A series of oral histories conducted in conjunction with an OHS museum exhibit. These interviews are mostly with veterans of WWII, and some are with individuals active in the war effort at home.

This video tour of Isaka Shamsud-Din's art studio in Portland, Oregon, was conducted on October 3, 2018. The tour was recorded by P. C. Peri, and Milo Reed was also present. Shamsud-Din shows some of his paintings, drawings, and murals, and talks about the inspiration for and meaning behind each work.

Since 1984, the Oregon Historical Society has partnered with the United States District Court of Oregon Historical Society to interview judges, lawyers and other legal professionals affiliated with that Court.
With an appeal rate at around 10%, the decisions made by the District Court of Oregon have been deeply influential on the laws and peoples of the state. It has presided over decisions on public land disputes and fishing rights, as well as civil rights and law enforcement. The stories of the people that make up this judicial body provide a valuable tool for helping the public understand the pivotal role the court has had on Oregon’s history.

The oral history interviews included in this oral history series were conducted in 1992 and 1993 for the purpose of inclusion in the Trails to Oregon exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society.

This series of interviews was conducted with Senator Hatfield’s congressional aids, staff and advisors. Senator Hatfield had a long and distinguished career in public service. He began his career as an Oregon State Legislator. He was both Oregon’s youngest Secretary of State and Governor. Later, he was a United States Senator from Oregon for 30 years, the longest term of any senator from Oregon. He is perhaps best known for his early and consistent opposition to the Vietnam War.

Interviewees include: Douglas Coe, associate director of The Fellowship, who has had close relationships with many American politicians; Martin Gold, a member of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, appointed by George H.W. Bush, he was counsel to Bill First, Howard Baker and Mark Hatfield; Loren Hicks, counsel to Hatfield and later held many judgeships in Oregon, including circuit judge for Marion County; and Sam Mallicoat, a veteran of WWII and the Korean War, and Chief of Staff for Senator Hatfield during his first senate term.

A series of oral history interviews and an essay by Anne Cummins. She interviewed individuals who worked as telephone operators in rural areas in the early part of the 20th century.

Interviews with Ruth Wilcox, Leam Thomas, and Bradford Tompleman conducted by Rick Sanders from June 11, 1981, to March 24, 1998, as part of genealogical research by Sanders about his family.

The interview with Ruth Wilcox was conducted on June 11, 1981, at her home. The interview is approximately five minutes long. Wilcox was an aunt to Rick Sanders. She talks about her grandmother, who is identified as a member of the Sanders family. She speaks about her family background.

The interview with Leam Thomas was conducted on June 27, 1997. The interview is approximately eight minutes long. Thomas speaks about his family background, about his family real estate business, and about his career as a millworker in California. He also talks about his experiences in India during World War II.

The interview with Bradford Tompleman was conducted on March 25, 1998, in San Francisco, California. The interview is approximately 10 minutes long. Tompleman was a second cousin, once removed, of Rick Sanders. He speaks about his family background.

This interview with Rick Harmon was conducted by Bob Griggs at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 14, 1989. The interview was conducted for Oregon Public Broadcasting's Hotline radio program. This recording aired on the Portland radio station KOPB as part of the Golden Hours series, a reading service for blind and visually impaired people that ran from 1975 to 2009.

In this interview, Harmon discusses his work as editor of Oregon Historical Quarterly. He talks about the kinds of articles the journal publishes, and describes how styles for writing about history have changed. He discusses planning themed issues, including an issue on Black history. He talks about the mission of the Oregon Historical Society and the work that OHS and Quarterly staff do to fulfill that mission. He closes the interview by discussing the process for submitting articles to the Quarterly and for donating items to the OHS museum and library.

This interview with the Reverend Paul S. Wright was conducted by Richard Hughes and a person identified only as "Rob," for a radio program called "Concern," which aired on November 4, 1973. The audio was recorded by a listener on a home tape recorder as the interview was broadcast.

In this interview, Wright discusses serving as a Presbyterian minister in Portland, Oregon, during World War II. He talks about how both Portland and the Presbyterian Church changed after the war, about the growth of the suburbs, and about the church's involvement in social issues. He speaks about the relationship between his faith and his understanding of history, and shares how that understanding informs his hopes for the future.

This interview with Lewis L. McArthur was conducted by Bob Griggs at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, around 1995. The interview was conducted for Oregon Public Broadcasting's Hotline radio program. This recording was aired on the Portland radio station KOPB as part of the Golden Hours series, which was a reading service for blind and visually impaired people that ran from 1975 to 2009. Jeffry Uecker, an Oregon Historical Society museum educator, was also present. A transcript of the interview is available.

In this interview, McArthur discusses the work of his father, Lewis A. McArthur, on the first three editions of the Oregon Geographic Names book, then discusses his own work on the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions. He talks about his research methods and shares information about several Oregon place names. He also shares his opinion on the theory that Sir Francis Drake landed on the Oregon Coast. He closes the interview by discussing the work of the Oregon Geographic Names Board.

