Tape 1, Side 1. This oral history interview with Betty Niederhaus and Marie Schreiber was conducted by Barbara Whittlesey at Niederhaus’s home in Portland, Oregon, on May 17, 1981. In this interview, they discuss their family background and early life in Portland. They then talk about their experiences as women marine machinists for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. They describe their job duties, talk about the dangers of the job, and speak about people they worked with. They also discuss the experience of being laid off immediately after the war ended. They talk about their lives after the war and Niederhaus speaks about working for Jantzen Knitting Mills. They discuss the lower wages they earn as women, and share their thoughts on the women’s movement and feminism.

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Betty Niederhaus and Marie Schreiber was conducted by Barbara Whittlesey at Niederhaus’s home in Portland, Oregon, on May 17, 1981. In this interview, they discuss their family background and early life in Portland. They then talk about their experiences as women marine machinists for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. They describe their job duties, talk about the dangers of the job, and speak about people they worked with. They also discuss the experience of being laid off immediately after the war ended. They talk about their lives after the war and Niederhaus speaks about working for Jantzen Knitting Mills. They discuss the lower wages they earn as women, and share their thoughts on the women’s movement and feminism.

Tape 2, Side 1. This oral history interview with Betty Niederhaus and Marie Schreiber was conducted by Barbara Whittlesey at Niederhaus’s home in Portland, Oregon, on May 17, 1981. In this interview, they discuss their family background and early life in Portland. They then talk about their experiences as women marine machinists for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. They describe their job duties, talk about the dangers of the job, and speak about people they worked with. They also discuss the experience of being laid off immediately after the war ended. They talk about their lives after the war and Niederhaus speaks about working for Jantzen Knitting Mills. They discuss the lower wages they earn as women, and share their thoughts on the women’s movement and feminism.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Betty Niederhaus and Marie Schreiber was conducted by Barbara Whittlesey at Niederhaus’s home in Portland, Oregon, on May 17, 1981. In this interview, they discuss their family background and early life in Portland. They then talk about their experiences as women marine machinists for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. They describe their job duties, talk about the dangers of the job, and speak about people they worked with. They also discuss the experience of being laid off immediately after the war ended. They talk about their lives after the war and Niederhaus speaks about working for Jantzen Knitting Mills. They discuss the lower wages they earn as women, and share their thoughts on the women’s movement and feminism.

Tape 1, Side 1. This oral history interview with Nona F. Pool was conducted by Amy Kesselman on May 25, 1981. In this interview, Pool discusses her early life in Nebraska and in Denver, Colorado, and describes her experiences during the Depression. She speaks about her experience as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about living in Vanport and about her child care arrangements. She describes her training, her job duties, and the dangers of the job. She discusses balancing work and family life. She speaks at length about jobs she held after the war, including returning to welding for Freightliner. She shares her opinion on the women’s movement and feminism. Incomplete transcript available (6 pages).

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Nona F. Pool was conducted by Amy Kesselman on May 25, 1981. In this interview, Pool discusses her early life in Nebraska and in Denver, Colorado, and describes her experiences during the Depression. She speaks about her experience as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about living in Vanport and about her child care arrangements. She describes her training, her job duties, and the dangers of the job. She discusses balancing work and family life. She speaks at length about jobs she held after the war, including returning to welding for Freightliner. She shares her opinion on the women’s movement and feminism. Incomplete transcript available (6 pages).

Tape 2, Side 1. This oral history interview with Nona F. Pool was conducted by Amy Kesselman on May 25, 1981. In this interview, Pool discusses her early life in Nebraska and in Denver, Colorado, and describes her experiences during the Depression. She speaks about her experience as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about living in Vanport and about her child care arrangements. She describes her training, her job duties, and the dangers of the job. She discusses balancing work and family life. She speaks at length about jobs she held after the war, including returning to welding for Freightliner. She shares her opinion on the women’s movement and feminism. Incomplete transcript available (6 pages).

Tape 1, Side 1. This oral history interview with Billie H. Strmiska was conducted by Karen Wickre at Strmiska’s home in Wheeler, Oregon, on June 14, 1981. Strmiska’s husband, Edward Strmiska, was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. In this interview, Strmiska discusses her early life in Penelope, Texas, then talks about her experiences during the Depression in Oregon, Texas, and in Washington. She discusses her experiences as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She describes her training, talks about the protective clothing she wore, and discusses the dangers of the job. She speaks at length about participating in a welding contest in 1943 and about the trip she took as a result of achieving second place. She talks about her life after the war, running a berry farm with her husband. Complete transcript available (60 pages).

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Billie H. Strmiska was conducted by Karen Wickre at Strmiska’s home in Wheeler, Oregon, on June 14, 1981. Strmiska’s husband, Edward Strmiska, was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. In this interview, Strmiska discusses her early life in Penelope, Texas, then talks about her experiences during the Depression in Oregon, Texas, and in Washington. She discusses her experiences as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She describes her training, talks about the protective clothing she wore, and discusses the dangers of the job. She speaks at length about participating in a welding contest in 1943 and about the trip she took as a result of achieving second place. She talks about her life after the war, running a berry farm with her husband. Complete transcript available (60 pages).

