This oral history interview with Jack G. Collins was conducted by Sarah Ryan in 1998. In this interview, Collins discusses his family background and early life in Waukegan, Illinois, including working at the town's sewage treatment plant. He also discusses the family background of his wife, Janine Decker. He then discusses attending Princeton University, particularly his experiences in the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. He also talks about serving in the Navy during the Korean War after graduation, from 1952 to 1954. He describes his and Janine Decker's courtship and later marriage. He speaks briefly about attending Harvard Law School. He then talks about relocating to Oregon, passing the Oregon bar, and working as a law clerk for Oregon Supreme Court Justice Walter Perry. He describes his fellow law clerks, as well as working on a draft of the Oregon Post-Conviction Hearing Act. He describes the careers of many of the lawyers he's known while in private law practice in Oregon. He also speaks at length about the kinds of cases he tried, including Revolutionary War land scrip cases.

Collins discusses his admiration for John F. Kennedy and becoming an assistant U.S. attorney in 1963. He talks about working under U.S. Attorney Sidney Lezak. He also discusses his family, salary, and living situation during this time period. He briefly shares his memories of the 1962 Columbus Day storm and the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. He talks about some of the cases he prosecuted, including cases on maritime matters and mail fraud. He describes becoming first assistant U.S. attorney and how his duties changed. He talks about cases he worked on as first assistant, including regarding foreclosures and urban renewal, pornography, and the environment. He speaks at length about protests against the Vietnam War and during the civil rights movement, and how the U.S. attorney's office handled related cases. He also talks about the planning of the Vortex music festival in 1970; the FBI investigation of Dan Cooper (also known as D.B. Cooper) and the hijacking of Flight 305 in 1971; and the bombing of the Bonneville towers by a man calling himself "Jayhawker" in 1974. He describes his secretaries. He talks about white-collar crime, civil rights enforcement, and the use of blue boxes for wire fraud. He also discusses Rajneeshpuram and several of the cases related to the activities of the Rajneeshees. He talks about the War on Drugs, which was ramped up under the George H.W. Bush administration, and some of the related cases he worked on. He describes fighting and investigating wildfires; his dealings with the Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwest Power Planning Council; and civil forfeiture. He also discusses Native American fishing rights.

Collins discusses his retirement in 1995, including his retirement party. He talks further about Janine, her career as a librarian, and her later diagnosis with Cushing's Disease. He then talks about his children, their families, and their careers. He talks about teaching administrative law at Lewis and Clark College and Portland State University, his involvement with the Korean United Presbyterian Church, and his stance on the legalization of marijuana. He closes the interview by reflecting on the changes in the way the U.S. attorney's office operates, his most difficult cases, and his admiration for some of the people he's worked with.

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.

This oral history interview with Frederick H. Torp was conducted by Brian Booth in the offices of Tonkon Torp LLC in Portland, Oregon, on December 28, 1998. In this interview, Torp discusses his family background and early life in New Jersey. He talks about attending Columbia College in New York City, including his family's financial difficulties during the Depression. He briefly discusses practicing law in New York before the advent of World War II. Torp then discusses his service in the Navy from 1942 to 1945, including acting as a lawyer in courts martial, and fighting in the Pacific Theater. He talks about joining the law firm of Hart Spencer, now known as Stoel Rives, in Portland, Oregon, in 1945, including the lawyers he worked with and his clients. He also talks about the 1954 termination of federal recognition of the Klamath Tribes and his involvement in some of the legal aspects of the termination. He discusses starting the law firm Tonkon Torp in 1974, including the lawyers he worked with. He talks about his children, their families, and their careers; his involvement with the Episcopal Church and other organizations; and his colleagues at the Hart Spencer firm. He closes the interview by talking about some of the judges on the U.S. District Court of Oregon, including Gus Solomon and James Alger Fee.

This oral history interview with Jerome Kohlberg, Jr. was conducted by Michael O'Rourke at the St. Regis Hotel in New York, New York, from May 19-20, 1999. In this interview, Kohlberg discusses his experiences as a law clerk for Judge Gus Solomon from 1952 to 1953, including some of the cases Solomon heard, and Solomon's commitment to helping Jewish lawyers. He also briefly describes many of the lawyers and judges he met while in Portland, Oregon. He then talks about returning to New York to practice law and his continued relationship with Gus Solomon and Libby Solomon. He speaks at length about purchasing Fred Meyer in 1981 through his investment firm, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts (KKR & Co.), including his interactions with Fred G. Meyer, Oran B. Robertson, and Gerry Pratt. He closes the interview by briefly discussing how KKR has continued to manage Fred Meyer since its purchase.

This oral history interview with Mercedes Deiz was conducted by Linda Dodds at the Multnomah County Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, from February 5-27, 1981. At the time of the interview, Linda Dodds' surname was Brody.

