.
By Bryce R. Henry
Collection Overview
Abstract
The Betty Roberts papers are comprised primarily of paper records, photographs, sound recordings, and a videotape documenting Betty Roberts’ political and judicial careers (1965-1986).
This collection is arranged into 12 series: Audio and Video; Campaigns; Clippings; Issues; Legal Career; Legal Organizations and Associations; Photographs; Political Career; Presidential Campaigns; Speeches; Women in Law and Politics; and Oversized.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection is arranged into 12 series: Audio and Video; Campaigns; Clippings; Issues; Legal Career; Legal Organizations and Associations; Photographs; Political Career; Presidential Campaigns; Speeches; Women in Law and Politics; and Oversized.
The bulk of the material within this collection is comprised of paper records, photographs, sound recordings, and a videotape documenting Betty Roberts’ political and judicial careers (1965-1986). Additional material consists of Roberts’ various interests, activities, speeches, and awards from her public service career as well as after her resignation from the Oregon Supreme Court. The paper records consist of campaign materials and ephemera, correspondence, court books and case files, legislative session reports, media clippings, photographs, posters, publications, reports, studies, speeches and presentations.
There are often two sets of dates assigned to any given folder title. The first set of dates encompasses the material that the folder seeks to collect, while the second date reflects the inclusive dates (e.g., in the Abortion sub-series of the Issues series, there is the folder "1973 Benson v. Johnson, 1971-2009"). This two-date system is a result of Roberts' frequent updates of foldered material. The bulk of these updates are from newspaper/magazine clippings or email correspondence. When only the first date is present, the material in the folder or sub-series is all from that year.
Collection Historical Note
Betty Roberts was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on February 5, 1923. Her family relocated to Texas in the 1930s. She attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth for one year (1941-1942) before marrying Bill Rice in 1942. After World War II, they moved to Oregon, where Bill became a banker and Roberts raised their four children.
In 1955, Roberts enrolled in evening classes at Eastern Oregon College in La Grande before the family relocated to Portland. She graduated from Portland State College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Roberts earned her Master’s degree in political science in 1962 from the University of Oregon, and her Juris Doctorate from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in 1966.
Between 1958 and 1967 she taught high school in the Portland area before taking a part-time job teaching business law and political science at Mt. Hood Community College from 1967 until 1976. In 1959 she divorced Rice, and in 1960 married Frank Roberts whom she divorced in 1965. In 1968 she married fellow Representative Keith D. Skelton, but opted to retain the Roberts last name. Together as Skelton & Roberts the couple held a law firm from 1967-1977.
In 1964 and again in 1966, she was elected as a Democrat to the Oregon House of Representatives. In 1968 and again in 1972, she was elected to the Oregon Senate and was the only woman serving in the state senate at that time. In 1974, she ran for governor of Oregon, but lost in the Democratic primary. That same year, following the death of Democratic nominee Wayne Morse, she was chosen to run for United States Senate against Bob Packwood, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Roberts remained in the Oregon Senate until her 1977 appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals.
In 1977, Roberts was appointed to the Oregon Court of Appeals as the first woman to serve on the court. The next year she ran a successful election to keep her seat on the appeals court for the full six-year term. She resigned from the appeals court in 1982 after Governor Victor Atiyeh appointed her to the Oregon Supreme Court, where she was again the first woman on the court. She retired from the Oregon Supreme Court in 1986.
Since her retirement from the Supreme Court, Betty Roberts has acted as a Senior Judge handling mediations and arbitrations. From 1988-1991 she was a visting professor at Oregon State Universtiy as the Dubach Endowed Chair in Political Science. She has been awarded numerous professional, education, and civic awards and honoraria in recognition of her work. In March 2004, she presided over the first legal same-sex marriage in Oregon.
Biographical Note
Betty Roberts was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on February 5, 1923. Her family relocated to Texas, where Roberts was raised, in the 1930s. She attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth for one year in 1940 before marrying Bill Rice in 1942. They moved to Oregon after World War II where Bill became a banker and Roberts raised their four children.
In 1955, Roberts enrolled in evening classes at Eastern Oregon College in La Grande before the family relocated to Portland. She graduated from Portland State College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. Roberts earned her Master’s degree in political science in 1962 from the University of Oregon and then her Juris Doctorate from Northwest School of Law in 1966. Between 1958 and 1967 she taught high school in the Portland area before taking a job teaching business law and political science at Mt. Hood Community College from 1967 until 1978. In 1959 she divorced Rice, and in 1960 married Frank Roberts whom she stayed married to until 1965. In 1968 she married fellow Representative, Keith D. Skelton.
In 1964, and again in 1966, she was elected as a Democrat to the Oregon House of Representatives. In 1968, and again in 1972, she was elected to the Oregon Senate and was the only woman serving in the state senate at that time. In 1974 she ran for governor of Oregon, but lost in the Democratic primary. That same year she was chosen to run for Oregon United States Senate - following the death of Democratic nominee Wayne Morse - against Bob Packwood but was ultimately unsuccessful.
In 1977, Roberts was appointed to the Oregon Court of Appeals. The next year she ran a successful election to keep her seat on the appeals court for the full six-year term. She resigned from the appeals court in 1982 when Governor Victor Atiyeh appointed her to the Oregon Supreme Court where she became the first woman on the court. She retired from the Oregon Supreme Court in 1986.
During and since her retirement, Roberts has been awarded numerous awards and honorariums for her work. Since her retirement from the Oregon Supreme Court she has worked as a mediator and arbitrator in alternative dispute resolution. In March 2004, she presided over the first legal same-sex marriage in Oregon.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Audio and Video, 1962-2009],
[
Series 2: Campaigns, 1964-2008],
[
Series 3: Clippings, 1941-2011],
[
Series 4: Issues, 1905-2008],
[
Series 5: Legal Career, 1977-2006],
[
Series 6: Legal Organizations and Associations, 1998-2008],
[
Series 7: Political Career, 1965-2009],
[
Series 8: Presidential Campaigns, 1972-2008],
[
Series 9: Speeches, 1971-1999],
[
Series 10: Women in Law and Politics, 1971-2010],
[
Series 11: Memoir and Memorials],
[
Series 12: Photographs, 1966-2004],
[
Series 13: Oversized, 1966-1985],
[All]
- Series 1: Audio and Video, 1962-2009