Tape 2, Side 1. This oral history interview with Billie H. Strmiska was conducted by Karen Wickre at Strmiska’s home in Wheeler, Oregon, on June 14, 1981. Strmiska’s husband, Edward Strmiska, was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. In this interview, Strmiska discusses her early life in Penelope, Texas, then talks about her experiences during the Depression in Oregon, Texas, and in Washington. She discusses her experiences as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She describes her training, talks about the protective clothing she wore, and discusses the dangers of the job. She speaks at length about participating in a welding contest in 1943 and about the trip she took as a result of achieving second place. She talks about her life after the war, running a berry farm with her husband. Complete transcript available (60 pages).

Transcript. This oral history interview with Billie H. Strmiska was conducted by Karen Wickre at Strmiska’s home in Wheeler, Oregon, on June 14, 1981. Strmiska’s husband, Edward Strmiska, was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. In this interview, Strmiska discusses her early life in Penelope, Texas, then talks about her experiences during the Depression in Oregon, Texas, and in Washington. She discusses her experiences as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She describes her training, talks about the protective clothing she wore, and discusses the dangers of the job. She speaks at length about participating in a welding contest in 1943 and about the trip she took as a result of achieving second place. She talks about her life after the war, running a berry farm with her husband. Complete transcript available (60 pages).

Tape 1, Side 1. This oral history interview with Berenice E. Thompson was conducted by Sara Cook and Amy Kesselman in Gladstone, Oregon, in April 1980. In this interview, Thompson discusses her experiences as a welder for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She talks about drug use in the shipyards; about the treatment she received from her male coworkers, including her husband; and about the dangers of the job. She discusses her child care arrangement, describes the protective clothing she wore, and shares anecdotes about her time in the shipyards. She talks about her life after the war, and speaks about her hobbies of painting and bread baking. Incomplete transcript available (10 pages).

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Berenice E. Thompson was conducted by Sara Cook and Amy Kesselman in Gladstone, Oregon, in April 1980. In this interview, Thompson discusses her experiences as a welder for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She talks about drug use in the shipyards; about the treatment she received from her male coworkers, including her husband; and about the dangers of the job. She discusses her child care arrangement, describes the protective clothing she wore, and shares anecdotes about her time in the shipyards. She talks about her life after the war, and speaks about her hobbies of painting and bread baking. Incomplete transcript available (10 pages).

A report with appendices which outlines a proposal to establish an interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge along both sides of the Columbia River. In the report, John B. Yeun, chair of the Pacific Northwest Regional Planning Commission's Columbia Gorge Committee, argues in favor of establishing the park and discusses lands that would need to be purchased to establish the park. The 17 appendices include fold-out maps showing areas of the Gorge, population density in the Pacific Northwest, railroads and highways in the region, land ownership in the Gorge, and soil types in the Gorge; a list of currently owned properties in the Gorge; lists of delinquent taxes for properties to be purchased; photographs; and copies of statements and correspondence of officials regarding the proposed purchase of lands for the park.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to Pacific Northwest population centers. The map shows Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Black dots, each representing 100 persons, are scattered across the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Concentric circles in red denote distances in increments of 50 miles from an epicenter located over the Columbia River just east of Portland, Oregon.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to existing recreational areas in the Pacific Northwest. The map shows Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Shaded areas indicate recreational areas as well as national parks and monuments, national forests, Indian reservations, game preserves,and primitive areas. Concentric circles in red denote distances in increments of 50 miles from an epicenter located over the Columbia River just east of Portland, Oregon.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to Agricultural Adjustment Administration marginal purchase and resettlement areas in the Pacific Northwest. The map shows Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Shaded and colored areas indicate sub-marginal purchase areas, resettlement areas, Indian reservation purchase projects, U.S. Biological Survey bird refuges, and A. R. recreational areas. Concentric circles in red denote distances in increments of 50 miles from an epicenter located over the Columbia River just east of Portland, Oregon.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to federal and state highways throughout the Pacific Northwest. The map shows Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Solid and hatched lines indicate national highways and other types of roads. Concentric circles in red denote distances in increments of 50 miles from an epicenter located over the Columbia River just east of Portland, Oregon.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to railroad lines throughout the Pacific Northwest. The map shows Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Solid and hatched lines indicate various railroad lines, and shaded areas and circles indicate metropolitan centers and smaller cities. Concentric circles in red denote distances in increments of 50 miles from an epicenter located over the Columbia River just east of Portland, Oregon.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to the larger Columbia River Gorge Zone. The map shows portions of Oregon and Washington states, with red shaded areas denoting acreages recommended for inclusion in the project along both sides of the Columbia River. Concentric circles in red denote distances in increments of 10 miles from an epicenter located approximately over Bonneville, Oregon.

A map showing the Columbia Gorge with a scale of 1 inch to 1 mile. Areas colored in blue with a red border indicate proposed lands to be acquired for a proposed interstate park in the gorge. Other colored areas denote U.S. national forests, state parks, highway right of way, special problem areas, and state forests.

Four maps showing details of the proposed lands to be acquired for a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge. The first map shows the Crown Point area, the second map shows the Latourell area, the third map shows the Cape Horn area, and the fourth map shows the Beacon Rock area. Red outlines on each map indicate the tracts of land within each of the featured areas that are recommended for inclusion in the park.

5 pages that list the ownership and legal description of properties in blocks G and H, identified as the Little White Salmon River Canyon area in the accompanying report. The list includes the names of property owners and information about the location of the lands and size of the acreage for each entry.

A map showing the location of a proposed interstate park in the Columbia River Gorge in relation to soils in the area. Colored areas indicate the different types of soils and a red outline denotes proposed lands to be acquired for the project.