This oral history interview with Gabriel V. Krivoshein and Vera P. Krivoshein was conducted by Charles Digregorio at their home in Portland, Oregon, on April 30, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, the Krivosheins share their experiences as Russian refugees in Portland, Oregon, in the 1920s. Gabriel Krivoshein talks about learning to speak English, about finding work in the Portland shipyards and in logging camps in Washington, and about adjusting to life in the United States. He talks about his experience in the Imperial Army during World War I and during the Bolshevik Revolution, then describes his journey to the United States via China in the early 1920s. He speaks about the Russian community in Portland.

Vera P. Krivoshein shares her first impressions of Oregon after immigrating from Russia in 1925, and talks about adjusting to life in the United States. She speaks about her experience in the University of Oregon extension, about the Russian community in Portland, and about her reasons for not seeking U.S. citizenship until the late 1930s. She talks about jobs she worked, about her experiences during the Depression, and about her reasons for remaining in Portland.

They close the interview by talking about their early lives in Russia, and Gabriel Krivoshein describes his first American Halloween.

This oral history interview with Samuel L. Diack was conducted by Charles Digregorio at Diack's home in Portland, Oregon, on May 6, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Diack discusses his family background and shares his reasons for pursuing a career as a physician. He shares his experiences as a medical student, discusses his reasons for moving to Portland, Oregon, in 1932, and talks about how the medical field has changed since he began practicing. He speaks at length about his service as president of the board of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and about the construction of the museum building in Southeast Portland. He then discusses his retirement activities, including traveling the world by ship and serving on the board of the Oregon Graduate Center. He closes the interview by talking about prominent Portlanders he was acquainted with.

This oral history interview with Emil Feltz was conducted by Jim Poplack at Feltz's home in Portland, Oregon, on May 13, 1976, as part of the Portland Neighborhood History Project. The project was conducted by Portland Parks and Recreation in the late 1970s, and consisted of interviews with people who moved to or lived in the Portland metropolitan area from the early to mid-1900s. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Emil Feltz discusses his family background and early life in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Portland. He also speaks about the role of Father Gregory of Sacred Heart Church in helping families to settle in the neighborhood. He describes his childhood recreational activities, including ice skating on the Willamette River and going to pool halls. He also discusses his early education. He describes the neighborhood and talks about how it has changed over his lifetime. He closes the interview by sharing his hopes for the future of Brooklyn.

In this interview, Mary E. Branin discusses her experience as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard. She also talks about using the day care centers at the shipyards. She describes her training to become a welder, talks about later working on ship layouts, and discusses her early life in Washington. Includes a transcript (33 pages).

In this interview, Elizabeth F. Goddard discusses her role in founding the child care centers at the Kaiser shipyards. She talks about the lasting effect the child care centers had on public education in Portland; about the services the shipyards offered their women workers; and about the other people who helped found the child care centers. She speaks about how the children in the centers benefited. She closes the interview by reflecting on the reasons some women workers chose not to use the centers. Incomplete transcript available (20 pages).

In this interview, Reta B. Bixel and Louise M. Bailey discuss working in the Kaiser shipyards, including their reasons for seeking employment in the shipyards. Bixel describes her work and training as a welder, and Bailey describes working on the assembly line. They talk about the work environment at the shipyards, about using the shipyard child care centers, and about balancing work and family life. They close the interview by discussing their reasons for leaving the shipyards and their activities since then. Complete transcript available (29 pages).

In this interview, Isabella C. Sanders discusses her experiences as a Black woman working as a scaler for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about her commute, about balancing work and family life, and about her experience living in Vanport during the 1948 Vanport flood. She closes the interview by talking about other jobs she held. Complete transcript available (13 pages).

In this interview, Vivian G. Humphrey and John Humphrey discuss Vivian's work as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. They talk about the training women welders received, about crime in the shipyards, and about the dangers of welding. They discuss the reasons Vivian Humphrey quit in 1943. John Humphrey talks about their commute, about shutting down the shipyards after the war ended, and about his work as a burner and chipper. They discuss how male shipyard employees treated the women workers. They talk about living in war housing in St. Johns and about their daily lives. They discuss their careers and raising a family after leaving the shipyards. Incomplete transcript available (31 pages).

