Photograph showing musicians playing on a stage at a Portland Breakfast Club meeting. A crowd of men is standing around the stage in the foreground, many holding booklets or programs.

Photograph showing a group of unidentified people on a stage. At left are a conductor and a group of musicians playing string instruments. At right is a man standing at a microphone and wearing a sign bearing the number 10 around his neck. At far right is a man sitting in a chair and wearing a sign bearing the number 25. The number 3291 is written on the negative and is visible in the upper right corner of the image. The unverified note “Veterans club dinner” is written on the negative sleeve. See related image Nos. 375A0865, 375A0866, 375A0867, 375A0868, 375A0869, 375A0870, and 375A0871.

Full-length portrait showing members of the Suey Sing Chamber of Labor and Commerce posing with instruments and a lion-dance costume. A cropped version of this photograph was published on Page 7 of the Oregon Journal on Friday, December 8, 1933, under the headline “Prepare ‘Hot Time’ in Chinatown.” The photograph had the following caption: “Leaders and regalia which will head a parade Sunday through Chinatown by Suey Sing tongmen celebrating their establishment in new headquarters at 510 Southwest 2d avenue. The man-footed lion, which will dance through the streets, is pictured in the foreground and is surrounded by the banners and other paraphernalia which will flank it during the parade.” The photograph accompanied a story about the upcoming celebration, headlined “Local Chinese to Celebrate in Big Parade.”

Photograph of two unidentified men in costume, one dressed as a clown and the other in blackface and holding a trombone. They are standing in the street next to a car in Vancouver, Washington. The photograph may be related to a parade. Also see image Nos. 371N4891, 371N4896, 371N4898, and 371N4900.

Photograph of a group of unidentified men, many with suitcases or other baggage, gathered outside a building, possibly Union Station in Portland. On the far right is Marie Ewing, holding a banjo with the word “BONUS” painted on the neck. This photograph may be related to the Bonus March by World War I veterans in 1932. See related image Nos. 371N0809 and 371N0810.

William Webb was a musician and entertainer in Portland during the early twentieth century.

Photograph showing party-goers at the Mazama Lodge on Mt. Hood, during a Halloween party. Three people play musical instruments, seated against a wall. A sign is posted which reads “NOTICE: Smoking permitted on the ground floor of the lodge ONLY - Liquor is not allowed in this lodge” (negative 2 of 15).

A band, made up of war workers wearing work wear and hard hats, performs at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. The musicians are seated behind podiums painted with “TH” and a hardhat, while a man in a suit and holding a conducting baton stands in front (negative 1 of 17). See negative 598-3.

A band stands in a field with musical instruments at the Vancouver Barracks. At the front of a band is a uniformed man in holding a baton. Behind the group is a row of multi-story buildings (negative 10 of 17).

Mrs. Wallace Seid looks downward while playing the butterfly harp, during a program given by the American-Chinese Women’s League in Portland, at the Congress Hotel. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, April 20, 1947 (negative 1 of 2).

Photograph of a group of singers and instrumentalists performing outdoors, possibly at an open-air Catholic service during the Marian Congress. The congress was held from August 12-15, 1934, at the Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto) in Portland. The number 23 is written on the negative and is visible in the upper right corner of the image.

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Mark Bocek was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on April 21, 1979. Bocek's daughter, Rose Mary Bocek, also contributed to the interview. In this interview, Bocek discusses his family background and early life in Poland. He talks about immigrating to the United States in 1905 and describes his experience as an immigrant in Pennsylvania and New York, including the jobs he worked. He talks about serving in the U.S. Army beginning in 1909, and describes spending 18 months stationed in the Philippines and playing clarinet in the Army band. Bocek and Strassmaier also talk about some photographs of Bocek's time in the U.S. Army. He briefly discusses his marriage to Rose White in 1914; his activities in the Army after returning from the Philippines in 1912; and settling in Portland, Oregon. He talks about his education in Poland, the jobs he held in Portland, including during the Depression, and building engines for Liberty ships during World War II. He then talks about his children, their families, and their careers. Bocek and Rose Mary Bocek also share their memories of the Tillamook Burn. Bocek closes the interview by discussing the dedication necessary to learn how to play an instrument.

Tape 1, Side 1. This oral history interview with Mark Bocek was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on April 21, 1979. Bocek's daughter, Rose Mary Bocek, also contributed to the interview. In this interview, Bocek discusses his family background and early life in Poland. He talks about immigrating to the United States in 1905 and describes his experience as an immigrant in Pennsylvania and New York, including the jobs he worked. He talks about serving in the U.S. Army beginning in 1909, and describes spending 18 months stationed in the Philippines and playing clarinet in the Army band. Bocek and Strassmaier also talk about some photographs of Bocek's time in the U.S. Army. He briefly discusses his marriage to Rose White in 1914; his activities in the Army after returning from the Philippines in 1912; and settling in Portland, Oregon. He talks about his education in Poland, the jobs he held in Portland, including during the Depression, and building engines for Liberty ships during World War II. He then talks about his children, their families, and their careers. Bocek and Rose Mary Bocek also share their memories of the Tillamook Burn. Bocek closes the interview by discussing the dedication necessary to learn how to play an instrument.

