Mrs. Charles McNary breaks a bottle on the hull of the Liberty ship C.J. Jones before its launching from the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. Champagne is flying through the air from the broken bottle. A photograph from this story was published on the front page of the Oregon Journal on Sunday, August 15, 1943 (negative 5 of 7).

A groups stands in front of a shipping ways at Kaiser Company, Swan Island, at the launching of the tanker Bladensburg. The women photographed from left to right: Barbara Crowe, Mrs. Mary Hare, Mrs. Oscar Cox (sponsor), and Mrs. Marian Sanasac. Three of the women are holding large bouquets of flowers (negative 3 of 7).

The tanker Bladensburg, sliding down a ways into the Willamette River. Scaffolding lines either side of the ways, and workers watch from the sides of the ramp (negative 4 of 7).

Mrs. Oscar Cox holds a wrapped bottle of champagne next to the hull of the tanker Bladensburg at Kaiser Company, Swan Island. She stands next to an unidentified man (Oscar Cox?) wearing a suit, before breaking the bottle of the ship’s hull (negative 6 of 7).

Beatrice Greenwalt, superintendent of Shrine Hospital, prepares to smash a bottle on the hull of a subchaser at Commercial Iron Works in Portland. Winston Casey, president of Commercial Iron Works, stands next to Greenwalt and looks downward at a wrapped bottle. This photograph was published on page 4A of the Oregon Journal on Sunday, August 29, 1943 (negative 1 of 5).

A launching ceremony in front of a newly built subchaser at Commercial Iron Works in Portland, sponsored by Shrine Hospital. An unidentified man stands behind a podium, with Father Thomas J. Tobin to his right. People can be seen along the deck of the ship, which appears to be inside a large industrial facility. A photograph from this story was published on page 4A of the Oregon Journal on Sunday, August 29, 1943 (negative 3 of 5).

Beatrice Greenwalt, superintendent of Shrine Hospital, smashes a bottom of the hull of a newly built subchaser at Commercial Iron Works in Portland. A photograph from this story was published on page 4A of the Oregon Journal on Sunday, August 29, 1943 (negative 5 of 5).

Mrs. Ted Gamble, holding a wrapped champagne bottle, launches the S.S. Forbes Road from Kaiser Company, Swan Island. Warren Hull is holding a microphone, and Swan Island shipyard general manager A.R. Nieman stands on the left side of the frame. This photograph was published on page 8 of the Oregon Journal on Wednesday, June 21, 1944 (negative 3 of 9).

A crowd gathered to watch the launching of the S.S. Forbes Road at Kaiser Company, Swan Island. People stand along a raised fenced area, with the shipyard visible in the background. A photograph from this series was published on page 8 of the Oregon Journal on Wednesday, June 21, 1944 (negative 7 of 9).

People in a suspended metal box at Kaiser Company, Swan Island, at the launch of the S.S. Forbes Road. Other people stand at ground level and point upward towards the box. A photograph from this series was published on page 8 of the Oregon Journal on Wednesday, June 21, 1944 (negative 5 of 9).

The S.S. Forbes Road sliding down a ways into the Willamette River at Kaiser Company, Swan Island. Workers in safety hats are watching the ship, and wooden scaffolding can be seen at either side of the ways. A photograph from this series was published on page 8 of the Oregon Journal on Wednesday, June 21, 1944 (negative 9 of 9).

Louise Aaron, of the Oregon Journal, swinging a bottle at the hull of the U.S.S. Battle Mountain, upon its launching from Kaiser Swan Island. A man with a microphone is standing behind Aaron. This photograph was published on the last page of the Oregon Journal on Wednesday, September 13, 1944 (negative 5 of 11).

A clipper crew, primarily made up of grandmothers, at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. Most of the crew members are wearing safety hats (negative 3 of 4).

A shipbuilding facility on the Willamette River in Portland, shown from a high angle. Multiple ways, each holding a ship, can be seen along the water (negative 16 of 37).

Albina Engine & Machine Works, next to the Willamette River in Portland, most likely looking west. Numerous other industrial buildings can be seen along the river, with the west hills in the distance (negative 33 of 37).

