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Oral history interview with Arthur J. McCourt

  • SR 9237
  • Collection
  • 1979-03-13

This oral history interview with Arthur J. McCourt was conducted by Charles Digregorio in Tacoma, Washington, on March 13, 1979, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, McCourt briefly discusses his early life and education in Chicago, Illinois, and his experience in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He talks about his career as an accountant, and later as director of the archives, at Weyerhaeuser Company in Washington state. He describes the organizational structure of the company and talks about the company's history. He also talks about record retention policies at Weyerhaeuser.

McCourt, Arthur J. (Arthur James), 1917-1981

Oral history interview with Twila M. Alber

  • SR 9303
  • Collection
  • 1978-07-05

This oral history interview with Twila M. Alber was conducted by Charles Digregorio on July 5, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Alber discusses studying art late in life after raising a family. She talks about studying sculpting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 1950s, and about studying weaving at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She discusses her artistic process, talks about the difficulty of making art for a living, and closes the interview by briefly talking about teaching art.

Alber, Twila M. (Twila May), 1888-1978

Oral history interview with Fred C. Baker

  • SR 9316
  • Collection
  • 1977-01-19

This oral history interview with Fred C. Baker was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on January 19, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Baker discusses his career as a lighting designer in Portland, Oregon. He talks about his association with architect A.E. Doyle, discusses his work for the Pittock Mansion, and describes his design and manufacturing process. He speaks at length about how lighting designs changed as electricity became widespread and as light bulbs became more powerful.

Baker, Fred C. (Frederick Charles), 1887-1981

Oral history interview with Frances S. Charlton and Mary H. Clair

  • SR 9391
  • Collection
  • 1977-02-02

This oral history interview with sisters Frances S. Charlton and Mary H. Clair was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 2, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Charlton and Clair discuss their early life living with their grandparents in the King's Hill neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. They describe the house they lived in, talk about other families in the neighborhood, and discuss the manners and customs of wealthy people in early 20th-century Portland. They talk about spending summers in Ocean Beach, Washington, and winters in Santa Barbara, California. They also share their experiences during the 1918 flu pandemic. They talk about their education and lessons, about their leisure activities, and about businesses in the neighborhood.

Charlton, Frances S. (Frances Spaulding), 1905-1977

Oral history interview with Henry C. C. Stevens

  • SR 9400
  • Collection
  • 1976-01-05

This oral history interview with Henry C. C. Stevens was conducted by Charles Digregorio on January 5, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. An incomplete transcript is also available, and includes an addendum provided by Stevens after the interview.

In this interview, Stevens discusses his family background and early life in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. He talks about the people who lived in the neighborhood, about the businesses and schools in the area, and about his experience with childhood diseases. He speaks about his education at Portland Academy, including his teachers and classmates. He shares his memories of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition. He talks about his service in the U.S. military during World War I, shares his reasons for not completing college, and speaks about his career in the insurance business.

Stevens, Henry C. C., 1898-1979

Oral history interview with Shanna C. Wheeler

  • SR 9402
  • Collection
  • 1976-06-30

This oral history interview with Shanna C. Wheeler was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on June 30, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Wheeler discusses her family background and early life in various neighborhoods around Portland, including her involvement in the Junior League of Portland. She talks about her marriage to Lawrence R. Wheeler, publisher of the Portland Telegram, and describes the houses they lived in. She closes the interview by talking about her involvement with the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland.

Wheeler, Shanna C. (Shanna Cumming), 1890-1981

Oral history interview with David E. Becker

  • SR 9410
  • Collection
  • 1976-08-11

This oral history interview with David E. Becker was conducted by Charles Digregorio on August 11, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Becker discusses his family background, and particularly talks about the life and career of his father, Ray F. Becker. He discusses the family steel fabrication business, the Ray F. Becker Company, and talks about how the business changed over the 20th century.

Becker, David E. (David Edward), 1934-2005

Oral history interview with Edith F. Essex

  • SR 9536
  • Collection
  • 1977-01-25

This oral history interview with Edith F. Essex was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on January 25, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library. Henry C. C. Stevens was also present.

In this interview, Essex discusses her involvement as an actor with the Portland Civic Theater beginning around 1939. She talks about writing and directing children's plays, and about teaching children to act. She talks about her acting method, about plays she acted in or directed, and about actors she worked with, including Frank Branch Riley.

