Soap Creek Valley History Project Oral Histories, 1978-2009

Predominant Dates: 1990-1995

ID: OH 006

Extent: 2.2 cubic feet

The Soap Creek Valley History Project Oral Histories consist of oral histories conducted primarily in 1989-1991 by the Oregon State University Research Forests to better understand the history, ecology, and culture of the Soap Creek Valley in Benton County, Oregon. The collection consists of published monographs that include the full transcripts, as well as added contextual and reference information, for 15 sets of interviews. Likewise included is a lengthy report written by Shahidul Islam and Bob Zybach that discusses and evaluates the Soap Creek Valley project. Some of the monographs held in this collection have been digitized and are available upon patron request.

Sound recordings (audiocassettes) for 13 of the interview sets are also part of the collection -- audiocassettes for the Velma Rawie and William Davies sessions do not remain extant. Transcript drafts, correspondence, research materials and other background items are included, as are 20 photographs documenting the Soap Creek Valley and a handful of the narrators represented in this collection. All of the audiocassettes held in this collection have been digitized and are available upon patron request.

Interviews with the following individuals are included: Wanda Marcks Cook, William A. Davies, Donald Dickey, Paul M. Dunn, Eugene Glender, Lorna Grabe, James Hanish, Charles Hindes, Norman Hindes, Bessie Gragg Murphy, Charlie Olson, Velma Carter Rawie, John Jacob Rohner, Wilma Rohner, Marvin Rowley, Edward Sekermestrovich, and Neil Vanderburg. Topics addressed in the interviews include farming and ranching, the Soap Creek School, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp at Camp Arboretum, and logging practices and saw milling. The interview with Velma Carter Rawie provides information about the town of Wells, Oregon, which was acquired in 1942 by the federal government as part of Camp Adair. Bessie Murphy's interview describes the native plants and flora of the Crescent Valley area of Benton County.

Interviewers were Royal G. Jackson, Jennifer Lee and Bob Zybach with the assistance of Judy Carlson, Marlene Finley, Phil Hays, Jan Meranda, Kevin Sherer, Angela Sondenaa, Neil Vanderburg, and George Wisner.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Statement on Description: Collection processed by Elizabeth Nielsen and Chris Petersen.

Arrangement

Preferred Citation: Soap Creek Valley History Project Oral Histories (OH 006), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Acquisition Note: The published transcripts were transferred to the Archives by the Research Forests regularly as they were issued between 1991 and 1996. The sound recordings, as well as published transcripts and related materials, were part of the Horner Museum oral history collections until they were transferred to the Archives in 1996. Materials donated by Bob Zybach to the Archives in 2009 were organized into this collection in 2017.

