Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague
Date(s)
- 1962-07-18 (Creation)
Extent
.1 cubic feet 1 audiotape reel (41 min., 22 sec.) + index (3 pages) 7 in. open reel; 7 1/2 ips.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Charles Arthur Sprague was born in Lawrence, Kansas, on November 12, 1887. He attended Monmouth College in Illinois, where he was editor of the college newspaper. After his graduation in 1910, he became superintendent of schools in Waitsburg, Washington. He and Blanche Chamberlain were married on August 8, 1912, and they later had two children. In 1915, Sprague purchased the local paper, the Ritzville Journal Times. In 1925, he moved to Oregon, where he was business manager for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. In 1929, he purchased a two-thirds interest in the Oregon Statesman in Salem and was its editor and publisher for 40 years. He was a Republican and was elected governor of Oregon, serving from 1939 to 1943. He died in 1969.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This interview with Charles A. Sprague was conducted by Robert Bruce of the Capitol News Bureau in Sprague's office at the Oregon Statesman in Salem on July 18, 1962. It was broadcast on the radio as part of the Living History Series. In the interview, Sprague briefly discusses his family history and early life in the Midwest. He then talks about his career in journalism and ownership of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Statesman, as well as big news stories during that time, including the labor movement. Sprague also discusses his involvement with the Republican Party and his term as governor of Oregon during World War II. He also talks about landmark legislation that was passed during his term, particularly the establishment of the state forest system, as well as his thoughts on amending the Oregon Constitution. He closes the interview with a discussion about contemporary American culture.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Collection is open for research.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
In Copyright – Rights-Holder(s) Unlocatable or Unidentifiable statement: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague, by Robert Bruce, SR 155, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition.
Sources used
Archivist's note
Sarah Stroman
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Republican Party (Or.) (Subject)
- Bruce, Robert M. (Robert Mason), 1915-1972 (Subject)