Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection, 1975-1976

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon State University. Dept. of Journalism.
Title
Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection
Dates
1975-1976 (inclusive)
1975 (bulk)
Quantity
0.5 cubic foot, including 31 audiocassettes, (2 boxes)
Collection Number
OH 01
Summary
The Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection consists of 33 interviews conducted primarily in the summer of 1975 by Oregon State University students to document various aspects of local history from 1880 to 1929 in preparation for the United States bicentennial in 1976.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Additional Reference Guides

Preliminary container list available online.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Oregon Pioneers oral histories were conducted in the summer of 1975 by Oregon State University students enrolled in J 407A Seminar: An Oral/Written History of Oregon Pioneers offered by the Journalism Department. The interviews were used to prepare a publication, Pioneers, published by the Journalism Department and the Summer Term Office that included articles on pioneers, the Yaquina Bay Life Saving Station, Philomath College, the Siletz Indians, Fort Hoskins, the Willamette River, regional railroads, Eddyville, and Chautauqua events in the area.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection consists of 33 interviews conducted primarily in the summer of 1975 by Oregon State University students in a journalism seminar to document various aspects of local history from 1880 to 1929 in preparation for the United States bicentennial in 1976. All of the interviews were conducted in the summer of 1975 with the exception of the Helen Johnston interview, which was conducted in March 1976.

The following individuals were interviewed as part of the project: Edith E. (Peggy) Allworth, Virgil Avery, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Carey, Chester and Rita Chambers, Alice Coolidge, Chester Cosgrove, Catherine Ann Cracraft, William Payne, George Buxton, Ralph Schindler, F.A. and Violette Gilfillan, Dan S. Hart, Melvin S. Hawkins, George and Bessie Hughes, Minnie McMurtry, Ethel Morgan, Floyd Mullen, Bessie Murphy, Dale Propst, Winnie Propost, Robert E. Sommers, Robert Rilatos, Florence Adell Smith, T.J. Starker, A.L. and Mollie Strand, Beatrice Eddy Wilcox, Baird Woodcock, Violet Updike, Richard Andor Christiansen, Bertha A. King, Minerva Kiger Reynolds, and Helen Johnston. The name of an interviewee who discussed bootlegging in the area during Prohibition is not given.

The interviews describe Corvallis, Philomath, Kings Valley, Benton County, and the surrounding area (including Newport and Yaquina Bay) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Topics include railroads and ferries, Corvallis businesses, the Fischer flour mill, logging and lumber mills, agriculture, Chautauqua events, pioneer families, and the Siletz Native Americans. A few of the interviews address topics relating to Oregon State University, such as the Memorial Union, the President's home on campus, and the name change from Oregon State College to Oregon State University.

Interviewers include Judith Carlson, Lorraine Charlton-Ruff, Janice Tiland, and Darrell Wolfe.

The collection includes both audiocassettes and transcripts for almost all (30) of the interviews. For two of the interviews (Robert E. Sommers and T.J. Starker), only transcripts are available. There is only a sound recording (no transcript) for the interview of Minerva Kiger Reynolds. Copies of the publication, Pioneers, that was prepared using in the interviews are also included in the collection.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection (OH 01), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary.

Acquisition Information

The oral histories were placed in the Archives' collections in 1975. The sound recordings and copies of the transcripts were housed at Horner Museum for a period of time and transferred back to the Archives from the Horner Museum collections in 1996.

Related Materials

Several of the interviewees, including Minerva Kiger Reynolds and Bessie Murphy, are featured in the film, Heart of the Valley, about the history of Corvallis produced in 1976. This film is part of the News and Communications Services Moving Images (FV P057:634). The Journalism Department Records (RG 096) and Photographs (P 208) provide additional information about journalism instruction at Oregon State. The A.L. Strand Oral History Collection (OH 07) includes several interviews pertaining to Strand's presidency at Oregon State. The Horner Museum Oral History Collection (OH 10) includes another interview with T.J. Starker. The Archives' collections include the papers of Edward C. Allworth, F.A. Gilfillan, and T.J. Starker.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agriculture--Oregon.
  • Ferries--Oregon.
  • Pioneers--Oregon--Benton County.
  • Prohibition--Oregon--Benton County.
  • Siletz Indians.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon State College--History.
  • Oregon State University--History.

Geographical Names

  • Benton County (Or.)
  • Corvallis (Or.)
  • Kings Valley (Or.)
  • Lincoln County (Or.)
  • Philomath (Or.)
  • Willamette River (Or.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Audiocassettes.
  • Oral histories (document genres)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Carlson, Judith Carol. (creator)
    • Gilfillan, F. A. (Francois Archibald), 1893-1983 (interviewee)
    • Starker, T. J. (Thurman James), 1890-1983 (interviewee)
    • Strand, A. L. (August Leroy), 1894- (interviewee)