From the Archives

“When I first started in 1923, I was employed temporarily by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. at $7 per day. I received some very good training while working for the national firm. They had this manual and other procedures, and their requirement for keeping track of your work. When I started in public accounting for myself, that was a big help to me. You pretty much had to develop your own procedure for auditing.”

Virgil DeLap
Excerpt from A Historical Accounting: In Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the OSCPA, published in 1983

“The Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants had about 125 members in 1935. In spite of the small number, there was a warm and friendly feeling among the group when they gathered for the monthly dinner meeting.

At the annual Pacific Northwest Conference of CPAs, ranks were joined with the Washington Society. The 1935 conference was a gala affair at the Portland Hotel with speakers discussing new government regulations on securities and the effects of President Roosevelt’s economic measures.

The Society had no office. The treasurer billed members for dues and handled all the bookkeeping. I had the pleasure of working for a CPA who asked to audit the Society’s books. There seemed to be a high proportion of unpaid dues, but at the time the need for members was more important. Fortunately, it usually worked out to a reasonable balance.

In 1935, an applicant for the CPA exam went to the offices of A.R. Sawtell, secretary-treasurer of the State Board of Accountancy. All the Board records were retained by Mr. Sawtell. Twelve candidates sat for the November exam.”

Bill Holm
Excerpt from A Historical Accounting: In Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the OSCPA, published in 1983

“In 1962, the (State) Board (of Accountancy) reorganized its administrative office and hired a full-time administrator with one full-time clerical assistant. The Board quarters in the American Bank Building were small, dark, and drab, so the office was moved to Salem where the State Office Building could provide meeting rooms and duplicating services.

There were approximately 170 exam candidates each six months in 1962.”

Helen Garrett Prentiss
Excerpt from A Historical Accounting: In Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the OSCPA, published in 1983

“After 15 years with Price Waterhouse, less five away in the Navy, I went with a local firm. Later, in 1969, we merged with Alexander Grant. So I’ve been the full circle, and I can understand the problems people have in each kind of firm.

My last assignment with Grant was as review partner, and it was extremely interesting. I was asked by somebody visiting from the national office whether I could keep up with everything. I said, “Certainly not!” But at least you try to read enough of a capsule to recognize if you have a problem somewhere.”

James M. Gillman, Jr.
Excerpt from A Historical Accounting: In Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the OSCPA, published in 1983

“I was very fortunate to be employed. I started in 1930 at $75 per month for a 48 hour week. By 1933, the staff had been reduced from 28 people to 10. I was the only junior accountant left, and my salary had decreased to $65 per month.

We were involved mostly with auditing. We did all kinds of businesses. For the most part they were commercial enterprises. We did a number of municipals and nonprofit entities, too.

At the time there wasn’t any real push about personal income taxes. We had no more than two dozen individual returns to worry about in 1931; 1930 was the first year of Oregon income tax. It wasn’t very difficult.

When I first went to Whitfield, he would not permit any employee to use an adding machine for the first six months. You did it all by hand. That was excellent practice for me. The firm had Burroughs machines with rows of ten keys across and down. They were great. They had beveled glass sides to them. You could see the works going on inside. They had a great big electric motor on a pipe stand. They would move very gracefully and deliberately, and we’d get the job done.

It was late 1934 that I got the pink slip. There just wasn’t enough going on. For a couple of years I was involved with the State Banking Department auditing and straightening out the defunct savings and loans. We had all kinds of problems finding markets for houses that had been foreclosed, business buildings that no one would rent, and that sort of thing.”

Edward Rubey
Excerpt from A Historical Accounting: In Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the OSCPA, published in 1983

CPA is Nation’s Fastest Growing Profession

"Despite its youth, public accounting has become the country’s fastest-growing profession.

Arthur B. Foye, CPA, president of the American Institute of Accountants, announced that the number of the nation’s CPAs has now passed the 50,000 mark. In 1940 there were only 20,000 CPAs in the United States. One-fourth of the nation’s CPAs are in the State of New York, and some 58 percent are concentrated in the six states of New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas.

