Oral history interview with Kirby Ross
Scope and Contents
This oral history interview with Kirby Ross was conducted by Charles Pavlovich on December 20, 1979. Ross’ son, Kenneth Nelson Ross, and a person identified only as Mr. Johnson were also present and occasionally contributed to the interview.
In this interview, Ross discusses his service in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I, including capturing enemy soldiers, retrieving bodies of fallen Allied soldiers, and fighting in the trenches. He also talks about where he was during the signing of the armistice. He then talks about his civilian life and serving in the Oregon National Guard before the start of World War I, including being deployed to disrupt efforts by the International Workers of the World to unionize agricultural workers. He then revisits the topic of his service in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I, and describes at length his experiences on the front lines. He closes the interview by discussing where to donate the oral history interview and related materials.
Dates
- Creation: 1979 December 20
Creator
- Ross, Kirby S. (Kirby Stewart), 1893-1984 (Interviewee, Person)
- Pavlovich, Charles (Interviewer, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright for this interview is held by the estate of Kirby S. Ross. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/.
Biographical note
Kirby Stewart Ross, also known as Kirby G. Ross, was born in Huntington, Oregon, in 1893. In 1899, his family relocated to Hood River, Oregon. In 1914, he moved to Portland from Hood River and joined the Oregon National Guard. He served on the U.S.-Mexico Border in 1916. He served in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I, and was awarded a Silver Star. He attended Oregon State College. In 1921, he and Madeline Alice Nelson were married; they later had three children. He worked as a Multnomah County bridge operator, primarily on the Broadway Bridge, retiring in 1966. Ross died in 1984.
Extent
.1 Cubic Feet (2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 25 min., 52 sec.))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with Kirby Ross conducted by Charles Pavlovich on December 20, 1979. Ross was awarded a Silver Star for his service in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during World War I.
Existence and Location of Copies
General
Incomplete transcript (6 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Subject
Genre / Form
Topical
- Title
- Guide to oral history interview with Kirby Ross
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Stroman
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
- Sponsor
- Digitization funded by the James F. Miller Endowment.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org