In this interview, Deiz discusses her family background and early life in New York, New York, including life in a large family, her experience during the Depression, and her education. She then talks about attending Hunter College in New York, and her marriage to, and later divorce from, Billy Owens. She discusses the reason she came to Oregon in 1949, and reflects on some of her civil rights activism in New York. She talks about her first impressions of Portland, including its social life and the racism she encountered. She discusses her civil rights activism in Oregon, and her work on public accommodation legislation. Deiz talks about working for the IRS, where she met Carl Deiz, as well as their subsequent marriage. She also often discusses the difficulty of finding affordable day care for her son. She talks about working at the law library at the Bonneville Power Administration, as a legal secretary for Graham Walker, and about attending the Northwestern College of Law. She then talks about failing to pass the bar on her first try. She describes some of the cases she tried and serving as a hearing officer in worker compensation cases. She then relates the story of being appointed to the U.S. District Court of Oregon by Governor Tom McCall. She discusses her campaign to hold that seat a few months later, as well as her campaign for a new position on the Oregon Circuit Court in 1972. She describes the kinds of cases she has heard on that bench, and press coverage. She closes the interview by discussing her involvement in various professional organizations.

This oral history interview with Erskine B. Wood was conducted by David Jacobson at Wood's home in Vancouver, Washington, on May 6, 1999. In this interview, Wood briefly discusses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including fishing on the Columbia River, as well as his education at a boarding school in California. He then discusses his experiences at Harvard College and at Harvard Law School. He talks about his interest in admiralty law, as well as the admiralty law career of his grandfather, C.E.S. Wood. He then discusses how World War II affected his law practice, as well as some of the cases he worked on, and some of the judges he argued before. He talks about his children and his service in the Navy during World War II. He closes the interview by discussing the changes in Oregon and his hopes for the state's future.

This oral history interview with Richard Bryson was conducted by Les M. Swanson, Jr. at Bryson's office in Eugene, Oregon, from March 14 to April 11, 1990. The interview was conducted in two sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on March 14, 1990, Bryson discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, including the law career of his father, Edwin R. Bryson, and grandfather, John R. Bryson; his education; and his interest in golf. He speaks at length about studying law at Stanford University and the University of Oregon, including his professors and social life. He briefly talks about his service in counterintelligence in Europe during World War II. He discusses working as a lawyer in Eugene, and talks about judges he argued before, including G.F. Skipworth and James Alger Fee. He discusses some of the cases he worked on.

In the second interview session, conducted on April 11, 1990, Bryson continues to discuss his work as a lawyer in Eugene, and to talk about judges he argued before. He speaks about lawyers he worked with, particularly Windsor Calkins. He also revisits the topic of his early life in Eugene and his father's law career. He closes the interview by talking about cases he worked on.

This oral history interview with Thomas Cooney was conducted by Lisa A. Kaner from October 17 to November 2, 2000. In this interview, Cooney discusses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including his interest in drama and golf, and his memories of World War II. He then discusses attending the University of Portland, including being a cheerleader. He also briefly discusses his service in the Air Force during the Korean War. He relates several unfortunate incidents involving a pogo stick. He describes studying law at Willamette University, including his social life. He then talks about raising a family and coaching his son's basketball team. He describes getting started in law practice in Portland, Oregon, at MacGuire, Shields, Morrison, and Bailey, including several of the cases he tried. He then speaks at length about representing the Oregon Medical Association while a partner at Cooney & Crew and several of the malpractice suits he tried. He also relates several anecdotes about his life and being a lawyer.

This oral history interview with Katherine Huff O'Neil was conducted by Patricia Wlodarczyk from November 3, 2000, to May 9, 2001. At O'Neil's request, sections of sessions 2 and 3 of the interview were redacted by the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society and the Oregon Historical Society. In addition to the audio recording and transcript of the interview, the collection includes a digital photograph album in PDF format containing images of O'Neil's family, friends, and colleagues. All but two of the digital photographs used to create the album are also included in the collection as individual images.

In this interview, O'Neil discusses her family background and early life in New Orleans, Louisiana, including her early education, family vacations, and race relations in the South. She talks about studying political science at Stanford University, including her social life and her year studying abroad at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. She then briefly discusses her involvement with the Republican Party and working for the Young Republicans in Washington, D.C. She talks about studying law at Harvard University, including her experience as a female student, as well as meeting Mike O'Neil and their subsequent marriage. She talks about raising a family; relocating to Tigard, Oregon, in 1964; and working as a correspondent for the Community Press and the Oregonian newspaper. She discusses studying law at Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College, including her fellow law students.

