Tape 2, Side 2. This oral history interview with Walter E. Hazlett was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in February 1974. In this interview, Hazlett discusses his early life in Portage and Willmore, Pennsylvania, including his courtship with Naomi Ruth Long (also known as Ruth Hazlett), as well as working in coal mines. He also talks about working in the shipyards in Washington during World War II. He speaks about Ruth Hazlett, including her family background and their marriage. He describes his experience during the 1948 Vanport flood and talks about its aftermath at length. He speaks further about Ruth Hazlett. He speaks more about working in coal mines in Pennsylvania, including participating in labor strikes. He talks about his children, their careers, and his relationship with them. He then gives a timeline of the places he lived; talks about injuries he sustained in the workplace and in a car collision; and revisits the topic of his marriage. He also talks about his and Ruth Hazlett's family educational background. He closes the interview by revisiting the topic of working in coal mines in Pennsylvania and his experience during the Depression.

Nightime photograph of an area affected by the Vanport Flood. Billboards and buildings are reflected in the flood water. 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 debris and a destroyed building in the water of the Vanport Flood, 1948. The building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. There are 2 people on the roof. Buses line the side of a road in the background. Photograph is slightly blurry. Two handwritten notes on back read, "Jerry," and "Doyle," indicating this was possibly taken by either Jerry Jiro Yasutome or another student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of flood water surrounding a long building during the Vanport Flood, 1948. 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.

Aerial photograph of widespread flooding during the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948 by someone named "Dixon." Likely a student at the Northwest School of Photography. This print is from the same negative or take as OrgLot762_B1F8_029.

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 crew of people with tools, standing on top of mounds of dirt and sandbags, trying to stop the spread of flooding during the Vanport Flood. In the foreground is a pile of empty bags. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 30, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of people in a boat surveying the damage of the Vanport Flood. Behind them, an apartment building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 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 debris and flooded buildings in the water of the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Two water towers rise in the background. 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 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.

Photograph of 3 men standing on a road, looking at the damage caused by the Vanport Flood. Several apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. In the foreground, a power pole, debris, and the roof of a building sit in high flood water. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Jean P. Black was conducted by Karen Wingo in Portland, Oregon, on May 7, 1980. In this interview, Black discusses her early life and education, particularly her college experiences at the University of Michigan and the University of Washington, as well as studying abroad in Rome. She then talks about searching for a job as a librarian after graduation. She speaks at length about working as a librarian and teaching classes at Vanport College, including the aftermath of the 1948 flood and the transformation of the college into Portland State University. She talks about the make-up of the student body and faculty, the development of the PSU library collection, and the process of finding land for the PSU campus. She closes the interview by discussing funding for PSU and talking about other colleges in Oregon.

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.

An aerial view of burning buildings at Vanport City. Flames and plumes of smoke can be seen above the buildings, many of which appear to be apartments (negative 1 of 5).

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).

Destroyed buildings and floating debris at Vanport City, following a flooding event. Roofs and pieces of wood can be seen throughout the area. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Thursday, June 24, 1948 (negative 1 of 6).