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Oral history interview with Libby Solomon, 1989 October 25-November 22
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Solomon, Libby (Elisabeth), 1909-2004
- Title
- Oral history interview with Libby Solomon
- Dates
- 1989 October 25-November 22 (inclusive)1989-10-251989-11-22
- Quantity
- .1 cubic feet, (4 audiocassettes (3 hr., 30 min., 11 sec.))
- Collection Number
- SR 1231
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Libby Solomon conducted by Jim Strassmaier from October 25 to November 22, 1989, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. Solomon was a civil rights activist and a writer.
- 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
Elisabeth "Libby" Lorrayne Solomon, nee Willer, was born in Russia in 1909, in an area that is now part of Ukraine. She came to Portland, Oregon, with her family in 1914. She attended Reed College, but had to quit school due to an illness. When she recovered, she had the opportunity to act as a lab assistant for a doctor and take classes at medical school. She attended the University of California San Francisco, but again had to quit due to illness. She returned to Portland and continued to work in a medical lab. She also joined the Democratic Party and became a precinct committeewoman. She met Gus J. Solomon through her political activities and they were married in 1939; they later had three children. She was a civil rights activist and a writer. She died in 2004.
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 Libby Solomon was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Solomon's apartment in Portland, Oregon, from October 25 to November 22, 1989. In this interview, Solomon discusses her family history and early life in Russia and Portland, including assimilating to American culture as a young child; the death of her older sister, Roza Willer; her Jewish upbringing; and her education. She then discusses her brief education at Reed College and her love for microscopic work. She briefly discusses her Democratic politics. She talks about working in medical labs with various doctors, particularly Edmund Sears. She discusses her involvement in the Democratic Party and the Oregon Commonwealth Federation, as well as the people she met through those organizations, including Monroe Sweetland, Ruth Haefner, and Gus Solomon, who became her spouse. She speaks at length about Gus Solomon's appointment to the U.S. District Court of Oregon. She discusses some of her later activities, including taking classes at the Portland Art Museum School, and serving on the Portland art and zoo commissions. She also talks about her and Gus Solomon's decision to quit all clubs and organizations that had discriminatory admittance policies. She closes the interview by discussing her work on integrated housing.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Libby Solomon, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1231, 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 | Oral history interview with Libby Solomon | 1989 October 25 |
2 | Oral history interview with Libby Solomon | 1989 October 25-1989 November 1 |
3 | Oral history interview with Libby Solomon | 1989 November 1 |
4 | Oral history interview with Libby Solomon | 1989 November 22 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Civil rights--Oregon--Portland
- Jews--Oregon--Portland
- Judges--Oregon
- Political activists--Oregon--Portland
Personal Names
- Haefner, Ruth E., 1894-1988
- Solomon, Gus J. (Gus Jerome), 1906-1987
- Solomon, Libby (Elisabeth), 1909-2004
Corporate Names
- Democratic Party (Or.)
- Oregon Commonwealth Federation
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Strassmaier, James (interviewer)