Oral history interview with Dorothy B. Leach

Collection

Identifier: SR 9463

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Dorothy B. Leach was conducted by Roberta Watts at Leach’s home in Portland, Oregon, on February 23, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program. The sound quality is very poor.

In this interview, Leach discusses the neighborhood in Northwest Portland where she has lived since 1924; talks about her early life in London, England, including her father’s career as a sea captain; and shares her memories of operating a sailor’s club in Portland during World War II. She talks about her reasons for leaving England, describes some of her travels in the early 20th century, and discusses at length her career as a dressmaker and sewing teacher in Portland. She also describes houses she lived in.

Dates

1978 February 23

Creator

Leach, Dorothy B. (Dorothy Blanche), 1892-1990 (Interviewee, 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 Dorothy B. Leach. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Dorothy Blanche Leach was born in the Lewisham borough of London, England, in 1892. She grew up in London. In 1923, she immigrated to the United States, and the next year, she made her home in Portland, Oregon. She operated a dressmaking shop and taught sewing in Portland for 50 years. She also taught sewing, Bible study, and English at the Chinese Baptist Church in Portland. She died in 1990.

Sources: Information provided by Leach in her interview; Leach’s obituary in the Oregonian, October 25, 1990; vital records on Ancestry.com.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (56 min., 58 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Dorothy B. Leach conducted by Roberta Watts on February 23, 1978. Leach discusses her life in London, England, and in Portland, Oregon, in the 20th century.