- Box 1

- Sub-Series 1: Audio Tapes, 1962, 2004-2005

- Folder 1: Pledge of allegiance controversy at Lynch Elementary School Board meeting, 1962

- 2 1/4 in. reel-to-reel tapes
- Folder 2: "Oh What a Night", April 2004

2 tapes
Oregon Historical Society program with Gretchen Kafoury, Vera Katz, Norma Paulus, Betty Roberts, and Melody Rose.
- Folder 3: Women Trailblazers, 2005

6 tapes
Betty Roberts oral history with Katherin O'Neil
- Folder 4: Court of Appeals

- 3 cassettes Court of Appeals - Swearing in Ceremony, September 6, 1977
- Folder 5: Supreme Court

- 1 audio cassette, Supreme Court, swearing in ceremony, 1982.
- Sub-Series 2: CDs and DVDs, 2008-2012

- Folder 5: Oregon State Capital Foundation - Betty Roberts Interview, 2009

- 2 CDs
- Folder 6: Betty Roberts - With Grit and by Grace: Breaking Trails in Politics and Law, A Memoir, 2008

2 DVDs
Back Page no. 145. Produced at OSU Media Services
- Folder 7: Memorials

- 4 DVDs "Betty Roberts: A Celebration" July 28, 2011; "Memorial Tribute to The Honorable Betty Roberts" Oregon Judicial Department, February 16, 2012; Senate Floor Session, February 16, 2012 SCR 205; House Floor Session, February 27, 2012 SCR 205.
- Folder 8: Tribute Documents