O'Neil discusses practicing law in Portland. She talks about her first job with a law firm and sexist attitudes she faced as a woman lawyer, as well as racist attitudes she observed in her fellow lawyers. She talks about her fellow lawyers, judges she argued before, and some of the cases she worked on, particularly regarding admiralty law. She describes each of the law firms she worked for during her career. She also talks about trips to China in 1983 and 1985; her involvement in the formation of Oregon Women Lawyers; and serving as a pro-tem judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court. She discusses her plans for retirement; her children and their careers and their families; and serving on the American Bar Association House of Delegates. She also speaks about her involvement with the Oregon Bar Association. She talks about changes in the law profession and her role in the investigation of U.S. Senator Bob Packwood. O'Neil closes the interview by discussing people who influenced her to pursue a career as a lawyer.

This oral history interview with Selma J. Denecke was conducted by Elizabeth Meyer at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, from March 17 to June 23, 1999. In this interview, Denecke discusses her family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including her early education and her memories of the Depression. She also talks about her interest in art and music and attending Scripps College in Claremont, California. She talks about working at the Portland Art Museum during World War II. She discusses meeting Arno H. Denecke and their subsequent marriage. Denecke describes Arno Denecke's service in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, as well as their long-distance courtship. She talks about Arno Denecke's career from professor at the University of Oregon Law School to chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. She discusses raising a family, as well as the prenatal and maternity care she received.

This oral history interview with Barrie J. Herbold was conducted by Lisa A. Kaner from September 19-26, 2001. In this interview, Herbold discusses her family background and early life, including moving around often due to her father's Navy career. She speaks briefly about attending the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oregon Law School, and about the sexism women college students faced. She talks about practicing law in Portland, Oregon, including her experience as the first woman trial attorney at the Dusendorf, Spears, Lubersky law firm. She describes starting a law firm with Dave Markowitz, the lawyers she hired, and cases she handled.

This oral history interview with John E. Jaqua was conducted by Donald W. Brodie at the law offices of Jaqua and Wheatley in Eugene, Oregon, from October 5 to November 1, 2000.

In the first interview session, conducted on October 5, 2000, Jaqua briefly discusses his family background and early life, his service as a Marine in the Pacific theater during World War II, and his experience at Pomona College in Claremont, California. He then talks about his experience at the University of Oregon Law School in Eugene, Oregon, including his professors and classes. He discusses practicing law in Eugene, including cases he handled, judges he argued before, and his involvement with the American Bar Association. He also talks about running a cattle ranch in Springfield, Oregon.

In the second interview session, conducted on October 17, 2000, Jaqua continues discussing practicing law in Eugene, including judges he argued before, other Eugene lawyers, and his involvement with the Oregon Bar Association.

In the third interview session, conducted on October 25, 2000, Jaqua continues discussing practicing law in Eugene, including some of the clients he represented and working with lawyers from Japan. He speaks at length about his involvement with Nike, Inc., including serving on the board, helping to set up factories in Japan, and his friendship with Nike cofounder Bill Bowerman.

In the fourth and final interview session, conducted on November 1, 2000, Jaqua discusses his involvement with the University of Oregon Capital Campaign to construct a new building for the law school. He closes the interview by discussing his retirement activities and his memories of lawyer and University of Oregon Law School Dean Orlando Hollis.

This oral history interview with Helen J. Frye was conducted by Clark Hansen at the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, from January 9 to May 20, 2002. In this interview, Frye discusses her family background and early life in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She talks about her mother and brother contracting tuberculosis; how she was raised by her grandparents; and her early education. She then discusses attending the University of Oregon, including her professors; her involvement in student government and politics in general; and meeting Bill Frye and their subsequent marriage. She talks about teaching high school in Eugene, raising a family, and returning to the University of Oregon to study law.

Frye briefly discusses practicing law in Eugene and specializing in adoption. She talks about serving as a judge on the Lane County Circuit Court, including her appointment by Governor Tom McCall. She also discusses serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court, including her appointment by President Jimmy Carter. She talks about the cases she heard; judges she served with; and court procedure. She discusses sentencing; the role of dissent in lower courts; and the role of juries. She closes the interview by discussing her legal philosophy and how her opinions have evolved over the years.

This oral history interview with Randall Dunn was conducted by Greta Smith Wisnewski at the Bankruptcy Court building in Portland, Oregon, in seven sessions from September 18, 2018, to February 8, 2019. At the time of the interview, Wisnewski's name was Greta K. Smith.

In the first interview session, conducted on September 17, 2018, Dunn discusses his family background and early life in Crown Point, Indiana, including Indiana politics and his education, particularly the experience of taking high school classes from his mother. He also talks about playing clarinet and his interest in music. He then discusses his experience at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, including the house he lived in, his roommates, and continuing to play music.

In the second interview session, conducted on October 22, 2018, Dunn continues discussing his family background and his experience at Northwestern University, including working in an oil refinery during the summers. He then talks about his experience at Stanford Law School, including his impressions of the West Coast, some of his professors, and working on the law review. He also talks about his later work as editor-in-chief of the Oregon Debtor-Creditor Newsletter. He discusses playing clarinet in the Stanford orchestra, where he met his wife, Laurie.

