Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Series
Title
Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis
Date(s)
- 1989-01-27 - 1989-07-21 (Creation)
Extent
0.1 cubic feet; 20 audiocassettes (15 hr., 4 min., 5 sec.) + transcript (253 pages)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Orlando John Hollis was born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1904. He earned a law degree from the University of Oregon in 1928. While attending law school, he worked at the First National Bank of Eugene. In 1931, he began teaching full-time at the University of Oregon Law School. In 1937, he and Marian Mildred Herbert were married. Hollis served as acting president of the University of Oregon Law School from 1944 to 1945, then as dean from 1945 to 1967. After retiring, he joined the Eugene law firm Cass, Scott, Woods and Smith. He was also active in several civic organizations, including the Eugene Water Board and the Lane County Selective Service Board. He also chaired the Governor's Commission on Judicial Reform from 1971 to 1975. He died in 2000.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This oral history interview with Orlando Hollis was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in Hollis's office in Eugene, Oregon, from January 27 to July 21, 1989, as part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in nine sessions. The audio recording is incomplete; Tape 4 was discovered to be blank in 2015. A transcript of the interview is available.
In the first interview session, conducted on January 27, 1989, Hollis discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, Oregon, including his childhood activities, his early education, and his father's career with the Southern Pacific Railroad.
In the second interview session, conducted on February 17, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss his early life in Eugene, shares his memories of World War I, and talks about his high school experiences.
In the third interview session, conducted on March 10, 1989, Hollis discusses working at the First National Bank of Eugene while studying law at the University of Oregon. He also describes several prominent community members in Eugene. He discusses studying law at the University of Oregon, particularly his professors.
In the fourth interview session, conducted on March 24, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss studying law at the University of Oregon, and his professors there. He also talks about his friendship with University of Oregon Law School Dean, and later U.S. Senator, Wayne Morse.
In the fifth interview session, conducted on April 21, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss his friendship with Wayne Morse. He talks about teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931. He talks about the administration of the university; how the Depression affected the law school; and students of his who went on to gain prominence, including Judge Ted Goodwin.
In the sixth interview session, conducted on May 12, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931 and serving as dean from 1945 to 1967. He speaks about judicial procedure, and changes in court rules that affected how he taught. He also talks about his friendship with Judge James Alger Fee.
In the seventh interview session, conducted on June 9, 1989, Hollis continues to talk about Judge James Alger Fee, and about changes in judicial procedure and court rules. He discusses leading the Governor's Commission on Judicial Reform from 1971 to 1975, including legislators he worked with. He talks about his role in judicial appointments made by governors Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall.
In the eighth interview session, conducted on June 30, 1989, Hollis discusses his home and social life, particularly a trip to Moscow, Russia, in 1936. He also talks about serving on the Eugene Water Board in the 1930s.
In the ninth and final interview session, conducted on July 21, 1989, Hollis speaks further about students of his who went on to gain prominence. He closes the interview by discussing his activities since retiring as dean of the University of Oregon Law School in 1967.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society, the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society, and the estate of Orlando Hollis. 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
Gift of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society (Lib. Acc. 26282).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Orlando Hollis collection, 555.001, Lane County History Museum.
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1217, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
General note
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition.
Sources used
Archivist's note
Sarah Stroman
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Strassmaier, James (Contributor)
- University of Oregon. School of Law (Subject)
- Fee, James Alger, 1888-1959 (Subject)
- Morse, Wayne L. (Wayne Lyman), 1900-1974 (Subject)