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Oral history interview with Kirby Ross

 Collection
Identifier: SR18

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

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

Related Materials

Kirby Ross papers, Mss 2688, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

General

Incomplete transcript (6 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

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

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240