Oral history interview with Ottilie Markholt by Kendra Fitzpatrick conducted February-March 1993. Ottilie Markholt talks about her involvement with various Pierce County labor unions, including the Metal Trades Council and the Office Employees Union, and shares some historical perspective on the Tacoma labor movement. A noted author and historian, Markholt also describes her efforts in chronicling the histories of individual union chapters and their national affiliates and provides commentary on a series of photographs showcasing union activities during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

Oral history interviews with Jean Sonntag, Richard E. Sonntag, Brian Sonntag, Jack W. Sonntag Jr, and George Sheridan by Alison H. Sonntag conducted 02/1994. This collection of interviews explores the personal and political history of the Sonntag family. Jean Sonntag and George Sheridan provide background details about former Pierce County Auditor Jack Sonntag, Sr., while Sonntag's sons (Jack, Richard, and Brian) discuss how their father's legacy has shaped their lives and their own political careers. Area of focus include Jack Sonntag, Sr.'s political philosophy, the evolution of Tacoma's political power structure, and notable accomplishments from each of the Sonntag's public service careers.

Oral history interviews with Ruth B. Nordstrom, Anne L. Gregory, Lyn Wilhelm, and Rene Z. Wilson by Crystal Graham conducted February-March 1993. Four female veterans reflect on their military careers and share their connections to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at American Lake. Ruth Nordstrom, a long-time volunteer at American Lake, describes her time as an office clerk for WAAC (Womens Army Corp) during World War II and for WAF (Women in the Air Force) during the Korean War. Anne Gregory, a psychiatric nurse, talks about her experiences in Vietnam as a member of the Army Nurse Corps. Linda Wilhelm, a resident of the domiciliary, discusses her service time in the US Navy during the Vietnam era and describes some of the difficulties she faced as a gay woman in the military. Ren Wilson, a former domiciliary resident, recounts the high and low points of her Army career and talks about the social barriers she encountered as an African-American female officer. All interviewees comment on how the VA can better serve female veterans.

Oral history interview with Bertil E. Johnson by John Kingery conducted April-May 1994. In this set of interviews, retired Washington State Superior Court judge Bertil Johnson discusses his legal and civic careers, particularly his involvement with the Tacoma Boys Club and his time as presiding judge for the Pierce County juvenile court. He comments on some of the federal and local changes made to the juvenile court system in the 1970s and also touches briefly on some events from Tacoma history, such as the blizzard of 1950 and the adoption of the new city charter.

Description provided by Pamela Beal:

When taken: 1927

Where taken: Tacoma Cat Show Feb 1-3, 1927

Who is in these photographs?
Ernest E.V. Nelson is on far left. One of the cats is the Pride of Erin, who my mother Katherine Nelson is holding in the accompanying News Tribune article photo

What memories are contained in these photos?
My grandparents raised persian show cats. Their names were Ernest E.V. Nelson and Sigrid Nelson.

Oral history interviews with Nhung Huynh and Thanh Huynh by Jennifer Nguyen conducted 05/12/2015, 05/20/2015. In 1973 the war in Vietnam had ended for the United States and by 1975 the Vietnam War had effectively ended altogether. Following the end Vietnam War, the life of the South Vietnamese people would be disrupted and the new regime in Vietnam would implement harsh new laws and regulations against the South Vietnamese population to stabilize the new government. The chaos towards the end of the Vietnam War led to the United States to accept large numbers of Vietnamese refugees into the country. Did the United States do enough to help the refugees, or did their concerns go unheard? The purpose of this oral history project is to gain thoughtful information about the perspectives of Vietnamese refugees and their trials and tribulations during their voyage to freedom and once they arrived to America. This oral history project includes personal stories of Nhung Huynh and Thanh Huynh's refugees escaping on boat and their lives while waiting to resettle in America.