This radio interview with Homer T. Shaver was conducted by Doug Porter on August 14, 1963, for the Junior Chamber of Commerce evening program, "Mr. Jaycee Report." The interview aired on Portland radio station KWJJ.

In this interview, Shaver discusses his tug and barge business, the Shaver Transportation Company, which operated on the Willamette and Columbia rivers. He talks about the history of the company, about the company's past and present competitors, and about how the industry has changed over the 20th century. He discusses cargo his barges carry, describes the operations of his company, and discusses the future of the Portland harbor.

This interview with Bodie McDowell was conducted by Monty Ray around 1970. It aired on KDUN radio on the program "The Great Outdoors." In this interview, McDowell discusses fishing in the rivers and lakes of North Carolina, a pastime he calls "Hot Hole Fishing" because the waterways were artificially warmed by factory runoff.

A series of interviews conducted in 1988 by OHS volunteer Robert Gassner with members of the Syrian and Lebanese community in Portland, Oregon.

The Portland Neighborhood History Project was one of the first extensive oral history projects in Oregon. In the late 1970s, the Parks Department recruited volunteers to interview elders in their own neighborhoods in order to gather first hand accounts of the history and development of the various neighborhoods in Portland. The interviews were later donated to the Oregon Historical Society.

A series of interviews conducted by Judy Hartman and Craig Wollner with employees of Portland General Electric for use in creating a history of the company for its centennial in 1988.

A series of interviews conducted by Linda Brody regarding Pittock Mansions.

Tape 1: Marjorie Wright discusses her time living in the gatehouse of Pittock Mansion with her parents from 1920 to 1945, including the work her father did as head gardener.

Tape 2: Betty L. Meier discusses her childhood as a granddaughter of Henry L. Pittock and her memories of visiting Pittock Mansion.

Tape 3 and 4: Louise Barry discusses her relationship to the Pittock family and her memories of Pittock Mansion.

Tape 5: Robert "Peter" Gantenbein discusses the Pittock family and living in the Pittock Mansion. Eric Ladd is also present.

Tape 6: Allyn Staley discusses the restoration of the Pittock Mansion in the 1960s.

Tape 7: Alexander Bolton Pierce discusses the political process involved in the purchase of the Pittock Mansion by the City of Portland and its restoration in the 1960s.

The Oregon Wine Archives, established at the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) Library, preserves the history of the wine growing industry in Oregon through the collection of various media, including manuscripts, photographs, artifacts, films, and oral histories.

From 2002 to 2003, OHS conducted interviews with notable figures in the wine growing industry, including vintners, vineyard growers, community members, and workers active in the development of Oregon’s wine industry.

The oral interviews collected through this project aim to facilitate better historical understanding in the following areas:

· the process of growing grapes and how it has changed
· the process of wine making and how it has changed
· the experiences and perceptions of people in the wine industry
· how the wine making business has changed
· insight on events related to the wine industry
· community attitudes toward wine and the wine industry
· the economic and social evolution of the wine industry in Oregon
· lobbying and legislative efforts on behalf of the wine industry

This set of interviews was primarily done as part of a decade-long project. They are with primarily state officials, including: senators, representatives, secretaries of state, treasurers, and governors, who held office mostly between 1960 and 1998.

Interviewees include: Victor Atiyeh, the first Arab American Governor in the United States; Maurine Neuberger, Oregon’s first and only female state senator; Clay Myers, Oregon Secretary of State and State Treasurer, and a leader in Land-Use planning; and Monroe Sweetland, a native Oregonian who was politically active across the nation.

The Oregon Labor Oral History Program, building upon the work begun in the 1980s of former Oregon AFL-CIO officer Nellie Fox Edwards, collects oral histories of individuals who have advocated for working people of Oregon, including public figures, union members, and workers. OLOHP accomplishes this work in affiliation with the Pacific Northwest Labor History Association and with the support of the Amalgamated Transit Union 757, volunteers and students.

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.

These brief oral history interviews were conducted by Jim Strassmaier from February 2 to March 8, 1984, with several members of a personal study group at Calaroga Terrace, a senior living community in Portland, Oregon. The interviewees, Louise McKinney, Edris E. Becker, Catherine S. Walyer, and Ruth E. Murphy, were residents of the community. Strassmaier conducted the interviews while developing methodology for the Oregon Historical Society oral history program. In these interviews, the interviewees look at photographs; discuss their family backgrounds; and talk about their experiences during the Depression.

These oral history interviews with Lewis L. McArthur and Taz Conner were conducted by an unidentified person on September 28, 1999. The interviews are recorded on the same audiocassette: McArthur's interview is on side 1, and Conner's on side 2.

In McArthur's interview, he speaks at length about his family background. He then briefly talks about his education and about his career in the steel industry. He describes the work of his father, Lewis A. McArthur, on the early editions of the book "Oregon Geographic Names," and his own work on later editions of the book. He also discusses his service on the Oregon Geographic Names Board and on other boards.