Essex, Edith F. (Edith Frances), 1899-1989

Oral history interview with Amy R. Gill

  • SR 9441
  • Collection
  • 1976-02-23

This oral history interview with Amy R. Gill was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 23, 1976, as part of the oral history program in the society's research library. Henry C. C. Stevens was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Gill discusses her family background and early life in the King's Hill and Portland Heights neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon. She talks about the people who lived in the neighborhoods, about buildings and businesses in the area, and about social life in the early 20th century. She closes the interview by describing her childhood recreational activities, including playing polo and badminton.

Gill, Amy R. (Amy Robinson), 1898-1995

Oral history interview with Gretchen Brown

  • SR 9667
  • Collection
  • 1977-04-12

This oral history interview with Gretchen Brown was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on April 12, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Brown discusses the 1858 overland journey from Ontario, Canada, to Salem, Oregon, of her father, James Charles Brown. She talks about her father's hardware store, about her early life, and about the Chinese and Native communities in Salem. She briefly talks about her career as a teacher, and closes the interview by discussing the life and legal career of her husband, McDannell Brown.

Brown, Gretchen, 1901-1994

Oral history interview with Hobart M. Mitchell

  • SR 9479
  • Collection
  • 1977-05-04

This oral history interview with Hobart M. Mitchell was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on May 4, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Mitchell discusses his family background and talks about his father, McKinley Mitchell, including his father's friendship with cartoonist Homer Davenport, his career as a general store owner, and his service in the Oregon State Legislature. He discusses his own youth in Portland, and talks about how the city has changed over the 20th century. He then discusses his career as a produce wholesaler during the 1920s and 1930s, including his experiences providing provisions for Russian ships. He talks about his activism regarding taxes, and closes the interview by sharing his memories of the Portland waterfront.

Mitchell, Hobart M. (Hobart McKinley), 1897-1980

Oral history interview with Sidney Teiser

  • SR 9509
  • Collection
  • 1977-02-03

This oral history interview with Sidney Teiser was conducted by Charles Digregorio at Teiser's home in Portland, Oregon, on February 3, 1977, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Teiser discusses his family background and early life in Virginia, including his experience of being raised by relatives. He speaks about studying law at the University of Virginia and shares his reasons for moving to Portland, Oregon, in 1911. He talks about practicing law in Portland, about cases he has worked on, and about why he enjoys his career as a lawyer. He shares his experiences as a Jew in Portland in the early 20th century, talks about racism in the American Bar Association (ABA), and discusses his work as a historian and author. He talks about founding the Scribes branch of the ABA, also called the American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects, and shares his thoughts about the way lawyers tend to write.

Teiser, Sidney, 1882-

Oral history interview with Virgil H. Langtry

  • SR 9524
  • Collection
  • 1976-12-20

This oral history interview with Virgil H. Langtry was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on December 20, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library. Langtry's wife, H. Lavina Langtry, was also present and briefly contributed to the interview.

In this interview, H. Lavina Langtry briefly discusses her family background. Virgil H. Langtry then discusses his family background and early life in lumber towns near Eugene, Oregon. He talks about starting a law practice in Bend during the Depression, about serving as treasurer for the Farm Loan Association in Redmond, and about his work with the League of Oregon Cities. He discusses lawyers he worked with, shares his thoughts about political issues at the time of the interview, and talks about the relationship between the press and the judicial system. He closes the interview by talking about the disparity between the salaries of judges and lawyers.

Langtry, Virgil H. (Virgil Hillary), 1911-2000

Oral history interview with Harvey S. Giffin

  • SR 9537
  • Collection
  • 1977-06-22

This oral history interview with Harvey S. Giffin was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on June 22, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Giffin discusses performing as an actor with the Portland Civic Theatre. He talks about plays he acted in, about actors he worked with, and about the theater and movie business in Portland. He also speaks about movies filmed in Oregon that he performed in.

Giffin, Harvey S. (Harvey Sheldon), 1922-1988

Oral history interview with Alice T. Biddle

  • SR 9543
  • Collection
  • 1976-09-21

This oral history interview with Alice T. Biddle was conducted by Charles Digregorio in Vancouver, Washington, on September 21, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. Henry C. C. Stevens was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Biddle discusses her family background, and her early life in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Portland. She talks about prominent families who lived in the neighborhood, about her childhood recreational activities, and about daily life in the early 20th century. She also talks about the medical practice of her father, Ernest Fanning Tucker.

