Oral history interview with Richard Bryson

Oral history interview with Richard Bryson, 1990 March 14-April 11

Overview of the Collection

Interviewee: Bryson, A. Richard (Arthur Richard), 1916-1999
Title: Oral history interview with Richard Bryson
Dates: 1990 March 14-April 11 (inclusive)
1990-03-141990-04-11
Quantity: 0.1 cubic feet, (2 audiocassettes (2 hr., 52 min., 51 sec.) + transcript (99 pages))
Collection Number: SR 1258
Summary: Oral history interview with Richard Bryson conducted by Les M. Swanson, Jr., from March 14 to April 11, 1990. Bryson was an attorney in Eugene, Oregon.
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

Arthur Richard Bryson was born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1916. He attended Stanford University, then transferred to the University of Oregon, earning his bachelor's degree in 1938. He attended Stanford Law School for a year, then returned to the University of Oregon, earning his law degree in 1941. He met Helen Margaret Roberts while at the University of Oregon, and they married in 1941; they later had two children. He practiced law in Eugene as a partner with Smith, Harris, & Bryson. At the beginning of the U.S. involvement in World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and worked in counterintelligence in Europe. After he was discharged in 1945, he joined the Eugene law firm of his father, Edwin R. Bryson. He died in 1999.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Typescript index (8 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This oral history interview with Richard Bryson was conducted by Les M. Swanson, Jr. at Bryson's office in Eugene, Oregon, from March 14 to April 11, 1990. The interview was conducted in two sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on March 14, 1990, Bryson discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, including the law career of his father, Edwin R. Bryson, and grandfather, John R. Bryson; his education; and his interest in golf. He speaks at length about studying law at Stanford University and the University of Oregon, including his professors and social life. He briefly talks about his service in counterintelligence in Europe during World War II. He discusses working as a lawyer in Eugene, and talks about judges he argued before, including G.F. Skipworth and James Alger Fee. He discusses some of the cases he worked on.

In the second interview session, conducted on April 11, 1990, Bryson continues to discuss his work as a lawyer in Eugene, and to talk about judges he argued before. He speaks about lawyers he worked with, particularly Windsor Calkins. He also revisits the topic of his early life in Eugene and his father's law career. He closes the interview by talking about cases he worked on.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

Oral history interview with Richard Bryson, by Les M. Swanson, Jr., SR 1258, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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