This oral history interview with Homer T. Shaver was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Shaver Transportation Company in Portland, Oregon, on September 8, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Shaver speaks at length about his family background and describes the founding of the Shaver Transportation Company. He talks about changes he made to the company when he became assistant manager in 1921. He discusses the company's competitors and talks about how the Depression affected the business. He also describes his experiences working on the construction of a water pipeline in Alaska during the summer of 1909. He closes the interview by talking about his accomplishments.

This oral history interview with Jerry F. Cundari was conducted by Kerry Tymchuk in Portland, Oregon, on August 23, 2023. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Cundari discusses his early career as a golf caddy at the Portland Golf Club and describes his experiences playing in golf tournaments as a teenager. He speaks about golf players he competed against, and about titles he won. He talks about his college experience at the University of Oregon, particularly playing golf for the university team. He discusses continuing to play golf while working for the family insurance company, Cundari Insurance, and while raising a family, and shares his reasons for never pursuing a career as a professional golfer. He talks about professional golfers he played with, including Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. He closes the interview by talking about tournaments he played in as a senior golfer.

This oral history interview with Dick K. Harmon was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on December 29, 1995, as part of the Legacy of Hope: Catholics and Social Justice Project, which collected interviews with Catholic clergy and social justice activists in Oregon about their work on social action in the Roman Catholic tradition.

In this interview, Harmon discusses his family background and early life in Colorado, and talks about his interest in learning about the roots of violence in American culture. He describes his college experience at the University of Chicago, and describes how he became involved with the Industrial Areas Foundation. He speaks at length about his work as a social justice organizer for the IAF and later for the Brooklyn Ecumenical Cooperatives. He talks about the communities he worked in, about the people he worked with, and about the relationship between his work and his Christian faith. He shares his opinion on the organization and rules of the Catholic Church. He then speaks at length about his work with the Portland Organizing Project in Oregon, an alliance of churches founded in 1985 to further social justice. He closes the interview by sharing how his social justice work helped him to process his abusive childhood, and by discussing the concept of sin.

Since 1984, the Oregon Historical Society has partnered with the United States District Court of Oregon Historical Society to interview judges, lawyers and other legal professionals affiliated with that Court.
With an appeal rate at around 10%, the decisions made by the District Court of Oregon have been deeply influential on the laws and peoples of the state. It has presided over decisions on public land disputes and fishing rights, as well as civil rights and law enforcement. The stories of the people that make up this judicial body provide a valuable tool for helping the public understand the pivotal role the court has had on Oregon’s history.

This oral history interview with Margaret Biddle Parker was conducted by Elisabeth W. Potter and Alfred Staehli in Portland, Oregon, on March 15, 1984, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Parker discusses the career of her husband, Portland architect Jamieson Parker. She discusses how the 1929 stock market crash affected his business, talks about his work for the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Federal Housing Administration in the 1930s, and speaks about some of the buildings he designed. She also talks about her children, their family, and their careers; and about her mother, Margaret Burrell Biddle. She discusses the cause of Jamieson Parker's death in 1939. She closes the interview by talking about Alfred Parker.

This oral history interview with Margaret Biddle Parker was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, in two sessions, on December 31, 1974, and January 15, 1975, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In the first interview session, conducted on December 31, 1974, Parker discusses her family background, particularly the life of her mother, Margaret Burrell Biddle. She talks about her early life in Portland, including her education at Catlin Gabel School. She also talks about spending formative years in Berlin, Germany. She discusses her college experience at the University of California in Berkeley, then talks about her marriage to Portland architect Jamieson Parker. She shares her experiences during the Depression.

In the second interview session, conducted on January 15, 1975, Parker discusses the life and career of Jamieson Parker, describes buildings he designed in the 1920s, and talks about his work for the Historic American Buildings Survey in the 1930s. She speaks about their marriage and family life, revisits the topic of the life of her mother, Margaret Burrell Biddle, and talks about her own social life and recreational activities. She closes the interview by discussing working and raising her children after Jamieson Parker's death in 1939, and by talking about her volunteer work after her retirement.

