Print preview Close

Showing 609 results

Collections
Series
Print preview View:

Oral history interview with Dorothy R. Anderson

This oral history interview with Dorothy R. Anderson was conducted by Amy Kesselman at the U.S. Bancorp Building in Portland, Oregon, on May 22, 1981. In this interview, Anderson discusses her early life in Salem, and talks about jobs she worked during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as an electrician at Commercial Iron Works and at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. She also talks about her marriage in 1940 and about her divorce in 1944. She shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards, talks about her job duties, and describes the dangers of the job. She talks about the jobs she held after the end of the war, particularly her career with the U.S. National Bank of Oregon, shares her thoughts on the women's liberation movement, and discusses her plans for retirement.

Anderson, Dorothy R. (Dorothy Rulifson), 1917-1991

Oral history interview with Doris Avshalomov

This oral history interview with Doris Avshalomov was conducted by Madeline Moore at Avshalomov’s home in Portland, Oregon, on June 5, 1981. In this interview, Avshalomov discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon, including her experience at Reed College. She speaks about working as an electrician in the Kaiser shipyard in Vancouver, Washington; shares her observations on the experiences of Black shipyard workers; and describes some of the discrimination she experienced due to her age, her gender, and her friendliness towards Black workers. She talks about her training and describes her job duties; talks about her living situation; and then speaks about her life after the war. She shares her reasons for leaving the shipyards in 1944. She reads a poem she wrote about working in the shipyards. She closes the interview by talking about some of the people she met in the shipyards. Complete transcript available (35 pages).

Avshalomov, Doris

Oral history interview with Kay Baker

This oral history interview with Kay Baker was conducted by Karen Wickre at Baker’s home in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 1981. In this interview, Baker discusses her early life in Oswego (now known as Lake Oswego), Oregon, including her experiences during the Depression. She shares the reasons why she chose not to get married. She then talks about working as a burner for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works, describes how the work affected her health, and discusses some of the people she worked with. She talks about her wages, about her membership in the Boilermakers Union, and about her reasons for leaving the shipyards. She shares her observations about the experiences of Black shipyard workers, describes a typical workday, and describes some of the treatment that women workers received from their male coworkers. She talks about her life after the war, particularly her experiences working at Precision Cast Parts. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts on the women’s movement and feminism. Complete transcript available (52 pages).

Baker, Kay (Katherine), 1914-1989

Oral history interview with Kay Blair

This oral history interview with Kay Blair was conducted by Madeline Moore on April 26, 1980. Blair’s daughter, Nancy K. Blair, was also present. In this interview, Blair discusses her experience working as an electrician in the Kaiser shipyard on Swan Island. She talks about her commute, about balancing home life and her career, and shares instances of sexual harassment she experienced from her male coworkers. She describes working with asbestos and other health hazards of the job. She also talks about race and sex segregation that she observed. She describes a typical work day, talks about her training, and shares her reasons for seeking work as an electrician. She also talks about the Kaiser child service centers. She discusses her reasons for leaving the shipyards and talks about her life after the war. She also talks about her membership in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and describes her working and living conditions. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts about the women’s movement and feminism. Incomplete transcript available (13 pages).

Blair, Kay (Kathryn Johnson), 1920-1992

Oral history interview with Betty B. Cleator

This oral history interview with Betty B. Cleator was conducted by Madeline Moore in Warrenton, Oregon, on June 6, 1981. In this interview, Cleator briefly discusses her family background and early life, talks about how she came to work in the Kaiser shipyard in Vancouver, Washington, and shares her experiences as a drafter. She describes the work she did as a draftsman, and speaks at length about the drafting process at Kaiser. She talks about studying landscape architecture in college, and about the difficulty of finding a job in that field as a woman. She describes daily life in the shipyards, shares stories about the dangers of the work, and talks about the discrimination women faced from their union. She shares her memories of life in Portland during the early days of World War II. She talks about jobs she held after the end of the war and discusses how attitudes toward women in the workforce changed.

