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United States District Court Oral History Project Fee, James Alger, 1888-1959
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Oral history interview with Alice Tomkins Fee

This oral history interview with Alice Tomkins Fee was conducted by Rick Harmon in Portland, Oregon, from February 8 to March 8, 1985. In this interview, Fee discusses her family background and early life in Portland and Cascade Locks, Oregon, including her education, her memories of World War I, and the lack of career options available to women. She discusses attending the Oregon Normal School in Monmouth, including her teachers and social life, and studying music at the University of Oregon. She then talks about her career as a teacher and principal at schools in Malin, Pine Grove, and Hood River, Oregon. She also discusses the numerous health issues she's had over the years. She speaks about working as a typist in the clerk's office for the U.S. District Court of Oregon, then as a stenographer for naturalization and bankruptcy cases, and then as a law clerk. She discusses the judges she worked with, the Pioneer Courthouse, and the procedures of the court. She speaks at length about her husband, Judge James Alger Fee, including his family background, early life, and judicial career, as well as cases he presided over and her work as his secretary. She discusses the circumstances surrounding Judge Fee's heart attack in 1959 and his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. She closes the interview by talking about her activities since her husband's death, including traveling, cooking and reading.

Fee, Alice Tomkins (Alice Emma Tomkins), 1897-1995

Oral history interview with Helen F. Althaus

This oral history interview with Helen F. Althaus was conducted by Mary Ellen Page Farr in Ashland, Oregon, from March 13, 1999, to February 19, 2000. In this interview, Althaus discusses her family background, particularly her family's history of civil rights activism, and her early life on a farm in Troutdale, Oregon, including her education, her interest in science, and her social life. She discusses her experiences as law clerk for Judge James Alger Fee, from 1947 to 1949. She talks about practicing law in Portland, Oregon, with the law firm King Miller, now known as Miller Nash, from 1953 to 1970, including some of the cases she argued and other women lawyers she worked with. She closes the interview by briefly discussing her work as deputy city attorney for Portland from 1949 to 1953.

Althaus, Helen F.

Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis

This oral history interview with Orlando Hollis was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in Hollis's office in Eugene, Oregon, from January 27 to July 21, 1989, as part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in nine sessions. The audio recording is incomplete; Tape 4 was discovered to be blank in 2015. A transcript of the interview is available.

In the first interview session, conducted on January 27, 1989, Hollis discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, Oregon, including his childhood activities, his early education, and his father's career with the Southern Pacific Railroad.

In the second interview session, conducted on February 17, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss his early life in Eugene, shares his memories of World War I, and talks about his high school experiences.

In the third interview session, conducted on March 10, 1989, Hollis discusses working at the First National Bank of Eugene while studying law at the University of Oregon. He also describes several prominent community members in Eugene. He discusses studying law at the University of Oregon, particularly his professors.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on March 24, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss studying law at the University of Oregon, and his professors there. He also talks about his friendship with University of Oregon Law School Dean, and later U.S. Senator, Wayne Morse.

In the fifth interview session, conducted on April 21, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss his friendship with Wayne Morse. He talks about teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931. He talks about the administration of the university; how the Depression affected the law school; and students of his who went on to gain prominence, including Judge Ted Goodwin.

In the sixth interview session, conducted on May 12, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931 and serving as dean from 1945 to 1967. He speaks about judicial procedure, and changes in court rules that affected how he taught. He also talks about his friendship with Judge James Alger Fee.

In the seventh interview session, conducted on June 9, 1989, Hollis continues to talk about Judge James Alger Fee, and about changes in judicial procedure and court rules. He discusses leading the Governor's Commission on Judicial Reform from 1971 to 1975, including legislators he worked with. He talks about his role in judicial appointments made by governors Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall.

In the eighth interview session, conducted on June 30, 1989, Hollis discusses his home and social life, particularly a trip to Moscow, Russia, in 1936. He also talks about serving on the Eugene Water Board in the 1930s.

In the ninth and final interview session, conducted on July 21, 1989, Hollis speaks further about students of his who went on to gain prominence. He closes the interview by discussing his activities since retiring as dean of the University of Oregon Law School in 1967.

Hollis, Orlando John, 1904-2000

Oral history interview with Robert A. Leedy

This oral history interview with Robert A. Leedy was conducted by Anna J. Brown and Katherine H. O'Neil at Leedy's home in Milwaukie, Oregon, from September 10 to October 1, 1994. The interview was conducted in two sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on September 10, 1994, Leedy discusses his family background and early life in the rural areas around Portland, Oregon, including his education, and the family farm. He then discusses studying law at the University of Oregon, including his social life and working in a can factory to pay tuition. He also describes some of the members of his graduating class, including Otto Frohnmayer. He talks about getting started in law practice in Portland, including some of the lawyers he worked with and cases he was involved in. He also speaks at length about his interest in golf and how it led to his becoming a U.S. commissioner for the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He briefly discusses forming the law firm of Barzee, Leedy & Keene. He describes the duties and procedures of the U.S. District Court of Oregon commissioner, as well as some of the judges he worked with, particularly Judge James Alger Fee. He speaks at length about the bail process and several of the cases he heard.

In the second and final interview session, conducted on October 1, 1994, Leedy discusses his involvement with the Oregon State Bar, including administering the bar exam in the 1940s, and serving as president in the 1950s. He speaks at length about his children, their families and their careers. He also describes in great detail several European trips he took, beginning in the 1950s, as well as trips to Hawaii and to Death Valley, California. He discusses his involvement with the Episcopal Church. He goes on to talk about some of the cases he worked on in private law practice, as well as the lawyers he's worked with. He closes the interview by discussing some of the changes in the law profession over the years.

Leedy, Robert A., Sr. (Robert Allan), 1909-2001

Oral history interview with Rupert R. Bullivant

This oral history interview with Rupert R. Bullivant was conducted by C. Allan Hart from July 20 to September 7, 1988. In this interview, Bullivant discusses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon. He discusses his college experience at the University of Oregon, including his involvement with the school paper, the Oregon Daily Emerald. He then talks about his marriage to Norma Jean Wilson and his return to Portland, where he practiced law. He talks about judges he argued before, particularly Judge James Alger Fee, cases he tried, and lawyers he worked with. He describes the history the law firm he started in 1938. He also briefly talks about teaching at the Northwestern College of Law in Portland; serving on the board of governors of the Oregon State Bar, and as its president; serving on the Portland Planning Commission; and serving as a commissioner on the National Conference on Uniform Laws. He discusses representing insurance companies, public transportation companies, and dairy companies. He also speaks about his personal life and activities. He closes the interview by revisiting some of the discussion from the first tape, about his family background.

Bullivant, Rupert R. (Rupert Reid), 1903-1992