This oral history interview with Leo F. Simon was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 7, 1980, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody.

In this interview, Simon shares his memories of moving to Portland with his family in 1902 and living on homesteads. He talks about his early education. He discusses his early interest in photography, and talks about working in photography studios and later owning his own studio in Portland. He speaks about his involvement with the Audubon Society, the Mazamas, and the Geological Society of the Oregon Country. He describes his work restoring photographs for the Oregon Historical Society. He closes the interview by giving a brief chronology of his photography career.

This oral history interview with John H. Steelquist was conducted by Deborah M. Frosaker at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on December 8, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Steelquist discusses the medical work of his maternal great-grandmother, Catherine Davis, and the pharmaceutical career of his maternal grandfather, Melancthon Marshall Davis, in 19th- and 20th-century Oregon. He talks about his early interest in engineering, about his college experience at Stanford University, and about his reasons for pursuing a career in medicine. He closes the interview by discussing his research on Captain James Cook.

This radio interview with Homer T. Shaver was conducted by Doug Porter on August 14, 1963, for the Junior Chamber of Commerce evening program, "Mr. Jaycee Report." The interview aired on Portland radio station KWJJ.

In this interview, Shaver discusses his tug and barge business, the Shaver Transportation Company, which operated on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. He talks about the history of the company, about the company's past and present competitors, and about how the industry has changed over the 20th century. He discusses cargo his barges carry, describes the operations of his company, and discusses the future of the Portland harbor.

This oral history interview with Dick K. Harmon was conducted by Kay Reid in two sessions, on December 15 and December 22, 1998, as part of the Legacy of Hope: Catholics and Social Justice Project, which collected interviews with Catholic clergy and social justice activists in Oregon about their work on social action in the Roman Catholic tradition.

In the first interview session, conducted on December 15, 1998, Harmon discusses his involvement with the Portland Organizing Project, an alliance of churches in Portland, Oregon, that was founded in 1985 to further social justice. He talks about the organization's work lobbying the Oregon Legislature to fund worker training programs, and about how the organization changed in the late 1990s. He speaks about the history of the post-World War II labor movement and how changes in the working class lifestyle are related to changes in social justice organizing by churches. He shares his thoughts about the importance of the church to American social life. He discusses his family, their lives, and their careers. He speaks about pollution in the Willamette River and talks about solutions to the issue that would also create jobs.

In the second interview session, conducted on December 22, 1998, Harmon discusses his work in family therapy, speaks at length about the Portland Organizing Project's work on affordable housing during the development of Portland's River District in 1995, and describes the organization's relationship with journalists. He reflects on his accomplishments as a social justice organizer in Chicago, Illinois, in Brooklyn, New York, and in Portland, Oregon. He shares his reasons for moving to Portland in the mid-1990s. He describes how he became involved in social justice organizing while in college in the 1950s, talks about the staff and volunteers of the Portland Organizing Project, and discusses the organization's current focus on public education. He closes the interview by talking about the growth of the POP.

The Yasui Brothers records primarily document the business, personal, and community-related activities of the Yasui family in Hood River, Oregon, from the start of the 20th century until World War II, when they were among the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated by the U.S. government.

The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence and records relating to the business activities of Masuo Yasui (1886-1957). These include the general store, Yasui Bros., that he ran with his brother Renichi Fujimoto; and orchards in the Hood River Valley and surrounding areas that the firm operated. Store records include a variety of advertising materials, while farming records include packing lists, crop reports, and records of local farming associations Masuo Yasui was involved with. The collection also reflects Yasui’s involvement in the local community, including his work assisting other Japanese immigrants to the United States. A small quantity of materials relates to the Yasui Bros. store’s forced closure and the management of the family’s property and assets while they were incarcerated during World War II.

The collection also includes personal papers of Masuo Yasui; his wife, Shidzuyo Yasui; his brother Renichi Fujimoto; and his children. These consist of correspondence, ephemera, and a personal history that Masuo Yasui wrote at the request of the Japanese consulate. Other materials in the collection include records from the 1970s and 1980s of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), in which Masuo Yasui’s son Homer Yasui and his wife, Miyuki Yasui, were active, and magazines and newspapers the family received in both Japanese and English.

