Oral history interview with John R. Leach

Collection

Identifier: SR758

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with John R. Leach was conducted by Jean S. Whitford from February 22-23, 1968. The interview was conducted in two sessions.

In the first interview session, conducted on February 22, 1968, Leach discusses his wife, Lilla Leach. He tells stories from his recently published autobiography, “Oxbows and Bare Feet,” including his remembrances of Sam Warfield, known as "Uncle Sam"; Lorenzo Chapman; Joe Meeks; and others in the Lexington, Oregon, area. He also discusses the history of the Leach family and their journey west to Oregon.

In the second interview session, conducted on February 23, 1968, Leach discusses frontier life, folk medicine, and his childhood and early life in Eastern Oregon. He closes the interview by describing his adventures with Lilla Leach.

Dates

Creation: 1968 February 22-23

Creator

Leach, John Roy, 1882-1972 (Interviewee, Person)
Whitford, Jean S. (Jean Shirley), 1922-2014 (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 John R. Leach. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/.

Biographical note

John Roy Leach was born in Weston, Oregon, in 1882. He graduated from Oregon Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, in 1906. He was a Portland pharmacist and founder of the Southeast Portland chapter of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1913, he and Lilla Lydia Ann Irvin were married. In 1931, the Leaches purchased a five-acre tract at the foot of Mt. Scott and transformed the land into a botanical garden. John Leach died in 1972.

Extent

.1 Cubic Feet (1 audiotape reel (2 hr., 9 min., 24 sec.)) : 7 in.; 7.5 ips

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with John R. Leach conducted by Jean S. Whitford from February 22-23, 1968. Leach was a Portland pharmacist who founded the Leach Botanical Garden with his spouse, Lilla Leach. He recounts stories from his autobiography and discusses his family history, folk medicine, his early life in Eastern Oregon, and his adventures with Lilla Leach.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Forrest Leigh Whitford, March 1988 (Lib. Acc. 18696).

Existence and Location of Copies

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Related Materials

Leach Family papers, Mss 2617, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Related Materials

The Oregon Historical Society Research Library also holds a copy of John R. Leach's autobiography, published circa 1952 and titled "Ox bows and bare feet: a few curt facts about John R. Leach, and some who were responsible for him. Where he came from and where he is most likely going."