This oral history interview with Lewis L. McArthur was conducted by Nancie Fadeley in two sessions, on April 16, 1982, and June 8, 1982. The second interview session was recorded at the Ray F. Becker Company. The interview was conducted for a radio segment that may have aired on the radio station KWAX in Eugene, Oregon.

In the first interview session, conducted on April 16, 1982, McArthur discusses his research on Oregon place names for the book “Oregon Geographic Names.” He also talks about the career of his father, Lewis A. McArthur, and about Lewis A. McArthur's work on the early editions of the book. He shares information about the origins of several Oregon place names, including Granite, Noti, Oneonta, and Bear Springs. He discusses the work of the Oregon Geographic Names Board. He talks about the numerous Oregon place names that include “hell,” shares theories about the origins of the name “Oregon,” and discusses the history of some military-related place names.

In the second interview session, conducted on June 8, 1982, McArthur discusses his career as an industrial engineer for the Ray F. Becker Company. He gives a tour of the company, describes equipment the company uses to produce sheet metal, and talks about the production process. He then briefly discusses his early life in Portland, his work history, and his marriage to Joyce A. Clark. He speaks about his work on “Oregon Geographic Names,” about his plans for future editions of the book, and about working on the book with his father. He closes the interview by discussing the complications in changing existing place names.