Commenting on the spectacular membership rise in the profession, Mr. Foye said: “At the turn of the century there were only 243 CPAs in this country. Early numerical growth was slow, and there were only 4,997 practitioners by 1920. However, between World War I and World War II the number of CPAs increased more than 500 percent and in the last 30 years has jumped about 1,000 percent. By comparison, the number of lawyers increased 47 percent, the number of dentists 26 percent, and the number of doctors 14 percent between the two world wars.” He forecast the number of CPAs will double in the next 10 or 15 years.”

Excerpt from The Oregon Certified Public Accountant, February, 1954

Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Accountants and Auditors

"Word was received recently from the United States Atomic Energy Commission at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, requesting aid in securing candidates to fill a number of Accountant and Auditor positions, classified as GS-11 ($5,940-$6,940 salary range) and GS-12 ($7,040-$8,040 salary range). Application blanks, statements of the duties and qualification requirements, and information concerning the Commission’s employment policies may be obtained direct from the Oak Ridge Operations Office, addressed to J. G. Lc Sieur, Jr., Chief of Government Personnel Branch.”

Excerpt from The Oregon Certified Public Accountant, April, 1954

Course in Electronic Systems Set

"Dr. Ralph L. Boyd, Chairman of Scholarship and Continuing Education Committee, announced completion of plans for presentation of an eight session seminar on electronic processing systems to be given on eight Thursday evenings from March 7 th through April 25 th, 1957 at the Portland Extension Center.

Latest developments in the electronic data processing field indicate that new equipment and procedures may soon make it possible for both large and small businesses to use electronic processing methods. The seminar for principals and managers in CPA practice is sponsored by the Oregon Society of CPAs and the Portland Extension Center, General Extension Division, Oregon State System of Higher Education. The seminar will emphasize basic concepts underlying all electronic processing systems and equipment; ways of using various types of equipment and their application; ways of establishing internal controls; adaptations of audit procedures and problems of integration with existing office equipment and procedures.”

Excerpt from The Oregon Certified Public Accountant, February, 1957

“The following committees were appointed: Examination, Qualification & Election to Membership; Meetings, Lectures & Publicity; and Arbitration. No committee was appointed on Legislation, the President deeming it to be for the best interest of the Society that all members participate in legislative projects, and thus furnish all the weight possible.”

Excerpt from the Oct. 11, 1909, minutes of the Oregon State Society of Public Accountants’ first annual meeting

“Mr. (Rufus) Holman discussed the need of the municipalities of the state and particularly of Multnomah County for an efficient and properly operated budget system under the supervision and control of technically competent officials. Mr. (C. C. Chapman), on invitation, spoke briefly of the fact that under the present system, taxation is increasing very rapidly and of the desirability of securing effective accounting control of appropriations and funds.”

Excerpt from the Dec. 20, 1920, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“On motion by Mr. (M. D.) Wells, the Secretary was instructed to correspond with the Secretary of the American Society of Certified Public Accountants to request his cooperation in having the telephone company include in the main compilation of their directory the title “Certified Public Accountants” after the names of those so desiring.”

Excerpt from the Sept. 15, 1926, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“Mr. A. F. Jones read a paper on “The Advisability of Encouraging Students and Younger Accountants” after which a lengthy and interesting discussion took place; and on the motion of Mr. W. D. Whitcomb, seconded by Mr. Seth L. Roberts, it was unanimously resolved that the idea as expressed in Mr. Jones’ paper of fostering the younger accountants should be encouraged; and the President appointed Mr. Jones (chairman), Mr. A. L. Andrus, and Mr. J. Y. Richardson, as a committee to arrange for the inviting of younger accountants to the next monthly meeting to be held on May 14, 1923.”

Excerpt from the April 9, 1923, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“It was moved by Mr. (Alex) Rae and seconded by Mr. (Ernest) Farnand that the following resolution be endorsed – carried: RESOLVED: that any Certified Public Accountant of any State or his representative should be permitted to complete temporary engagements in any other State without restrictions or hindrance and that existing laws, where this is not possible, should be amended to provide for such practice and that any new or projected legislation should include provisions giving effect to this resolution.”

Excerpt from the Oct. 9, 1929, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“One of the largest attendance of the year greeted the President as he called the meeting to order. Upon invitation, there were present about 20 members from each chapter of the Beta Alpha Psi fraternities of the Oregon University and Oregon State College, as also several candidates for the May Examinations of the State Board of Accountancy, and other guests.

