Interviewer: Jennifer Lee
Interview Date: April 19, 1979
Location: Office of Waldo Ball, Corvallis, Oregon
Duration: 2:02:35
Waldo Ball is remembered by many Corvallis residents as a kind and practical man with a passion for medicine. For many families, he was their only primary physician and would often do house calls. After sixty-three years of practice, Ball retired from medicine with over 4,000 births to his credit and countless numbers of patients that he nursed back to health. In the following interview, Ball begins with giving an account of his family’s history and background. At the time of the interview, Ball was better acquainted with the paternal side of his family’s history. Ball briefly touched on what he knew of the maternal side of the family. What is apparent in the interview is that the Ball family overall was and remains a close knit family. According to Ball, they were happiest together, especially when celebrating an anniversary or some other milestone. The family moved from Nebraska to Corvallis in 1911. The Ball family became a part of the community. They also had ties to OSU, as they did the artwork for the institution for roughly forty years. Once Ball graduated from high school, he attended OSU in pre-med and pharmacy until he was drafted into World War I.
Other topics that are reflected in the interview include the activities Ball was involved in as a teenager in Corvallis. He enjoyed the outdoors and often would go hiking, fishing, or hunting with his father. Ball also reflected on the family business, Ball Studios, which provided the family income. According to Ball, his father provided all of the photographic services for OSU from portraits to athletic events from roughly 1911 to 1946. Something interesting to note are the connections that were established because of his father’s work and his own work. For example, they were privy to the native dances and parties of the Russian community in Peoria. Dr. Ball had patients in the community and his father would often take pictures of the events. The Balls had friendships with some of the faculty of OSU, like John Horner, featured in this interview as a close friend of Ball’s father. Horner was interested in developing the historical sites around the area and brought William Ball along to illustrate the details that Horner provided. This interview ends mid-description of Horner’s family.
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Other topics that are reflected in the interview include the activities Ball was involved in as a teenager in Corvallis. He enjoyed the outdoors and often would go hiking, fishing, or hunting with his father. Ball also reflected on the family business, Ball Studios, which provided the family income. According to Ball, his father provided all of the photographic services for OSU from portraits to athletic events from roughly 1911 to 1946. Something interesting to note are the connections that were established because of his father’s work and his own work. For example, they were privy to the native dances and parties of the Russian community in Peoria. Dr. Ball had patients in the community and his father would often take pictures of the events. The Balls had friendships with some of the faculty of OSU, like John Horner, featured in this interview as a close friend of Ball’s father. Horner was interested in developing the historical sites around the area and brought William Ball along to illustrate the details that Horner provided. This interview ends mid-description of Horner’s family.