Historic Oral History Interviews
The following oral history recordings were captured in the mid-1970s by library staff members and volunteers. They cover events that occurred in Lake Oswego between 1850 and 1960. These recordings were the basis for the book, In Their Own Words. Here you will find the interviews in the order they appear in the book.
1850s Donation Land Claim Era
From the Beginning: The Durham and Bryant Families (WMA) -- Walter Albert Durham, Jr.
From the Beginning: The Durham and Bryant Families (MP3) -- Walter Albert Durham, Jr.
The Carman, Wilmot, and Meyer Families (WMA) -- Donald Meyer
The Carman, Wilmot, and Meyer Families (MP3) -- Donald Meyer
Early Days of the Methodist Church (WMA) -- Clarice Holmstrom, Loeta Moore Huntting, Vernie Wells Reed, and Opal Thornton
Early Days of the Methodist Church (MP3) -- Clarice Holmstrom, Loeta Moore Huntting, Vernie Wells Reed, and Opal Thornton
The Shipley Family, The Grange, and Other Organizations (WMA) -- Maude Grimm
The Shipley Family, The Grange, and Other Organizations (MP3) -- Maude Grimm
1860s Iron Era
The Pioneer Davidson Family (WMA) -- Frances Meyer
The Pioneer Davidson Family (MP3) -- Frances Meyer
The Kruse Family of Farmers (WMA) -- Herbert Kruse, Harold Kruse, and Pearl Kruse
The Kruse Family of Farmers (MP3) -- Herbert Kruse, Harold Kruse, and Pearl Kruse
1870s Iron Era
Albert Clinefelter, Sarah Worthington and Their Family (WMA) -- Herman Blanken and Arnold Farmer
Albert Clinefelter, Sarah Worthington and Their Family (MP3) -- Herman Blanken and Arnold Farmer
Early Days of the Oswego Grange (WMA) -- Delvia (Iva) Montgomery
Early Days of the Oswego Grange (MP3) -- Delvia (Iva) Montgomery
Grandfather and Grandmother Wagner and Their Farm (WMA) -- Donald Larson, Vera Larson, and Gladys Armstrong
Grandfather and Grandmother Wagner and Their Farm (MP3) -- Donald Larson, Vera Larson, and Gladys Armstrong
1880s Iron Era
The Farmer and Blanken Families: Working for the Foundry (WMA) -- Herman Blanken and Arnold Farmer
The Farmer and Blanken Families: Working for the Foundry (MP3) -- Herman Blanken and Arnold Farmer
More About the Blankens and the Pipe Foundry (WMA) -- Herman and Minnie Blanken
More About the Blankens and the Pipe Foundry (MP3) -- Herman and Minnie Blanken
Catholic Church -- Our Lady of the Lake (no recorded interview)
Edna Farmer's Bus Tour (WMA) -- Edna Farmer
Edna Farmer's Bus Tour (MP3) -- Edna Farmer
James E. Headrick and Growing Up in the 90's (WMA) -- Dora Brandt
James E. Headrick and Growing Up in the 90's (MP3) -- Dora Brandt
The Nelson Clan: From England to St. Louis to Oswego (WMA) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Herbert Nelson
The Nelson Clan: From England to St. Louis to Oswego (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Herbert Nelson
The Nelson Clan and Early Days (WMA) -- Nellie Kyle
The Nelson Clan and Early Days (MP3) -- Nellie Kyle
Odd Fellows began in 1888 (WMA) -- Herman Blanken
Odd Fellows began in 1888 (MP3) -- Herman Blanken
Linus Pauling: A Famous Member of an Early Family (WMA) -- Frances Jenkins and Pauline Ney
Linus Pauling: A Famous Member of an Early Family (MP3) -- Frances Jenkins and Pauline Ney
Abbo and Mary Peters and the Generations Following (WMA) -- Agnes Heyser and Norma Peterson
Abbo and Mary Peters and the Generations Following (MP3) -- Agnes Heyser and Norma Peterson
The Puylaert Family from Belgium; the Pollard Family in Oswego (WMA) -- Lucy Puylaert
The Puylaert Family from Belgium; the Pollard Family in Oswego (MP3) -- Lucy Puylaert
The Worthington Family in Cook's Switch (Lake Grove) (WMA) -- Marian Weidman, Ethel Schaubel, Earl Worthington, and Mary Ann Worthington
The Worthington Family in Cook's Switch (Lake Grove) (MP3) -- Marian Weidman, Ethel Schaubel, Earl Worthington, and Mary Ann Worthington
