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Title
Oral history interview with Otto J. Frohnmayer [Session 02, Recording 03]
Date(s)
- 1989-12-01 (Creation)
Extent
Audiocassette; 00:31:15
Name of creator
Biographical history
Otto J. Frohnmayer was born in Germany in 1905. His family immigrated to Portland, Oregon, in 1906. He attended the University of Oregon, earning his bachelor's degree in 1929, and then a law degree in 1933. After graduation, he practiced law in Medford, Oregon, with Frohnmayer, Deatherage, Pratt, Jamieson & Turner. He met MarAbel Fisher Braden on a blind date, and they were married in 1936; they later had four children. He was active in many civic organizations in Medford, and was part of the creation of the Rogue Valley Medical Center, Mercy Flights, and the first Medford Arts Council. He died in 2000.
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Scope and content
Tape 5, Side 1. In the second interview session, Frohnmayer shares his political and social philosophy, and how it was affected by the Depression and World War II. He discusses his early career as a lawyer in Medford, including cases he worked on, his fellow lawyers, and judges he argued before. He also talks about his involvement in several organizations, including the Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital and the Oregon State Bar; and about his involvement in politics, including leadership positions on campaign committees for Mark Hatfield and Wayne Morse. He describes the effects of World War II and the construction of Interstate 5 on Medford. He speaks at length about his work with probate law revision and how he came to focus on it. He discusses his marriage to MarAbel Fisher Braden, and talks about their children and their children's families and careers. He talks about members of the legal profession whom he worked with, and shares his opinion about the qualities that make for great lawyers and judges. He discusses the politics involved in judicial appointments; describes jury trials and appellate hearings; and talks about ethical problems that lawyers face. He also talks about how changes in the legal system have affected his practice and clientele. He closes the interview by talking about his plans for the future.
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Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following license: In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
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- eng
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- Hansen, Clark (Contributor)