Oral history interview with Benjamin W. Hill

Collection

Identifier: SR 9557

Staff Only

Oral history interview with Benjamin W. Hill

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Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Benjamin W. Hill was conducted by Roberta Watts in Portland, Oregon, on February 27, 1978, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library's oral history program.

In this interview, Hill discusses his family background and early life in Portland, including his education at Bishop Scott Academy and at the Hill Military Academy, which was founded by his father, Joseph Wood Hill. He talks about working for logging companies in Washington and Oregon, then describes how he became headmaster of the Hill Military Academy in 1922. He speaks about the operations and administration of the academy, about its different locations, and about its curriculum. He also discusses his experiences at Yale University from 1909 to 1912. He closes the interview by speaking further about his early life in Portland.

Dates

Creation: 1978 February 27

Creator

Hill, Benjamin W. (Benjamin Wood), 1890-1981 (Interviewee, Person)
Watts, Roberta (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 Benjamin W. Hill. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Benjamin Wood Hill was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1890. In 1912, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University. After graduating, he worked for the Fulsom Logging Company in Kelso, Washington, then for the Portland Lumber Company in Mabel, Oregon. Around 1915, he and Marie Therese Hunt were married; they later had three children. In 1922, he became the headmaster of the Hill Military Academy in Portland, continuing until 1950. He died in 1981.

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

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (40 min., 9 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Benjamin W. Hill conducted by Roberta Watts on February 27, 1978. Hill discusses serving as headmaster of the Hill Military Academy from 1922 to 1950.