Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
James Redden papers, circa 1932-2012
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Redden, James A.
- Title
- James Redden papers
- Dates
- circa 1932-2012 (inclusive)19322012
1957-2012 (bulk)19572012 - Quantity
- 12.2 cubic feet, (8 record cartons, 3 document cases, and 6 flat boxes)
- Collection Number
- Coll 603
- Summary
- Papers, photographs, and ephemera relating to the career of Oregon legislator and judge James Redden.
- 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
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
James Redden was born in 1929 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of dentist James A. Redden, Sr. and Alma Redden. He enlisted in the Army in 1946 and served two years with the American occupation forces in Japan. After his military service, he married Joan Johnson, with whom he would have two sons, James III and Bill. Redden earned a belated high school diploma, and studied at Boston College’s School of Law, graduating in 1954.
In 1955, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, where Redden took the Oregon State Bar exam. After a few brief jobs, the Reddens moved to Medford, where Redden built a law practice and became immersed in politics. In 1962, he ran as the Democratic candidate for the 19th District in the Oregon House of Representatives, and won. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives for six years, becoming the Minority Leader in 1967. From 1969 to 1972 he was chairman of the Public Relations Board. Redden then successfully ran for Oregon State Treasurer. In 1976, he successfully ran to become Attorney General of Oregon.
Redden’s career moved from the legislative branch to the judicial branch when President Jimmy Carter nominated him to a seat on the United States District Court of Oregon in December 1979, and was confirmed February 1980. He served as chief judge from 1990 to 1995, and then assumed senior status, but continued to remain active as a judge. During the early 21st century, Redden emerged as figure in conflicts between industrial and environmental concerns regarding hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River, rejecting two plans advanced by the United States government on the grounds that they failed to adequately protect various salmon species.
In 1996, the United States Senate passed a bill introduced by Mark O. Hatfield that named the federal courthouse in Medford, Oregon after Redden.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection consists of papers, photographs, and ephemera relating to James Redden’s career. Materials from both his time as a legislator and a judge are present, along with personal papers and speeches. Papers from his time as a judge include correspondence he had with prison inmates. The collection houses scrapbooks that document Redden’s career as a politician. The majority of photographs in the collection relate to Redden’s political career, including images of him campaigning in the 1970s. Additional materials include ephemera from the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Redden served as a delegate.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.
Preferred Citation
James Redden papers, Coll 603, Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in the following series:
- Series A: Personal papers
- Series B: Legislative career
- Series C: Judicial career
- Series D: Speeches and press releases
- Series E: Scrapbooks
- Series F: Other papers and ephemera
- Series G: Photographs
Acquisition Information
Lib. Acc. 23019, 28623, 29011.
Processing Note
Collection processed by Sue Armitage and Jeffrey A. Hayes
Separated Materials
Desk sign, army award, Democratic National Convention ribbon, "Give Dick a Toss" frisbee, and political buttons are housed in the Artifacts Collections, Oregon Historical Society.
Reel tapes with advertising spots and cassettes were separated to Oral History Collection, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Related Materials
Oral history of James Redden is designated SR 1245, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series A : Personal papers , 1969-2012 Return to Top
Consists of papers in folders labeled "Redden Personal."
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | Papers and correspondence |
1969 |
| 1/2 | Papers and correspondence |
1970 |
| 1/3 | Papers and correspondence |
1971 |
| 1/4 | Papers and correspondence |
1972 |
| 1/5 | Papers and correspondence |
1978 |
| 1/6 | Papers and correspondence |
1979 |
| 1/7 | Papers and correspondence |
1980 |
| 1/8 | Papers and correspondence |
1981 |
| 1/9 | Papers and correspondence |
1982 |
| 1/10 | Papers and correspondence |
1983 |
| 1/11 | Papers and correspondence |
1984 |
| 1/12 | Papers and correspondence |
1985 |
| 1/13 | Papers and correspondence |
1986 |
| 1/14 | Papers and correspondence |
1987 |
| 1/15 | Papers and correspondence |
1988 |
| 1/16 | Papers and correspondence |
1989 |
| 1/17 | Papers and correspondence |
1990 |
| 1/18 | Papers and correspondence |
1991 |
| 2/1 | Papers and correspondence |
1992 |
| 2/2 | Papers and correspondence |
1993 |
| 2/3 | Papers and correspondence |
1994 |
| 2/4 | Papers and correspondence |
1995 |
| 2/5 | Papers and correspondence |
1996 |
| 2/6 | Papers and correspondence |
1997 |
| 2/7-2/8 | Papers and correspondence |
1998 |
| 2/9 | Papers and correspondence |
1999 |
| 2/10 | Papers and correspondence |
2000 |
| 2/11-2/12 | Papers and correspondence |
2001 |
| 3/1 | Papers and correspondence |
2002 |
| 3/2 | Papers and correspondence |
2003 |
| 3/3 | Papers and correspondence |
2004 |
| 3/4 | Papers and correspondence |
2005 |
| 3/5 | Papers and correspondence |
2006 |
| 3/6 | Papers and correspondence |
2007-2009 |
Series B : Legislative career , 1958-1978 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/7 | Campaign records
Had been originally housed in a black binder.
