Newspaper clipping discussing construction of dams on Oregon rivers.

A low angle view of Portland and the Willamette River surrounded by 40 vignettes of structures in the city. Part of Kuchel & Dresel's Pacific Views series.

A city map of Portland and East Portland. The map shows city blocks, railroads, street names, homestead associations, parks, and city boundary lines.

A city map of Portland, East Portland, and Albina. The map shows various city boundaries and an inset explains the order of numbering lots.

Two plat maps of Northwest Portland neighborhoods, Willamette Heights and Blythswood. These maps show street names, along with housing boundaries and lot numbering. The Blythswood map also notes "Situated in Secs. 29-30, T.1.N.R.1.E."

Transcript. This oral history interview with Ida Mae Shepherd was conducted by Greta Smith Wisnewski from August 14 to October 26, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the interview was conducted using Zoom, a video conferencing software. Shepherd was nominated by Oregonians to be interviewed as part of a program by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library to enhance and expand the range of voices in the library's collections. Interviewees are selected from the pool of nominees by a staff committee appointed by the historical society's executive director. The interview was conducted in five sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on August 14, 2020, Shepherd speaks at length about her family background, particularly focusing on the life of her maternal grandmother, Edith Goodell Lee. She discusses her early life in the Eliot neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, and talks about businesses in the area. She then briefly talks about living in Vanport during World War II. She discusses her research into her family history.

In the second interview session, conducted on September 11, 2020, Shepherd speaks further about her family background, focusing on her paternal family. She revisits the topic of her early life in the Eliot neighborhood, and talks about her Catholic upbringing and involvement with the Immaculate Heart Catholic Church. She discusses how the Black community changed after World War II, as well as changes in the way white people treated them. She then continues to discuss living in Vanport as a teenager during World War II, including her social life, recreational activities, and segregation. She also talks about her early education and about jobs she worked after dropping out. She shares her experiences during the 1948 flood, including living in Guild's Lake for a short time afterward.

In the third interview session, conducted on September 25, 2020, Shepherd discusses her marriage to Theodore Cassidy Powell. She then talks about living in the Albina neighborhood in the early 1950s. She also revisits the topic of how the Black community changed after World War II, as well as how the way white people treated them changed. She talks about working as a janitor at KGW, and about her brief marriage to Curley Massey. She speaks about her marriage to Emmett Edwin Shepherd, about buying a house in the Eliot neighborhood, and about the changes in the neighborhood since the 1960s. She talks about raising a family, about her career in housekeeping and janitorial services, and about her experiences during the civil rights movement, including meeting Coretta Scott King. She shares her thoughts about police treatment of Black residents, talks about the mass displacement of Black residents during the construction of I-5 in the 1960s, and discusses the Black community in the Albina area of Portland.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on October 9, 2020, Shepherd discusses her experiences picking hops in the 1930s. She shares a childhood drawing she created of a tavern on Union Avenue, as well as a photograph. She talks about the people who lived in the Eliot neighborhood, and discusses her children, their families, and their careers. She revisits the topic of her experiences during the civil rights movement, and the topic of the mass displacement of Black people during the construction of I-5 in the 1960s, as well as during the expansion of Emanuel Hospital in the 1970s. She speaks at length about her involvement with Albina Fair Share and about working to reduce the amount of abandoned houses in the neighborhood. She talks about her involvement with Immaculate Heart Catholic Church.