Languages of Materials

English

Other

Container List

Series 1: Transcripts and Background Materials, 1978-2009 Add to Shelf

Extent: 24 folders

Box-Folder 1.1: Grabe, Lorna. Family History and the Story of the Soap Creek Schoolhouse Foundation. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #1, December 28, 1989 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, personal biography of Lorna Grabe and index. [One interview (December 22, 1989) conducted by Bob Zybach.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.2: Dunn, Paul M. Biographical Sketch and Story of the Adair Tract, Benton County, Oregon. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #2, 1990 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, reproduced photographs, personal biography of Paul M. Dunn and index. Folder contains a slide and two print photographs of Paul Dunn. [Two interviews (November 2, 1978; September 18, 1979) conducted by Royal G. Jackson and Jennifer Lee.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.3: Background Materials: Dunn, Paul M. Biographical Sketch and Story of the Adair Tract, Benton County, Oregon. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #2, 1978-1982 Add to Shelf: File includes transcript drafts, notes and biographical information related to the creation of Monograph #2.
Box-Folder 1.4: Background Materials: Dunn, Paul M. Biographical Sketch and Story of the Adair Tract, Benton County, Oregon. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #2, 1978-1991 Add to Shelf: File includes lists of questions, biographical materials, transcript drafts and notes related to the creation of Monograph #2.
Box-Folder 1.5: Background Materials: Dunn, Paul M. Biographical Sketch and Story of the Adair Tract, Benton County, Oregon. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #2, 1979-1991 Add to Shelf: File includes signed permissions forms, biographical materials, notes and correspondence related to the creation and revision of Monograph #2.
Box-Folder 1.6: Dickey, Donald. Family History and Life on Berry Creek, Benton County, Oregon: 1928-1942. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #3, 1991, 1995 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, manuscripts and reproduced photographs included as appendices, and index. Two printings of this monograph were released, one in 1991 and another in 1995. [One interview (August 18, 1990) conducted by Bob Zybach and Neil Vanderburg.] The 1995 Monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 1.7: Background Materials: Dickey, Donald. Family History and Life on Berry Creek, Benton County, Oregon: 1928-1942. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #3, 1991, 1995 Add to Shelf: File includes research materials, transcripts of letters sent by Donald Dickey to his brother, and instructions on edits to make to the Dickey interview transcript.
Box-Folder 1.8: Sekermestrovich, Edward. Life at CCC Camp Arboretum, Benton County, Oregon: 1935-1940. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #4, 1991 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, biographical sketch of Edward Sekermestrovich and index. File includes draft transcript. [One interview (February 6, 1980) conducted by Royal G. Jackson and Karen Thomas.]
Box-Folder 1.9: Rohner, John Jacob and Wilma Rohner. Family Farming on Coffin Butte Between World Wars, Benton County, Oregon: 1919-1941. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #5, ca. 1993 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, reproduced photographs arranged in an appendix and index. [Three interviews (September 18, 1990; September 29, 1990; September 30, 1990) conducted by Bob Zybach.]
Box-Folder 1.10: Hanish, James. Biographical Sketch and a Tour of Berry Creek, Benton and Polk Counties, Oregon: 1930-1938. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #6, 1994 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, autobiographical sketch and index. [Two interviews (January 13, 1990; April 10, 1990) conducted by Bob Zybach and Kevin Sherer.]
Box-Folder 1.11: Olson, Charlie. Biographical Sketch and Early History of Sulphur Springs, Benton County, Oregon: 1900-1920. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #7, 1994 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, appendix of personal memories and index. [Two interviews (January 29, 1990; June 16, 1990) conducted by Bob Zybach and Angela Sondenaa.]
Box-Folder 1.12: Vanderburg, Neil. Family Farming and Saw Milling on Berry Creek, Benton County, Oregon: 1935-1941. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #8, 1994, 1995 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, manuscript and Vanderburg genealogy arranged as appendices, and index. A revised version of this monograph was released in 1995. [Four interviews (August 8, 1990; September 1, 1990; January 26, 1991; October 11, 1991) conducted by Bob Zybach and George Wisner.]
Box-Folder 1.13: Background Materials: Vanderburg, Neil. Family Farming and Saw Milling on Berry Creek, Benton County, Oregon: 1935-1941. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #8, 1994, 1995 Add to Shelf: File includes a signed permissions form, research materials, and rough draft interview transcripts.
Box-Folder 1.14: Background Materials: Vanderburg, Neil. Family Farming and Saw Milling on Berry Creek, Benton County, Oregon: 1935-1941. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #8, 1994, 1995 Add to Shelf: File includes a finalized transcript as well as twelve family photographs for potential use as illustrations.
Box-Folder 1.15: Glender, Eugene. Growing up on a Tampico Family Farm, Benton County, Oregon: 1910-1941. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #9, 1994 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, manuscripts and reproduced photographs arranged as appendices, and index. [One interview (January 6, 1990) conducted by Bob Zybach and Jan Meranda.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.1: Rawie, Velma Carter. A History of the Carter Family and the Town of Wells, Benton County, Oregon: 1845-1941. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #10, 1994 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, manuscripts arranged into appendices and index. [One interview (March 19, 1991) conducted by Bob Zybach.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.2: Murphy, Bessie Gragg. Botanizing in Benton County, 1900-1991. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #11, 1989, 1995 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, obituary of Bessie Clark and index. File includes interviewers notes and partial transcript, January 1989. [Five interviews (July 23, 1975; August 4, 1975; January 26, 1989; January 4, 1990; September 29, 1990) conducted by Judy Carlson, Marlene Finley, Bob Zybach and Phil Hays.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.3: Cook, Wanda Marcks. The Story of Sulphur Springs Stock Ranch, Benton County, Oregon: 1904-1939. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #12, 1995 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes table of contents, introduction, manuscripts arranged into appendices and index. [Two interviews (October 28, 1989; May 15, 1990) conducted by Bob Zybach and Kevin Sherer.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.4: Davies, William A. Biographical Sketch and Management of OSU Research Forests, Benton and Polk Counties, Oregon, 1946-1973. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #10, 1997 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes acknowledgements, table of contents, appendices, index and map. [Two interviews (February 19, 1979; September 18, 1979) conducted by Royal Jackson and Jennifer Lee.] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.5: Hindes, Charles and Norman. Family History and Story of the Soap Creek Sawmilling and Logging Camp. Benton County, Oregon, 1928-1931. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #14. 1993, 1996 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes introduction, table of contents, appendices and index. [Two recordings - an interview and a site tour - made on September 28, 1993. Interview and recordings by Bob Zybach.] File also includes a letter written by Charles Hindes as well as five photographs taken of structures and locations in the Soap Creek Valley. The monograph and these documents have been digitized and are available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.6: Rowley, Marvin. Family History and Management of the OSU Research Forests, Benton and Polk Counties, Oregon, 1946-1986. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #15, 2009 Add to Shelf: Monograph includes appendices and index. [Five interviews conducted in total. Three by Royal Jackson and Jennifer Lee (January 25, 1979; January 31, 1979; February 6, 1979) and two by Bob Zybach (February 23, 1991; May 8, 1995).] This monograph has been digitized and is available upon request.
Box-Folder 2.7: Background Materials: Rowley, Marvin. Family History and Management of the OSU Research Forests, Benton and Polk Counties, Oregon, 1946-1986. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #15, circa 1994 Add to Shelf: File includes research notes, a draft transcript and poems written by Marvin Rowley.
Box-Folder 2.8: Islam, Shahidul and Bob Zybach. Documenting Natural and Cultural Resources Research: Soap Creek Valley, Oregon Oral History Series, 1978-1996. Soap Creek Valley History Project, Monograph #17. This monograph has been digitized and is available for reference use upon patron request., 1996 Add to Shelf
Box-Folder 3.1: Assorted Project Files: Soap Creek Valley History Project, 1993-1996 Add to Shelf

