Bing Francis Oral History Interview (1 of 2)

In this interview, Francis opens by talking about Gilbert, the remote Minnesota town where he was born and where his father practiced medicine in the mining towns. Although he was too young when the family moved away from Gilbert to remember it, he shares several anecdotes that he learned from his parents, including the sense of danger from the landscape and what he calls the “roughneck element” of the town. The family later moved to Woodstock, Illinois, where his father had the opportunity to open a private medical practice.

When World War I broke out, Francis’ father volunteered for military service and was appointed as first lieutenant in the medical corps. His mother travelled to Washington, D.C. with a close friend to participate in war work with the government. During this time, Francis lived with his grandparents in the Chicago area. When the war ended, the family returned to Woodstock. Francis’ uncle, William Arthur Jensen, was the executive secretary - a position now titled Dean of Administration - at Oregon Agricultural College (later Oregon State University). Jensen’s wife Lillian, who was Francis’ father’s sister, persuaded her brother to move to Corvallis and open up a medical practice there. Francis reminisces on the move to Corvallis, mentioning how upset he was when he found out that it would not snow like it does in the Midwest. He also recounts how awestruck he was the first time he ever saw mountains, when the train stopped right in the heart of Glacier National Park and the porter let him get off to go look.

In Corvallis, Francis’ father continued his work with the military medical corps and served as the veteran’s doctor to many OAC students who had fought in World War I. When World War II rolled around, he was sent first to Fort Lewis, Washington and then to Portland, Oregon before he was asked to return to overseas service in North Africa, despite being over-age for military service. He was eventually discharged and prevented from reopening his medical practice after suffering from a nervous condition brought about by the frequent air raids that he endured. After the end of the war and the start of his forced retirement, Francis’ father took up travelling as a hobby.

Francis goes on to talk about his memories of his family’s frequent visits to the Siletz Reservation. He recalls camping there and explains that his grandfather would purchase tobacco and other goods to trade with the tribe for baskets. Around this time, Francis became interested in photography after being allowed to borrow the family camera on one particular Siletz camping trip. Landscape photography became a lifelong hobby of Francis’, and he reminisces fondly about the photography workshops that he took from the renowned Ansel Adams. He talks about some of the photographs and photo collections he has produced. He then shares the origin of his nickname, Bing. He also recalls his friendships with Oregon Agricultural College’s Dean Milam, President Kerr, Dean Bexell, and Dean Ziefle. He finishes by recounting the experience that made him reconsider and ultimately abandon his original career plan to pursue medicine like his father.

Lawrence E. "Bing" Francis was born on June 12, 1910. A graduate of Oregon State Agricultural College (Zoology, 1932) and former Washington County Extension Agent, Francis spent much of his career working in the legal and banking professions.