Robert Reichart Oral History Interview

Reichart, both a graduate and later a faculty member of Oregon State University enjoyed a varied career. Initially joining the OSU staff as an accounting professor, he filled a number of positions during his time at the institution. His best known impact on OSU was the creation of a self-learning center in the department of Forestry, where he would become an emeritus professor of forestry. In his interview, Reichart gives a brief background of his family and the motivation for them to move to Oregon. Reichart’s father realized that he would not be able to provide all of his children a college education if they remained in New York.

Reichart also shares pieces of his boyhood, recalling his time as an errand boy for a lace company when his family still lived in New York. In Oregon, he relates some of the happenings from Chautaqua, an adult education movement that had regular stops in Corvallis. Another point of interest include his time at Oregon Agricultural College as a student. An avid reader, Reichart spent a large amount of time in the library. In addition to reading, he also had a passion for writing and was a member of an informal writing club.