A substantial amount of this collection is in a pre-World War II Japanese script that is distinct from modern Japanese. Some of these materials, particularly those in Series 1 (Business correspondence and related materials) and Series 6 (Personal papers) have been reviewed and summarized by translators. Selected documents have been translated into English and modern Japanese.

The collection contains 64 glass negatives, 44 sheet film negatives, and 39 photographic prints taken by or attributed to the Bettman family between approximately 1880 and 1920. Thirty-five of the prints have corresponding negatives in the collection. Negative numbers are noted on the back of prints when known. The collection includes individual and family portraits, views of the interior and displays of the Bettman drugstore, photographs depicting medical equipment and practice, including a neck brace and Adalbert G. Bettman’s sanitary measuring sugar bowl, and scenes throughout Oregon, including Portland, Eugene, and Corvallis. This collection may be of interest to individuals researching the history of medicine, pharmacy, and plastic surgery in Oregon.

A series of oral history interviews with Oregonians. The subjects were selected from a pool of nominees by a staff committee appointed by the OHS Executive Director. The purpose of these interviews was to create historical documents of enduring value to enhance and expand the range of Oregon voices preserved by the OHS Research Library, complement existing collections and programs of the Oregon Historical Society, and address goals for collection development and community engagement. The program ended in 2020.

This oral history interview with Alice C. Rockey was conducted by Charles Digregorio in Portland, Oregon, on April 19, 1977, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Rockey speaks at length about the life and career of her father, Charles Henry Carey, a Portland lawyer and historian. She talks about her early life in the Riverdale neighborhood of Portland, including her education, her social life, and her recreational activities. She also discusses her marriage to Eugene W. Rockey, and her involvement with the Portland Junior League.

This oral history interview with Alice C. Rockey was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at Rockey's home in Portland, Oregon, on January 23, 1981, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody.

In this interview, Rockey discusses her early life in the Riverdale neighborhood of Portland, including the history of her house. She talks about businesses in early 20th century Portland, including the Portland Hotel and M & A Shogren, operated by sisters May Shogren and Ann Shogren; discusses her social life; and shares her memories of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition. She also talks about the legal and political career of her father, Charles Henry Carey. She closes the interview by speaking about her marriage to Eugene W. Rockey and about his medical career.

This oral history interview with Stan G. Terry was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the Portland Motor Motel in Portland, Oregon, on May 18, 1982, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody. Jack Pement of the Oregon Journal newspaper was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Terry describes his childhood supporting himself by selling newspapers in Sacramento, California. He describes how he developed a gambling operation involving vending machines in Portland, and discusses his work as a pinball machine operator. He speaks about Portland Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee's crackdown on all forms of gambling and how that affected his business. He compares Lee's administration to other 1950s mayors, talks about his association with Portland crime boss Jim Elkins, and discusses how he joined the Teamsters Union in order to continue his pinball operation. He shares his experience of testifying before the U.S. Senate during the 1957 McClellan committee hearings on racketeering and organized crime, and discusses Portland's bad reputation in the aftermath of those hearings. He then talks about apartment and office buildings that he owned in Portland, and about owning and operating the Portland Meadows Golf Course. He speaks about several lawsuits he brought against the city of Portland, and about his campaigns for various political offices, including Oregon governor and Portland mayor. He also talks about running a garbage collection business. He closes the interview by talking about other pinball operators in Portland and by discussing gambling on Las Vegas slot machines.

This oral history interview with Bertha B. Hallam was conducted by Linda S. Dodds in Portland, Oregon, in two sessions, on December 20, 1979, and January 3, 1980, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody.

In the first interview session, conducted on December 20, 1979, Hallam describes how she became the first librarian at the University of Oregon Medical School in 1919. She talks about the library building that was constructed in 1939, about her involvement with the Medical Library Association, and about articles she wrote.

