Transcript. This oral history interview with Cecil Edwards was conducted by Irvin Luiten from May 18 to 26, 1988. In the interview, Edwards discusses his family history and early life in Salem, Oregon, including his education and early interest in government. He then talks about his experiences working for the Oregon Legislature beginning in 1933, including the old Capitol building, which burned down in 1935; campaigns he worked on; and the role of lobbyists. He also talks about working as secretary for Governor Charles Sprague. Edwards then describes his service in the National Guard during World War II, particularly working with horses and dogs. He talks about returning to work in Oregon government after the war ended, including serving on the Racing Commission; being fired by Governor Mark Hatfield; lobbying for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association; and returning to the Legislature to work as a secretary. He discusses the numerous committees he was secretary for, including the agriculture committee, fish and game committee, and land-use board. Edwards next discusses his tenure as secretary of the Senate from 1965 to 1975, focusing on many of the legislators he worked with, including Clarence Barton, Debbs Potts, and Jason Boe. He also speaks at length about redistricting, as well as the duties of the secretary of the Senate and Senate rules.

A photograph of Gerry Frank judging the chocolate cake competition at the Oregon State Fair. Frank stands behind a counter covered with numerous chocolate cakes. He is using a fork to take a bite of a slice of cake. The tops of the cake are reflected in an angled mirror mounted to the top of the counter.

A photograph of Florence Neavoll, winner of the chocolate cake competition at the Oregon State Fair, standing with contest judge, Gerry Frank. Neavoll is holding her winning chocolate cake and first prize ribbon up on a plate as Frank takes a bite from a slice of the cake. This photograph was published in the August 29, 1979 edition of the Oregon Journal along with the recipe for the winning cake.

A black and white photograph of a corner of a preschool classroom. A little girl sits at a desk smiling at a line of five students in front of her. She is writing on a long piece of paper that falls off the front of her desk. Behind the line of students there is a Christmas tree decorated with paper chains and ornaments. A handwritten note on the back of the photograph reads: "Oregon State School for the Deaf Preschool classroom 1968-69". The Oregon State School for the Deaf was the name of the school from 1913-1989.

Oregon State Representative Grace Olivier Peck speaks on the House floor in favor of House Bill 1521, a bill requiring that labor camp owners contact health authorities when opening a camp. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on May 12, 1967.

Five cheerleaders stand in a row at a basketball game near Salem, Oregon. They all wear matching sweaters displaying the letter "C." A newspaper caption on a similar photograph taken at the same event identifies the cheerleaders as members of the Chemawa Indian School rally squad. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on January 21, 1966.

Donato Amayo drives a machine at the Avery Carpet House in Salem, Oregon, where he is enrolled in an On-the-Job Training Program. The program is offered by the Valley Migrant League and funded by the Department of Labor. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on August 4, 1967.

Oregon State Senator Don Willner wears glasses and a suit and tie, and smiles at the camera. He is advocating for the rights of migrant laborers by supporting the passage of Bill 1521 in the Oregon State Legislature. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on June 23, 1967.

Virgil Kubin wears overalls, a jacket, and a baseball cap as he stands in front of a new cabin on his property in Salem, Oregon. The cabin was built to house migrant farm workers. Kubin is a cherry grower who depends upon seasonal migrant labor. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on March 17, 1967.

Photograph of 2 rows of four-plex buildings at Pioneer Village, a federally funded housing project in West Salem, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on February 17, 1967.

Secretary of State Tom McCall meets with students who recently graduated from an adult education class offered by the Valley Migrant League. This visit was part of a field trip the class took to the state capital in Salem, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 31, 1965.

Secretary of State Tom McCall meets with students who recently graduated from an adult education class offered by the Valley Migrant League. The visit was part of a field trip the class took to the state capital in Salem, Oregon. In the background, from left to right, are class officers Juanita Constante (in front of window), Ray Anderson, and Tom Perry. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 31, 1965.

