Oral history interview with Leo F. Simon

Collection

Identifier: SR 9503

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Leo F. Simon was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on February 7, 1980, as part of the oral history program at the society’s research library. At the time of the interview, Dodds’ name was Linda S. Brody.

In this interview, Simon shares his memories of moving to Portland with his family in 1902 and living on homesteads. He talks about his early education. He discusses his early interest in photography, and talks about working in photography studios and later owning his own studio in Portland. He speaks about his involvement with the Audubon Society, the Mazamas, and the Geological Society of the Oregon Country. He describes his work restoring photographs for the Oregon Historical Society. He closes the interview by giving a brief chronology of his photography career.

Dates

1980 February 7

Creator

Simon, Leo, 1891-1986 (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 statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Biographical note

Leo Fredrich Simon was born in San Francisco, California, in 1890. In 1902, he moved with his family to Portland, Oregon. Simon became a photographer and ornithologist, and owned a photography studio downtown Portland. He was a member of the Portland Audubon Society and was elected to its board in 1936.

Simon married Johanna M. George in 1918, and they later had two children. He died in 1986.

Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Simon in his interview.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 20 min., 37 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Leo F. Simon conducted by Linda S. Dodds on February 7, 1980. Simon discusses his career as a commercial photographer in Portland, Oregon.

Existence and Location of Copies

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Related Materials

Leo Simon photographs of Portland architecture, 1930-1970, PH 200-002, University of Oregon Special Collections and University Archives, Eugene, Oregon.