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Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis, 1989 January 27-July 21
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Hollis, Orlando John, 1904-2000
- Title
- Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis
- Dates
- 1989 January 27-July 21 (inclusive)1989-01-271989-07-21
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (20 audiocassettes (15 hr., 4 min., 5 sec.) + transcript (253 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 1217
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis conducted by Jim Strassmaier from January 27 to July 21, 1989, as part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project. Hollis was dean of the University of Oregon Law School and 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
Orlando John Hollis was born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1904. He earned a law degree from the University of Oregon in 1928. While attending law school, he worked at the First National Bank of Eugene. In 1931, he began teaching full-time at the University of Oregon Law School. In 1937, he and Marian Mildred Herbert were married. Hollis served as acting president of the University of Oregon Law School from 1944 to 1945, then as dean from 1945 to 1967. After retiring, he joined the Eugene law firm Cass, Scott, Woods and Smith. He was also active in several civic organizations, including the Eugene Water Board and the Lane County Selective Service Board. He also chaired the Governor's Commission on Judicial Reform from 1971 to 1975. He died in 2000.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This oral history interview with Orlando Hollis was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in Hollis's office in Eugene, Oregon, from January 27 to July 21, 1989, as part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in nine sessions. The audio recording is incomplete; Tape 4 was discovered to be blank in 2015. A transcript of the interview is available.
In this interview, Hollis discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, Oregon; studying law at the University of Oregon; and his friendship with University of Oregon Law School Dean, and later U.S. Senator, Wayne Morse. He discusses teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931, and serving as dean from 1945 to 1967. He talks about students of his who went on to gain prominence, including Judge Ted Goodwin, about changes in judicial procedure and court rules that affected how he taught, and about his friendship with Judge James Alger Fee. He speaks about his role in judicial appointments made by governors Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall. He closes the interview by discussing his activities since retiring as dean of the University of Oregon Law School in 1967.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Orlando Hollis, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1217, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society, the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society, and the estate of Orlando Hollis. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cassette | ||
| 1-2 | Interview session 1
In the first interview session, conducted on January 27, 1989, Hollis discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, Oregon, including his childhood activities, his early education, and his father's career with the Southern Pacific Railroad.
|
1989 January 27 |
| 3 | Interview session 2
In the second interview session, conducted on February 17, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss his early life in Eugene, shares his memories of World War I, and talks about his high school experiences.
|
1989 February 17 |
| 5-6 | Interview session 3
In the third interview session, conducted on March 10, 1989, Hollis discusses working at the First National Bank of Eugene while studying law at the University of Oregon. He also describes several prominent community members in Eugene. He discusses studying law at the University of Oregon, particularly his professors.
|
1989 March 10 |
| 7-8 | Interview session 4
In the fourth interview session, conducted on March 24, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss studying law at the University of Oregon, and his professors there. He also talks about his friendship with University of Oregon Law School Dean, and later U.S. Senator, Wayne Morse.
|
1989 March 24 |
| 9-11 | Interview session 5
In the fifth interview session, conducted on April 21, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss his friendship with Wayne Morse. He talks about teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931. He talks about the administration of the university; how the Depression affected the law school; and students of his who went on to gain prominence, including Judge Ted Goodwin.
|
1989 April 21 |
| 12-13 | Interview session 6
In the sixth interview session, conducted on May 12, 1989, Hollis continues to discuss teaching at the University of Oregon Law School beginning in 1931 and serving as dean from 1945 to 1967. He speaks about judicial procedure, and changes in court rules that affected how he taught. He also talks about his friendship with Judge James Alger Fee.
|
1989 May 12 |
| 14-16 | Interview session 7
In the seventh interview session, conducted on June 9, 1989, Hollis continues to talk about Judge James Alger Fee, and about changes in judicial procedure and court rules. He discusses leading the Governor's Commission on Judicial Reform from 1971 to 1975, including legislators he worked with. He talks about his role in judicial appointments made by governors Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall.
|
1989 June 9 |
| 17-18 | Interview session 8
Tape 17, Side 1, through Tape 18, Side 1. In the eighth interview session, conducted on June 30, 1989, Hollis discusses his home and social life, particularly a trip to Moscow, Russia, in 1936. He also talks about serving on the Eugene Water Board in the 1930s.
|
1989 June 30 |
| 18-20 | Interview session 9
Tape 18, Side 2, through Tape 20, Side 2. In the ninth and final interview session, conducted on July 21, 1989, Hollis speaks further about students of his who went on to gain prominence. He closes the interview by discussing his activities since retiring as dean of the University of Oregon Law School in 1967.
|
1989 July 21 |
| Folder | ||
| SR1217 | Interview transcript | 1989 January 27-1989 July 21 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College administrators--Oregon--Eugene
- Law schools--Oregon
- Law teachers--Oregon
- Law--Study and teaching--Oregon
- Lawyers--Oregon--Eugene
Personal Names
- Fee, James Alger, 1888-1959
- Hollis, Orlando John, 1904-2000
- Morse, Wayne L. (Wayne Lyman), 1900-1974
Corporate Names
- University of Oregon. School of Law
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Strassmaier, James (interviewer)
