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.

Aerial photograph of widespread flooding in Vanport during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. In the foreground, Denver Avenue and Vanport ramp are visible. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by a someone named "Vail." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of debris and destroyed buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Donnie Dill (left) and Dale Skovgaard (right) dressed in western style shirts and posing in front of a car in Vanport, Oregon on their way to the Smith Lake Riding Academy.

A group of men holding hands and a rope to form a human chain in waist-high flood water during the Vanport flood. They are attempting to rescue people trapped by rising flood water. Flooded cars and debris are visible in the water around them. Dale Skovgaard is identified as the man in the white cowboy hat. This photograph was originally taken by an Oregonian photographer (OrHi 25428).

Agnes Skovgaard sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport, Oregon following the Vanport flood. Caption on the image reads, “My mother sorting through personal items after the flood to see if anything was worth saving. Very little.”

A view of Vanport, Oregon apartment buildings looking east toward Lake Avenue.

Dale Skovgaard (left) with his friend, Vincent, and dog Max, in front of their apartment building on Island Avenue in Vanport, Oregon.

A view of Vanport, Oregon looking west on North Cottonwood Avenue from Denver Avenue before the flood.

Buildings and flotsam pressed against the Kenton Slough dike during the Vanport flood in 1948.

An envelope containing commemorative photographs taken during the Vanport flood in 1948. The envelope is white with red lettering that reads, "10 Selected Snapshots 50C. Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River. May 30, 1948." Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood with Mount St. Helens visible in the distance. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

A postcard depicting damage caused by flood waters during the Vanport flood. In the image several apartment buildings which were lifted from their foundations by rising water are seen floating among debris. Several unidentified people are visible standing on rooftops, climbing on debris, and in boats. The image caption reads, "Flood destruction - Vanport, Ore. Christian V-10."

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of unidentified people standing on a large pile of sandbags during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of dump trucks and tractors moving piles of sand for people to make sand bags during the Vanport flood. Several men with shovels stand to the side of the trucks waiting to return to work.

Photograph of the Staff Jennings building in the flood water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. A sign on the building states that the company sells boats, motors, and marine equipment. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of several people in a boat next to a flooded apartment building during the Vanport Flood, 1948. One person has their hands on the roof of the building while the others look inside an open window. Several surrounding apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Nightime photograph of an area affected by the Vanport Flood. A sign in the foreground reads, "Dirt Wanted. Dump Here." In the background is a large building surrounded by water and a sign pointing the way to Portland Meadows. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a large pile of debris in front of a destroyed apartment building in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Photograph is slightly blurry. Two handwritten notes on back read, "Jerry," and "Doyle," indicating this was possibly taken by either Jerry Jiro Yasutome or another student at the Northwest School of Photography.

A teacher and student at newly opened Vanport School near Portland. The child is seated at a table holding an open book, while the teacher stands next to him and points downward (negative 1 of 7).

The Vanport School building at the time of its opening, near Portland. Construction debris is in front of the building, with a visible open doorway. A tall ladder leans against a brick wall (negative 2 of 7).

Children and adults boarding a school bus at Vanport, before departing on a trip to a coastal beach. The people have formed a line outside an open school bus door. A similar photograph was published on the front page of section 2 of the Oregon Journal on Friday, July 16, 1943 (negative 2 of 4).

Two women walk side by side on a sidewalk in Vanport. One of the women is carrying a paper bag. Across the street is a “United States Post Office Building” (negative 4 of 11).

A group of adults and children over a fence at Vanport City, watching gardeners in a fenced off area. The gardeners are kneeling down in between rows of plants (negative 1 of 4).

People inspect fire damage at the Vanport shopping center. The roof of the building appears to have burned away, with charred wood visible throughout the scene. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, December 17, 1945 (negative 1 of 11).

A teacher plays piano as children circle around a table, at Vanport School. The children are holding small United States flags (negative 1 of 9).