Oral history interview with Samuel H. Martin

Collection

Identifier: SR 9563

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Samuel H. Martin was conducted by Charles Digregorio at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, on August 9, 1976, as part of the oral history program at the society’s research library.

In this interview, Martin discusses his family background, and speaks about the life of his father, Charles H. Martin, who served as an officer in the U.S. Army, an Oregon congressman, and Oregon governor. He discusses his father’s military career in China during the Boxer Rebellion and later as commander of the Oregon National Guard, talks about his father's real estate investments, and describes his father’s personality. He speaks about his father’s political career as an Oregon congressman and as Oregon governor. He then talks about his career as a lawyer in Portland, and about working for the federal government. He closes the interview by discussing his father’s early life.

Dates

1976 August 9

Creator

Martin, Samuel H. (Samuel Holly), 1904-1978 (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 Samuel H. Martin. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Samuel Holly Martin was born in the Philippines in 1904 to Louise Martin and Charles H. Martin, who was an officer in the U.S. Army, and later an Oregon congressman and Oregon governor. During Samuel H. Martin's early life, his father's military career meant frequent moves for the family. When Charles H. Martin became commander of the Oregon National Guard, they moved to Vancouver, Washington. Samuel H. Martin attended college in Oregon, then earned a law degree from Harvard University. After graduating, he practiced law in Portland, Oregon. In 1937, he and Ellen Jean Bowman were married; they later had four children. He died in 1978.

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

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiocassette (30 min., 57 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Samuel H. Martin conducted by Charles Digregorio on August 9, 1976. Martin discusses the life and career of his father, Charles H. Martin, who served as an officer in the U.S. Army, as an Oregon congressman, and as Oregon governor.

Existence and Location of Copies

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Related Materials

The Oregon Historical Society Research Library also holds three collections of papers, Mss 1153, Coll 825, and Coll 893, that relate to Charles H. Martin, to his father-in-law, Ellis Hughes, and to other members of the Martin family.

General

An incomplete transcript (14 pages) and a handwritten index (5 pages) are available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.