Transcript. This oral history interview with Mark Bocek was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on April 21, 1979. Bocek's daughter, Rose Mary Bocek, also contributed to the interview. In this interview, Bocek discusses his family background and early life in Poland. He talks about immigrating to the United States in 1905 and describes his experience as an immigrant in Pennsylvania and New York, including the jobs he worked. He talks about serving in the U.S. Army beginning in 1909, and describes spending 18 months stationed in the Philippines and playing clarinet in the Army band. Bocek and Strassmaier also talk about some photographs of Bocek's time in the U.S. Army. He briefly discusses his marriage to Rose White in 1914; his activities in the Army after returning from the Philippines in 1912; and settling in Portland, Oregon. He talks about his education in Poland, the jobs he held in Portland, including during the Depression, and building engines for Liberty ships during World War II. He then talks about his children, their families, and their careers. Bocek and Rose Mary Bocek also share their memories of the Tillamook Burn. Bocek closes the interview by discussing the dedication necessary to learn how to play an instrument.

Photograph showing a man playing an accordion next to a woman with a violin and bow. They are both facing forward and looking downward at their instruments, while seated individuals look on. Written on the negative is "51-851."

Session 1. This oral history interview with Masumi Timson was conducted by Sankar Raman and Giacomo Ranieri on March 19, 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, Timson discusses her early life on Tokunoshima Island in Japan, including Japanese cultural practices and her early education. She describes her first time hearing the koto and her subsequent fascination with the instrument, as well as growing up in a musical family. She talks about studying koto music at Seiha Conservatory of Traditional Japanese Music while also studying English at Kansai Junior College (now known as Kansai Gaidai College) in Hirakata, Osaka. She describes the reception her koto performances received in Oregon and how that inspired her to become much more serious about her music. She talks about her marriage to Stephen F. Timson in 1977 and immigrating to the United States in 1991. She also describes some of the mechanics of the koto. She talks about teaching koto at the Willamette University Koto Club, performing in Oregon and Japan, and her longtime collaboration with Pink Martini. She also talks about her koto collection. She discusses her cultural and ethnic identity, particularly how the koto helps her keep her connection to her Japanese roots. She closes the interview by talking about the future of koto music in Japan, Japanese traditions and culture, and her koto students.

Photograph of Millen Van Hoogstraaten, conductor for the Portland Symphony Orchestra, posing in a locomotive cab with an unidentified train engineer. Hoogstraaten, pictured on the left, stands behind the engineer. Both men look straight ahead of the locomotive as though they are driving the train. The engineer has his left hand on the controls. Hoogstraaten leans slightly out of the cab. Handwritten note on the back of the print reads, "left, Millen Van Hoogstraaten, 1929." Stamp on the back for L.C. Jones.

Photograph of Millen Van Hoogstraaten, conductor for the Portland Symphony Orchestra, standing on the ground next to an Empire Builder train. He rests his elbow on the back of the train next to a sign that reads, "Great Northern Empire Builder." He wears a trench coat and looks at the camera. Handwritten note on the back of the print reads, "Millen Van Hoogstraaten, 1929." Stamp on the back for L.C. Jones, Photographic Laboratory.

Photograph of Millen Van Hoogstraaten, conductor for the Portland Symphony Orchestra, on an exterior observation deck on the back of an Empire Builder train. Three women and the train conductor are on the deck with him. A group of people on the ground wave at them. Signs on the back of the train read, "North Coast Limited" and "Great Northern Empire Builder." Handwritten note on the back of the print reads, "1929, Center, Millen Van Hoogstraaten , conductor, Ptld. sym."

Photograph of Millen Van Hoogstraaten, conductor for the Portland Symphony Orchestra, standing on a platform at a train station. He wears a trench coat and hat and carries a bag in his right hand. A train is visible behind him. Handwritten note on the back of the print reads, "Millen Van Hoogstraaten, 1929, conductor, Portland, Symphony."

Members of The Gangsters performing on an elevated stage at Milo McIver State Park during the Vortex I Music Festival. Band members pictured are Michael Cooper (baritone saxophone), Melvin Vann (tenor saxophone), Thara Memory (trumpet), Lester Cooke (tambourine), and Jimmy Sanders (organ). Additional band members also present but not pictured from this performance are Lester McFarland (guitar), Calvin Walker (drums), Michael Nowlen (drums), Ronnie Young (percussion). A crowd of people are dancing below the stage in the foreground.

A singer, guitar player, and accordion player perform at a graduation dance at Independence City Hall in Independence, Oregon. They are members of the Olympics band, also known as "Los Olympicos." The dance is being held to honor the first group of Latin American students to graduate from Central High School in Independence. Photographs from this series were published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on June 10, 1966.

Members of the Teatro Campesino of Delano, California performing in Portland, Oregon during a tour to raise awareness about the struggles of seasonal farmworkers in Delano, California. Pictured left to right, they are Agustin Lira, Felipe Cantu, Roberto Reyes and Luis Valdez (creator of Teatro Campesino). This image was published in the Valley Migrant League's Opportunity News on December 9, 1966.

Photograph of a woman, Marie Ewing, walking at the head of a small group of men, possibly at Union Station in Portland. Ewing is playing a banjo and harmonica. On the neck of the banjo is the word “BONUS.” A crowd of people is gathered nearby. This photograph may be related to the Bonus March by World War I veterans in 1932. See related image Nos. 371N0810 and 371N0811.

Photograph of a smiling woman, Marie Ewing, playing a banjo with the word “BONUS” painted on the neck. At left is an unidentified man. They may be at Union Station in Portland. This photograph may be related to the Bonus March by World War I veterans in 1932. See related image Nos. 371N0809 and 371N0811.