In the third interview session, conducted on November 19, 2018, Dunn continues discussing his experience at Stanford Law School, including working as a law clerk in Indiana during the summers. He also continues discussing his relationship with, and later marriage to, Laurie. He then talks about practicing antitrust law at Berman and Giauque in Salt Lake City, Utah, and then bankruptcy law at Copeland, Landye, Bennet, and Wolf in Portland, Oregon. He describes the workplace culture in both places and some of the cases he worked on. He talks about playing clarinet in the Salem Symphony and the Portland Opera orchestra.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on December 28, 2018, Dunn continues to discuss practicing bankruptcy law at Copeland, Landye, Bennet, and Wolf in Portland, and describes some of the cases he worked on. He then talks about Oregon bankruptcy law, the procedures of the Oregon bankruptcy court, and the bankruptcy court staff, including judges and law clerks. He also discusses working as editor of the Oregon Debtor-Creditor Newsletter and other bankruptcy court-related publications. He further discusses playing clarinet in the Portland Opera orchestra.

In the fifth interview session, conducted on January 11, 2019, Dunn discusses the lawyer job market in Portland. He then continues talking about bankruptcy law, particularly the changes to the law made in 2005. He talks about his service as a bankruptcy judge beginning in 1998, including the application process, his fellow judges, and learning how to be a judge. He also talks about decorating his office at the bankruptcy courthouse in Portland, about his law clerks, and about scheduling cases.

In the sixth interview session, conducted on January 25, 2019, Dunn continues discussing his service as a bankruptcy judge beginning in 1998, including some of the cases he heard and his judicial philosophy. He also talks about his service on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel beginning in 2006, including his fellow panelists and some of the cases he heard.

In the seventh and final interiew session, conducted on February 8, 2019, Dunn continues discussing his service on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel beginning in 2006, including some of the cases he heard. He also talks about his involvement with the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and awards he received. He discusses the importance of bankruptcy laws, reflects on his accomplishments, and talks about his retirement activities. He closes the interview by discussing the science program for the Ninth Circuit Executive Committee.

This oral history interview with Carl Burnham, Jr. was conducted by Timothy J. Helfrich at Black Butte Ranch, Oregon, on June 21, 2002. In this interview, Burnham discusses coming to Ontario, Oregon, in 1964 to practice law at Yturri, O'Keefe, and Cox. He describes many of the judges and lawyers in Malheur County, as well as some cases he handled.

This oral history interview with Noreen Saltveit McGraw was conducted by S. Diane Rynerson from May 24 to July 31, 2000. In this interview, McGraw discusses practicing law in Medford, Oregon, with her father, Edward Cantwell Kelly; about trying to find a job with a different law firm and the overt sexism she faced; and about working as an assistant Oregon attorney general in Portland under Robert Y. Thornton. She discusses some of the cases she tried, including on worker compensation. She then tells the story of defending the D'Autremont brothers in a train robbery case. She talks about practicing law while raising children; about arguing cases before U.S. District Court judges Gus Solomon and Robert Belloni; and about cases she argued in Spanish, particularly cases regarding migrant worker rights. She then talks about other women lawyers and the difficulty they had breaking into the legal profession, as well as women's legal organizations in Oregon. She also talks about living in Mexico with her husband, Carl Saltveit, and their children, as well as studying Spanish at Portland State University during the Vietnam War. She describes her involvement in Robert F. Kennedy's campaign for the Democratic nomination for president in 1968. McGraw talks briefly about serving as a district judge pro tempore from 1972 to 1976. She discusses the increase in women entering the legal profession, particularly the number of women entering law school later in their lives; her pro-bono work for Legal Aid; and working as a criminal trial lawyer. She talks about many of the cases she worked on, including one regarding the Mount Hood Freeway. She then speaks about serving as city judge for Medford in the 1950s and appearing on the TV show "What's My Line?" She closes the interview by discussing her experience in law school and a trip she took to Europe while awaiting her bar exam results.

This oral history interview with Randall B. Kester was conducted by Tom B. Stoel, Jr. at Kester's office in Portland, Oregon, from April 2-14, 1992. Throughout the interview, supplemental items are referenced. These items are part of the related U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society Collection, Coll 560.

In this interview, Kester discusses his family background and early life in Bloomington, Wisconsin, and in Ontario, Oregon. He talks about attending Willamette University during the Depression, including his social life, some of his professors, and his involvement in student government. He then talks about attending the Columbia University Law School in New York, including some of his classes and professors. He discusses returning to Oregon to practice law in Portland, including taking the Oregon bar exam. He talks about his marriage to Rachael Woodhouse and describes the law firm of Maguire, Shields & Morrison. He talks about arguing cases in the U.S. District Court of Oregon, particularly before Judge James Alger Fee. He also describes some of the cases he handled.