Biddle, Alice T. (Alice Tucker), 1897-1987

Oral history interview with Virginia G. Davis

  • SR 9554
  • Collection
  • 1977-05-26

This oral history interview with Virginia G. Davis was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon on May 26, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Davis discusses her family background, particularly the life and career of her mother, Page Morris Gilbert, and talks about her early life in the Dunthorpe neighborhood of Portland. She also discusses the family background of her husband, Nelson Bennett Davis. She speaks about how their families were acquainted with prominent Portland families and about their involvement in the timber industry. She talks about the music career of her brother, Giles Gilbert, aka Gilles Guilbert, and closes the interview by discussing her work with Margery Hoffman Smith on interior design for Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.

Davis, Virginia G. (Virginia Gilbert), 1911-1996

Oral history interview with Helen H. Gamble and Harriet H. Cass

  • SR 9555
  • Collection
  • 1976-04-22

This oral history interview with sisters Helen H. Gamble and Harriet H. Cass was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on April 22, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library. Henry C.C. Stevens was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.

In this interview, Gamble and Cass speak at length about their family background and describe how their parents came to Portland. They talk about their early life in the Portland Heights neighborhood, including participating in social events at Pittock Mansion, their childhood recreational activities, and people who lived in the neighborhood. They also discuss the prevalence of water springs in the Portland Heights area.

Gamble, Helen H. (Helen Hawkins), 1904-2000

Oral history interview with Ellen L. MacVeagh

  • SR 9472
  • Collection
  • 1976-02-20

This oral history interview with Ellen L. MacVeagh was conducted by Charles Digregorio at MacVeagh's home in Portland, Oregon, on February 20, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. MacVeagh's pet birds are audible throughout the interview.

In this interview, MacVeagh speaks at length about her family background, including the careers of her father, Abbot Low Mills (1858-1927), and her uncle Cicero Hunt Lewis (1826-1897), also known as Cicero Horatius Lewis. She discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon. She talks about her recreational activities and social life in the Portland area in the early 20th century, including dances at the Vancouver Barracks in Vancouver, Washington, and horseback riding. She speaks about Chinese American residents of Portland, particularly men who worked for her family. She shares stories about Captain John Heard Couch and other early Portland residents. She closes the interview by speaking about living in France and Italy during the 1920s.

MacVeagh, Ellen L. (Ellen Low), 1895-1980

Oral history interview with Charles Digregorio

  • SR 2527
  • Collection
  • 2001-04-04

This oral history interview with Charles Digregorio was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 2001, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. A transcript is available.

In this interview, Digregorio describes how he became the first oral historian at the Oregon Historical Society and talks about his experience studying oral history at Columbia University in New York, New York. He talks about oral history interviews he conducted for the historical society, particularly a series of interviews regarding Willamette Industries; shares his interviewing process; and discusses how the oral history program was funded. He shares his reasons for leaving the Oregon Historical Society. He closes the interview by talking about the people he worked with at the society's research library.

Digregorio, Charles

Oral history interview with Abbot L. Mills, Jr.

  • SR 9566
  • Collection
  • 1977-07-15

This oral history interview with Abbot L. Mills, Jr., was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on July 15, 1977, as part of the oral history program at the society's research library.

In this interview, Mills discusses his family background and speaks at length about the life and banking career of his father, Abbot Low Mills, who later became the president of the First National Bank of Portland. He discusses his early life in the Couch Addition area of Portland, which is now part of the Nob Hill neighborhood, and talks about families who lived in the neighborhood. He also talks about the Ainsworth family background of his wife, Katherine Mills. He describes how he came to work at the First National Bank of Portland in 1922, and talks about his career in banking there and at the United States National Bank of Portland.

Mills, Abbot Low, 1898-1986

Fred Meyer Oral History Project

  • SR FM
  • Collection
  • 1970-1990 (bulk 1988-1990)

The Fred Meyer Oral History Series discusses the business operations and the man behind the Fred Meyer stores, one of the first self-service grocery stores in the nation. They were innovators in the concept of one-stop shopping, paving the way for the modern superstore.

Academy of Science of St. Louis

Oregon Historical Society Nominated Oral Histories

  • SR Oregon Historical Society Nominated Oral Histories
  • Collection
  • 2017-2021

A series of oral history interviews with Oregonians. The subjects were selected from a pool of nominees by a staff committee appointed by the OHS Executive Director. The purpose of these interviews was to create historical documents of enduring value to enhance and expand the range of Oregon voices preserved by the OHS Research Library, complement existing collections and programs of the Oregon Historical Society, and address goals for collection development and community engagement. The program ended in 2020.

