Oral history interview with Edris Morrison

Collection

Identifier: SR 9539

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Edris Morrison was conducted by Roberta Watts at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on January 18, 1978, as part of the oral history program at the society’s research library.

In this interview, Morrison discusses her early life in Portland and describes how she became involved in theater. She speaks at length about the history of theater in Portland from the late 19th century to the establishment of the Portland Civic Theatre in the 1920s. She then discusses her involvement with the Portland Civic Theatre, talks about the decline in the popularity of live theater over the 20th century, and shares her thoughts on the taste of audiences at the time of the interview. She closes the interview by talking about the theater’s building.

Dates

1978 January 18

Creator

Morrison, Edris, 1903-1997 (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 Edris Morrison. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Edris Morrison Cox, nee Noble, was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1903. She became a photographer, and in 1925, she opened the Edris Morrison Studio in Portland. In 1946, she co-founded the Professional Photographers Association of Oregon and served as its first president. She also performed with the Portland Civic Theatre for 50 years, using the name Edris Morrison in both her photography career and her acting career. She married twice, and had two children, one from each marriage. She died in 1997.

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

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (1 hr., 4 min., 36 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Edris Morrison conducted by Roberta Watts on January 18, 1978. Morrison discusses the history of live theater in Portland, Oregon, and her involvement with the Portland Civic Theatre.

Existence and Location of Copies

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Related Materials

Photographs by Edris Morrison are part of the the Portland Civic Theatre Photograph Collection, Org. Lot 847, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.