These interviews about Gladys L. Randall were conducted by Bethanye McNichol from February 7 to March 7, 1998. Interviewees include Randall's stepson, Richard S. Randall; her daughter-in-law, Sylvia J. Randall; and the owner of Nicholas Ungar Furs, Horst G. Grimm.
The interview with Richard S. Randall, and his wife, Sylvia J. Randall, was conducted in two sessions. In the first interview session, on February 7, 1998, Richard S. Randall discusses Gladys L. Randall's family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including her marriage to his father, Richard Randall. He speaks at length about Gladys L. Randall's millinery business in Portland and Salem with Olga Lanphier on the label Olga & Louise in the 1940s and 1950s. Sylvia Randall speaks about Gladys L. Randall's millinery and sewing work in the 1960s and 1970s. She talks about Gladys L. Randall's partnership with Lanphier, and about some of Gladys L. Randall's famous clients. Richard S. Randall describes Olga & Louise's design for Portland meter readers. The Randalls talk about Gladys L. Randall's hat-making process and supplies, about her enjoyment of millinery work, and about her recreational activities. They look at photographs of Gladys L. Randall and talk about them, and also talk about their relationship with her. Sylvia J. Randall talks about her work as a model in the 1950s and 1960s, and also about Gladys L. Randall's relationship with Portland dressmaker Evelyn Gibson. In the second interview session, on March 7, 1998, Richard S. Randall and Sylvia J. Randall look through Gladys L. Randall's scrapbook and talk about its contents.
The interview with Horst G. Grimm, who worked at and later owned the Nicholas Ungar Furs store in Portland, Oregon, was conducted on February 14, 1998. In this interview, Grimm shares his memories of Gladys L. Randall's millinery business. He also describes Portland, Oregon, society when he first arrived from Germany in 1959. He talks about Randall's millinery skills, about the health dangers posed by the chemicals used in hatmaking, and about changes in women's fashion from the 1950s to the time of the interview, particularly hat fashion.
Audio in the collection also includes a recording on February 17, 1998, in which Bethanye McNichols reads from her notes from previous interview sessions and talks about her future research plans.
The collection also includes 9 photocopy photographs, with three additional duplicates, relating to Randall, Lanphier, and their Olga & Louise label. Photographs include images of a fur hat, Randall and Lanphier together, and Randall and Lanphier in their hat shop with sales staff and customers. The photographs are undigitized but are available to view at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Randall, Richard S. (Richard Stanley), 1926-2000