While Kester does not discuss his time as a justice on the Oregon Supreme Court from 1957 to 1958, an incomplete transcript of the interview contains a brief description of that period of his life.

Kester discusses serving as general solicitor for the Union Pacific Railroad from 1958 to 1979. He talks about some of the cases he handled for the company, including the acquisition of the Portland Traction Company. He also discusses other cases he handled, including his involvement in Yasui v. United States. He also talks about judges he argued before, including Hall Lusk and Claude McColloch. He talks about his involvement with various Oregon Bar committees and other civic organizations. He also talks about his involvement with the Mazamas and his other outdoor activities. He closes the interview by speaking again about his work as general solicitor for Union Pacific.

This oral history interview with George M. Joseph was conducted by Michael O'Rourke at Joseph's home in Portland, Oregon, from August 7 to November 7, 2001, and on February 25, 2002. The portion of the interview recorded on February 25, 2002, was conducted at the Friendship Health Center in Portland, where Joseph was recovering from a broken leg. The first tape of this 27-tape interview features a brief overview of Joseph's entire life and career.

Beginning from Tape 2 of this interview, Joseph discusses his family background and early life in Boise, Idaho, including a store his mother ran in Boise, and the early death of his father from tuberculosis of the bone. He also describes a 1938 visit from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Boise; his awareness of the Depression; the Mormon community in Boise; and his family's own Catholicism. He also speaks about contracting polio as a child and the lifelong physical issues it caused, as well as his memories of the internment of Japanese-Americans and other events during World War II. He then discusses his education, including attending Menlo School in Atherton, California, and Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) in Boise, Idaho; hitchhiking home; and his social life. He also discusses attending the University of San Francisco and Reed College in Portland, Oregon, including his social life and the development of his political views. He speaks at length about a recurrence of polio during his senior year at Reed and the extensive treatment and physical therapy he undertook as a result. He then talks about studying law at the University of Chicago, including his divorce from his first wife, Elizabeth Kalisher, and his subsequent marriage to Elizabeth Starr, as well as coming to the realization that he did not want to be a lawyer. He describes Elizabeth Starr's family background and early life, as well as their wedding and honeymoon. He also talks about his involvement with the Democratic Party, particularly acting as an alternate delegate for the 1956 Democratic National Convention.

Joseph discusses his return to Oregon in 1955 and his early legal career as a law clerk for Oregon Supreme Court Justice George Rossman. He briefly describes the judges on the Oregon Supreme Court at that time, as well as some of the cases Rossman presided over. He discusses teaching law at many different universities outside Oregon, including Ohio Northern University. He then describes working in the Multnomah County district attorney's office under George Van Hoomisen, as well as his ambitions of becoming a judge. He talks about several cases he prosecuted and making a name for himself as a criminal appellate prosecutor; the focus of the district attorney's office on vice cases, including an undercover operation that Joseph compromised; and civil rights cases he was involved with, particularly involving the people with mental illnesses. He talks about the creation of the Oregon Court of Appeals and the subsequent increase in the workload of the district attorney's office; Jacob B. Tanzer and other county-level judges; and his relationship with Multnomah County sheriff, and later Multnomah County commissioner, Don E. Clark. He then talks about his brief career as a lawyer in various private law firms in Portland, his involvement in the passage of the Multnomah County Home Rule Charter, and his ongoing attempts to become a judge. He speaks at length about Multnomah County politics and Don Clark's accomplishments as county commissioner. He talks about serving as Multnomah County counsel, including working on public power and city-county consolidation. He also discusses briefly teaching at Lewis & Clark College.

Joseph next discusses serving as a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 1977 to 1992. He describes the other judges on the court, including Robert Y. Thornton, Herbert M. Schwab, Betty Roberts, Jason D. Lee and William L. Richardson. He talks about writing opinions, the types of cases he heard, and his staff. He also describes the procedures and operating practices of the court. He shares his observations on the changes in the Oregon Supreme Court since the creation of the Oregon Court of Appeals. He talks about serving as chief judge from 1981 to 1992. He closes the interview by discussing his service on the Board of Bar Examiners and his involvement in the creation of a uniform bar exam, as well as reforms that have been made to the Oregon court system.

This oral history interview with Ralph F. Cobb was conducted by Donald W. Brodie in Cobb's office in Eugene, Oregon, in October 2000. In this interview, Cobb discusses the circumstances of his adoption; talks about attending Yankton College and the University of South Dakota; and describes his Army service during World War II. He then discusses moving to Oregon, passing the Oregon bar exam, and practicing law in Eugene. He talks about cases he handled, judges he argued before, and his involvement with the Oregon Bar Association. He also talks about his more recent work as a mediator, his interest in track and field, and how Eugene has changed during his lifetime. He closes the interview by discussing the technological changes in the legal profession.