|
1972-1976 |
| 10/2 | Caricatured images of Redden
Presumably made by political opponents.
|
1972-1978 |
| 3/8-3/9 | Boardman Purchase Controversy |
1975 |
| 3/10-3/11 | Consumer Protection Division |
1976 |
Subseries 1 : Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 3/12 | Correspondence
Includes letter from Senator Wayne Morse.
|
1958; 1965 |
| 4/1 | Notes correspondence
Half-sheet notes that legislators used to communicate with
one another. Some notes include writing by Redden explaining the context of the
note.
|
1963-1965 |
| 4/2 | Notes correspondence |
1967 |
| 4/3 | Correspondence and papers
Had originally been housed in same envelope as 1967 notes
correspondence.
|
1969, undated |
| 4/4 | Congratulation letters
Sent to Redden after he was elected Attorney General of
Oregon.
|
1976 November-December |
| 4/5 | Invitations, thank-yous, etc.
Had originally been housed in same envelope as 1963-1965
notes correspondence. Addressed to both James and Joan Redden.
|
1963-1965 |
| 4/6 | Correspondence re Emergency Interim Successor
appointments |
1971, 1977 |
| 4/7 | Correspondence re donation of Morse-Johnson photo
Papers relating to an inscribed photo of Lyndon Banes Johnson
to Wayne Morse, sold at a benefit auction hosted by Edith Green.
|
1975 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/8-4/9 | Department of Corrections |
1976 |
Subseries 2 : Directories, etc. |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/10 | Multnomah County Democratic Directory |
1977-1978 |
| 4/11 | Oregon Voter Who's Who in the Oregon Legislature
issue |
1963 |
| 4/12 | Oregon Voter Who's Who in the Oregon Legislature
issues |
1967-1973 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/13 | Campaign ephemera |
1972-1978 |
| 4/14 | Oregon Liquor Control Commission investigation
|
|
| 4/15 | Pictorial reports on the Oregon Legislative Assembly
|
1965, 1967 |
| 10/1 | Political cartoons by Donald Pickens favoring Redden
for Oregon governor |
1973 November |
| 4/16 | Polls - Redden vs. Mark Hatfield for US Senate
|
1978 |
| 4/17 | State of Oregon Voters' Pamphlets |
1966-1974 |
Subseries 3 : Voter attitude surveys |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/18 | Oregon Secretary of State Democratic primary
|
1968 |
| 4/19 | Oregon's 4th District |
1968 |
| 4/20 | Oregon Attorney General election |
1976 |
Series C : Judicial career , 1971-2012 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
Clippings and correspondence
Primarily concerns the nomination and confirmation of Redden as
a judge.
|
1978-1980 | |
Subseries 1 : Committees, commissions, etc. |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/1 | American Bar Association Special Projects Commission
|
1999 |
| 5/2 | Blue Ribbon Committee |
1999 |
| 5/3 | LRCC Judicial Feedback Task Force |
1999-2001 |
| 5/4 | Commission on Structural Alterantives, Federal Court
of Appeals |
1998-1999 |
Subseries 2 : Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 4/22 | Burns, Bob |
2007 |
| 4/23 | Correspondence re Ann Comiskey |
2008 |
| 4/24 | Federal Judges Associaiton |
1989 |
| 4/25 | Correspondence re House Resolution 2723
Includes text of House Resolution 2723, Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals Judgeship and Reorganization Act of 2003.
|
2003 |
| 4/26 | Correspondence re Lloyd George Courthouse
|
2001 |
| 4/27 | Correspondence re Carole Mason |
2004 |
| 4/28 | Parkening, Duke
Includes writings of Parkenings against the building of dams,
which he sent to Redden.
|
1971-2010 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/5 | Executive planner |
1981 |
| 5/6 | Famous Case Series - Idaho v. Oregon and Washington
|
2003 |
| 5/7 | Federal Bar Association, Oregon Chapter seminar notes
|
undated |
| 5/8 | Federal Litigation Practice seminar, Lewis & Clark
Law School |
2003 April 21 |
| 5/9 | Investiture ceremony programs |
1980 March 24 |
| 5/10 | Legal Aid open houses |
2004 |
| 5/11 | Legisaltive hearing file |
2001 |
| 5/12 | U.S. v. Loudhawk et al. |
1988 March 7 |
| 5/13 | Papers relating to Loudhawk case |
1973-2002 |
Subseries 3 : Prisoner letters
Correspondence between Redden and prison inmates.
