Oral history interview with Windsor D. Calkins, 2008 March 25-May 8

In the first interview session, conducted on March 25, 2008, Calkins discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, including his early interest in music. He talks about his education at the University of Oregon and at Willamette University Law School, and about some of his professors. He discusses practicing law with his father, Windsor Calkins, in Eugene. He speaks at length about his father's career.

In the second interview session, conducted on April 10, 2008, Calkins continues to discuss his early life in Eugene, including his early childhood health, his recreational activities, and his relationship with his parents. He speaks further about his family background and about his education at the University of Oregon and at Willamette University Law School. He describes taking the Oregon bar exam in 1971, talks about working as a law clerk, and continues to discuss practicing law with his father. He talks about the law firm staff; about some of their clients, particularly insurance companies; and about cases he worked on, including medical malpractice suits. He discusses the legal community in Oregon and his involvement in several civic organizations.

In the third and final interview session, conducted on May 8, 2008, Calkins discusses his marriage to Judy VanCleave, and talks about their family life. He also talks about his children, their families, and their careers; about the houses the family lived in; and about family vacations. He continues to discuss practicing law with his father, and talks about changes in the legal profession, about medical malpractice cases he worked on, and about his experiences in federal courts and with federal judges. He also talks about how changes in technology affected his work. He closes the interview by reflecting on his career, and his work-life balance.