This oral history interview with Don H. Marmaduke was conducted by Brian G. Booth in the offices of the Tonkon Torp law firm in Portland, Oregon, on December 6, 2002. In this interview, Marmaduke discusses his family background and early life in Portland. He talks about his college experiences at Yale University and Harvard Law School in the 1940s, and describes his social life, as well as some of his professors and fellow students. He talks about his marriage to Mary Ellen Dandy and about working as a law clerk in Boston, Massachusetts. He discusses his 1952 move back to Portland, and practicing law with the firm now known as Stoel Rives. He discusses some of the lawyers he worked with, clients he represented, and some of his pro bono work, including in Mississippi as a civil rights lawyer in the 1960s. He discusses leaving Stoel Rives in 1971 to form his own law firm, and joining Tonkon Torp in 1974. He talks about cases he handled, including cases regarding antitrust and intellectual property law. He closes the interview by talking about awards he's won and his plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson was conducted by Clark Hansen at Robinson's home in Portland, Oregon, from February 12 to March 10, 2004. In this interview, Robsinson discusses his family background and early life in Georgia; he describes life as a black person in the segregated South, his early education, and growing up on a farm. He talks about attending Southwestern Christian College in Texas, and moving to Portland, Oregon, after graduation. He describes working for the National Biscuit Company (now known as Nabisco Inc.), racism he faced in Oregon, and his marriage to and later divorce from Beverlee Foreman. He then talks about giving up plans to become a minister and instead attending Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. He also talks about taking the Oregon Bar exam.

Robinson discusses starting his private law practice in Portland. He talks about arguing cases before Judge Gus Solomon and some of the cases he handled. He then discusses working as a Multnomah County deputy district attorney. He talks about cases he prosecuted (and a few he chose not to prosecute), and arguing against public defenders. He also discusses systemic racism in the criminal justice system. He discusses serving on the Oregon Parole Board, including some of the decisions he made. He discusses serving as a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court, including his appointment in 1990. He also talks about his involvement with the Oregon Bar Association, as well as numerous other organizations. He discusses cases he heard on the Circuit Court, judicial procedure, and programs to reduce recidivism. He discusses his involvement with the community court program and the drug diversion court program. He closes the interview by talking about his children, their families, and their careers; his health; and the Roosevelt Robinson scholarship fund.

This oral history interview with Edward Leavy was conducted by Clark Hansen in Leavy's chambers at the U.S. District Courthouse (known as the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse) in Portland, Oregon, from March 2 to April 13, 2004. The portion of the interview conducted on March 30, 2004 (Tapes 10 through 12) appears to have been simultaneously recorded on audiocassette and video. In the audio recording, the parties make reference to the video recording, which is not included in this collection.

In this interview, Leavy discusses his family background and early life on a hops farm in Butteville, Oregon, including his memories of the Depression and his education. He talks about attending the University of Portland and studying at Notre Dame Law School, including his reasons for attending Catholic schools. He also speaks about how his faith informs his morality and judicial decisions, particularly regarding the Fifth Amendment. He discusses serving as a deputy district attorney for Lane County and some of the cases he prosecuted. He reflects at length upon the byzantine workings of the justice system, its strengths and weaknesses, and a judge's role within it.

Leavy discusses his election to the positions of Lane County District Court judge and Circuit Court judge, as well as the elections of other judges in Oregon. He talks about some of the cases he heard and some decisions of his that were reversed. He speaks at length about many of the judges he knew, including Ted Goodwin and Otto Skopil. He discusses the differences between state and federal courts. Leavy describes the magistrate system during the years he was a U.S. Magistrate for the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He then speaks at length about mediating cases and reaching settlements. He discusses some controversial issues he's had to rule on, including drug use, the death penalty, and abortion. He also speaks briefly about his family life.

Leavy discusses serving as a judge on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, beginning with his appointment by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. He discusses some of the cases he heard, including on Rajneeshpuram. He describes the various duties of federal judges; the processes and procedures of the Court of Appeals; and how it differs from the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He talks about his experience as a senior judge on the Court of Appeals since 1997, including mediating for U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee. He then talks about serving on the Surveillance Court of Review from 2001 to 2008, including the history and duties of that court. He also talks about writing opinions, his staff and law clerks, and the workload on the Court of Appeals. He closes the interview by discussing his thoughts on the trend of civil penalties in lieu of criminal, and concerns about the right to privacy.

This oral history interview with Donal D. Sullivan was conducted by Adair Law from June 3 to August 4, 2004. In this interview, Sullivan discusses his family background and early life, which was primarily spent in Chicago, Illinois. He then talks about serving in the U.S. Army Reserves and getting called to active duty during the Korean War. He discusses studying electrical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology and law at DePaul University. He talks about his marriage to Marilyn Johnson and about relocating to Portland, Oregon.

