Oral history interview with Elmer R. Goudy

Collection

Identifier: SR 9548

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Elmer R. Goudy was conducted by Charles Digregorio in Portland, Oregon, on April 5, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program.

In this interview, Goudy describes how he came to serve as an administrator for the Oregon Welfare Commission in 1932, talks about his work in that role, and shares his thoughts about the effectiveness of work relief programs. He shares his reasons for changing careers in 1942 to work for the Collins Pine Company. He talks about his work for the company, discusses the growth of the company, and describes its investments in the communities where its employees live. He closes the interview by talking about his brother-in-law, Truman W. Collins, the company’s former president.

Dates

Creation: 1978 April 5

Creator

Goudy, Elmer R. (Elmer Raymond), 1900-1979 (Interviewee, Person)
Digregorio, Charles (Interviewer, 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 Elmer R. Goudy. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Elmer Raymond Goudy was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1900. When he was four years old, he moved with his family to Portland, Oregon. In 1926, he and Grace E. Collins were married; they later had one child. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) and in 1929, he earned a law degree from Stanford University. He practiced law in Portland until 1932, when he began to work as an administrator for the Oregon Welfare Commission. In 1942, he began working for the Collins Pine Company. He became president of the company in 1974, and retired in 1977. He died in 1979.

Sources: Information provided by Goudy in his interview; “E. Goudy Rite Set,” April 19, 1979, The Oregonian, page 39.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (1 hr., 4 min., 17 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Elmer R. Goudy conducted by Charles Digregorio on April 5, 1978. Goudy discusses his work as an administrator for the Oregon Welfare Commission, and later as a manager for the Collins Pine Company.