This oral history interview with Edwin J. Peterson was conducted by Jeffrey C. Dobbins in Salem, Oregon, from August 21 to December 11, 2007, as part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in thirteen sessions. Throughout the interview, Peterson refers to photographs and letters. Copies of some, but not all, of these items are included in the related U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society collection, Coll 560.

In this interview, Peterson discusses his family background in Gilmanton, Wisconsin, including his memories of rural life during World War II, and moving to Oregon in 1944. He talks about studying music at the University of Oregon, describes his service as a personnel officer in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and discusses attending the University of Oregon Law School. He speaks at length about practicing of law with the Tooze, Kerr, Peterson, Marshall & Shenker firm in Portland. He discusses serving on the Oregon Supreme Court from 1979 to 1993, and about serving as chief justice from 1983 to 1991. He reads entries from his journals detailing this part of his career. He closes the interview by talking about his activities since retiring in 1993.