Sullivan discusses working as a law clerk for Oregon Supreme Court Justice Hall Lusk. He talks about some of the cases Lusk heard during that time. He then talks about how he came to work as a deputy Multnomah County district attorney under Leo Smith and about briefly moving back to Chicago. He discusses returning to Oregon to work as a deputy U.S. attorney under U.S. Attorney Robert Y. Thornton, and later Sid Lezak. He talks about some of the cases he worked on, particularly fraud cases. He then talks about working as clerk for the U.S. District Court of Oregon, including the judges he worked with, particularly Gus Solomon, and cases he worked on, particularly those relating to draft resisters. He discusses Marilyn Johnson's death in 1983. He then talks about his second marriage to Carol O'Kane, and her subsequent death; his children and step-children, their families, and their careers; and his experience of being quarantined during a Chicago summer due to a polio epidemic. Sullivan then discusses serving as a bankruptcy judge. He talks about his predecessor, Estes Snedecor, some of the cases he heard, and changes in bankruptcy laws. He also talks about his third marriage, to Dede McLoughlin, and about his siblings' families and their careers. He speaks about his view of the role of bankruptcy in a capitalist system and his philosophy of law. He speaks at length about several particular bankruptcy cases he heard. He closes the interview by discussing his retirement activities.

This oral history interview with Helen M. Brunner was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on January 21, 1989, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. In this interview, Brunner discusses her family background and talks about coming to Eugene, Oregon, in 1920. She talks about her education and studying to become an accountant at Eugene Business College. She discusses her early accounting jobs and experiences during the Depression. She then speaks about working as an accountant for Fred Meyer Inc. from 1940 to 1946. She talks about working with Herbert Retzlaff, shares her opinion on labor unions, and describes a typical work day. She speaks about the operations for Fred Meyer Inc., about the employee compensation, and about the Meyer family from the perspective of an employee. She closes the interview by discussing living in Portland during World War II.

This oral history interview with Ida Mae Shepherd was conducted by Greta Smith Wisnewski from August 14 to October 26, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the interview was conducted using Zoom, a video conferencing software. Shepherd was nominated by Oregonians to be interviewed as part of a program by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library to enhance and expand the range of voices in the library's collections. Interviewees are selected from the pool of nominees by a staff committee appointed by the historical society's executive director. The interview was conducted in five sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on August 14, 2020, Shepherd speaks at length about her family background, particularly focusing on the life of her maternal grandmother, Edith Goodell Lee. She discusses her early life in the Eliot neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, and talks about businesses in the area. She then briefly talks about living in Vanport during World War II. She discusses her research into her family history.

In the second interview session, conducted on September 11, 2020, Shepherd speaks further about her family background, focusing on her paternal family. She revisits the topic of her early life in the Eliot neighborhood, and talks about her Catholic upbringing and involvement with the Immaculate Heart Catholic Church. She discusses how the Black community changed after World War II, as well as changes in the way white people treated them. She then continues to discuss living in Vanport as a teenager during World War II, including her social life, recreational activities, and segregation. She also talks about her early education and about jobs she worked after dropping out. She shares her experiences during the 1948 flood, including living in Guild's Lake for a short time afterward.

In the third interview session, conducted on September 25, 2020, Shepherd discusses her marriage to Theodore Cassidy Powell. She then talks about living in the Albina neighborhood in the early 1950s. She also revisits the topic of how the Black community changed after World War II, as well as how the way white people treated them changed. She talks about working as a janitor at KGW, and about her brief marriage to Curley Massey. She speaks about her marriage to Emmett Edwin Shepherd, about buying a house in the Eliot neighborhood, and about the changes in the neighborhood since the 1960s. She talks about raising a family, about her career in housekeeping and janitorial services, and about her experiences during the civil rights movement, including meeting Coretta Scott King. She shares her thoughts about police treatment of Black residents, talks about the mass displacement of Black residents during the construction of I-5 in the 1960s, and discusses the Black community in the Albina area of Portland.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on October 9, 2020, Shepherd discusses her experiences picking hops in the 1930s. She shares a childhood drawing she created of a tavern on Union Avenue, as well as a photograph. She talks about the people who lived in the Eliot neighborhood, and discusses her children, their families, and their careers. She revisits the topic of her experiences during the civil rights movement, and the topic of the mass displacement of Black people during the construction of I-5 in the 1960s, as well as during the expansion of Emanuel Hospital in the 1970s. She speaks at length about her involvement with Albina Fair Share and about working to reduce the amount of abandoned houses in the neighborhood. She talks about her involvement with Immaculate Heart Catholic Church.

In the fifth and final interview session, conducted on October 26, 2020, Shepherd speaks at length about how the Albina area of Portland, particularly the Eliot neighborhood, changed over her life. She also shares her reasons for living nearly her entire life in the area. She discusses how the ways that white and Black Portlanders interact have changed over her life. She talks about the death of her husband, Emmett E. Shepherd, about her volunteer work since her retirement in the late 1980s, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her activities. She discusses the political situation at the time of the interview in 2020, including protests in Portland and the presidential election. She closes the interview by talking about her recent stroke and recovery.

