Oral history interview with Mira H. Ehrman

Collection

Identifier: SR 9434

Staff Only

Oral history interview with Mira H. Erhman

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Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Mira H. Ehrman was conducted by Charles Digregorio at Ehrman’s home in Portland, Oregon, on January 20, 1976, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program.

In this interview, Ehrman discusses her involvement with the Oregon Social Hygiene Society, the Mental Hygiene Society, the Fruit and Flower Mission, the Portland Symphony, Catlin Gabel School, and other organizations. She also talks about her early life in the San Francisco Bay Area, including her education at the University of California at Berkeley, her experience during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and her work at a medical clinic. She discusses fundraising for the various civic organizations she was involved in, talks about awards she received, and shares her knowledge about Portland Mayor William Spencer Mason. She speaks at length about her involvement with the USO and also describes her work organizing 500 women volunteers during World War II.

Dates

Creation: 1976 January 20

Creator

Ehrman, Mira H. (Mira Harris), 1892-1982 (Interviewee, Person)
Digregorio, Charles (Interviewer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the estate of Mira H. Ehrman. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Mira Harris Ehrman, nee Mira A. Harris, was born in San Francisco, California, in 1892. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Greek and a master's degree in archaeology. In 1919, she moved to Portland, Oregon, and that same year she and Symund Mason Ehrman were married; they later had two children. The next year, she became involved with the Oregon Social Hygiene Society. She was a Red Cross volunteer and was active in numerous Portland civic organizations, including the Council of Jewish Women, the Visiting Nurses Association, the Oregon Mental Hygiene Society, the Fruit and Flower Mission, the Family Service Committee, and the Portland Garden Club. In 1942, she helped found the Portland USO (United Service Organizations), and in 1970, she was the first woman to be awarded the National USO Award for Distinguished Service. She was also chosen as the First Person of Portland in 1966. She died in 1982.

Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Ehrman in her interview.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiotape reel (1 hr., 1 min., 21 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Mira H. Ehrman conducted by Charles Digregorio on January 20, 1976. Ehrman discusses her involvement with several Portland, Oregon, civic organizations.