1 disc 98 page PDF "In Memoriam"
Salem Tribute Day February 16, 2012:
Court: 27 page trascription "Tribute to Betty Roberts Supreme Court Courtroom February 16, 2011" and 4 page PDF of program
House of Representative: 5 page PDF transcript of Oregon House Floor Sessions February 16, 2012
State Senate: 3 page PDF March 2012 - Senate Concurrent Resolution 205 and 9 page PDF transcript of Oregon Senate Floor February 16, 2012
- Sub-Series 3: Transcripts, 1979-2007

- Folder 9: 1979-1999

Oregon Historical Society interview with Linda Brody, 1981
Her Honor, Betty Roberts, Judge, Oregon Court of Appeals by Joy A. Mills, 1979
Oregon Woman Lawyers with Betty Roberts and Mercedes Diaz. Interview by Katherin O'Neil, 1999
- Folder 10: Women Trailblazer in the Law Betty Roberts oral history, 2005-2007

- Sub-Series 4: VHS, 1995-1999

- Folder 11: KATU 2 News - Betty Roberts archive footage, undated

- Folder 12: Oregon Women Lawyers: A Conversation with Betty Roberts and Mercedes Deiz, November 22, 1999

- 2 cassettes
- Folder 13: Oregon Women Lawyers Spring Conference, 1995

Keynote speaker: Betty Roberts
held at Willamette University Law School
- Series 2: Campaigns, 1964-2008

- Box 1

- Sub-Series 1: 1965-1969 Oregon State Representative

- Folder 14: 1964

- Posters, pictures, ephemera
- Folder 15: 1966

- 2 photos
- Sub-Series 2: 1969-1977 Oregon State Senate

- Folder 16: 1968 Senate campaign - Roberts v. Mahoney, 1968-2008

6 photos
negatives
- Folder 17: 1972 Senate campaign, 1972

- Folder 18: 1972 Senate campaign - post-election, 1972 & 2006

- Sub-Series 3: 1974 Oregon Gubernatorial Race

- Folder 19: January 1, 1973 pronouncement to run, 1973-2006

- Folder 20: Campaign Information Councelors reports, January-March, 1974

Proposal for Public Opinion Research on the Democratic Primary Race for Governor, January 1974
The Democratic Primary Race for Governor, Oregon, Febuary-March, 1974
- Folder 21: Campaign material, 1973

- Folder 22: Campaign material, 1974

- Includes letter from Oregonian editor William Hilliard.
- Box 2

- Sub-Series 3: 1974 Oregon Gubernatorial Race

- Folder 1: Campaign packets, 1973-1974

- 2 packets, includes "The Record" and later known as "Roberts Record" newsletter
- Folder 2: Contacts and notes for press/media

- Folder 3: The Gubernatorial Primary 1974: A Plan, 1973-1974

- Folder 4: Personal correspondence, 1973-1974

- Folder 5: Post-election, May-June 1974 & 1988

- Sub-Series 4: 1974 United States Senate Race, 1974 - 1975

- Folder 6: An Analysis of Political Attitiudes in the State of Oregon, September 1974

- Folder 7: Clippings subject book, undated

Subjects:
Agriculture
Health
Energy
Economy
Housing
Foreign affairs
Defense spending
Tax budget reference
Election reform
Fishing
Aging
Amnesty
Ecology
Social security
Polls
Forums
- Folder 8: Clippings subject book, undated

Subjects:
Comment
Profile
Endorsement
- Folder 9: Debate clippings and correspondence, 1974-1975

- Folder 10: Debate notes and speeches, 1974

- Folder 11: Fundraising, 1974

- Folder 12: Gretchen Kafoury's file for Roberts' campaign, 1974

- Folder 13: Last weeks of campaign, September-December, 1974

- Folder 14: Memo master file, August-October 1974

- Folder 15: Nomination seeking, undated

- Box 3

- Sub-Series 4: 1974 United States Senate Race

- Folder 1: Packwood's last minute ad campaign controversy, 1974

- Folder 2: Post-election conciliatory notes and cards, 1974

- Folder 3: Press releases, 1974

- Folder 4: Schedule book / campaign diary, 1974

- Folder 5: Strategy, campaign, and internal office materials, 1974

- Sub-Series 5: 1976 Oregon Senate Race

- Folder 6: Campaign material and voter pamphlet, 1975 - 1976

- Series 3: Clippings, 1941-2011

- Box 3

- Folder 7: 1968 clippings, 1968-2008

- Folder 8: Career overview in clippings and photocopied photographs, 1941-2009

- Folder 9: March-December 1973

- Folder 10: January 1974

- Folder 11: February 1974

- Includes press correspondence
- Folder 12: March 1974

- Folder 13: April 1974

- Folder 14: 1974

- 2 folders: Various months 1974 (f1) and May 1974 (f2)
- Folder 15: Special session and energy crisis, 1976

