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Oregon State University
Special Collections and Archives
Research Center

Paul H. Jensen Oral Histories, 1979-1993View associated digital content.

Predominant Dates: 1990-1991
The Paul H. Jensen Oral Histories document Jensen's life and work as an important figure in the study and evolution of Alaskan Eskimo culture in the latter decades of the twentieth century. Under contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Jensen spent twenty-seven years establishing educational and cultural exchange programs with Alaska's Eskimo communities. Along the way he collected some 4,000 art pieces and artifacts which, in 1985, formed the nucleus of the Jensen Arctic Museum, currently housed on the campus of Western Oregon University, where Jensen served as professor of Education. All of the audiocassettes held in this collection, as well as the final draft transcript, have been digitized and these files are available upon patron request.
ID: OH 022
Extent: 0.4 cubic feet
More Extent Information
Scope and Content Notes
Biographical / Historical Notes
Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.
Statement on Description: Arrangement and description by Chris Petersen
Arrangement
Preferred Citation: Courtesy of the Paul H. Jensen Oral Histories (OH 022), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Acquisition Note: The collection was originally created by the staff of the Horner Museum with support from the administration of Western Oregon State College. The materials were transferred to the University Archives upon the closure of the Horner Museum in 1996 and later described as part of the Horner Museum Oral History Collection (OH 10). In 2013 the materials were separated out and described as their own collection.
Languages of Materials
Other

Container List

Series 1: Audiocassettes, 1989-1990 Add to Shelf
Horner Museum accession numbers are included with each set of audiocassettes. All interviews were conducted by Jennifer Lee. Each of the cassettes described in Series 1 have been digitized and are available upon patron request.
Extent: 17 items
Box-Folder 1.1-1.4: Jensen, Paul H., November 20, 1989 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9a-b and 893-4-3347-8. The latter two cassettes are duplicate copies. Interview topics include: Jensen's youth in Denmark; family background and dynamics; the family farm; education within the family; early travels; World War I; Jensen's siblings.
Box-Folder 1.5-1.7: Jensen, Paul H., January 27, 1990 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9c-e. Interview topics include: family background and dynamics; interest in travel as a boy; move to Norway for school; move to and settlement in Canada; working in Canada; decision to move to the U.S.
Box-Folder 1.8-1.9: Jensen, Paul H., March 10, 1990 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9f-g. Interview topics include: personal health habits and philosophical approach to life; immigration to the U.S.; traveling and working in the U.S.; talent as a singer; enrollment at Spokane College and Pacific Lutheran University; enrollment and education at Midland College; enrollment and education at University of North Dakota; move to Seattle during World War II; becoming a citizen of the U.S.; travels in Turkey and North Africa; Jensen's children; move to Mexico; decision to move to Oregon.
Box-Folder 1.10-1.11: Jensen, Paul H., April 11, 1990 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9h-i. Interview topics include: settling and working in Corvallis; first exposure to Alaska; employment at the Oregon College of Education; birth of Alaska student exchange program; exposure to Eskimo language and culture.
Box-Folder 1.12-1.13: Jensen, Paul H., May 2, 1990 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9j-k. Interview topics include: living in the Arctic; nomination to the Native Council of Elders; an Eskimo wedding; trips to Punic Island; Eskimo diet; research colleagues; collecting Eskimo artifacts; Jensen's Eskimo name.
Box-Folder 1.14-1.15: Jensen, Paul H., May 16, 1990 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9l, 989-1-9n. Interview topics include: artifacts at the Jensen Arctic Museum; documenting and publishing the Yupik language; survival techniques in the Arctic; the Bureau of Indian Affairs Eskimo education program; dangers of Arctic travel.
Box-Folder 1.16-1.17: Jensen, Paul H., May 23, 1990 Add to Shelf
Horner accession numbers 989-1-9m, 989-1-9o. Interview topics include: willing by an Eskimo woman of her son to Jensen; Alaska student exchange program; Eskimo diet; Eskimo shamen; meeting Arlene Munkres; raising children; reflections on Alaska and on Eskimo culture.
Series 2: Transcripts, 1991 Add to Shelf
This series is comprised of annotated preliminary draft transcripts (4 parts) and final draft transcripts (2 parts). Folders in this series have been scanned and are noted below. The collection does not include finalized transcripts free of annotations. Most or all of the transcripts were typed by Bonnie Humphreys.
Extent: 6 folders
Box-Folder 2.1: Preliminary Draft Transcript: Jensen, Paul H., 1991 Add to Shelf
Pages 1-96.
Box-Folder 2.2: Preliminary Draft Transcript: Jensen, Paul H., 1991 Add to Shelf
Pages 97-160.
Box-Folder 2.3: Preliminary Draft Transcript: Jensen, Paul H., 1991 Add to Shelf
Pages 161-210.
Box-Folder 2.4: Preliminary Draft Transcript: Jensen, Paul H., 1991 Add to Shelf
Pages 211-271.
Box-Folder 2.5: Final Draft Transcript: Jensen, Paul H., 1991 Add to Shelf
Pages 1-115. This folder has been scanned and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.6: Final Draft Transcript: Jensen, Paul H., 1991 Add to Shelf
Pages 116-194. This folder has been scanned and is available upon request.
Series 3: Project Files, 1979-1993 Add to Shelf
This series consists of materials gathered or generated as a function of the administrative and research components of conducting the Jensen oral history project.
Extent: 4 folders
Box-Folder 2.7: Correspondence, 1989-1991 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.8: Interview and Project Notes, 1989-1993 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 2.9: Paul H. Jensen Historical File, 1979-1991 Add to Shelf
Folder includes newspaper and magazine clippings, programs and brochures used in researching Jensen's background as well as that of the Jensen Arctic Museum. Of particular note is an undated pamphlet authored by Jensen, "Hunters of the Arctic Rim."
Box-Folder 2.10: Permissions Forms, 1990 Add to Shelf