A shipbuilding facility on the Willamette River in Portland. Multiple ways, each holding a ship, can be seen along the water (negative 8 of 37).

The U.S.S. Bronx, sliding down a ways into the Willamette River upon its launching from the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. Wooden scaffolding can be seen at either side of the ways. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 15, 1945 (negative 1 of 8).

Mrs. John Greenslade breaks a bottle on the hull of the U.S.S. Bronx, on the occasion of its launching from the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. Next to Greenslade is likely her husband, Vice Admiral Greenslade. A photograph from this series was published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, July 15, 1945 (negative 7 of 8).

A woman stands next to a large wooden crate filled with metal safety hats at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, as the company ceases shipbuilding operations (negative 3 of 26).

A partially completed ship at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, photographed as the company ceases operations at the end of World War II. Wooden scaffolding can be seen around the ship (negative 15 of 26).

Workers walk along a building at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, as the company ceases shipbuilding operations. The building runs along the right side of the frame, with a crane visible in the distance (negative 2 of 26).

An Oregon Shipbuilding Building Corporation building, photographed as the company ceases operations at the end of World War II. Next to the entrance to the building is a sign that reads “United States Maritime Commission” (negative 5 of 26).

Transcript. This oral history interview with Charles B. Maxey was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Maxey's home in Portland, Oregon, from February 25 to November 18, 1994. Johnnie Obina Maxey was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. The interview was conducted in six sessions. In the first interview session, conducted on February 25, 1994, Maxey discusses his family background and early life in St. Augustine and in Longview, Texas, including his education, growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood, and learning to navigate a racist world. He speaks at length about the importance of reading black authors in high school. He then discusses trying to find decent-paying work in Texas, Colorado, and Utah after graduating from college, and describes how he ultimately decided to settle in Portland, Oregon, in 1943. He talks about working in the shipyards in Portland during World War II and describes his frustration with being denied promotions and other job opportunities due to his youth and race. He then talks about beginning his career as a barber. He also reflects on his college experience at Texas College in Tyler, Texas, and talks about meeting Johnnie O. Maxey and his unrealized plans to go to law school. He discusses his political beliefs and involvement with the Republican Party in Oregon; talks about his first impressions of Portland; and describes how life in Oregon for black people differed from the South. In the second interview session, conducted on March 4, 1994, Maxey revisits the topic of his early life in St. Augustine and in Longview, Texas, including racism he experienced, learning to navigate a racist world, and working at a drugstore. He also revisits the topics of his first impressions of Portland, working in the shipyards, and beginning his career as a barber. He describes racism he experienced in Portland. In the third interview session, conducted on March 25, 1994, Maxey talks about a fight between his father and a white police officer in Texas, and how the fallout affected his family. He discusses conditions for black people in Texas, and how they changed during the lead-up to World War II; talks about his experiences working wartime jobs; and describes the development of his political philosophy at the time of the war. He talks about his involvement with the NAACP; discusses people being accused of communism for advocating for civil rights; and discusses conditions for black people in Portland after the war. He talks about the social life of the black community, racism they experienced, and the passage of Oregon's various civil rights acts. He also talks about the experiences of black members of the U.S. military during World War II, as well as his involvement in the Oregon Republican Party. In the fourth interview session, conducted on April 1, 1994, Maxey continues discussing his involvement in the Oregon Republican Party and his involvement in the NAACP, as well as people being accused of communism for advocating for civil rights. He also continues discussing his involvement in the NAACP. He discusses the slow progress of civil rights in Oregon; talks about his own activism; and shares his thoughts on interracial marriage. He talks about experiencing discrimination at a Young Republicans convention in Utah and discusses his experiences with Oregon Republicans such as Tom McCall, Clay Myers, and Sig Unander. He describes how the black community was disproportionately affected by the state's land seizures during the construction of I-5, including his own loss of his home and first two barbershops. He then discusses owning and operating a grocery store as a family business in North Portland, as well as a barbershop and other businesses that he ran on the side. He talks about raising his children, including their education. In the fifth interview session, conducted on May 3, 1994, Maxey discusses the reasons why many black people left the South for the West. He talks about the types of jobs that were available to black people in Oregon during World War II and the impact of Oliver Smith's campaign for the Oregon Legislature, and he revisits the topic of people being accused of communism for advocating for civil rights. He discusses his political views, his disagreements with the national Republican Party, and his reasons for remaining a registered Republican. He then revisits the topic of experiencing discrimination at a Young Republicans convention in Utah and talks about having dinner with the governor of Utah. He shares his opinion on school integration and busing; talks about racism his children faced in Portland schools; and discusses the importance of historically black universities. He also revisits the topic of working in the shipyards and describes discrimination he experienced there. He describes the subtler forms that racism took in Oregon as opposed to the South. He then talks about his children, their families, and their careers; discusses his upbringing in the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and reflects on his accomplishments. In the sixth and final interview session, conducted on November 18, 1994, Maxey revisits the topic of experiencing discrimination at a Young Republicans convention in Utah and describes the process through which the convention passed his resolution that the Young Republicans never again hold a convention at any hotel with discriminatory practices.