- Folder 16: Subject clippings, 1970-1994

American Legion Convention with Vortex note, 1970
City Club, 1971-1972
Lt. Calley and Salem graffiti incident, March 1971
18-year old vote ammendment and bottle bill, 1971
- Folder 17: United State Senate race, 1974

- Folder 18: Gay Marriage, 2004

- Folder 19: Memorials, 2011

- Folder 20: Various, 1977-2003

- Series 4: Issues, 1905-2008

- Box 4

- Sub-Series 1: Abortion, 1971-2006

- Folder 1: 1973 Benson v. Johnson, 1971-2009

- Folder 2: 1990 anti-abortion ballot measure, 1985-1990

- Folder 3: General, 1989-1992

- Folder 4: Post-Roe v. Wade, 1992-2006

- Folder 5: Pro-active ballot measure, 1988-1989

- Sub-Series 2: Equal Rights Ammendment, 1970-2005

- Folder 6: 1970 & 1978

- Folder 7: Publications, 1970-1973

- Folder 8: 1973 Hearings and debate, 1972-2003

- Folder 9: 1977-2005

- Folder 10: State of Oregon Equal Rights Ammendment proposal, 1989-1998

- Sub-Series 3: Name Change, 1967-2004

- Folder 11: 1973 failed name change bill (HB 2925), 1973 & 2001

- Folder 12: Retaining the last name Roberts, 1967-2004

- 2 folders
- Sub-Series 4: Pledge of allegiance and Lynch elementary, 1962-1998

- See also Audio & Video series in Audio Tapes sub-series for a recording of the 1962 school board meeting
- Sub-Series 5: Same Sex Marriage, 2004

- Folder 13: Clippings, 2004

- Folder 14: Correspondence and court filings, 2004

- 2 folders
- Sub-Series 6: Student Demonstrations

- Sub-Series 7: Vortex Festival

- Sub-Series 8: Women in Politics, 1978-2007

- Folder 15: 2006 election, 2006-2007

- Folder 16: Clippings, 1978-1981

- Box 5

- Sub-Series 6: Women in Politics, 1965-2006

- Folder 1: Early history, 1965-2006

- Folder 2: Statistics, 1990-2004

- Sub-Series 7: Women's Movement, 1905-2008

- Folder 3: "The Year of the Woman", 1992

- Folder 4: Clippings, 1970-2009

- Folder 5: "Feminism" the word, 1986-2008

- Folder 6: National Women's Conference, 1977

- Folder 7: Oregon women suffrage, 1905-2007

- 2 photos
- Folder 8: Timeline and organizations, 1971-2005

- Series 5: Legal Career, 1977-2006

- Box 5

- Sub-Series 1: 1977-1982 Court of Appeals

- Folder 9: 1977 Court of Appeals nomination, 1977-2004

- Folder 10: 1977 investiture ceremony materials, 1977

- 4 photos
- Folder 11: 1977-1980

- Folder 12: 1978 first year, 1978-1982

- Folder 13: 1979-1981 Court of Appeals, 1979-2006

- Folder 14: Case books, September 22, 1977-September 22, 1980

- 4 books
- Folder 15: Congratulations from White House, Supreme Court Judges, and letters written to Governor Straub endorsing nomination, 1977

