Oral history interview with Ambrose A. Oderman
Scope and Contents
In this interview, Oderman discusses his family background and early life in Foxholm, North Dakota. He describes his experience during the 1918 flu pandemic, including the death of his father. He discusses his mother’s remarriage and his early education. He talks about moving to Monroe, Oregon, in 1926, as well as his high school experience there. He then discusses studying business at the University of Oregon during the Depression, including his plans to become an accountant. He also tells several stories about growing up on a farm. He discusses working for the Public Utility Commission and the Bonneville Power Administration as an accountant and auditor. He talks about his family and his social life during that time. He then discusses his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and living in Vanport, Oregon, after the end of the war. He discusses his service as western region audit director for the U.S. Interior Department. He closes the interview by discussing his retirement.
Dates
- 2005 April 5-25
Creator
- Oderman, Ambrose A. (Ambrose Adolph), 1912-2014 (Interviewee, 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 license: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Biographical note
Ambrose "Brose" Adolph Oderman was born in Foxholm, North Dakota, in 1912. His father died of influenza during the 1918 pandemic. His mother remarried and the family moved to Monroe, Oregon in 1926. He studied business at the University of Oregon, graduating in 1936. In 1938, he and Virginia Arnetta Thompson married; they later had three children. He worked as an accountant and auditor for the Public Utility Commission and the Bonneville Power Administration. He volunteered for the military during World War II and served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he became western region audit director for the U.S. Interior Department. He died in 2014.
Extent
.1 Cubic Feet (4 audiocassettes (3 hr., 28 min., 5 sec.) + 5 photographs (color))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with Ambrose A. Oderman conducted by Jim Strassmaier from April 5-25, 2005. In this interview, Oderman discusses the 1918 flu pandemic; his studies during the Depression; his naval service during World War II; and his work for the Bonneville Power Administration and the U.S. Interior Department.
Existence and Location of Copies
Creator
- Oderman, Ambrose A. (Ambrose Adolph), 1912-2014 (Interviewee, Person)
- Hawley, Olga J. (Olga Josephine), 1913- (Interviewee, Person)
- Strassmaier, James (Interviewer, Person)
- Title
- Guide to oral history interview with Ambrose A. Oderman
- 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