Cleator, Betty B. (Elizabeth Bertrand), 1917-1997

Oral history interview with Audrey B. Dotsey

This oral history interview with Audrey B. Dotsey was conducted by Amy Kesselman on June 15, 1981. In this interview, Dotsey discusses her early life in Arkansas and talks about coming to Oregon in 1943. She talks about working as a scaler for Willamette Iron and Steel (WISCO). She also talks about other jobs she held after the war, including working as a waitress, in canneries, and as a housekeeper. She describes a typical work day as a scaler, discusses her child care arrangement, and talks about discrimination she experienced as a Black woman. She shares her reasons for staying in Portland after the war; talks about her marriages and about adopting children; and speaks further about her experiences in the shipyards. Incomplete transcript available (5 pages).

Dotsey, Audrey B. (Audrey Brown), 1924-1996

Oral history interview with Marie Merchant

This oral history interview with Marie Merchant was conducted by Amy Kesselman at Merchant's home in Portland, Oregon, on July 20, 1981. In this interview, Merchant discusses her early life in Lexington, Kentucky, including her marriage history and raising a family during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as a scaler and painter’s helper at Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Oregon, during World War II. She talks about the job duties of a scaler, about her child care arrangements, and about the work she did after the end of the war. She shares her reasons for remaining in Portland and talks about her involvement in her church.

Merchant, Marie, 1915-2005

Oral history interview with Patricia L. Rowlands

This oral history interview with Patricia L. Rowlands was conducted by Karen Wickre at Rowlands’ home in Gresham, Oregon, on May 20, 1981. In this interview, Rowlands discusses her family background and early life in Portland, including attending high school with Connie McCready, her experience during the Depression, and her first marriage. She describes how she came to work on a clean-up crew at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, and shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards. She talks about people she worked with, describes her job duties, and discusses the dangers of the job. She shares her experience with the Kaiser child care centers. She speaks about later working as an electrician trainee at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She describes her typical day as a shipyard worker, then talks about her life after the end of the war, including the end of her first marriage and working at Jantzen Mills. She speaks about her children, their families, and their careers. She shares her thoughts about the women’s liberation movement.

Rowlands, Patricia L. (Patricia Lee), 1921-2009

Meier and Frank building plans

Collection includes: Numerous plans, elevations, sections, details and schedules on 206 sheets (some missing) of a building for Meier and Frank department store at SW Morrison St., SW Alder St. and SW 5th Ave. in Portland, Oregon, scale 1/8" : 1' to 3" : 1', 1914; 2 plans and drawings on 1 sheet of alterations to the plans for a building for Meier and Frank department store at SW Morrison St., SW Alder St. and SW 5th Ave. in Portland, Oregon, scale 1/8" : 1', 1914.

Interview with Marie Gleason (Interview 5)

In this interview, Marie Gleason discusses working as an electrician at the Kaiser shipyards. She talks about supervising other women workers, including helping to accommodate a deaf coworker; and discusses the people she worked with. She briefly mentions the use of the day care centers and how other women had benefited from them. She also talks about training her cat and shares other personal anecdotes. She speaks about being laid off at the end of the war, and talks about her activities since then. She closes her interview by reflecting on her involvement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Complete transcript available (24 pages).

Gleason, Marie, 1894-

Interview with Laura Fortier (Interview 6)

In this interview, Laura Fortier describes working as a truck driver for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She describes driving in bad weather, particularly describing driving in thick fog. She talks about her duties and responsibilities as a driver, about people she worked with, and about instances of unfair treatment. She closes the interview by discussing her activities since leaving the shipyards in 1944, and talking about her early life in Oklahoma. Complete transcript available (23 pages).

Fortier, Laura, 1899?-

Karen Beck Skold presentation, "The Politics of Child Care During World War II: the Case of the Kaiser Child Service Centers"

Audio recording of a presentation Skold gave on February 1, 1980, to a group identified as "SWS" and based in Alameda County, California, possibly Sociologists for Women in Society. The presentation is based on research for Skold's dissertation. She speaks at length about the services provided by the Kaiser Child Service Centers, about the reasons the centers were created, and about opposition to their creation by the Portland community. She speaks about the use of the day care centers by the female workforce in the Kaiser shipyards. She describes the closure of the centers after the end of World War II and what happened to the centers' buildings and teachers. She talks about the reasons the day care centers were not continued after the war. A question and answer session follows the presentation, as well as discussions about day care as a feminist concern and about the Kaiser health care system.