A man in a welding class lifts his helmet and looks at the camera at the Salem Technical School in Salem, Oregon. He is part of a group of farm workers enrolled in a job training program to obtain better paying jobs. These are likely photographs from a series published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on October 21, 1966.

Three men work in a welding class at the Salem Technical School in Salem, Oregon. They are photographed from behind. They are part of a group of farm workers enrolled in a job training program to obtain better paying jobs. These are likely photographs from a series published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on October 26, 1966.

A man in a welding class lifts his helmet and smiles at the Salem Technical School in Salem, Oregon. He is part of a group of farm workers enrolled in a job training program to obtain better paying jobs. These are likely photographs from a series published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on October 26, 1966..

A man oversees a compressor used in the harvesting of hops near Salem, Oregon. The hops have been dumped into this compressor, where they will be covered by waterproof paper and a layer of burlap. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 9, 1966.

Two farm workers move a large pile of hops onto a conveyor belt for transport to a dry kiln. Handwritten note on the back of the print identifies the workers as, "Ambrosio Gonzales, Carlos Oazares(?)." This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on September 9, 1966.

Four boys look up into the air as they watch a trapeze act (not pictured) at the Shriners Circus. The trapeze act is pictured in OrgLot74_1183. This excursion was organized by the Valley Migrant League for the children of migrant laborers in the area of Salem, Oregon. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on July 1, 1966.

Dr. Arthur Pearl speaks to the education department of the Valley Migrant League in Salem, Oregon. Pearl is the Director of the Upward Bound program at the University of Oregon. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on July 1, 1966.

This file contains 2 images on 1 negative. In the image on the left, trapeze artists perform at the Shriners Circus. In the image on the right, a girl in the audience looks up at the trapeze performance (not pictured). This excursion was organized by the Valley Migrant League for the children of migrant laborers in the area of Salem, Oregon. These images were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on July 1, 1966.

Three children smile as they attend the Shriners Circus. This excursion was organized by the Valley Migrant League for the children of migrant laborers in the area of Salem, Oregon. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on July 1, 1966.

Dr. Arthur Pearl speaks to the education department of the Valley Migrant League in Salem, Oregon. Pearl is the Director of the Upward Bound program at the University of Oregon. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on July 1, 1966.

Quentin Rowland (left) and Sam Hernandez (right) look at a publication while standing outside the Salem Opportunity Center in Salem, Oregon. Rowland, who works with the Oregon State Employment Service, was invited to speak at the center by the Spanish American Club to discuss employment opportunities for migrant farm workers. Hernandez, an assistant supervisor for the Valley Migrant League, served as translator during the discussion. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on May 13, 1966.

A photograph of four children wearing halloween costumes. One child holds a plastic jack-o-lantern pail and two other children hold shopping bags with a logo for the Meier & Frank Department Store.

A photograph of Gerry Frank sitting in the driver's seat of an automobile. Six additional passengers are visible in the vehicle with Frank. The letters, "M&F" are painted on the door of the automobile in the style of the logo for the Meier & Frank Department Store.

Retired farmer Ivan Putnam shows 2 children how to use a saw in his woodshop in Salem, Oregon. Putnam makes furniture and toys that he donates to communities in need for Christmas. Handwritten note on the back of the print identifies the children as, "Connie Gonzalez, Hector Sanchez." This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 17, 1965.

Two children smile as they use a saw in Ivan Putnam's woodshop in Salem, Oregon. Putnam is a retired farmer who makes furniture and toys that he donates to communities in need for Christmas. Handwritten note on the back of the print identifies the boy on the right as, "Adam Ortega." The girl on the left is Connie Gonzalez, also pictured in OrgLot74_B1F1_012. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 17, 1965.

Kindergarten students sit in a row of chairs in a shoe store in Salem, Oregon. Two of the children are being fitted for shoes. Taken during a holiday excursion for the children, organized by the Valley Migrant League. This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 17, 1965.