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Oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny, 1984 June 12-October 3
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Kilkenny, John F.
- Title
- Oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny
- Dates
- 1984 June 12-October 3 (inclusive)1984-06-121984-10-03
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (17 audiocassettes (13 hr., 16 min., 48 sec.) + transcript (230 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 1218
- Summary
- Oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny conducted by Rick Harmon from June 12 to October 3, 1984, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. Kilkenny was a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- This project is supported in whole or part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
John Francis Kilkenny was born in Heppner, Oregon, in 1901. He grew up on a farm and was sent to Portland, Oregon, to attend Columbia Preparatory. He attended Notre Dame Law School, earning his bachelor of law degree in 1925. He then returned to Oregon, where he practiced law in Pendleton. In 1934, he and Virginia Brannock were married; they later had two children. He served as city attorney for Pendleton from 1930 to 1934. In 1959, he was appointed to the U.S. District Court of Oregon by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1969, he was appointed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Portland by President Richard Nixon. In 1971, he took senior status. He died in 1995.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Typescript index (41 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny was conducted by Rick Harmon in Portland, Oregon, in 15 sessions from June 12 to October 3, 1984. A transcript is available. The original audio of the recording is incomplete due to irretrievable damage to Tape 14, side 2. Tape 17 is a re-enactment of that audio. The re-enactment was created after the damage to the original tape was discovered. It was based upon an earlier transcript created before the damage occurred, which no longer exists. The accuracy of the re-enactment cannot be verified.
In this interview, Kilkenny discusses his family background and early life on a sheep farm in Heppner, Oregon, his education, and his early law career in Pendleton. He talks about his service as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon from 1959 to 1969, his service on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1969 to the time of the interview in 1984, and his involvement in the preservation of the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Transcript and digitized version of audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny, by Rick Harmon, SR 1218, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cassette | ||
| 1 | Interview session 1
In the first interview session, conducted on June 12, 1984, Kilkenny discusses his family background and early life on a sheep farm in Heppner, Oregon. He talks about the Heppner community's relationship with local Native people; describes the sheep-cattle wars; and talks about his recreational activities.
|
1984 June 12 |
| 2 | Interview session 2
In the second interview session, conducted on June 15, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss his early life, including his early education in a one-room school, his Catholic upbringing, and his family's political beliefs. He describes his experiences attending Columbia Preparatory, a boarding school in Portland.
|
1984 June 15 |
| 3-4 | Interview session 3
Tape 3, Side 1, through Tape 4, Side 1. In the third interview session, conducted on June 21, 1984, Kilkenny briefly discusses his memories of World War I. He speaks further about sheep ranching, then talks about attending the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, including playing football under Knute Rockne.
|
1984 June 21 |
| 4-5 | Interview session 4
Tape 4, Side 2, through Tape 5, Side 1. In the fourth interview session, conducted on June 26, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss attending Notre Dame in Indiana, including studying law and his social life. He talks about preparing for the Oregon Bar by taking prep courses at Northwestern College of Law. He discusses his early law career in Pendleton and notable cases he worked on, including bankruptcy and Prohibition cases. He also talks about his political views and Republican affiliation.
|
1984 June 26 |
| 5-6 | Interview session 5
Tape 5, Side 2, through Tape 6, Side 1. In the fifth interview session, conducted on June 29, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss his political views and Republican affiliation. He describes the effects of the Depression on his family. He talks about serving as city attorney for Pendleton from 1930 to 1934; speaks about his marriage to Virginia Brannock; and discusses working as a lawyer in private practice.
|
1984 June 29 |
| 6-7 | Interview session 6
Tape 6, Side 2, through Tape 7, Side 1. In the sixth interview session, conducted on July 5, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss working as a lawyer in private practice and talks about some of the cases he worked on. He speaks about how World War II affected people in Eastern Oregon.
|
1984 July 5 |
| 7 | Interview session 7
Tape 7, Side 2. In the seventh interview session, conducted on July 27, 1984, Kilkenny discusses his involvement with the Oregon State Bar.
|
1984 July 27 |
| 8 | Interview session 8
In the eighth interview session, conducted on August 3, 1984, Kilkenny speaks at length about his 1959 appointment to the U.S. District Court of Oregon.
|
1984 August 3 |
| 9 | Interview session 9
In the ninth interview session, conducted on August 9, 1984, Kilkenny discusses serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He briefly describes judges he worked with, including Hall Lusk and Gus Solomon, and discusses cases involving admiralty law.
|
1984 August 9 |
| 10 | Interview session 10
In the tenth interview session, conducted on August 21, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He talks about cases involving labor law.
|
1984 August 21 |
| 11-12 | Interview session 11
Tape 11, Side 1, through Tape 12, Side 1. In the eleventh interview session, conducted on August 28, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He talks about cases involving the first amendment and criminal law. He also speaks further about serving with Hall Lusk. He then discusses his 1969 appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
|
1984 August 28 |
| 12 | Interview session 12
Tape 12, Side 2. In the twelfth interview session, conducted on September 4, 1984, Kilkenny discusses serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He discusses cases involving the draft and talks about procedures of the court.
|
1984 September 4 |
| 13 | Interview session 13
In the thirteenth interview session, conducted on September 11, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He talks about serving as a guest judge in other circuit courts, about his senior status, and about his decision-making process.
|
1984 September 11 |
| 14, 17 | Interview session 14
In the fourteenth interview session, conducted on September 27, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He talks about how his sentencing style has changed over time and about new precedents set by recent courts. (Note: The part of the session recorded on Tape 17 is a re-enactment made after the discovery of irretrievable damage to Tape 14, side 2; it is based on a transcript that no longer exists and its accuracy cannot be verified.)
|
1984 September 27 |
| 15-16 | Interview session 15
In the fifteenth interview session, conducted on October 3, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He shares his thoughts on the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. He discusses his involvement in the preservation of the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland. He closes the interview by talking about his recent activities and family life.
|
1984 October 3 |
| Folder | ||
| SR1218 | Interview transcript | 1984 June 12-1984 October 12 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Judges--Oregon
- Justice, Administration of--Oregon
- Lawyers--Oregon--Pendleton
- Sheep farming--Oregon--Morrow County
Personal Names
- Kilkenny, John F.
Corporate Names
- United States. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)
- United States. District Court (Oregon)
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
- oral histories (literary works)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Harmon, Rick (interviewer)
- O'Donnell, Terence, 1924-2001 (speaker)
Corporate Names
- United States District Court of Oregon Historical Society