1890s Hard Times
Cornelius DeBauw: An Early Hero (WMA) -- Arsenius DeBauw
Cornelius DeBauw: An Early Hero (MP3) -- Arsenius DeBauw
The Bethke Family and Lucia Bethke Bliss: The Library and the History -- Beth Ryan, Grace Sebastian, and Dorothy Kruger
An Eyewitness Account of the Drowning (WMA) -- Herman Blanken
An Eyewitness Account of the Drowning (MP3) -- Herman Blanken
Charlie Didzun and the First Garage (WMA) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Charlie "Peanuts" Didzun
Charlie Didzun and the First Garage (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Charlie "Peanuts" Didzun
The Hall Family and School at St. Mary's Academy (WMA) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Lillian Webster
The Hall Family and School at St. Mary's Academy (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Lillian Webster
The Meyers Family and the Foundry -- Robert Meyers
P. F. Morey and His Dream: The Glenmorrie Ranch (WMA) -- Herbert Edward Yates
P. F. Morey and His Dream: The Glenmorrie Ranch (MP3) -- Herbert Edward Yates
Early Histories of Oswego, Especially Mrs. Pettinger's (WMA) -- Elizabeth (Beth) Ryan
Early Histories of Oswego, Especially Mrs. Pettinger's (MP3) -- Elizabeth (Beth) Ryan
Mrs. Howard Pettinger Answers Questions Asked by Mrs. Robert Arneson (WMA) -- Elizabeth Evans Pettinger (The first portion of this interview is read in the previous recording.)
Mrs. Howard Pettinger Answers Questions Asked by Mrs. Robert Arneson (MP3) -- Elizabeth Evans Pettinger
Sallie Shannon Pettinger and More About the Pettinger Family (WMA) -- Sallie Pettinger
Sallie Shannon Pettinger and More About the Pettinger Family (MP3) -- Sallie Pettinger
The Schawper Family: Beginning with the Oregon Trail (WMA) -- Amy Wheeler
The Schawper Family: Beginning with the Oregon Trail (MP3) -- Amy Wheeler
The Kruse and Stone Families (WMA) -- John Stone
The Kruse and Stone Families (MP3) -- John Stone
1900s Hard Times
The Baker Family and Early Logging (WMA) -- Lyle Arthur Baker
The Baker Family and Early Logging (MP3) -- Lyle Arthur Baker
Arrival in 1903 and Working in the Foundry (WMA) -- Karl Schurz Faucette
Arrival in 1903 and Working in the Foundry (MP3) -- Karl Schurz Faucette
An Early City Employee (WMA) -- Earl Hughes
An Early City Employee (MP3) -- Earl Hughes
Arthur Jones: Growing Up to Be a Doctor (WMA) -- Dr. Arthur Jones and Dr. Freeda Jones
Arthur Jones: Growing Up to Be a Doctor (MP3) -- Dr. Arthur Jones and Dr. Freeda Jones
The Development of Marylhurst -- Sister Miriam Barbara Rondeau (Interview not published.)
Oswego Women's Club (WMA) -- Angie Trueblood and Elsie Sadilek
Oswego Women's Club (MP3) -- Angie Trueblood and Elsie Sadilek
1910s The Changing Lake
From the First in Lake Grove -- Herbert Nelson
Billy Banks: An Early Businessman (WMA) -- William and Claire Banks
Billy Banks: An Early Businessman (MP3) -- William and Claire Banks
Logging on the River (WMA) -- Roy and Marjory Headrick
Logging on the River (MP3) -- Roy and Marjory Headrick
George Rogers, Who Wanted a Park (WMA) -- Lottie Ann Smoke Rogers
George Rogers, Who Wanted a Park (MP3) -- Lottie Ann Smoke Rogers
The Twining Family in Glenmorrie (WMA) -- Ed and Clarence Twining
The Twining Family in Glenmorrie (MP3) -- Ed and Clarence Twining
Frances Twining and Her Book (WMA) -- Jane Erickson and Angie Trueblood
Frances Twining and Her Book (MP3) -- Jane Erickson and Angie Trueblood
Ben Vose: About His Family of Teachers (WMA) -- Ben Vose
Ben Vose: About His Family of Teachers (MP3) -- Ben Vose
The Vose Sisters Remember (WMA) -- Hazel DeChaine and Emily Wittauer
The Vose Sisters Remember (MP3) -- Hazel DeChaine and Emily Wittauer