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 6/1 | Prisoner letters |
1998-2000 |
| 6/2 | Prisoner letters |
2001-2002 |
| 6/3 | Prisoner letters |
2003 |
| 6/4 | Prisoner letters |
2004-2005 |
| 6/5 | Prisoner letters |
2006 |
| 6/6 | Prisoner letters |
2007 |
| 6/7 | Prisoner letters |
2008-2012 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/14 | Remiscences on James Burns
Remiscences of Judge James Burns which Redden collected for the
Oregon District Court Historical Society.
|
2002 |
| 5/15 | Trial Advocacy College |
2002 |
| 5/16 | United States District Court Historical Society article
|
2008 |
Series D : Speeches and press releases , 1972-2006 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5/17-5/18 | Speeches by Redden and others
Includes text of remarks by Tom McCall.
|
1972-1975 |
| 5/19 | Speeches and press releases |
1973 January-May |
| 7/1 | Speeches and press releases |
1973 May 15 - 1973 August 29 |
| 7/2 | Speeches and press releases |
1973 September 4 - 1973 December 31 |
| 7/3 | Speeches and press releases |
1974 January-February |
| 7/4 | Speeches and press releases |
1974 March-April |
| 7/5 | Speeches and press releases |
1974 May-September |
| 7/6 | Speeches and press releases |
1975 April-June |
| 7/7-7/8 | Speeches and press releases |
1975 July - 1976 January |
| 7/9-7/10 | Speeches and press releases |
1976 January-June |
| 7/11 | Speeches and press releases |
1976 July-December |
| 7/12 | Speeches and press releases |
1977 January-June |
| 7/13 | Speeches and press releases |
1977 July-December |
| 7/14 | Speeches and press releases |
1978 January-June |
| 7/15 | Speeches and press releases |
1978 July-December |
| 7/16 | Speeches and press releases |
1979 January-June |
| 8/1 | Speeches and press releases |
1979 July-December |
| 8/2 | Speeches |
1979-1983 |
| 8/3 | Speeches |
1983-1989 |
| 8/4 | Speeches |
1991-2006 |
| 8/5 | Draft speeches for naturalization ceremony |
undated |
| 8/6 | Medford speech |
2004 October 19 |
| 8/7 | Speech for unidentified occasion |
1998 |
Series E : Scrapbooks , 1958-1977 Return to Top
Scrapbooks primarily contain newspaper clippings, but also include correspondence, photographs, and ephemera.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 12/1 | Scrapbook 1
Includes Christmas cards from the John F. Kennedy family.
|
1962-1963 |
| 12/2 | Scrapbook 2 |
1964-1965 |
| 13/1 | Scrapbook 3 |
1965 |
| 13/2 | Scrapbook 4 |
1966-1967 |
| 14/1 | Scrapbook 5 |
1967, 1974-1975 |
| 14/2 | Scrapbook 6 |
1967-1968 |
| Box 15 | Scrapbook
Scrapbook had not been given numerical designation.
|
1958-1977 |
| Box 15 | Scrapbook
Scrapbook had not been given numerical designation.
|
1973-1974 |
| Box 16 | Scrapbook
Covers Redden's successful campaign for Oregon State
Treasurer.
Scrapbook had not been given numerical designation.
|
1972 |
Series F : Other papers and ephemera , circa 1932-2012 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8/8 | Biographical material
Includes some newspaper clippings and photographs.
|
|
| 8/9 | Harry Boiven oral history |
1990 July |
| 8/10 | Boston Law School reunuion |
2004 |
| 8/11 | Boston Red Sox trip |
2004 |
| 8/12 | Certificates and award |
1972-1988 |
| 17/1 | Certificate for Redden's appointment to Oregon Law
Enforcement Council |
1977 August 4 |
| 10/3 | Clipping re Tom McCall inauguration |
1967 January |
| 10/4 | Clippings |
1981 |
| 10/5 | Clippings and obituaries |
1980-2008 |
Subseries 1 : Correspondence |
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 8/13 | Boivin/Potts correspondence
Contains correspondence with and concerning Harry Boivin and
Debbs Potts.
|
1983-2012 |
| 8/14 | Cabrera, Dan
Correspondence concerning the Redden family home in
Springfield, Massachusetts.
|
2006 |
| 10/6 | "Enigma" correspondence
Had originally been loose in Scrapbook 2.
|
1989 |
| 10/7 | Letters from John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
Had originally been loose in Scrapbook 1.
