Series

Oral history interview with David R. Williams

• 1991-12-16 - 1992-01-16 (Creation)

.1 cubic feet; 2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 19 min., 38 sec.) + transcript (46 pages)

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 the 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 U.S. Army in Italy during World War II. He speaks about his marriage to 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 Franklin D. 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 U.S. Army during World War II and his marriage to Donna Rockwell. He also talks about studying law at the University of Oregon. He closes the interview by describing the careers of his brothers.

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/

• English

Preferred citation: Oral history interview with David R. Williams, by Elizabeth Reichow, SR 1206, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.

Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition.

Sarah Stroman & Jennifer Ham

• Depressions--1929--United States
• Lawyers--Oregon--Portland
• Skis and skiing
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American

• Reichow, Elizabeth M. (Elizabeth Marie), 1916-2007 (Contributor)
• Reed College (Portland, Or.) (Subject)

• Interviews
• oral histories (literary works)