The Weidman Family and the Congregational Church in the 20's (WMA) -- Marian Weidman and Margaret Bruce
The Weidman Family and the Congregational Church in the 20's (MP3) -- Marian Weidman and Margaret Bruce
The Wilson Family (WMA) -- Mary Strachan and Jean Smith
The Wilson Family (MP3) -- Mary Strachan and Jean Smith
The Zimmermans and the Cody Kids (WMA) -- Edith Zimmerman
The Zimmermans and the Cody Kids (MP3) -- Edith Zimmerman
1920s The Growing Town
The Allens and Their Drug Store (WMA) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Kathleen Allen
The Allens and Their Drug Store (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Kathleen Allen
The Beginning of the American Legion -- Herbert Nelson
The Bickner Grocery Store (WMA) -- Cecelia Bickner
The Bickner Grocery Store (MP3) -- Cecelia Bickner
The Gear Place on Springbrook Road (WMA) -- Glee Alford Gear and Helen Smith
The Gear Place on Springbrook Road (MP3) -- Glee Alford Gear and Helen Smith
Dedicated Dr. MacDougall (WMA) -- Fern Forte Doff
Dedicated Dr. MacDougall (MP3) -- Fern Forte Doff
A Famous Author: Anne Shannon Monroe (WMA) -- Helen Erickson and Edna Jackson
A Famous Author: Anne Shannon Monroe (MP3) -- Helen Erickson and Edna Jackson
Thelma Thompson Randall and the First Girl Scout Troop of Oswego: Trillium Troop #15 (WMA) -- Roma Smith, Marjorie Parker, Vera Batchelder, and Margaret Bruce
Thelma Thompson Randall and the First Girl Scout Troop of Oswego: Trillium Troop #15 (MP3) -- Roma Smith, Marjorie Parker, Vera Batchelder, and Margaret Bruce
Charlie Sadilek and the Bank (WMA) -- Olga Burdick
Charlie Sadilek and the Bank (MP3) -- Olga Burdick
The Smiths and Life in the 1920's (WMA) -- Ward Smith and Gretchen Barber
The Smiths and Life in the 1920's (MP3) -- Ward Smith and Gretchen Barber
Theresa Truchot: Reminiscing in Her Turn (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Theresa Truchot
The Water Skiing Champion: Willa Worthington (WMA) -- Darlene Nixon and Pauline Perkins
The Water Skiing Champion: Willa Worthington (MP3) -- Darlene Nixon and Pauline Perkins
The Volunteer Fire Department (WMA)-- William Banks, Roy Headrick, and Neal Cooper
The Volunteer Fire Department (MP3)-- William Banks, Roy Headrick, and Neal Cooper
1930s The Great Depression
Neal Cooper and Logging Tryon Creek (WMA) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Neal Cooper
Neal Cooper and Logging Tryon Creek (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Neal Cooper
Jane Erickson's Plays (WMA) -- Jane Erickson
Jane Erickson's Plays (MP3) -- Jane Erickson
A Geology Study (WMA) -- Jane Erickson
A Geology Study (MP3) -- Jane Erickson
Beginning with the Oregon Trail (WMA) -- Rachel Gifford
Beginning with the Oregon Trail (MP3) -- Rachel Gifford
Lewis and Clark College (WMA) -- Dr. Freeda Jones and Dr. Arthur Jones
Lewis and Clark College (MP3) -- Dr. Freeda Jones and Dr. Arthur Jones
Horty Gore Slocum and Gallantry in World War II (WMA) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Hortense (Horty) Slocum
Horty Gore Slocum and Gallantry in World War II (MP3) (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Hortense (Horty) Slocum
1940s-1960s Live Where You Play
Chief Bill Knowles and the Robbers (WMA) -- William (Bill) Knowles
Chief Bill Knowles and the Robbers (MP3) -- William (Bill) Knowles
Genevieve McKenzie and River View Manor (WMA) -- Genevieve McKenzie
Genevieve McKenzie and River View Manor (MP3) -- Genevieve McKenzie
The Junior Historical Society (WMA) -- Gertrude Thacker and Phyllis Miska
The Junior Historical Society (MP3) -- Gertrude Thacker and Phyllis Miska
The Lake Oswego Community Theater (WMA) -- Emma Schiffer, Janice Gibbs, Jane Erickson, and Hap Young
The Lake Oswego Community Theater (MP3) -- Emma Schiffer, Janice Gibbs, Jane Erickson, and Hap Young