Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague

Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague [Index] Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague [Sound Recording 01] Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague [Sound Recording 02]

Identity elements

Reference code

SR 155

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Collection

Title

Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague

Date(s)

  • 1962-07-18 (Creation)

Extent

.1 cubic feet 1 audiotape reel (41 min., 22 sec.) + index (3 pages) 7 in. open reel; 7 1/2 ips.

Name of creator

Biographical history

Charles Arthur Sprague was born in Lawrence, Kansas, on November 12, 1887. He attended Monmouth College in Illinois, where he was editor of the college newspaper. After his graduation in 1910, he became superintendent of schools in Waitsburg, Washington. He and Blanche Chamberlain were married on August 8, 1912, and they later had two children. In 1915, Sprague purchased the local paper, the Ritzville Journal Times. In 1925, he moved to Oregon, where he was business manager for the Corvallis Gazette-Times. In 1929, he purchased a two-thirds interest in the Oregon Statesman in Salem and was its editor and publisher for 40 years. He was a Republican and was elected governor of Oregon, serving from 1939 to 1943. He died in 1969.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This interview with Charles A. Sprague was conducted by Robert Bruce of the Capitol News Bureau in Sprague's office at the Oregon Statesman in Salem on July 18, 1962. It was broadcast on the radio as part of the Living History Series. In the interview, Sprague briefly discusses his family history and early life in the Midwest. He then talks about his career in journalism and ownership of the Corvallis Gazette-Times and the Statesman, as well as big news stories during that time, including the labor movement. Sprague also discusses his involvement with the Republican Party and his term as governor of Oregon during World War II. He also talks about landmark legislation that was passed during his term, particularly the establishment of the state forest system, as well as his thoughts on amending the Oregon Constitution. He closes the interview with a discussion about contemporary American culture.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Collection is open for research.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

In Copyright – Rights-Holder(s) Unlocatable or Unidentifiable statement: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-RUU/1.0/

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

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Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related archival materials

Notes element

General note

Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Charles A. Sprague, by Robert Bruce, SR 155, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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

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Accession area