Oral history interview with Selma J. Denecke
Scope and Contents
This oral history interview with Selma J. Denecke was conducted by Elizabeth Meyer at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, from March 17 to June 23, 1999. In this interview, Denecke discusses her family background and early life in Portland, Oregon, including her early education and her memories of the Depression. She also talks about her interest in art and music and attending Scripps College in Claremont, California. She talks about working at the Portland Art Museum during World War II. She discusses meeting Arno H. Denecke and their subsequent marriage. Denecke describes Arno Denecke’s service in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, as well as their long-distance courtship. She talks about Arno Denecke’s career from professor at the University of Oregon Law School to chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. She discusses raising a family, as well as the prenatal and maternity care she received.
Dates
- 1999 March 17-June 23
Creator
- Denecke, Selma J. (Selma Jane), 1919-2009 (Interviewee, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Biographical note
Selma Jane Denecke, nee Rockey, was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1919. She attended Scripps College in Claremont, California. After her graduation in 1941, she returned to Portland and worked at the Portland Art Museum until 1945, when she and Arno H. Denecke were married. They later had five children. She was a volunteer with the Albertina Kerr Center, the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Historical Society. She died in 2009.
Extent
.1 Cubic Feet (4 audiocassettes (4 hr., 3 min., 17 sec.) + transcript (84 pages) + 2 photographs (black and white))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with Selma J. Denecke conducted by Elizabeth Meyer from March 17 to June 23, 1999, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. In the interview, Denecke discusses her interest in art and music, her family life, and the career of her husband, Arno H. Denecke, who served as chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.
Existence and Location of Copies
General
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Creator
- Denecke, Selma J. (Selma Jane), 1919-2009 (Interviewee, Person)
- Meyer, N. Elizabeth (Nancy Elizabeth) (Interviewer, Person)
- Title
- Guide to oral history interview with Selma J. Denecke
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Stroman
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
- Sponsor
- This project is supported in whole or part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org