In the first interview session, conducted on February 22, 1980, Powers discusses his college education at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Oregon, particularly his experiences studying Greek and English. He briefly outlines his career as a high school teacher, and as a University of Oregon professor and dean of the extension division. He speaks about serving as director of the Federal Writers Project in Oregon, and talks about writers he worked with. He discusses his affiliation with the Oregon Historical Society and speaks at length about his work as editor of the Oregon Historical Quarterly.