Photograph of the Steel Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. The high water has reached the bottom of the bridge. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a steam locomotive in flood water just outside Union Station in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Widespread flooding is visible in the area around Union Station. A long line of sandbags is visible on the left. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of the Hawthorne Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. The draw bridge is up and a boat passes underneath. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of a train crossing the Steel Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. The high water touches the bottom of the bridge. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding on the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river, there is a submerged railroad in the foreground. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

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.

People evacuated from the Vanport City flood, gathered outside the American Red Cross headquarters at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 4 of 9).

People using ham radios at the American Red Cross headquarters, at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland, during a flooding event in Vanport. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 6 of 9).

An aerial view of dike work being done at Marine Drive and Gertz Road in Portland, near Vanport City. A group of houseboats can be seen at the right side of the frame, likely on the Columbia River at Marine Drive (negative 1 of 2).

Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. People gathered around a table at the front of the frame, while a larger group can be seen standing further back (negative 1 of 6).

Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. Several taxidermied deer and elk can be seen in the room, including a standing deer at the front of the frame (negative 2 of 6).

Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. Several people are seated around a table holding a phone, with other groups visible in the background (negative 3 of 6).

Flood evacuees from Vanport City at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. The group is in front of a wood-clad wall, with some people sitting and others standing (negative 2 of 2).

People repairing Denver Avenue at the point of a break, during a flooding event in 1948. Workers walk along the road next to a truck, being used to dump materials on top of the road. Flooded buildings and a water tower, likely at Vanport City, can be seen in the distance (negative 2 of 2).

A photograph of a line of sandbags holding back flood waters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Union Station and the railroad yards are visible submerged in floodwater in the background. Several unidentified men are working to help reinforce the sandbag wall at various point. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 23."

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.

A postcard depicting the flood water around Union Station during the Vanport flood. The photograph is taken from a high vantage point and shows the water surrounding union station, the railroad yards, and nearby buildings. The Steel Bridge is also visible in the distance. The image caption reads, "Flood waters " Portland, Ore. Christian V 15."

Photograph of people spreading dirt on top of sandbags on the west bank of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon to control flooding during the Vanport Flood. Union Station and the Steel Bridge are visible in the background. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of the Hawthorne Bridge over the flooded water of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding on the Willamette River during the Vanport Flood. Taken from the east side of the river, several ships can be seen floating in the river. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of widespread flooding of the Willamette River at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon during the Vanport Flood. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

People evacuated from the Vanport City flood, gathered outside the American Red Cross headquarters at S.W. 15th Avenue and S.W. Alder Street in Portland. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 2 of 9).

Families evacuated from a flood in Vanport City, at the Portland Armory. Emergency cots can be seen in front of the stone wall of the room. Photographs from this series were published in the Oregon Journal on Monday, May 31, 1948 (negative 9 of 9).

Flood evacuees from Vanport at First Baptist Church in Portland. A woman in an American Red Cross uniform, Mrs. Ray Hausler, leans on a table while chatting with a family, while several children play with toys. This photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Saturday, June 5, 1948 (negative 1 of 1).

Flood evacuees from Vanport at the American Red Cross headquarters in Portland. People stand in front of a table under a sign reading “Clothing” (negative 4 of 6).