Skold, Karen Beck

Oral history interview with Harry D. Boivin

This oral history interview with Harry Boivin was conducted by Clark Hansen in Boivin's office in Medford, Oregon, from July 25, 1991, to June 6, 1992. In this interview, Boivin discusses his family history and early life in Klamath Falls, Oregon, as well as his education at Santa Clara University in California. He then discusses getting started in his law career, including working for the district attorney in Dorris, California, and then working with Claude McColloch in Klamath Falls.

Boivin then talks about serving in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1935 to 1942, including serving as speaker of the House in 1937. He discusses partisan politics and coalition building; the old Capitol building and conditions after it burned down in 1937; his support of the New Deal; and his time as speaker. He discusses some of the legislators he worked with in the House, including Grace Peck. He also talks briefly about his activities after leaving the House, including trying to enlist during World War II, as well as serving on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and the Board of Education.

Boivin goes on to discuss serving in the Oregon Senate from 1955 to 1972, including as Senate president from 1961 to 1966. Some of the issues he discusses include reapportionment, logging and forestry, taxation, and agriculture. He also talks about campaigning, committee assignments, and the duties of the Senate president. Boivin talks often about the Oregon Institute of Technology and his role in its formation. He also discusses his working relationship with the many governors that served during his political career. He discusses his fellow senators, including Monte Montgomery, Al Ullman, Wayne Morse, and Debbs Potts.

He closes the interview by discussing the changes in the Democratic and Republican parties, and politics in general, over the second half of the 20th century.

Boivin, Harry D. (Harry Dolan), 1904-1999

Oral history interview with Bill Hedlund

This oral history interview with Bill Hedlund was conducted by Clark Hansen from September 4-25, 1990. In the interview, Hedlund discusses his family history and early life in Portland, Oregon, including notable people that his family knew, such as Oswald West; his memories of World War I; and his early involvement with the Democratic Party. He then discusses his experience during the Depression, and attending the University of Oregon and the Northwestern College of Law. He talks about his early career as a deputy U.S. marshal and on the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. He also discusses practicing law in Portland, then in the U.S. Attorney's office; the evolution of his political outlook; his father's political career; and his experience in the Coast Guard auxiliary during World War II. Hedlund then discusses his term in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1941 to 1942, including his campaign, his staff and office arrangements, and legislation. He then discusses working in the U.S. Attorney's office from 1943 to 1945, after leaving the Legislature. He also talks about his 33 years as a lobbyist, particularly for oil companies, from 1945 to 1977. He discusses issues the oil lobby was concerned with, including oil spills, gas additives, and environmental legislation. He also talks briefly about the plane accident that killed Secretary of State Robert S. Farrell, Jr., Senate President Marshall E. Cornett, and Governor Earl Snell. He discusses governors of Oregon and their staffs, as well as several legislators. He closes the interview by talking about the lobbying profession in more detail, particularly his work for oil companies, and his service as commissioner of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission from 1980 to 1987.

Hedlund, Bill (William Hancock), 1910-1994

Oral history interview with Becky Johnson

This oral history interview with Elizabeth Johnson was conducted by Rick Harmon and Jim Strassmaier at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, from June 25, 1986, to March 31, 1993. In the interview, Johnson discusses her family background and early life in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Bellevue, Ohio, including her family's religious faith, and life under Prohibition and during the Depression. She then discusses attending Miami University, including joining a sorority, her involvement with the YWCA, and the discrimination she saw. She also discusses attending Wellesley College, then teaching English to high school students. Johnson then talks about her experience as a woman in the Navy during World War II, serving with the WAVES, particularly her time stationed in Portland and Astoria, Oregon.

Johnson then discusses, at length, the family background and early life of her husband, Oregon State Representative Sam Johnson. She discusses Sam Johnson's youth and his education in the San Francisco area and in France, as well as his struggle with hereditary gout. She talks about their marriage and settling in Redmond, Oregon, and Sam's career with his family's timber business, including a trip they took to Chile to explore timber opportunities there. She also discusses the S.S. Johnson Foundation.

Johnson goes on to talk about her involvement in Oregon politics, including her involvement with the Oregon Republican Women's organization, campaigning for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and particularly her role on the State Board of Education. She also talks about Sam Johnson's time in the Oregon House of Representatives, his relationship to the changing Republican Party, and legislation he was involved with. She also discusses his time as mayor of Redmond. Johnson closes the interview by talking about her family life.

