Oral history interview with Bertha B. Hallam

Collection

Identifier: SR 9444

Staff Only

Oral history interview with Bertha B. Hallam

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Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Bertha B. Hallam was conducted by Linda S. Dodds in Portland, Oregon, in two sessions, on December 20, 1979, and January 3, 1980, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program. A transcript is available. At the time of the interview, Dodds’ name was Linda S. Brody.

In the first interview session, conducted on December 20, 1979, Hallam describes how she became the first librarian at the University of Oregon Medical School in 1919. She talks about the library building that was constructed in 1939, about her involvement with the Medical Library Association, and about articles she wrote.

In the second interview session, conducted on January 3, 1980, Hallam reflects on her accomplishments as a librarian. She closes the interview by talking about her retirement activities.

Dates

Creation: 1979 December 20-1980 January 3

Creator

Hallam, Bertha Brandon (Interviewee, Person)
Dodds, Linda S. (Interviewer, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Biographical note

Bertha Brandon Hallam was born in Excelsior, Minnesota, in 1895. In 1912, she moved with her family to Portland, Oregon. In 1919, she became the first librarian at the University of Oregon Medical School, now known as Oregon Health & Science University. In 1931, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon. She was a longtime member of the Medical Library Association, and was elected its president in 1956. She retired in 1965. Hallam died in 1982.

Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Hallam in her oral history interview.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (2 audiocassettes (58 min., 3 sec.) + transcript (24 pages))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Bertha B. Hallam conducted by Linda S. Dodds on December 20, 1979, and January 3, 1980. Hallam discusses her career as the first librarian at the University of Oregon Medical School, now known as Oregon Health & Science University, from 1919 to 1965.