This oral history interview with Richard G. Montgomery was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on May 16, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Montgomery discusses his Montgomery and Gill family background and talks about the history of J. K. Gill Company. He talks about studying medicine at the University of California at Berkeley and at the University of Oregon Medical School, describes his involvement in the J. K. Gill Company, and discusses his career in advertising. He closes the interview by talking about the books he wrote.

This oral history interview with John R. Laidlaw was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on June 10, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library. Henry C. C. Stevens was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Laidlaw speaks at length about his family background. He discusses his early life in Portland, Oregon. He talks about prominent families in early 20th century Portland, including the C. E. S. Wood family, and shares anecdotes from his life as a Catholic priest. He talks about serving as a pastor in Astoria during World War I. He also talks about his siblings, their families, and their careers. He closes the interview by sharing further anecdotes about his time as a priest.

This oral history interview with L. Raphael Geisler was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on June 10, 1976. In this interview, Geisler discusses his family background and early life in the Portland Heights neighborhood of Portland. He also briefly shares his memories of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition.

Geisler discusses his experience as vice-consul to Cologne, Germany, and to Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I. He then speaks briefly about his career in banking after the war until the Depression, and then working as a patent lawyer in Portland. He discusses his involvement with Trinity Episcopal Church, including his memories of the 1902 fire that destroyed its original building on SW Sixth Avenue and SW Oak Street in downtown Portland. He closes the interview by speaking briefly about his parents.

In this interview, Cornella H. Novak discusses her work as coordinator for the Portland Public Schools nurseries during World War II. She describes receiving funds from the Lanham Act of 1940 and setting up the day care program; talks about the development of the 12 centers she oversaw; and speaks about the 24-hour center at the University Homes war housing project. She discusses the options available for infant care in Portland during and after World War II; speaks about the influence the Kaiser child care centers had on other day care facilities in Portland; and discusses the state of day care after the Lanham Act funding ceased in 1946. She talks about her life after the war and her later involvement with day care programs in Portland. She also speaks about Jim Hymes and his philosophy about early childhood development. She compares the Portland Public Schools nurseries to the Kaiser Child Service Centers, the Lanham-funded public nurseries in Vanport and Vancouver, and day care facilities available at the time of the interview in 1976. Incomplete transcript available(41 pages).

In this interview, Leah V. Hahn discusses working as a welder and a burner in the Kaiser shipyards. She talks about the training she received and about the dangers of the job. She also speaks about her son, Rick Hahn, and his career; shares her memories of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's visit to the Kaiser shipyards; and talks about working for the American Canning Company during the Depression. She closes the interview by talking about her life after the war. Incomplete transcript available (27 pages).

In this interview, Ione L. Williams discusses working as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about the dangers of the job and discusses the kind of work she and other women did. She speaks about using the shipyard day care centers and describes the care her children received. She discusses life in the St. Johns Woods war housing project, talks about grocery shopping, and discusses her career after the war ended. She also talks about being required to buy war bonds. Incomplete transcript available (25 pages).

In this interview, Eva M. Lund discusses working as a welder for Commercial Iron Works. She speaks about her experience with the boilermaker's union; talks about her experience as the first woman to join the bartender's union; and her child care arrangement while working in the shipyards. She discusses the trucking business she ran with her husband after the war; talks about how work as a welder affected her health; and describes the dangers of the job. She also talks about quality control in the shipyards, about grocery shopping and rationing, and about the mass layoffs of women after the war ended in 1945. She closes the interview by sharing anecdotes about people and events at the shipyards. Incomplete transcript available (29 pages).

This oral history interview with Catherine R. Sabin was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on June 15, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Sabin discusses her family background and early life in Northwest Portland, including her Scottish heritage and traveling with her family. She also describes the Willamette Heights neighborhood and talks about people who lived there. She talks about the family background of her husband, Robert L. Sabin. She shares her experiences as a student at Reed College, and closes the interview by talking about some of the organizations she was involved with, including the Portland Art Museum.

This oral history interview with William L. Brewster, Jr. was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon on June 17, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Brewster discusses his family background and talks about the life and career of his father, William Lewis Brewster. He speaks about famous men in Portland history, including E.B. McNaughton.

