Oral history interview with Thomas Cooney [Transcript]

Open original Digital object

Identity elements

Reference code

SR1259_Transcript

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Item

Title

Oral history interview with Thomas Cooney [Transcript]

Date(s)

  • 2000-10-17 - 2000-11-02 (Creation)

Extent

Transcript; 49 pages

Name of creator

Biographical history

Thomas Emmett Michael Cooney was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1931. He attended the University of Portland, but left when his Air Force Reserve unit was activated to serve in the Korean War. He graduated in 1953 after his discharge. He then attended Willamette University, earning his law degree in 1956. In 1955, he and Beverly McKnight were married; they later had four children. He started practicing law in Portland with MacGuire, Shields, Morrison, and Bailey. Eventually, he was a partner at Cooney & Crew LLP, where he frequently represented the Oregon Medical Association. He and Beverly McKnight divorced in 1984, and in 1985, Cooney and Janice Fenton were married. He died in 2015.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

Transcript. This oral history interview with Thomas Cooney was conducted by Lisa A. Kaner from October 17 to November 2, 2000. In this interview, Cooney discusses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including his interest in drama and golf, and his memories of World War II. He then discusses attending the University of Portland, including being a cheerleader. He also briefly discusses his service in the Air Force during the Korean War. He relates several unfortunate incidents involving a pogo stick. He describes studying law at Willamette University, including his social life. He then talks about raising a family and coaching his son’s basketball team. He describes getting started in law practice in Portland, Oregon, at MacGuire, Shields, Morrison, and Bailey, including several of the cases he tried. He then speaks at length about representing the Oregon Medical Association while a partner at Cooney & Crew and several of the malpractice suits he tried. He also relates several anecdotes about his life and being a lawyer.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

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 statement: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

Language and script notes

Finding aids

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Custodial history

Immediate source of acquisition

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

Accruals

Related materials elements

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Notes element

Specialized notes

Alternative identifier(s)

Description control element

Rules or conventions

Sources used

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Digital object metadata

Digital object (Master) rights area

Digital object (Reference) rights area

Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

Accession area