Johnson, Becky (Elizabeth Avery Hill), 1913-2007

Gertrude Glutsch Jensen speech on preservation of the Columbia River Gorge

This speech was delivered by Gertrude Glutsch Jensen on May 28, 1981, to an unknown audience. She repeats remarks made to the Portland Women's Forum at the Western Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon, on May 5, 1981. A person identified only as Mr. Short delivers introductory remarks. Jensen discusses the history of Columbia River Gorge conservation efforts by the Portland Women’s Forum and the Columbia Gorge Commission. She advocates immediate action by way of a presidential proclamation to designate the Gorge as a national monument; reads a letter she received from former Oregon Governor Oswald West regarding the Gorge; and talks about her friendship with conservationist Horace M. Albright. She presents arguments in favor of proposed legislation to designate the Gorge as a National Recreation Area. Jensen closes the speech by talking about the 1937 Columbia River Gorge Commission report, and Short makes closing remarks.

Jensen, Gertrude Glutsch, 1903-1986

Oral history interview with Ida Mae Shepherd

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.

Shepherd, Ida Mae, 1929-2022

Oral history interview with Joyce Braden Harris

This oral history interview with Joyce Braden Harris was conducted by Jan Dilg at Education Northwest in Portland, Oregon, in three sessions from November 19 to December 12, 2018. Harris 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.

In the first interview session, conducted on November 19, 2018, Harris discusses her family background and early life with her grandmother in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, and then with her parents and siblings in Madrid, Spain. She discusses her experiences as the only member of her family to speak Spanish and as the only black person in her class. She also describes growing up in Harlem and its community. She discusses her education in New York, including a teacher strike in 1968; starting a black literature class; racism that she, her teachers, and other students faced; and her early activism and leadership roles. She also talks about the Vietnam War, particularly its effect on two of her brothers, who served in the Air Force during that time. She discusses her experiences at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, including how she chose that school. She also speaks about her and her brothers' experiences with police. She talks about events that shaped her political outlook, including the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.; her love of mystery novels by black women authors; and people who have influenced her. She discusses some of the awards she has received, her involvement in annual Kwanzaa celebrations, and her work as an educator.

In the second interview session, conducted on December 3, 2018, Harris discusses her experiences at Reed College in Portland, including her efforts to make the curriculum less Eurocentric. She talks about her involvement with Ron Herndon and the black community in Portland; racism she experienced and witnessed; and her involvement with the Black Student Union. She describes the origins of the Black Educational Center, which provided free summer education to black youth and became a full-time private school in 1974. She also talks about continuing her studies at Portland State University. She speaks at length about her work as an educator, including designing lessons for her students, working with parents, and taking her students on field trips to meet public figures. She then discusses working at the Talking Drum bookstore and her involvement in Portland Kwanzaa celebrations. She speaks at length about working with Portland Public Schools to improve the educational environment, particularly for black students. She talks about working with the Northwest Regional Education Laboratory beginning in 1992. She closes the session by discussing her family life.

In the third session, conducted on December 12, 2018, Harris discusses the work of the Black United Front towards providing quality, non-racist education. She also talks about her involvement with the BUF. She talks about the presence of police in schools, the rise of charter schools, and organizing black college fairs. She discusses her involvement with the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, including the coalition's efforts toward a federal investigation of police violence in Portland. She also outlines a brief history of police killings of black people in Portland and describes some of the memorials she attended. She then describes organizing a welcoming committee and other volunteer efforts for New Orleans evacuees in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She also shares the story of arranging a funeral for a baby who was found in a dumpster, and whom she named Baby Precious. She closes the interview by talking about some of the awards and other recognition she has received, and her plans for the future.

Harris, Joyce Braden, 1951-

Series 2: Publications, 1905-1945

This series consists of publications, including typescripts and newspaper clippings of articles written by William and Irene Finley and Ed Averill for the Oregon Journal and the Sunday Oregonianbetween 1935 and 1945 The articles describe bird, fish and mammal species, wildlife refuges, and trips taken by the Finleys. Some are editorial in nature, such as advocating for a new Portland zoo or calling for certain limits on hunting. The series also includes articles written for Nature, National Geographic, and other publications.

Oral history interview with Gary Coleman and Steve Fulmer

This oral history interview with Gary Coleman and Steven Fulmer was conducted by R. Michael Sanchez on May 19, 2007, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University, with instructor Christa Orth.