Tape 1, Side 1. This oral history interview with Charles B. Maxey was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Maxey’s home in Portland, Oregon, from February 25 to November 18, 1994. Johnnie Obina Maxey was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. The interview was conducted in six sessions. In the first interview session, conducted on February 25, 1994, Maxey discusses his family background and early life in St. Augustine and in Longview, Texas, including his education, growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood, and learning to navigate a racist world. He speaks at length about the importance of reading black authors in high school. He then discusses trying to find decent-paying work in Texas, Colorado, and Utah after graduating from college, and describes how he ultimately decided to settle in Portland, Oregon, in 1943. He talks about working in the shipyards in Portland during World War II and describes his frustration with being denied promotions and other job opportunities due to his youth and race. He then talks about beginning his career as a barber. He also reflects on his college experience at Texas College in Tyler, Texas, and talks about meeting Johnnie O. Maxey and his unrealized plans to go to law school. He discusses his political beliefs and involvement with the Republican Party in Oregon; talks about his first impressions of Portland; and describes how life in Oregon for black people differed from the South.

Tape 3, Side 1. This oral history interview with Charles B. Maxey was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Maxey’s home in Portland, Oregon, from February 25 to November 18, 1994. Johnnie Obina Maxey was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. The interview was conducted in six sessions. In the second interview session, conducted on March 4, 1994, Maxey revisits the topic of his early life in St. Augustine and in Longview, Texas, including racism he experienced, learning to navigate a racist world, and working at a drugstore. He also revisits the topics of his first impressions of Portland, working in the shipyards, and beginning his career as a barber. He describes racism he experienced in Portland.

Tape 3, Side 2. This oral history interview with Charles B. Maxey was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Maxey’s home in Portland, Oregon, from February 25 to November 18, 1994. Johnnie Obina Maxey was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. The interview was conducted in six sessions. In the second interview session, conducted on March 4, 1994, Maxey revisits the topic of his early life in St. Augustine and in Longview, Texas, including racism he experienced, learning to navigate a racist world, and working at a drugstore. He also revisits the topics of his first impressions of Portland, working in the shipyards, and beginning his career as a barber. He describes racism he experienced in Portland.

Tape 1, Side 2. This oral history interview with Charles B. Maxey was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Maxey’s home in Portland, Oregon, from February 25 to November 18, 1994. Johnnie Obina Maxey was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. The interview was conducted in six sessions. In the first interview session, conducted on February 25, 1994, Maxey discusses his family background and early life in St. Augustine and in Longview, Texas, including his education, growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood, and learning to navigate a racist world. He speaks at length about the importance of reading black authors in high school. He then discusses trying to find decent-paying work in Texas, Colorado, and Utah after graduating from college, and describes how he ultimately decided to settle in Portland, Oregon, in 1943. He talks about working in the shipyards in Portland during World War II and describes his frustration with being denied promotions and other job opportunities due to his youth and race. He then talks about beginning his career as a barber. He also reflects on his college experience at Texas College in Tyler, Texas, and talks about meeting Johnnie O. Maxey and his unrealized plans to go to law school. He discusses his political beliefs and involvement with the Republican Party in Oregon; talks about his first impressions of Portland; and describes how life in Oregon for black people differed from the South.