- Folder 16: Congratulatory letters, 1977

- Folder 17: Congratulatory notes and cards, undated

- Folder 18: Ms. Liberty coloring book

- 1974
- Sub-Series 2: 1982-1986 Oregon Supreme Court

- Folder 18: 1981 appointment to Oregon Supreme Court, 1981-1984

- 1 photo
- Folder 19: 1982 swearing-in ceremony, 1981-2006

- Box 6

- Sub-Series 2: 1982-1986 Oregon Supreme Court

- Folder 1: 1982 Hewitt v. SAIF court case, 1982-1989

- Folder 2: 1985-1986 Resignation

- 2 folders
- Folder 3: Case books, 1982-1986

- Folder 4: Court cases, congratulations, and correspondence, 1982-1986

- Folder 5: Sexism and the Courts speech 1983, 1983-1986

- Series 6: Legal Organizations and Associations, 1998-2008

- Box 6

- Sub-Series 1: American Bar Association, 1996-2007

- Folder 6: 2006 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award luncheon, 2005-2007

33 photos
Contains all material regarding the 2006 award events except for the Barbara Roberts presentation.
- Folder 7: 2006 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award presentation, 2006

The presentation of Betty Roberts life, career, and achievements.
Includes: a biography of Roberts; news articles and speeches from her past; a DVD of the award luncheon; 40 photograps detailing important events throughout her life; and a photo index including thumbnail images with descriptions of all 40 photographs present as well as several others which were ultimately not included in the presentation
- Folder 8: Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award nominations, 1996 and 1999

- Two separate unsuccessful nominations
- Sub-Series 2: Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS), 1988-2008

- Folder 9: 2006 Betty Roberts and Mercedes Deiz Awards Dinner, 2006

- Mercedes Deiz slide show CD
- Folder 10: Photos from OWLS Book Event, June 2008

- Folder 11: OWL's 2007 Roberts / Diez Awards Dinner, 2007

- Betty Roberts Acceptance Speech and ABA Margaret Brent Award DVD - 00:11:00
- Folder 12: Interview, November 1999

- Betty Roberts and Mercedes Deiz DVD - 00:05:30
- Series 7: Political Career, 1965-2009

- Box 7

- Sub-Series 1: 1964-1968 Oregon House of Representatives, 1965-2009

- Folder 1: 1965 legislative session, 1965-2009

- 3 photos
- Folder 2: 1967 legislative session, 1966-2005

- Sub-Series 2: 1968-1977 Oregon State Senate, 1969-2005

- Folder 3: 1969 legislative session, 1969-2005

6 photos
Includes research material for 1969 chapter in Roberts' autobiography
- Folder 4: 1971 legislative session, 1970-1996

- Folder 5: 1973 legislative session, 1972-2005

- 2 folders
- Folder 6: 1975 legislative session, 1975 & 1977

- 2 photos
- Folder 7: 1976-1977 legislative session, 1975-1977

- 1 photo
- Series 8: Presidential Campaigns, 1972-2008

- Betty Roberts was the Oregon State Chair for the 1972 McGovern for president campaign and for the 1976 Carter for president campaign
- Box 7

- Folder 8: 1972 McGovern Convention, 1972-2008

- Folder 9: 1976 Carter presidential race, 1976

- 20 photos
- Series 9: Speeches, 1971-1999

- Box 7

- Folder 10: 1978-1985

- Folder 11: 1986-1999

- Folder 12: Research for Equal Rights Ammendment speech, 1971-1985

- Series 10: Women in Law and Politics, 1971-2010

- Box 7

- Sub-Series 1: Women Lawyers and Judges, 1971-2010

- Folder 13: 1976-1998

- Folder 14: 1980-2009

- Folder 15: Lawyers, 1971-2006

- Folder 16: Statisitcs, 1976-2006

- Folder 17: Women in the law, 2005-2010

- Sub-Series 2: Women Litigators, 1971-2004

- Folder 18: 1971-1972 & 1996

- Folder 19: 1971-2004

- Collects material primarily regarding 1973-1977
- Folder 20: Geraldine Ferraro, 1984

