Oral history interview with Mary M. Whittier and Nora I. Jordan

Oral history interview with Mary M. Whittier and Nora I. Jordan [Sound Recording 01] Oral history interview with Mary M. Whittier and Nora I. Jordan [Sound Recording 02]

Identity elements

Reference code

SR 3278

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Oral history interview with Mary M. Whittier and Nora I. Jordan

Date(s)

  • 1980-10-07 (Creation)

Extent

0.1 cubic feet; 1 audiocassette (50 min., 10 sec.) + 1 photograph (color)

Name of creator

Biographical history

Mary Maclay Whittier, nee Mary Gibson Maclay, was born in Downs, Kansas, in 1887. Her family moved to Columbia City, Oregon, in 1890, when she was 3 years old. In 1919, she and Edwin James Beaton were married. She later remarried to Charles Raymond Whittier. She taught seventh and eighth grades in many cities across Oregon. She died in 1982.

Name of creator

(1895-1991)

Biographical history

Nora Isabella Jordan, nee Maclay, was born in Columbia City, Oregon in 1895. Her sister was Mary Maclay Whittier, nee Mary Gibson Maclay. Jordan died in 1991.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This oral history interview with sisters Mary M. Whittier and Nora I. Jordan was conducted by Elizabeth Patapoff on October 7, 1980. In this interview, Whittier and Jordan discuss their family background and early life in Columbia City, Oregon, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Whittier's memories of the 1894 flood. They talk about the family of Lucinda Caples and Dr. Charles Caples, and about the rivalry between Columbia City and St. Helens. Whittier speaks about her teaching career, and about changes in technology. Jordan discusses the construction of railroad lines in the Columbia City area, and boating on the Columbia River. Whittier closes the interview by talking about her experience with appendicitis.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the estates of Mary M. Whittier, Nora I. Jordan, and Elizabeth Patapoff. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright - http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

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

Gift of Elizabeth Patapoff, most likely in the 1980s or 1990s.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

An additional interview with Mary M. Whittier, SR 3277, is held by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Notes element

General note

Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Mary M. Whittier and Nora I. Jordan, by Elizabeth Patapoff, SR 3278, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

General note

Summary (4 pages) is available for in-person use at the 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

Accession area