Oregon Historical Society

Japanese American Oral History Project

  • Japanese American Oral History Project
  • Collection
  • 1992-1998

A series of oral history interviews conducted between 1992 and 1998 with Japanese Americans in Oregon. Loen Dozono of the Japanese American Citizen's League (JACL) collaborated with OHS on this project. The interviews were conducted by JACL and OHS staff and volunteers. They aimed to interview Issei (first generation Japanese Americans), and ultimately also interviewed several Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans).

Kiser Photo Co. Photographs

  • Org. Lot 140
  • Collection
  • 1901-1999

The Kiser Photo Co. photographs include images produced by the Kiser Brothers, the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Official Photographic Co., the Kiser Photo Co., and the Winter Photo Co. from 1901-circa 1927. Other imprints include Fred H. Kiser Studios, Kiser Studios, and Scenic America Company. The collection contains both vintage black-and-white and hand-colored prints, including stereographs and panoramic photographs, as well as copy prints made from original Kiser negatives. The bulk of the images are examples of Kiser's landscape and mountain photography in Montana, Oregon, and along the Columbia River Gorge and Columbia River Highway, among other places, as well as of various places in Portland, Or. Other subjects include the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Mo., 1904; the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Or., 1905; landscape photographs taken for various railroad companies, 1903-1916; photographs of ships and shipbuilding in the Portland, Or. area, taken for the Emergency Fleet Corporation, 1918-1919; and photos of Kiser studio buildings in Portland, 1909-1923.

The collection also contains contemporary photomechanical reproductions of Kiser photographs, dating from 1903-circa 1930. These include postcards, photomechanical prints both loose and in albums, and publications containing reproductions of Kiser work. There are also background materials that contain biographical notes Fred H. Kiser and the history of his work with photography that were gathered during collection processing and date from 1903-1999.

Many images in the collection were made by the Kiser Brothers or Kiser Photo Company and its photographers but were produced for sale to the public over a long period of time, first by the Kiser Photo Company and then the Winter Photo Company. After Kiser sold part of his business to Winter in 1915, it appears that Kiser continued to make prints from earlier images for which Winter held the negatives, possibly by making copy negatives from original prints. Photographer Benjamin Gifford also bought Kiser negatives and produced them for sale; many of the copy prints in this collection were made from Kiser negatives that are housed in the Gifford and Prentiss photograph collection, Org. Lot 982.

Note on dates and photographers’ negative numbers: Kiser and Winter often issued prints of the same images over a long period. Prints sometimes include copyright dates in the photographer’s imprint. The dates provided in this guide include: actual date of photograph if known, copyright date if known, or circa dates derived from photographers’ negative numbers and image content. Kiser Brothers did not use a negative numbering system as far as can be determined. Kiser Photo Co.’s earliest assigned numbers represent the firm’s output but also may be for images made by the Kiser Brothers but marketed later. They are low numbers preceded by an “x”. Kiser seems to have adopted a consecutive numbering system by about 1906. The numbers are handwritten in pencil on the verso of prints. After he purchased part of the business in 1915, Winter appears to have continued the consecutive numbering system from where Kiser Photo Company left off. After 1915, Kiser appears to have adopted a new numbering system, using a “C” prefix.

Kiser, Fred H., 1878-1955

Drive-in Restaurants of Portland Oral History Project

  • SR Drive-ins
  • Collection
  • 1980-09-10 - 1980-11-21

A series of oral history interviews conducted by Curtis Johnson about the history of Drive-in restaurants in Portland, Oregon with a particular emphasis on Tik-Tok and Yaw's Top Notch.

Johnson, Curtis

Columbia Rediviva collection

  • Mss 957
  • Collection
  • 1785-1852

The collection consists of correspondence, journals, ship logs, administrative records, and ink sketches relating to the ship Columbia Rediviva. A mix of original materials and reproductions are present. Among the originals are: the journal of John Hoskins, written during the Columbia's journey around the world in 1791-1792; the journal of George Barrell, 1806, written on board the brig Venus from Boston to Malaga, and on the schooner Louisiana from Malaga to New York; Barrell's account of stores on board the Columbia, 1792-1793; letters of Joseph Barrell to Samuel Webb, 1785-1801, and to John Hoskins, 1790; letters from Colburn Barrell and Robert Haswell, 1801; owner's accounts, 1787-1793; accounts of the Columbia and Lady Washington, 1787-1790; receipts; and four ink sketches by George Davidson depicting incidents in the voyages of the Columbia.

The reproductions held in this collection include the journals of Robert Haswell and Owen Smith, 1787-1789; and a file of receipts and other papers concerning outfitting of the Columbia, 1790 (on microfilm). Also included are publications of Robert Gray's wife Martha's petition to congress for a pension and memorial, 1848-1852.

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