Gene L. (Eugene Louis), 1927-1998

Oral history interview with Teunis Wyers, Jr.

  • SR 2099
  • Collection
  • 1964-08-06

This oral history interview with Teunis Wyers, Jr., was conducted by Elizabeth Strain at the Wyers Stage Company Barns in White Salmon, Washington, on August 6, 1964. An unidentified man was also present. In this interview, Wyers discusses the history of White Salmon during the late 19th century, and talks about a murder in The Dalles. He speaks at length about Native people who lived in the area. He talks about his stagecoach company and about caring for horses.

Wyers, Teunis, Jr., 1876-1965

Oral history interview with Erskine Wood

  • SR 441
  • Collection
  • 1974-07-11

This oral history interview with Erskine Wood was conducted by Pierre Kolisch and Marian Wood Kolisch on July 11, 1974. The interview was part of a series conducted by Kolisch to accompany portraits of Oregon artists, businesspeople, and politicians. Louise Wood was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Erskine Wood discusses spending summers with Chief Joseph and the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people in the Wallowa Valley, Oregon. He describes daily life, discusses living conditions on reservations, and talks about recreational activities, including horse races and games. Pierre Kolisch discusses his plan to visit members of the tribe in Idaho. Wood talks about photographs he took on glass plates while visiting Chief Joseph. He closes the interview by briefly discussing some of the artists that were acquainted with his father, C. E. S. Wood.

Wood, Erskine

Oral history interview with Elizabeth C. Ducey

  • SR 9429
  • Collection
  • 1978-04-24

This oral history interview with Elizabeth C. Ducey was conducted by Roberta Watts in Portland, Oregon, on April 24, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Ducey discusses her family background and early life in San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon, including her education. She speaks about her involvement with the Junior League of Portland. She talks about her work with the Oregon Roadside Council to lobby the Oregon Legislature regarding billboards, and speaks at length about the political career of U.S. Senator Richard L. Neuberger. She closes the interview by discussing a trip she took to Iran.

Ducey, Elizabeth C. (Elizabeth Carney), 1897-1991

Oral history interview with John R. Laidlaw

  • SR 9462
  • Collection
  • 1972-11-11

This oral history interview with John R. Laidlaw was conducted by Joseph A. Schiwek on November 11, 1972. In this interview, Laidlaw discusses the background of his paternal family, the Laidlaws, in Scotland. He talks about an aunt who served as a nurse for Queen Victoria I, and about his family's connection to the Church of Scotland. He speaks at length about the life of his father, James Laidlaw, including his involvement with the Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, his immigration to Portland, Oregon, and his career as a British consul.

Laidlaw, John R., 1898-

Oral history interview with Ruth E. Clark

  • SR 9671
  • Collection
  • 1976-07-15

This oral history interview with Ruth E. Clark was conducted by Thomas Vaughan at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on July 15, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library. Charles Digregorio and A. William Sweet were also present.

In this interview, Clark discusses her work as a high school teacher in Port Orford, Oregon, from 1921 to 1942. She talks about her students, about living in the Knapp Hotel, and about her reasons for leaving Oregon in 1942. She also speaks about being invited to a class reunion in the 1970s.

Clark, Ruth E., 1893-

Oral history interview with Thomas Vaughan

  • SR 2090
  • Collection
  • 1995-10-01 - 1996-12-02

This oral history interview with Thomas Vaughan was conducted by Sieglinde Smith at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, from October 1, 1995, to December 2, 1996, as part of the historical society's oral history program. The interview was conducted in nine sessions. Tape 17 is missing, and Tape 25, the final cassette of the interview recording, was removed from the collection by Vaughan at the time of the interview.

In the first interview session, conducted on October 1, 1995, Vaughan discusses his family background and early life in Seattle, Washington; near Kelso, Washington; and in Longview, Washington, including his education, his family's experience during the Depression, and working in sawmills as a teenager. He talks about his service in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945, about his education at Yale University, and about working for the Macmillan Company after graduation. He describes a trip to Alaska, and talks about working in the Southwest in the 1940s. He then talks about his experiences at the University of Wisconsin.

In the second interview session, conducted on November 6, 1995, Vaughan shares additional anecdotes about the time he spent in Alaska, the Southwest, and Madison, Wisconsin. He briefly discusses his service as director of the Rock Creek Historical Society in Janesville, Wisconsin, and shares his reasons for accepting the job of executive director of the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, in 1954. He speaks at length about his early years at OHS, describes the condition of the library and museum, and talks about changes he made. He talks about his role in the establishment of the Fort Clatsop National Memorial; about working with the OHS board members, including David T. Mason and Tom McCall; and about the 1959 Oregon state centennial. He discusses selecting and purchasing the site for the OHS building on the Southwest Park Blocks in downtown Portland in the 1960s, and describes how OHS came to own the entire block between SW Jefferson, Madison, Broadway, and Park.

