Oral history interview with Bertram F. Griffin, 1992 November 30-1993 March 30
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Griffin, Bertram F. (Bertram Francis), 1932-2000
- Title
- Oral history interview with Bertram F. Griffin
- Dates
- 1992 November 30-1993 March 30 (inclusive)1992-11-301993-03-30
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (3 audiocassettes (2 hr., 21 min., 18 sec.))
- Collection Number
- SR 476
- Summary
- Oral history interview with the Reverend Bertram F. Griffin, conducted by Sister Pauline Rose Waibel in three sessions from November 30, 1992, to March 30, 1993, as part of the Legacy of Hope: Catholics and Social Justice Project. Griffin discusses the reforms of Vatican II, which were implemented after the Second Vatican Council concluded in 1965; his study of canon law; and his social justice work while serving as a pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church in the Albina district of Portland.
- 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
Biographical Note
Bertram Francis Griffin was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1932, and grew up in Portland, Oregon. During World War II, his father served in the U.S. Army, and the family lived on military bases in California. Griffin received a bachelor's degree from Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon, in 1953, and a master's degree from St. Thomas Seminary, in Kenmore, Washington, in 1957. He was ordained as a priest that same year. Griffin received his doctorate in canon law from the Lateran University in Rome, Italy, in 1964. He then returned to Portland and served as a pastor at the Madeleine Church (1957-1961), St. Mary's Cathedral (1964-1966), St. Andrew Catholic Church (1970-1983), St. Pius X Catholic Church (1984-1996), and St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church (1996-2000). In addition, he was chancellor of the Archdiocese of Portland from 1971 to 1975. He also taught at Mount Angel Seminary and at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Griffin died in 2000.
Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Griffin in his interview; "Father Griffin, Portland Priest, Dies at Age 68," by Nancy Haught, Oregonian, July 29, 2000; "Fr. Bert Griffin," Griffin Center website (accessed May 12, 2025), https://griffincenterportland.org/dedication.
Other Descriptive Information
Forms part of the Legacy of Hope: Catholics and Social Justice Project.
Other Descriptive Information
An incomplete transcript (61 pages) and a typescript summary (28 pages) are available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Content Description
This oral history interview with the Reverend Bertram F. Griffin was conducted by Sister Pauline Rose Waibel in three sessions from November 30, 1992, to March 30, 1993. The interview was conducted as part of the Legacy of Hope: Catholics and Social Justice Project, which collected interviews with Catholic clergy and social justice activists in Oregon about their work on social action in the Roman Catholic tradition.
In this interview, Griffin discusses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including his education at Catholic schools. He talks about his experiences while studying at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon; at St. Thomas Seminary in Kenmore, Washington; and at Lateran University in Rome, Italy. He discusses the reforms of Vatican II, and speaks about studying canon law. He also talks about his work with youth in the late 1960s, including conscientious objectors to the Vietnam War. He speaks about working with Robert J. Dwyer, archbishop of Portland, and about how the Catholic Church changed during the 1970s. He discusses his social justice work while serving as a pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Portland's Albina district, and describes accusations of communism that he experienced as a result. He discusses the transition from the urban parish of St. Andrew to the suburban parish of St. Pius X in Cedar Mill. He closes the interview with his thoughts about a decline in the number of people entering the clergy, and how the decline will affect the future of the Catholic Church.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Bertram F. Griffin, by Sister Pauline Rose Waibel, SR 476, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Administrative Information
Related Materials
The Oregon Historical Society Research Library also holds the recording of an additional interview with Griffin (SR 2405) as well as a written narrative derived from oral history interviews with Griffin, titled "Bertram Francis Griffin, 1932-2000, a life and ministry: recollections" (call number 282 G851g).
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Description: Interview session 11 audiocassettes (51 min., 28 sec.)
Tape 1. In the first interview session, conducted on November 30, 1992, Griffin discusses his family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including his education at Catholic schools, spending World War II in Northern California, and his decision to become a priest. He talks about his experience studying at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon; at St. Thomas Seminary, in Kenmore, Washington; and at Lateran University in Rome, Italy. He discusses the reforms of Vatican II, which were implemented after the Second Vatican Council concluded in 1965, and speaks about his study of canon law.
Dates: 1992 November 30Container: Cassette 1 -
Description: Interview session 21 audiocassettes (1 hr., 34 sec.)
Tape 2. In the second interview session, conducted on January 18, 1993, Griffin discusses returning to Portland in 1964 and talks about the implementation of the reforms of Vatican II in the Archdiocese of Portland. He also talks about the ecumenical movement, about the relationship between Catholics and Protestants, and about his work with youth in the late 1960s, including conscientious objectors to the Vietnam War. He speaks about working with Robert J. Dwyer, archbishop of Portland, and about changes in the Catholic Church during the 1970s. He discusses his social justice work while serving as a pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Portland's Albina district, and how, as a result, he was accused of being a communist.
Dates: 1993 January 18Container: Cassette 2 -
Description: Interview session 30.5 audiocassettes (29 min., 16 sec.)
Tape 3, Side 1. In the third and final interview session, conducted on March 30, 1993, Griffin discusses the transition from the urban parish of St. Andrew to the suburban parish of St. Pius X in Cedar Mill. He closes the interview by speaking extensively about his thoughts on the future of the Catholic Church in light of a decline in the number of people entering the clergy.
Dates: 1993 March 30Container: Cassette 3
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Catholic Church--Oregon--Clergy
- Catholics--Oregon--Portland
- Church and social problems--Oregon
- Priests--Oregon--Portland
- Social justice--Religious aspects--Catholic Church
Personal Names
- Griffin, Bertram F. (Bertram Francis), 1932-2000
Corporate Names
- Catholic Church. Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon
- Vatican Council (2nd : 1962-1965 : Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano)
Geographical Names
- Albina (Portland, Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
- oral histories (literary genre)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Waibel, Pauline Rose, Sister (interviewer)