|
1960-1962 |
| 8/15 | Correspondence re roast |
1980 |
| 8/16 | Personal and legal correspondence |
1990-2012 |
| 8/17 | Miscellaneous correspondence |
1995-2010 |
Subseries 2 : 1968 Democratic National Convention
Redden was a delegate.
|
||
| Box/Folder | ||
| 17/2 | Welcome packet |
1968 |
| 8/18, 17/3 | Ephemera
Folder 8/18 includes Redden's delegate badges.
|
1968 |
| Box/Folder | ||
| 10/8 | Drawings, photographs, and ephemera
Had originally been loose items in Scrapbook 5.
|
undated |
| 8/19 | Federal and state tax rebates |
1998 |
| 9/1 | Ferris-Brown wedding |
1999 |
| 9/2 | Invitation to President Jimmy Carter's inauguration
|
1977 January |
| 9/3 | Kopetski wedding |
1999 |
| 9/4 | Lists of Oregon legislators
Folder had originally been labeled "2008 Picnic."
|
2008 |
| 9/5 | Memorial service program for Morris K. Crothers
|
1983 December |
| 9/6 | Papers re memorial service for Robert Straub
|
2002 December |
| 9/7 | Narrative by J. R. Faust, Jr. - "Honeybucket Man:
American GIs in the Land of the Tokyo Boogie Woogie" |
1987 |
| 17/4 | Newspaper insert for Robert F. Kennedy |
1968 |
| 10/9 | Oregon Capitol guide
Had originally been loose item in Scrapbook 4.
|
undated |
| 9/8 | Oregon Food Bank banquet |
2003 April 24 |
| 17/5 | Political cartoon, "1967 Legislature" |
1967 |
| 9/9 | Political ephemera
Includes: political membership cards; Oregon Legislature card
for James Redden, circa 1963; business card of James Redden when he was
Attorney General; decal reading, "New Deal with F.D.R.;" matchbooks for Lyndon
Banes Johnson and Thomas J. O'Connor; stickers and cards for political
candidates.
|
circa 1932-1990 |
| 17/6 | Political stickers |
circa 1972-1974 |
| 9/10 | United States District Court Historical Society Annual
Picnic |
2005 |
| 9/11 | University of Oregon Council of 100 |
1999 |
| 10/10 | Westside Weekender clipping re Pat Paulsen |
1985 October |
| 10/11 | Willamette Week issue with underlinings by Redden
|
2006 January 25 |
| 9/12 | Miscellaneous papers |
2002 |
Series G : Photographs , 1957-circa 1990 Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 10/12 | Photographs |
1957-1976 ; undated |
| 10/13 | Photographs |
1974 August |
| 10/13 | Photographs with politicians' autographs |
1974 ; undated |
| 17/7 | Album page of Redden at swearing-in ceremony
|
circa 1980 |
| 10/15 | Contact sheets |
1972 |
| 10/16 | Contact sheets |
1976 |
| 10/17 | Redden campaigning for State Treasurer |
1972 August-September |
| 10/18 | Photographs of Redden campaigning with added humorous
captions |
1972 |
| 11/1 | Campaign event for Governor Bob Straub |
1978 |
| 11/2 | Opening of Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas,
Oregon |
1975 September 8 |
| 11/3 | Outdoors trip (black and white photos) |
circa 1974 |
| 11/4 | Outdoors trip (color photos) |
circa 1974 |
| 17/8 | Portrait of Hubert H. Humphrey
Includes inscription addressed to Redden.
|
circa 1968 |
| 11/5 | Harold and James Redden
Also includes related newspaper clipping and letter.
|
1965 |
| 11/6 | Redden with two others at swearing in |
circa 1973 |
| 11/7 | Redden with Tom McCall |
1982 |
| 17/9 | Owen Panner, James Redden, and Helen Frye |
1980 March 24 |
| 11/8 | Redden and others being sworn in at Oregon State
Capitol |
circa 1977 |
| 11/9 | Portrait of Redden |
1979 |
| 17/10 | Group portrait of judges, including Redden |
circa 1990 |
| 17/11 | Redden and staff |
circa 1985 |
| 11/10 | Color slides of Redden |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Legislators--Oregon
- Oregon--Judges
- Political campaigns--Oregon
- Politics and government--Oregon
Personal Names
- Redden, James A.--Archives
- Redden, James A.--Photographs
Corporate Names
- Democratic National Convention (1986 : Chicago, Ill.)
- Oregon. Legislative Assembly.
- United States. District Court (Oregon)
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Judges
- Oregon--Legislators
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Ephemera
- Legal correspondence
- Legal documents
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
- Speeches (documents)
