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Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson, 2004 February 12-March 10
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Robinson, Roosevelt, 1941-2004
- Title
- Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson
- Dates
- 2004 February 12-March 10 (inclusive)2002-02-122002-03-10
- Quantity
- .1 cubic feet, (10 audiocassettes (7 hr., 57 min., 42 sec.) + transcript (140 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 1285-1
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson conducted by Clark Hansen from February 12 to March 10, 2002, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. Robinson was a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court.
- 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
Roosevelt Robinson was born in Valdosta, Georgia, in 1941. He earned a theology degree from Southwestern Christian College in Texas before moving to Oregon in 1962. While working at the National Biscuit Company (now known as Nabisco Inc.), he met Beverlee Foreman; they married in 1963 and later had two children. Robinson also served as minister at a north Portland church and earned a sociology degree from the University of Portland in 1970. After he and Beverlee Foreman divorced that same year, Robinson gave up his plans to become a minister and instead pursued a career in law. In 1976, he graduated from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. He spent a few years in private practice before joining the Multnomah County district attorney's office in 1978. In 1987, he was appointed to the Oregon Parole Board. In 1990, he was appointed as a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge, later winning election to that seat. He 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 Roosevelt Robinson was conducted by Clark Hansen at Robinson's home in Portland, Oregon, from February 12 to March 10, 2004. In this interview, Robsinson discusses his family background and early life in Georgia; he describes life as a black person in the segregated South, his early education, and growing up on a farm. He talks about attending Southwestern Christian College in Texas, and moving to Portland, Oregon, after graduation. He describes working for the National Biscuit Company (now known as Nabisco Inc.), racism he faced in Oregon, and his marriage to and later divorce from Beverlee Foreman. He then talks about giving up plans to become a minister and instead attending Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. He also talks about taking the Oregon Bar exam.
Robinson discusses starting his private law practice in Portland. He talks about arguing cases before Judge Gus Solomon and some of the cases he handled. He then discusses working as a Multnomah County deputy district attorney. He talks about cases he prosecuted (and a few he chose not to prosecute), and arguing against public defenders. He also discusses systemic racism in the criminal justice system. He discusses serving on the Oregon Parole Board, including some of the decisions he made. He discusses serving as a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court, including his appointment in 1990. He also talks about his involvement with the Oregon Bar Association, as well as numerous other organizations. He discusses cases he heard on the Circuit Court, judicial procedure, and programs to reduce recidivism. He discusses his involvement with the community court program and the drug diversion court program. He closes the interview by talking about his children, their families, and their careers; his health; and the Roosevelt Robinson scholarship fund.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson, by Clark Hansen, SR 1285-1, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Joint copyright 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 | ||
1-2 | Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson | 2004 February 12 |
3-4 | Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson | 2004 February 18 |
5-6 | Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson | 2004 February 25 |
7-8 | Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson | 2004 March 3 |
9-10 | Oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson | 2004 March 10 |
Folder | ||
SR1285-1 | Transcript of oral history interview with Roosevelt Robinson | 2004 February 12-2000 March 10 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- African American judges--Oregon
- African American lawyers--Oregon--Portland
- African Americans--Oregon
- Criminal justice, Administration of--Oregon
- Discrimination against African Americans--Oregon
- Judges--Oregon
- Lawyers--Oregon--Portland
- Public prosecutors--Oregon--Multnomah County
- Racism
- Segregation--Georgia
Personal Names
- Robinson, Roosevelt, 1941-2004
Corporate Names
- Nabisco, Inc.--Employees
- National Biscuit Company--Employees
- Oregon. Circuit Court (Multnomah County)
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Hansen, Clark (interviewer)