Oral history interview with Paul S. Wright

Collection

Identifier: SR 9520

Staff Only

Oral history interview with Reverend Paul S. Wright

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with the Reverend Paul S. Wright was conducted by Linda S. Brody at the First Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon, on September 23, 1981, 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.

In this interview, Wright discusses his family background and early life as the son of Presbyterian missionaries in early 20th-century Tebriz, Persia (now Iran). He then talks about his education in Wooster, Ohio, and shares his experiences in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War I. He discusses his reasons for attending McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, and talks about serving as a Presbyterian minister in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. He then speaks at length about his service as minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Portland. He also talks about his involvement with Lewis and Clark College and the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center. He closes the interview by talking about awards and honors he received, and about serving as moderator for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.

Dates

1981 September 23

Creator

Wright, Paul S. (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 Paul S. Wright. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Reverend Paul Stuart Wright was born in born in Tabriz, Persia (now Iran), in 1895, while his parents were missionaries there. His family returned to the United States in 1910. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in France. He later graduated from McCormick Seminary and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. He served in churches in North Dakota, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Oregon. He died in 1994.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 43 min.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with the Reverend Paul S. Wright conducted by Linda S. Dodds on September 23, 1981. Wright discusses his early life in Tebriz, Iran, his experiences during World War I, and his service as a Presbyterian minister in Portland, Oregon.

Existence and Location of Copies

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Related Materials

Two additional interviews with Paul S. Wright, SR 9205 and SR 9521, are also held by the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

General

An incomplete transcript (32 pages) and typescript summary (2 pages) are available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.