After each one present had announced his name and affiliation, President (Arthur) Berridge made a few remarks telling of the changes between former days and the present, advising the students that success was attained by toil and pertinacity. By concentration and thoroughness, reward for their efforts would surely come.

The president of each chapter of the fraternities made pleasing responses, one of which included an invitation to our Society to visit them at Corvallis at some future date.

In connection with the Examinations which were to take place the following day Mr. Jenney, representing the State Board of Accountancy, explained the procedure and rules of the Board governing the Examinations. Mr. A. W. Niemi gave some very helpful suggestions and Mr. T. W. Veness spoke on the proper approach to the Law questions. J. C. Goldrainer spoke of the opportunities for you CPAs and offered suggestions as to getting into public practice.”

Excerpt from the May 13, 1931, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“Mr. M. D. Wells was called upon by the President to introduce the life members and present them with Life Membership Certificates. Mr. Wells then gave a brief review of the history of the Society and of the part that the life members had played in its development. He pointed out that since the adoption of the CPA law in 1913, the Society had made little progress in furthering the interests of the profession, that we had been successful only in holding the advantage then gained and were apparently satisfied with present conditions. To insure progress for the Society, Mr. Wells suggested that each member submit what he considers the best program for future activities of the Society in building up the profession.”

Excerpt from the Sept. 12, 1934, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“President Farnand then introduced Mr. William C. Heaton, President of the American Society of Certified Public Accountants, who spoke on the subject, “The Effect of Legislation on Accountancy Practice.” The principal point developed by Mr. Heaton was that the Securities Act of 1934, the Investment Bankers’ Code, and recent court decisions have established standards for accountancy practice, and that the term “CPA” has become recognized as the hallmark of the profession.”

Excerpt from the April 2, 1935, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“Mr. Niemi then introduced Mr. John E. Carter, the Portland manager of International Business Machines Corporation, and his assistant, Mr. Rowland Smith. Mr. Carter gave an address on the history and use of tabulating machines, which was followed by a demonstration of certain types of tabulating and accounting machines.”

Excerpt from the Oct. 16, 1936, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“The Chairman next introduced the speaker of the evening, Mr. Clem W. Collins, President of the American Institute. Mr. Collins outlined the history of accountancy in the United States and the growth of the national organization. He also told us of the activities of the Institute and the work which is being done through its activities in furthering the interests of the profession; and he also told us of the problems which in his opinion confront the profession at the present time, such as competitive bidding among accountants; governmental competition with accountants; the desirability of filling public offices which require accounting knowledge for their proper administration, with certified public accountants; the relation between the Bar and the Accountancy; the rapid growth of accountancy and the resultant weaknesses in the profession due to its rapid growth; and the need for recognized definitions of accounting principles and terminology. He also outlined the work which the Institute is doing in its attempt to solve some of these problems and to build a more solid structure for the profession.”

Excerpt from the Dec. 10, 1937, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“Mr. E. B. MacNaughton, President of the First National Bank of Portland, who is also a part-time instructor at Stanford University, addressed the meeting on “Some Aspects of Business in Oregon.” Mr. MacNaughton stated that the word had changed in the last 10 years, and that the “Frontier” we had once known has passed. He urged that long-range planning was very necessary for the conservation of the natural resources our state and cited examples from the lumber industry adjacent to the Portland area to illustrate the decline of the manufacturing of lumber in Portland. Mr. MacNaughton stated that there was a probability of a great future for agriculture in the Willamette Valley if properly planned.”

Excerpt from the May 10, 1939, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants

“Mr. Whitfield then called attention to the increasing demands placed upon citizens generally in connection with national defense, and the possibility of our own members having to make sacrifices in order to fulfill their part in that connection, and offered the following motion, which properly seconded, was unanimously passed:
‘Recognizing the extreme urgency and importance of national defense work at this time, BE IT RESOLVED that it is the sense of this meeting that insofar as members of our Society may be called upon to fulfill engagements in connection with national defense, that if at any time they have need for specific cooperation on the part of members of this Society that they feel free to call upon the officers, and through them, the members of this Society with the expectation that they will receive their full support and assistance.’”

Excerpt from the June 11, 1941, meeting minutes of the Oregon State Society of Certified Public Accountants