- Series 11: Memoir and Memorials

- Box 8

- Folder 1: Talking Points

- Folder 2: Personal Notes, Thank you Cards, etc

- Folder 3: Contacts, Promoting Material for Memoir

- Folder 4: Book Reviews

- Folder 5: Book Events 2008-2009

- Folder 6: Memoir emails with Gail Wells, Barbara Baldwin, and Jewel Lansing

- Folder 7: Pre-Memoir Notes

- Folder 8: "In Memoriam" Book produced by the daughters of Betty Roberts

- To be catalogued
- Folder 9: Senate Resolution 205 and Condolences

- Folder 10: With Grit and by Grace: Breaking Trails in Politice and Law poster

- Series 12: Photographs, 1966-2004

- The Photographs series was created from four envelopes of loose photographs. AAs with clippings, there are additional photographs scattered throughout this collection.
- Box 8

- Folder 11: 1966-1977

- 23 photos
- Folder 12: 1974 United States Senate Race

2 slides
3 negatives
38 photos
- Folder 13: Governor Race

- Folder 14: Various

- Family, Democratic Delegate
- Folder 15: 1982-1986 Supreme Court, 1981 - circa 1986

73 photos
1 negative
- Folder 16: Post-Oregon Supreme Court, 1988-2004

- 15 photos
- Folder 17: University of Oregon graduation ceremony, June 10, 1984

5 photos
3 sheets of 77 negatives scanned into positive images
- Series 13: Oversized, 1966-1985

- Oversized Box 1

- Folder 1: Betty Roberts for U.S. Senate campaign ephemera, undated

- Includes: 8 pins, 2 bumber stickers
- Folder 2: Caricatures of Oregon Supreme Court, circa 1983

- Signed by all each justice
- Folder 3: Female symbol with judicial gavel handmade poster, undated

- Similar to the feminist symbol of the female sign with a fist it the circle, only in this case the fist has been replaced with a gavel
- Folder 4: Pencil sketch of Betty Roberts, 1966

- Folder 5: Life magazine, June 30, 1972

- Opened to page 46B depicting "Oregon's nearly perfect delegation." Signed by 16 of the delegation members
- Folder 6: Art Bimrose editorial cartoon "1981 Decorations", 1981

- Original sketch inked over into final cartoon. Depicts <span lang="la">Justitia (Lady Justice) without blindfold </span>hanging female symbols on a tree. "Sandra Day O'Conner U.S. Supreme Court" is already present, and Justitia has just finished hanging "Betty Roberts Oregon Supreme Court." Justitia is saying "And the one... After 124 years!"
- Folder 7: Letters: Congrats and Condolences, 1974, 1 of 3

- Letters and cards r egarding Betty's loss for Governor and get well after sugery.
- Folder 8: Letters: Congrats and Condolences, 1974, 2 of 3

- Letters and cards r egarding Betty's loss for Governor and get well after sugery.
- Folder 9: Letters: Congrats and Condolences, 1974, 3 of 3

- Letters and cards r egarding Betty's loss for Governor and get well after sugery.
- Folder 10: Supreme Court congratulatory cards and notes, 1981-1982.

11 pages pasted with cards front and back.
Refer to Box 6, folder 4.
- Folder 11: Laminated Oregonian and Statesman-Journal clippings regarding Justice Roberts retirement, November 21, 1985

- Folder 12: Edited Speeches

- Folder 13: Betty Roberts for Governor

- print stamp on fabric
- Folder 14: Media, Magazines

- Ms. Magazine, Craftsman, Oregon
- Folder 15: Press clippings

Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Audio and Video, 1962-2009],
[
Series 2: Campaigns, 1964-2008],
[
Series 3: Clippings, 1941-2011],
[
Series 4: Issues, 1905-2008],
[
Series 5: Legal Career, 1977-2006],
[
Series 6: Legal Organizations and Associations, 1998-2008],
[
Series 7: Political Career, 1965-2009],
[
Series 8: Presidential Campaigns, 1972-2008],
[
Series 9: Speeches, 1971-1999],
[
Series 10: Women in Law and Politics, 1971-2010],
[
Series 11: Memoir and Memorials],
[
Series 12: Photographs, 1966-2004],
[
Series 13: Oversized, 1966-1985],
[All]