In Conner's interview, he discusses his goal of reclaiming the ancestral land of the Wallowa band of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people. He talks about federal land that is managed by Native people, and about efforts to lobby the U.S. government to expand Native land management programs. He discusses his identity as a member of the Wallowa band and as an Oregonian. He talks about his service in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1972, about his education and jobs after his discharge, and about how diabetes has affected his health. He shares how he got the nickname "Taz."

This oral history interview with Zsuszanna Vamos was conducted by Sankar Raman and Briana Ybanez on August 20, 2018. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Vamos discusses her family background and early life in Budapest, Hungary, including conditions under the Communist government, her education, and listening to American radio as a teenager. She talks about her interest in chemistry and her admiration for Marie Curie, as well as her experiences attending Semmelweis University to study pharmacology. She discusses her marriage to Istvan Adany and his career, and she talks about her career in biomedical research and frustration at her inability to do the research she wanted. She then talks about applying for jobs in other countries, which led to a job offer from Kansas University Medical Center. She describes the process of immigrating to the United States and adjusting to life afterward. She talks about her children, their careers, and their families. She discusses getting her green card in 1997, Istvan Adany's career in the U.S., and their move to Hillsboro, Oregon. She closes the interview by talking about her work as an artist, her thoughts on the American Dream, and her reaction to the treatment of refugees at the time of the interview in 2018.

This oral history interview with Zennah M. Buse was conducted by Susan L. Smith in West Linn, Oregon, from January 15 to February 20, 1991. The interview was conducted in three sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on January 15, 1991, Buse discusses her family background and childhood in West Linn, Oregon, including life on a farm, her elementary school education, and her recreational activities. She describes life in West Linn during the early 20th century and talks about attending Territorial Days picnics.

In the second interview session, conducted on January 23, 1991, Buse discusses her teenage years in West Linn, Oregon, including life on a farm, her high school education, and her recreational activities. She talks about her wedding and marriage to Herman Richard Buse. She discusses raising a family in West Linn, and talks about family and holiday traditions; shares her memories of her activities during World War II; and talks about her children, their families, and their careers. She speaks about her health, about her involvement in clubs and organizations, and about growing vegetables. She also revisits the topic of her childhood and describes the foods she ate, the process of doing laundry, and the clothes she wore.

In the third and final interview session, conducted on February 20, 1991, Buse revisits the topic of her marriage to Herman Richard Buse and raising a family in West Linn. She talks about camping with her family, shares the history of places and landmarks in West Linn, and describes how the city has changed over her life. She closes the interview by talking about the Romani people who would come to West Linn in the summers.

This oral history interview with Yuriana Aguilar was conducted by Sankar Raman by phone call in 2017. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States. In this interview, Aguilar discusses her experience as an undocumented immigrant child from Mexico. She talks about pursuing higher education and a career in biology as a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. She talks about being the first in her family to get a college education, her motivation to succeed, and her research in cardiology. She describes her experience of being the guest of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris at a speech President Donald Trump delivered to Congress in 2017. She describes how, in the speech, he demonized and misrepresented undocumented immigrants. She closes the interview by talking about living under the specter of deportation and her hopes for a path to citizenship.

This oral history interview with Yamini Rajan was conducted by Monica Salazar and Sankar Raman on February 20, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Rajan discusses her family background and early life in Delhi and Bangalore, India, including Diwali celebrations and being bullied at school. She talks about immigrating to the United States in 2012 and adjusting to life in Portland, Oregon, particularly at school. She discusses her social life and her family life. She speaks at length about her mental health during her teenage years, including a suicide attempt. She talks about her experience in high school, including her interest in art and making new friends. She discusses her college plans, and talks about doing public speaking about her mental health with ASHA International, A Source of Hope for All. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Xiomara Y. Torres was conducted by Lisa Cohn and Sankar Raman on September 12, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Torres discusses her family background and early life in El Paraiso, El Salvador. She shares her reasons for talking about her former status as an undocumented immigrant. She describes her family's journey to California in 1980 and talks about the reasons her family fled El Salvador during the country's civil war. She discusses her early life as an undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles, including learning English, and her education. She speaks about her experiences in the U.S. foster care system. She talks about the process of receiving her green card, her experiences at the University of California, Berkeley, and about how her experiences in foster care influenced her choice to attend law school. She also talks about receiving U.S. citizenship in 2002, and speaks about her work as a family law lawyer in Oregon. She discusses doing interviews about her experiences, and a play written about her life. She closes the interview by talking about her plans for the future.

This oral history interview with Wolcott E. Buren was conducted by Nancy Gerhardt, Buren's daughter, at Nehalem Bay State Park in Oregon on August 27, 1978. In this interview, Buren discusses an eight-day hike he took along the Oregon Coast from Seaside to Newport in 1916 with Arthur "Pug" Ross. He describes the equipment they brought, the route they took, where they slept, and the people they met.