In the first interview session, conducted on November 2, 1982, Sundeleaf discusses his family background and early life in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, including his education, involvement in sports, and early jobs, particularly in sawmills and shipyards. He talks about his experience studying architecture at the Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, including some of his professors and his involvement in college sports. He describes working as a draftsman for A.E. Doyle and for the architectural firm of Sutton and Whitney. He then talks about starting his own architectural firm and his first jobs designing the swimming pools at the Jantzen Beach Amusement Park and the office building for Jantzen Knitting Mills.