In the third interview session, conducted on November 8, 1995, Vaughan continues to discuss his service as executive director of OHS. He talks about the relationship between OHS and other archives in Oregon during his early years; about fundraising for the building construction on Southwest Park Avenue in the 1960s; and about working with Pietro Belluschi as consulting architect on the design of the museum and library. He also discusses OHS's relationship with Oregon governors Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall, as well as with the Legislature. He talks about developing collection security and preservation policies for the museum and library, about OHS's storage facilities, including the Meier & Frank building and the Oregon Journal building, and about moving the collections to the new building. He discusses building the OHS archival collection, including traveling to Siberia in 1968 for materials.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on November 13, 1995, Vaughan continues to discuss his service as executive director of OHS. He speaks further about his travels to Siberia to collect archival materials, and talks about forming relationships with Russian archives. He discusses cultivating relationships with donors; speaks further and at length about building the OHS archival collection, and talks about OHS's relationship with governors Bob Straub and Vic Atiyeh, with Portland mayors, and with Multnomah County government. He also talks about the preservation of the Bybee House on Sauvie Island. He speaks about his personal philosophy and managerial style.

In the fifth interview session, conducted on December 18, 1995, Vaughan continues to discuss his service as executive director of OHS. He talks about his involvement in historic preservation of buildings in Portland, and revisits the topics of the construction of the OHS building on Southwest Park Avenue and the purchase of the Sovereign Hotel. He talks about his reasons for retiring in 1989, about the North Pacific Studies program at OHS, and about the selection of his successor, Bill Tramposch. He speaks further about cultivating relationships with donors.

In the sixth interview session, conducted on December 19, 1995, Vaughan discusses his activities since his retirement. He talks about his house in Skamokawa, Washington, and describes the surrounding area.

In the seventh interview session, conducted on May 6, 1996, Vaughan continues to talk about the area of Skamokawa, Washington. He returns to the topic of his service as executive director of OHS. He talks about building, cataloging, and preserving the OHS collections, about cultivating relationships with donors, and about some of the collections acquired during his tenure.

In the eighth interview session, conducted on May 7, 1996, Vaughan continues to discuss some of the collections acquired during his time as OHS executive director, and about cultivating relationships with donors. He talks about working with the OHS board, about OHS staff members, and about his work with the Oregon Humanities Commission and the American Association for State and Local History. He also talks about serving on the American Heritage Publishing Company board, and about his involvement with other museum-related organizations.

In the ninth and final interview session, conducted on December 2, 1996, Vaughan discusses creating a film about the Crimean War of 1853, "The Crimean War: A Clash of Empires." He talks about what he looked for in hiring staff at OHS, discusses the field of public history, and reflects on his accomplishments as OHS executive director. He talks about OHS's role in public education. He closes the interview by discussing the OHS museum collections and the work of George Himes, OHS's first director.

Vaughan, Thomas, 1924-2013

Oral history interview with Ann M. Bohrer

  • SR 9361
  • Collection
  • 1980-05-12

This oral history interview with Ann Mary Bohrer was conducted by Patricia Keith at the Troutdale Airport in Troutdale, Oregon, on May 12, 1980, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Bohrer discusses her early interest in aviation, and that of her brother, Walt Bohrer, including hanging out at the Vancouver Airport and taking flying lessons in Portland from Tex Rankin and Hans Mirow. She shares her experiences as a woman pilot trainee in the 1920s and 1930s. She talks about doing stunt flying, about doing parachute jumps, and about close calls she experienced while flying. She closes the interview by discussing the changes in planes during her time as an aviator.

Bohrer, Ann

Oral history interview with Fred G. Meyer

  • SR 9474
  • Collection
  • 1970-08-25

This oral history interview with Fred G. Meyer was conducted by Gerry Pratt on August 25, 1970. In this interview, Meyer discusses the reasons he settled in Portland, Oregon, in 1910. He talks about the history of Fred Meyer, Inc., including the growth of the company. He discusses inflation and tax increases, and how that has affected grocery prices and labor costs; shares his opinion on the younger generation; and speaks about a recent court case, FTC v. Fred Meyer Inc. He closes the interview by sharing his business philosophy.

Meyer, Fred G., 1886-1978

Radio interview with Lewis L. McArthur

  • SR 2608
  • Collection
  • 1995

This interview with Lewis L. McArthur was conducted by Bob Griggs at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, around 1995. The interview was conducted for Oregon Public Broadcasting's Hotline radio program. This recording was aired on the Portland radio station KOPB as part of the Golden Hours series, which was a reading service for blind and visually impaired people that ran from 1975 to 2009. Jeffry Uecker, an Oregon Historical Society museum educator, was also present. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, McArthur discusses the work of his father, Lewis A. McArthur, on the first three editions of the Oregon Geographic Names book, then discusses his own work on the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions. He talks about his research methods and shares information about several Oregon place names. He also shares his opinion on the theory that Sir Francis Drake landed on the Oregon Coast. He closes the interview by discussing the work of the Oregon Geographic Names Board.

McArthur, Lewis L.

Oral history interview with Lewis L. McArthur

  • SR 9469
  • Collection
  • 1982-04-16 - 1982-06-08

This oral history interview with Lewis L. McArthur was conducted by Nancie Fadeley in two sessions, on April 16, 1982, and June 8, 1982. The second interview session was recorded at the Ray F. Becker Company. The interview was conducted for a radio segment that may have aired on the radio station KWAX in Eugene, Oregon.