Series 2: Audiocassettes, 1978-1995 Add to Shelf

All of the audiocassettes described in Series 2 have been digitized and are available upon patron request.

Extent: 91 items

Box-Item 4.1-4.2: Grabe, Lorna, December 22, 1989 Add to Shelf: [Two cassettes]
Box-Item 4.3-4.12: Dunn, Paul M., November 2, 1978, September 18, 1979 Add to Shelf: [Ten cassettes - five originals and five copies]
Box-Item 4.13-4.15: Dickey, Donald, August 18, 1990 Add to Shelf: [Three cassettes]
Box-Item 4.16-4.19: Sekermestrovich, Edward, February 6, 1980 Add to Shelf: [Four cassettes - two originals and two copies]
Box-Item 4.20-5.1: Rohner, Jake, September 18-30, 1990 Add to Shelf: [Six cassettes - five originals and one copy]
Box-Item 5.2-5.8: Hanish, James, January 13, 1990, April 10, 1990 Add to Shelf: [Six cassettes - three originals and three copies]
Box-Item 5.9-5.24: Olson, Charlie, January 20, 1990, June 16, 1990 Add to Shelf: [Sixteen cassettes - eight originals and eight copies]
Box-Item 5.25-5.35: Vanderburg, Neil, January 26, 1991 Add to Shelf: [Eleven cassettes - four originals, three dated copies and four undated copies]
Box-Item 5.36-5.39: Glender, Eugene, January 6, 1990 Add to Shelf: [Four cassettes - two originals and two copies]
Box-Item 5.40-5.51: Murphy, Bessie Gragg, January 26, 1989, January 4, 1990, September 29, 1990, January 12, 1991 Add to Shelf: [Twelve cassettes - seven originals and five copies]
Box-Item 5.52-5.57: Cook, Wanda Marcks, October 28, 1989, May 15, 1990 Add to Shelf: [Six cassettes - three originals and three copies. May 15, 1990 interview is annotated as having been conducted with Roy Cook.]
Box-Item 5.58-5.59: Hindes, Charles and Norman, circa 1993 Add to Shelf: [Two cassettes]
Box-Item 5.60-5.67: Rowley, Marvin, February 24, 1991, May 8, 1995 Add to Shelf: [Eight original cassettes]

People, Places, and Topics

Forms of Material

Related Materials

Paul Dunn, Dean of Forestry, 1948. Dunn served as Dean of Forestry at Oregon State College from 1942 until 1955, when he joined the St. Regis Paper Company. Dunn was instrumental in obtaining the 6,200-acre Adair Tract for teaching and research, which was subsequently named the Paul M. Dunn Research Forest in his honor. In 1952-53, Dunn assisted in establishing a school of forest engineering at the University of Chile.

Information and Credits