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Title
Oral history interview with David R. Williams [Transcript]
Date(s)
- 1992-12-16-1992-01-16 (Creation)
Extent
Transcript; 46 pages
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Biographical history
David Rhys Williams was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1923. He attended Reed College after graduating from high school at age 16. After one year, he transferred to Stanford University, but suspended his studies when he was drafted. He served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II, from 1944 to 1945. After his discharge, he completed his degree at Stanford and graduated in 1946. He then attended the University of Oregon Law School, earning his law degree around 1949. In 1945, he met Donna Rockwell, and they married in 1948; they later had two children. Williams became an attorney with Williams, Fredrickson, Stark & Weisensee in Portland. He died in 2004.
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Scope and content
Transcript. This oral history interview with David R. Williams was conducted by Elizabeth Reichow from December 16, 1991, to January 16, 1992. The interview was conducted in two sessions.
In the first interview session conducted on December 16, 1991, Williams discusses his family background and early life in Laurelhurst neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, including his educational background and work experiences as a carpenter. He talks about participating in sports in high school and at Reed College. He also speaks about his experiences serving in the US Army in Italy during World War II. He speaks about his marriage with Donna Rockwell and talks about his family.
In the second interview session, conducted on January 16, 1992, Williams speaks at length about his childhood during the Depression, and shares his memories of President Roosevelt’s visit to Portland. He speaks about Congressman Homer D. Angell; talks about his involvement with a Welsh singing group called “The Bohemians”; and discusses climbing Mount Hood, and his interest in skiing. He then discusses his experience at Reed College, including the pro-German and pro-communist sentiment that was prevalent on campus in the lead-up to World War II. He also talks about the political situation in Russia in 1992. He revisits the topic of his service in the US Army during World War II and his marriage with Donna Rockwell. He also talks about studying law at the University of Oregon. He closes the interview by describing the careers of his brothers.
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Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
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- English
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Name access points
- Reichow, Elizabeth M. (Elizabeth Marie), 1916-2007 (Contributor)