In the second interview session, conducted on January 3, 1980, Hallam reflects on her accomplishments as a librarian. She closes the interview by talking about her retirement activities.

This oral history interview with Amy R. Gill was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 23, 1976, as part of the oral history program in the society's research library. Henry C. C. Stevens was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Gill discusses her family background and early life in the King's Hill and Portland Heights neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon. She talks about the people who lived in the neighborhoods, about buildings and businesses in the area, and about social life in the early 20th century. She closes the interview by describing her childhood recreational activities, including playing polo and badminton.

This oral history interview with Edith I. A. Dailey was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at Dailey's home in Portland, Oregon, on April 21, 1982, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody.

In this interview, Dailey briefly discusses her family background and early life in Chicago, Illinois, and talks about working as a secretary in Portland, Oregon, and as manager of the Portland Chamber of Commerce building. She speaks about her involvement in the Business and Professional Women's group, particularly regarding fundraising for the creation of the Portland Rose Festival queen's crown in the 1920s. She then shares her experience as the 1924 Rose Festival queen. She closes the interview by talking about the jobs she held during the Depression and during World War II, and about her career as executive manager of the Oregon Funeral Directors Association.

This oral history interview with Scotty Cohen was conducted by Charles Digregorio on August 31, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. Mary Ann Cohen was also present, and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Cohen briefly discusses his family background and early life in Glasgow, Scotland, and his experience immigrating to the United States. He describes how he became a public address announcer at Vaughn Street Park for Portland Beavers baseball games in the early 20th century, and talks about his business as a news vendor in downtown Portland. He discusses Portland's night life in the early 20th century and talks about how the city changed.

This oral history interview with Mary E. Blossom was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on May 10, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Blossom discusses her family background and early life in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. She describes the use and appearance of calling cards and speaks at length about prominent people and families who lived in Portland during the early 20th century. She also talks about her career as a librarian for the Multnomah County Public Library.

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.

This oral history interview with Rhoda R. Madden was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on November 9, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Madden discusses her family background and early life in Portland. She talks about her recreational activities during her teens and 20s in the early 20th century, particularly camping. She discusses her involvement with the Portland Town Club, talks about running a dance school, and describes attending parties held by wealthy Portland residents.

This oral history interview with Virginia M. Kletzer was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on March 30, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. Roy Feldenheimer and Henry C.C. Stevens were also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Kletzer discusses her education at the Portland Academy, a private high school that operated from 1889 to 1916 and was located at SW 13th Avenue and SW Montgomery Street, in Portland, Oregon. She describes the curriculum of the school and talks about her teachers and classmates. She then speaks about her involvement with the Parent Teacher Association and the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society. She shares her memories of attending the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition and of spending a summer at the Cloud Cap Inn in 1910 with Portland Academy staff. She closes the interview by talking about her marriage to William Kletzer and raising a family on a ranch on the Jesse Applegate donation land claim.

This oral history interview with Marie A. Gary was conducted by Sue Seyl and George Champlin at Gary's home in Vancouver, Washington, on January 20, 1981, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Gary discusses working at the Cronise Studio in Salem, Oregon. She talks about working with Thomas J. Cronise, and describes his process of portrait photography. She speaks about her work retouching and tinting photographs. She discusses the studio's business operations, clientele, and layout. She speaks about Thomas J. Cronise and his family.

This oral history interview with John D. Scott was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on November 3, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Scott discusses his family background, and also the family background of his wife, Jessie M. Scott. He then talks about the history of the Mazamas, a mountaineering organization in Oregon, and about his experiences climbing Mount Hood. He closes the interview by discussing the naval career of his father, Bernard Orme Scott.

This oral history interview with Hilde Schmoll was conducted by Portland architect Alfred Staehli at Schmoll's home in Portland, Oregon, on March 26, 1979, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Schmoll discusses the history and design of her home in the Mount Tabor neighborhood of Portland, which was designed by architect A. E. Doyle and previously owned by the haute couture dressmakers May Shogren and Ann Shogren. She also briefly talks about the violin-making business of her husband, Rudolph F. Schmoll.

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.