In the fifth and final interview session, conducted on October 26, 2020, Shepherd speaks at length about how the Albina area of Portland, particularly the Eliot neighborhood, changed over her life. She also shares her reasons for living nearly her entire life in the area. She discusses how the ways that white and Black Portlanders interact have changed over her life. She talks about the death of her husband, Emmett E. Shepherd, about her volunteer work since her retirement in the late 1980s, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her activities. She discusses the political situation at the time of the interview in 2020, including protests in Portland and the presidential election. She closes the interview by talking about her recent stroke and recovery.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: Brief history of shipbuilding; feature on African American janitorial staff; article on employment and payroll increases and improved transportation services; a two page photograph spread on welders; employee birthdays; a notice from local labor leaders; a series of photographs depicting the Columbia River Shipbuilding Corporation's plant from 1917-1920; employee photographs; safety notices; jokes and cartoons.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: Photographs and illustrations from the launch of the Star of Oregon on Sept 27, 1941; an article about the Star of Oregon launch, and the next ships to be launched; notes and letters of congratulations from employees; advertising for the formation of an employee band; poems; a two-page photo spread titled "Labor Men and Ships: Workers Lauded"; an article about workers leisure activities; an article about vocational trailing and procedures for enrollment; safety messages and cartoons; and USO advertising.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: Schedule of events for the launching of the William Clark (Hull 172) October 26, 1941; details on the laying of a new keel after the ceremony; a four panel comic; an article about the launching ceremony of the Meriwether Lewis; an article on the members of the United States Maritime Commission to be present at the launch of the William Clark; facts about William Clark; description of the first meeting of workers interested in starting a shipyard band, including member list and instruments; photographs of the launching ceremony of the Meriwether Lewis; "Sighting the Pacific -- 1805" by D. Curtis Freeman reprinted from Lewis and Clark Journal 1905; an article about the custom of women sponsors for ship launching, a brief history of Sacajawea, and a note about Mrs. Charles A. Shea the sponsor for the William Clark; a feature title "Sportsman's Corner" describing hunting and fishing activities by Oregon County; descriptions of leisure activities and hobbies; an advertisement for vocational training courses; a safety article; and an advertisement for Navy Day on October 27, 1941.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: Announcement of group sickness and accident insurance plan for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation employees; Payroll and employee information; Photographs of the launch of the William Clark; articles on hobbies, groups, and leisure activities; a map and schedule for public transportation to the shipyard; advertisements for carpools; and a poem by Longfellow with illustration.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: A New Years message from Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation; A transcript of a radio broadcast aboard the trial run of the Star of Oregon; an article about employees collecting donations for their co-workers who were unemployed or in need; an article about A.R. Hammond and his experiences in Thailand; an article about ship sponsors; advertisements for vocational training; Air raid blackout instructions; and a message and advertisements about the Red Cross.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: A message about U.S. Treasury defense savings bond payroll deductions; an article about the Oregon Shipyard receiving the Navy "E" award, along with photos of the ceremony; photo essay about safety and handling of tools and materials; "News and Views of Oregon Shipbuilders" feature; a message from the Multnomah County Rationing Board about automobile tires; an article about the construction of the Vancouver (Washington) shipyard with a timeline of the work; and an announcement of Orville Bennett as the new head of the welding school and test shop.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: Announcement of a new ten-way shipyard to be constructed on Swan Island; instructions on what to do during a blackout; an article about an employee questionnaire regarding family medical insurance plans; a safety notice regarding eye hazards; employee "news and views"; an article about transportation methods encouraging car pools and public transit; employee contributions; a photo spread about employee wives acting as sponsors for ship launches; and an article about the ongoing construction of the Vancouver shipyard.

Employee newspaper for Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation covering shipyard productivity and current projects, safety and injury reports, war bond drives, employee sports leagues, award recipients, and human-interest stories. Topical coverage in this issue includes: An article about the payroll allotment plan for defense bonds; an article about improvements to pipe assembly procedures, and improved bushings; safety messages; employee "news and views"; advertisements for bus service; updates on the plans for the Swan Island Shipyard; an article about the Vancouver shipyard with photographs of construction progress; job and vocational training advertisements; employee contributions.

Employee newsletter for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Special edition to commemorate Maritime Day. Contents include: Photographs and description of the first ship launch at the Oregon Shipyard held at night; photographs and description of the second launching in celebration of Maritime Day; photographs and description of the third ship launch in celebration of Maritime Day; call for employees to donate blood; update on the progress of the Vancouver Shipyard, with photos; article about the construction of school buildings for the Swan Island Shipyard; article titled "How Liberty Ships are Built" focusing on activities in the Plate Shop; updates on Payroll Allotment War Bond Plan enrollment, radio shows, and John B. Hughes.