Oral history interview with Thelma O. Williams

Collection

Identifier: SR 9515

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Thelma O. Williams was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at Williams’ home in Portland, Oregon, on May 5, 1982, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds’ name was Linda S. Brody. The sound quality is very poor.

In this interview, Williams discusses her family background and early life in Des Moines, Iowa, and in Portland, Oregon. She shares her memories of being Portland Rose Festival queen in 1914, and talks about her continued involvement in the annual festival.

Dates

1982 May 5

Creator

Williams, Thelma O. (Thelma Olive), 1896-1984 (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

Thelma Olive Williams, nee Hollingsworth, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1896. When she was a teenager, she moved with her family to Portland, Oregon. In 1914, she was selected as the Portland Rose Festival queen. In 1925, she and Wade Winfred Williams were married. She died in 1984.

Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Williams in her interview.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (26 min., 30 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Thelma O. Williams conducted by Linda S. Dodds on May 5, 1982. Williams discusses her early life in Des Moines, Iowa, and Portland, Oregon, and talks about being the Portland Rose Festival queen in 1914.