Oral history interview with Eldon E. Bevens, 1980 June 20
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Bevens, Eldon E. (Eldon Earl), 1925-2011
- Title
- Oral history interview with Eldon E. Bevens
- Dates
- 1980 June 201980-06-201980-06-20
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (1 audiocassette (1 hr., 3 min., 5 sec.))
- Collection Number
- SR 9298
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Eldon E. Bevens conducted by Linda S. Dodds on June 20, 1980. Bevens owned and operated the Muir & McDonald Company leather tannery in Dallas, Oregon.
- 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
- Digitization funded by the James F. Miller Endowment.
Biographical Note
Eldon Earl Bevens was born in Dallas, Oregon, in 1925. In 1948, he and Lois Eileen Miller were married; they later had two children. At age 13, he began working in the Muir & McDonald Company leather tannery in Dallas, and he later purchased the tannery from Walter Muir. The tannery closed in 2007. Bevens died in 2011.
Other Descriptive Information
An incomplete transcript (19 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Content Description
This oral history interview with Eldon E. Bevens was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the Muir & McDonald Company leather tannery in Dallas, Oregon, on June 20, 1980, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds' name was Linda S. Brody. Bevens' father, Homer Bevens, was also present and contributed to part of the interview.
In this interview, Bevens gives a tour of the Muir & McDonald Company tannery in Dallas, and discusses the tannery business. He describes the machinery in the tannery, talks about the company's natural tanning process, and discusses the history of the tannery. He also talks about some of the ways the tannery's customers use its leather. He shares his memories of living near and working in the tannery during his early life, and of the tannery's previous owners. He closes the interview by talking about his plans for the tannery's future.
The recording ends with a brief interview with Homer Bevens at his home in Dallas. He discusses his experiences working at the Muir & McDonald Company tannery from 1922 to 1977.
Use of the Collection
Alternative Forms Available
Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Eldon E. Bevens, by Linda S. Dodds, SR 9298, 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, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Administrative Information
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Business enterprises--Oregon--Dallas
- Leather industry and trade--Oregon--Dallas
- Tanneries--Oregon--Dallas
Personal Names
- Bevens, Eldon E. (Eldon Earl), 1925-2011
- Bevens, Homer D. (Homer Dale), 1902-1983
Corporate Names
- Muir & McDonald Co. (Dallas, Or.)
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
- oral histories (literary works)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Bevens, Homer D. (Homer Dale), 1902-1983 (interviewee)
- Dodds, Linda S. (interviewer)