In this interview, Coleman and Fulmer discuss the origins of the Portland Gay Men's Chorus in 1980 and describe their first performances. They talk about the popularity of the chorus and about people who contributed time and resources to the chorus. They describe the organizational structure of the chorus, talk about how the chorus chose its repertoire, and discuss how the AIDS epidemic affected the chorus members. They talk about the Gay and Lesbian Arts Association, about the mission of the chorus, and about the chorus's role in the gay community of the Pacific Northwest. They discuss how the chorus has changed since 1980, talk about the challenges the chorus has faced, and speak about public reception of the chorus. They reflect on memorable moments and performances of the chorus, and close the interview by sharing their hopes and plans for its future.

Coleman, Gary, approximately 1951-

Oral history interview with Patricia A. Cach

This oral history interview with Patricia A. Cach was conducted by Aaron Powell and Dorothy Zapf on February 4, 2011. Powell and Zapf conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Cach describes her experiences as a fan of the Erv Lind Florists, a softball team in Portland, Oregon. She talks about Erv Lind and his support for the team; about the players, particularly Chris Mazzuca; and about the 1962 Women's Softball Tournament. She also speaks about coaching another Portland softball team, the Lavender Menace 2. She shares her experiences as a lesbian in the mid-20th century and talks about her opinion on marriage. She talks about playing in an all-lesbian jug band, about her interest in art, and about why her interest in softball waned. She discusses her spirituality and her identity as a lesbian. She closes the interview by talking about her relationship with her brother.

Cach, Patricia A., 1939-

Oral history interview with Lee Coleman

This oral history interview with Lee Coleman was conducted by Katrina Griffiths and Joshua Fackrell on February 17, 2011. Griffiths and Fackrell conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest as part of Professor Pat Young's senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University.

In this interview, Coleman discusses his involvement with the Log Cabin Republicans in California and Oregon. He discusses the political fight against Measure 9, an Oregon ballot measure against LGBTQ rights, in 1992. He also talks about the state of the Republican Party at the time of the interview in 2011. He discusses the reasons he became a Democrat in 2004; talks about recent gay rights legislation in Oregon; and speculates about the future of gay rights. He closes the interview by encouraging his interviewers to become more politically active.

Coleman, Lee, 1931-

Oral history interview with Steve Suss

This oral history interview with Steve Suss was conducted by Danita Doun and Lachelle Ogden on February 15, 2011, as part of their Capstone course at Portland State University, under instructor Pat Young. Doun and Ogden conducted the interview for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest, which collects the histories of organizations and individuals active in lesbian and gay issues in the Portland area and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to the audio, the collection includes a transcript of the interview and photographs of Suss.

In the interview, Suss discusses his ownership of Embers, a gay bar in Portland, Oregon. He also talks about serving on the board for Esther's Pantry, which provides food and clothing for people with AIDS. He discusses his stance on marriage equality; talks about owning a bar and steam bath in Seattle, Washington, but leaving due to city government corruption; and talks about his reasons for relocating to Portland and some of his early business ventures. He discusses the early years of owning Embers, beginning in 1971, including his attempt to expand its original location, and moving to the location on Broadway in 1981. He also talks about his relationship with his partner and his family. He closes the interview by talking about a lawsuit against the Oregon Liquor Control Commission that he was involved in.

Suss, Steve (Stephen C.), 1939-2020

Oral history interview with George Oberg

This oral history interview with George Oberg was conducted by Heather Burmeister and Brian Aune on February 18, 2009, for the Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest. The interview was conducted as part of a senior capstone class on LGBTQ history at Portland State University with instructor Pat Young. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, Oberg discusses his early life on a farm in Hazel Dell, Washington, and talks about his involvement in the Portland gay community in the 1960s. He shares the origins of the Second Foundation, the first gay support organization in Oregon; talks about his work as president of the foundation; and speaks at length about the work of the organization. He also talks about working as a teacher to visually impaired young adults. He speaks about his life with his partner, Gary, talks about his partner's death from AIDS, and shares his memories of the effect of the AIDS epidemic on the gay community in Oregon and Washington. He closes the interview by speaking further about the work of the Second Foundation, including its newsletter, "The Fountain." He closes the interview by sharing a story about a company he worked for, in which the company discovered it had been polluting the Columbia River.

Oberg, George, approximately 1938-

Results 29 to 56 of 609