This oral history interview with Herbert Retzlaff was conducted by Clark Hansen at Retzlaff's home in Portland, Oregon, from February 15 to March 1, 1989. The interview was conducted in three sessions.

In the first session, conducted on February 15, 1989, Retzlaff discusses his family background and early life in Germany, including his education, the history of the region where he grew up, and his memories of World War I. He discusses the inflation that post-World War I Germany suffered and how it led to him seeking employment abroad, and talks about his immigration to Portland, Oregon, in 1924. He talks about adjusting to life in the United States, jobs he worked when he first arrived, and studying to become an accountant. He then talks about his career as an accountant for Fred Meyer Inc. beginning in 1939. He discusses working with Fred Meyer, and talks about some of his colleagues and about the organizational structure of the company. He talks about his role as vice president in charge of the controller department of Fred Meyer Inc., from 1955 to 1972. He describes the role of the Executive Council, the organizational structure of the controller department, and the transition to computerization. He speaks about merchandising, economic forecasting, and lessons Fred Meyer Inc. learned from its competitors. He describes the growth of the company during his career, as well as purchasing real estate for new store locations.

In the second session, conducted on February 22, 1989, Retzlaff continues discussing the growth of the company during his career, as well as purchasing real estate for new store locations. He also revisits the topics of merchandising, the organizational structure of Fred Meyer Inc., and his working relationship with Fred Meyer and some of his colleagues. He talks about the formation of the employee union and its relationship with management. He then revisits the topic of his early years as an accountant at Fred Meyer Inc. from 1939 to 1955, and his role as vice president in charge of the controller department from 1955 to 1972. He discusses Fred Meyer Inc.'s acquisitions of other grocery and pharmaceutical chains; talks about legal challenges the company faced; and describes the process of the company going public. He also talks about Eva Meyer's death and its effect on Fred Meyer and the company, as well as Fred Meyer Inc.'s relationship with the Salvation Army.

In the third session, conducted on March 1, 1989, Retzlaff continues discussing Fred Meyer Inc.'s relationship with the Salvation Army, as well as other charities. He speaks at length about Fred Meyer's personality; his relationships with family, friends, and employees; and his management style. He then talks about some of Fred Meyer, Inc.'s business ventures, including the Eve's Restaurant chain of coffee shops, the Willamette Savings and Loan, and some of the company's other acquisitions. He also talks about the sale of Fred Meyer Inc. to the Kravitz, Kohlberg, & Roberts Company. He discusses the company politics that led Fred Meyer to step away from the day-to-day operations of the company. He talks about his retirement in 1972, Fred Meyer's death in 1978, and the management at Fred Meyer Inc., at the time of the interview in 1989. He closes the interview by sharing his thoughts about the future of Fred Meyer Inc.

This oral history interview with Douglas E. Coe was conducted by Clark Hansen in Arlington, Virginia, on June 8, 1988. In this interview, Coe briefly discusses his family background and early life, focusing on his high school years in Salem, Oregon, and his memories of the Hatfield family. He talks about the evolution of his Christian faith, and how that led to his friendship with Mark Hatfield. He discusses how Hatfield's faith influenced his political career. He also talks about Hatfield's marriage to Antoinette Kuzmanich; Hatfield's political role models; and Hatfield's relationships with other politicians. He closes the interview with a discussion of Hatfield's public and private lives.

This oral history interview with Frank C. Cook was conducted by Clark Hansen at the Irish Inn in Ashland, Oregon, from November 29-30, 1989. The interview was conducted in two sessions; collection includes a transcript and a photograph of Cook.

In the first interview session, conducted on November 29, 1989, Cook discusses his family background and early life in Southern California, including his family's involvement with conservative Republican politics and his father's suicide. He discusses attending Occidental College in Los Angeles, California; his involvement with the Quaker movement and Buddhism; and the evolution of his political beliefs. He talks about serving in the National Guard from 1967 to 1968, during the Vietnam War. Cook discusses beginning to work as an aide to U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield in 1969.

In the second interview session, conducted on November 30, 1989, Cook continues to discuss working as an aide to Hatfield from 1969 to 1973. He talks about Hatfield's political career, including Hatfield's role in coaching California Governor Ronald Reagan and how Hatfield's views on the Vietnam War affected his political career and his family. He talks about writing speeches for Hatfield, his work on anti-draft legislation, and other members of Hatfield's staff, particularly Gerry Frank. He also talks about other legislation he worked on for Hatfield, particularly the Neighborhood Government Act; about Hatfield's 1972 re-election campaign; and about his work on Middle East issues. He closes the interview by discussing the possibilities for Hatfield's future career.