In the first interview session, conducted on April 16, 1982, McArthur discusses his research on Oregon place names for the book "Oregon Geographic Names." He also talks about the career of his father, Lewis A. McArthur, and about Lewis A. McArthur's work on the early editions of the book. He shares information about the origins of several Oregon place names, including Granite, Noti, Oneonta, and Bear Springs. He discusses the work of the Oregon Geographic Names Board. He talks about the numerous Oregon place names that include "hell," shares theories about the origins of the name "Oregon," and discusses the history of some military-related place names.

In the second interview session, conducted on June 8, 1982, McArthur discusses his career as an industrial engineer for the Ray F. Becker Company. He gives a tour of the company, describes equipment the company uses to produce sheet metal, and talks about the production process. He then briefly discusses his early life in Portland, his work history, and his marriage to Joyce A. Clark. He speaks about his work on "Oregon Geographic Names," about his plans for future editions of the book, and about working on the book with his father. He closes the interview by discussing the complications in changing existing place names.

McArthur, Lewis L.

Oral history interview with Margaret Biddle Parker

  • SR 9484
  • Collection
  • 1984-03-15

This oral history interview with Margaret Biddle Parker was conducted by Elisabeth W. Potter and Alfred Staehli in Portland, Oregon, on March 15, 1984, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Parker discusses the career of her husband, Portland architect Jamieson Parker. She discusses how the 1929 stock market crash affected his business, talks about his work for the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Federal Housing Administration in the 1930s, and speaks about some of the buildings he designed. She also talks about her children, their family, and their careers; and about her mother, Margaret Burrell Biddle. She discusses the cause of Jamieson Parker's death in 1939. She closes the interview by talking about Alfred Parker.

Parker, Margaret Biddle, 1898-1987

Oral history interview with Dick K. Harmon

  • SR 2406
  • Collection
  • 1995-12-29

This oral history interview with Dick K. Harmon was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on December 29, 1995, as part of the Legacy of Hope: Catholics and Social Justice Project, which collected interviews with Catholic clergy and social justice activists in Oregon about their work on social action in the Roman Catholic tradition.

In this interview, Harmon discusses his family background and early life in Colorado, and talks about his interest in learning about the roots of violence in American culture. He describes his college experience at the University of Chicago, and describes how he became involved with the Industrial Areas Foundation. He speaks at length about his work as a social justice organizer for the IAF and later for the Brooklyn Ecumenical Cooperatives. He talks about the communities he worked in, about the people he worked with, and about the relationship between his work and his Christian faith. He shares his opinion on the organization and rules of the Catholic Church. He then speaks at length about his work with the Portland Organizing Project in Oregon, an alliance of churches founded in 1985 to further social justice. He closes the interview by sharing how his social justice work helped him to process his abusive childhood, and by discussing the concept of sin.

Harmon, Dick K. (Richard Keylon), 1937-

Oral history interview with Fred C. Baker

  • SR 9317
  • Collection
  • 1978-07-05

This oral history interview with Fred C. Baker was conducted by Sheila Ann Finch on July 5, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Baker discusses his career in lighting design. He talks about architects he worked with, including Frederick Fritsch, Carl Linde, and Herman Brookman; discusses some of the buildings he designed lighting for, particularly the Pittock Mansion; and describes how he got his start in the lighting design business. He looks at photographs of his designs and talks about them. He closes the interview by briefly sharing his experience working on Timberline Lodge.

Baker, Fred C. (Frederick Charles), 1887-1981

Oral history interview with Forrest E. Balliet

  • SR 9406
  • Collection
  • 1978-03-02

This oral history interview with Forrest E. Balliet was conducted by Roberta Watts in Portland, Oregon, on March 2, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. An unidentified woman was also present.

In this interview, Balliet discusses his family background and early life with his grandmother near Talent, Oregon, and in Ashland, Oregon. He describes his work history in Montana, Missouri, Washington, Utah, Oregon, and California, including sheep ranching, mule driving, and seasonal farm work. He discusses living in rooming houses in downtown Portland and describes the city in the late 1910s, and also talks about staying in shelters run by the Salvation Army. He shares his experiences in the U.S. Army in France during World War I.

Balliet, Forrest E. (Forrest Earl), 1886-1986

Oral history interview with Reub Long

  • SR 9117
  • Collection
  • 1971-10-06

This oral history interview with Reub Long was conducted by Ron E. Shay on October 6, 1971. The sound recording consists of two audiocassettes. The interview was recorded on the first tape, and the second tape contains edited highlights of the interview. In this interview, Long discusses range and wildlife management issues in Oregon's high desert region, including the management of wild horses. He talks about issues regarding vandalism and littering in the desert. He discusses the plant life and agriculture, describes how the changes in the desert have affected the deer population, and how the desert landscape is affected by fires. He talks about the use of controlled burns, grazing lands for deer, and how land-use laws have affected how desert land is managed.

Long, R. A. (Reub A.)

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