In this interview, Frances M. Brandon discusses her work as a nurse at the Kaiser shipyard day care center on Swan Island. She talks about the health and sanitation practices in the day care infirmary. She also talks about using the centers for her children. Incomplete transcript available (15 pages). The recording is on a shared cassette. It begins on Side 1, following the end of the preceding interview with Ruth Cave.

In this interview, Helen Gardner discusses working as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about her training and the dangers of the job, and describes the assembly line workflows. She discusses the treatment of women workers by male coworkers and the boilermaker's union; talks about the lay-offs after the war ended; and discusses her activities after the war, including her return to welding in the 1970s. Incomplete transcript available (23 pages).

In this interview, Violet McMurtrey discusses her work as a teacher at the day care center in the University Homes war housing project during World War II. She talks about the staff, about the building, and about the equipment. She discusses the care the children received at the center. She talks about the closure of the day care centers after the end of World War II and about her activities after the war. She compares the program at the University Homes day care center with the child care options available at the time of the interview in 1976. Incomplete transcript available (26 pages).

This oral history interview with Shanna C. Wheeler was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on June 30, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Wheeler discusses her family background and early life in various neighborhoods around Portland, including her involvement in the Junior League of Portland. She talks about her marriage to Lawrence R. Wheeler, publisher of the Portland Telegram, and describes the houses they lived in. She closes the interview by talking about her involvement with the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland.

In this interview, Stella I. Vogel discusses her work as a tank cleaner for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Reynold S. Vogel discusses his work as a welding leadman at the same company. Stella I. Vogel talks about living in Vanport, about the hours she worked, and about her child care arrangements. The Vogels discuss their activities after the war, and Stella I. Vogel briefly talks about her family background and early life. They describe the work they did at the shipyards, talk about tensions between women and men on the job, and Reynold S. Vogel talks about supervising women welders. Incomplete transcript available (29 pages).

This oral history interview with Henrietta C. Failing was conducted by Charles Digregorio on July 14, 1976, at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Failing speaks about the history of the Failing family. She focuses particularly on the life and career of her father, James Frederick Failing, who came to Portland, Oregon, as a child in 1851; and on her uncle Henry Failing and his work as Portland mayor from 1864 to 1866 and from 1873 to 1875. She briefly discusses the role of Chinese Americans in 19th-century Portland. She also speaks about the life and career of her maternal grandfather, John Conner, who came to Albany, Oregon, in 1853. She talks about her family's involvement with the First Baptist Church in Portland. She closes the interview by talking about her early life in Portland, including her memories of the Lewis and Clark Exposition in 1905.

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.

In this interview, Mildred O. Kane discusses working as a teacher at the Kaiser Child Service Center on Swan Island during World War II. She describes a typical day at the center; discusses the program for children 18 to 24 months old; and talks about the center's early childhood education philosophy. She talks about the influence the Kaiser Child Service Centers had on other day care facilities in Portland; discusses the low wages child care workers are paid; and shares ideas for expanding and improving the child care options available at the time of the interview in 1976. Incomplete transcript available (27 pages).

This oral history interview with Barbara Elliott Davies was conducted by Charles Digregorio at Davies' home in Portland, Oregon, on July 18, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

In this interview, Davies discusses the life of her father, Thompson Coit Elliott (1862-1943), a former executive director of the Oregon Historical Society. She also talks about her grandfather, John Euclid Elliott (1829-1888), and his role in the development of Walla Walla, Washington. She discusses her work for Oregon Historical Quarterly, the journal of the Oregon Historical Society; and talks about working with her father to acquire collections for the historical society, particularly the Protestant Ladder.

This oral history interview with Louise H. Martin was conducted by Ruth M. Powers in Vancouver, Washington, on July 21, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. Charles Digregorio was also present.

In this interview, Martin discusses her family background and early life in Alaska; Oregon City, Oregon; and Spokane, Washington. She describes visits to her relatives' house in Oregon City, which is now known as the William L. Holmes House, or the Rose Farm.

This oral history interview with siblings Henry S. Mears and Margaret S. Clark was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on August 3, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Mears and Clark discuss their family background, and talk about the life and career of their father, Portland businessman and Oregon legislator Samuel Maxwell Mears. Digregorio reads biographies of Samuel M. Mears prepared by the siblings. They talk about their early lives in Portland, including their social lives and recreational activities. They close the interview by talking about their brother, Arthur Maxwell Mears, and his involvement in Portland's shipbuilding industry.