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Geraldine Davis Chamberlin March 26, 1994 Spokane, Washington Interviewed by Celena Kathan (Granddaughter) Tape Summery, Side One: 0-3.5 Introduction-Born in Spokane on September 9, 1921. Built the house on Glass in 1927. Graduated from Rogers High School with honors. Wanted to go to college and be a dietitian but not enough money so parents saved for her brother to go instead. 3.5-7 Work-First job was at John w. Graham where stationary, books, and leather goods were sold. She got $13 a week. Later she worked for JC Penney's in the infants department. Next, moved to Seattle for two years and worked at Tulls Luggage and Lerners. Moved back to Spokane and worked at Army Supply Depot at Fairchild Air Force Base. 7-8.5 War started-It was a Sunday in Seattle and her brother and her boyfriend were out golfing. She was home by herself. In one day's time there were sandbags and blackouts every where. 8.5-9 Christmas-Story about her first Christmas away from home. 9-11.5 Moved back to Spokane because her brother, Eugene's draft number came up. Worked at Fairchild and made good money. 11.5-12.5 Married Chester Bonnet on March 3, 1946 and had James (my dad) on December 16, 1946. She always wanted kids and would dress up her dogs and drive them around in baby buggies 12.5-13 When Jim was three, Gerry went to work in Dr. Bell's office for the next twenty years. 13-16 Depression-Remembers it from age 6 through her school years, but everyone else was poor too. Dad, Orville Davis, had to half sole the shoes to make them last longer. Had lots of eggs from the family farm in Oaksdale. Bought hogs, chickens, and cows from the farm and put them in rented freezer space in the local grocery store. 16-17 Story about the poor English family with a daughter who had TB. 17-17.5 Amusement-Played cards, had friends over. 17.5-18.5 Prohibition-Dad made his own home beer, "it had a pretty good jolt." Every now and then she could smell it in other people's homes when they were making it. She would ho into the basement and help him bottle it. 18.5-19 Dad always had a job during the Depression and did not realize how poor they were. 19-20 Youngest memory-Story about getting her hand cut by a worm tin can lid. 20-22 Her Dogs-Dad breed their bull dog once a year and she would dress up the puppies in doll clothes. She cried when he cut off their tails. Story about her dog, Peg, who would watch out for her. Dad said "If you want Gerry, just look for Peg." 22-23.5 23.5-24 24-27 27-28 28-29 29-33.5 Women's role-People felt that a at home until the war industry. that the U.S. has stems in part being at home. mother's place is Thinks the problems from mothers not First car was a Ford convertible with a rumble seat. Paid $20 a month for it. World Events-Remembers Roosevelt and his fireside chats, World War II, hearing about World War I (Dad did not go because he was in the hospital with the Flu Epidemic.) Many friends were killed in World War II but the country pulled together for the war. Dating-Never without a date. Lots of men were around because of the military base. World War II. Teen age fun-Four to six couples would pile into a car and go the lake for the day, "a super-duper Sunday". They went to dance houses with bands until midnight then go out for a bowl of chili or a hot dog. Ice skating in the winter or skiing without ski lifts. Summers were spent at lakes, playing pool or cards. Went to the movies once or twice a week. 33.5-37.5 Vaudeville shows were popular-Sally Rand, Gypsy Rose Lee Show, plays like South Pacific, Annie Marne. Met Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Phil Harris. 37.5-39.5 Family History-Mother, Sadie Fae, was born in Oaksdale on the family farm. Father, Orville Davis, was born in Oklahoma territory and his family later settled in Colfax. They met during harvest at her fathers farm and they married when she was eighteen and moved to Spokane. Orville worked for Carnation Dairy and Sadie Fae was a homemaker. 39.5-41 Grandparents history-Her grandma's uncle established the town of Oaksdale and the Masonic Lodge. He was a typical Southern gentleman who smoked cigars. 41-42.5 Travel-Remembers a trip to the ocean in a model A car. 42.5-44.5 Outdoors-She would get a penny for every worm and grasshopper she caught for her grandfather to use while fishing. He would say he caught the biggest fish with her bait, not her brother's. 43.5-45 Story about how she knocked her brother out one time with a dress-up high heel shoe. End of Side One Geraldine Davis Chamberlin March 26, 1994 0-1.5 1.5-2 2-2.5 Tape Summery, Side Two: What did you want to do when you grew up?-Be a dietitian but women usually worked in the home. Maybe a Home Economics teacher. Worked at Dr. Bell's office then for General Electric Communications. Wedding-Small wedding, 15-20 guests. Wore a pale suit and pink and blue hat. 2.5-7 Reception-Was at Carmalini's. Originally it was a speak easy and a bootleg business. Describes bootlegging. 7-9.5 Crazy stuff-Skinny dipping with girlfriends. Hike into the mountains on old logging roads. Story about stopping at bar to buy towels for swimming, "really cutting something up there." 9.5-11.5 Difference between generations-Dad would say you could ''get a job shaking farts out of sheets", meaning women could only get domestic jobs. Few women went to college. Women can do anything now. She raised two kids and paid for a house by herself, which her mom could never do. 11.5-18 Clothing styles-Nice but never extreme when young, always had new clothes. Mom wore dresses mid calf, in high school hemline was right below the knee, World War II above the knee, after war then back down to below the knee. Platform shoes in the early forties. Remembers first pair of nylon stockings. Used leg make-up during the War. Only hookers wore black nylons. Grade school mom made her wear long johns but two blocks away from home, pulled them up under dress. Hated bloomers. 18-22.5 Inventions-Remembers first radio they had and neighbors came to listen to it. First ride in air was in a biplane. 22.5-23.5 Gas Rationing-Pool gas stamps to go places. Gas pedals were rigged so people could only go 45 mph to save 23.5-24 gas. Trains-Likes to travel on trains. Rode train in China and Japan. 24-26 More inventions-On the farm had a crank phone. Story about her and cousins call own number and wait for the nosy neighbors to pick up then make up stories about their dates, kissing, and drinking booze. 26-27.5 TV-Got first tv in 1955 or 1956 and sit around and watch test patterns. Watched wrestling. After color tv, lots of theaters closed. 27.5-34.5 More inventions-On the farm, had a big tub and ringer before automatic washers. Electric stoves, vacuum, dryers, disposable diapers. Before refrigerators, used ice box with 25¢ chunks of ice. Automatic heat, hot water heaters, electric things. 34.5-37 Best memories-Raising the kids, Jim and Carol. He would protect her from bullies. Went out with a wealthy man so did lots of expensive, fun things then. 37-37.5 Camp outs at Priest Lake-Pop (Orville), Gerry, Jim, and Carol. 37.5-38 Christmases were fun. 38-40 Going to China, Hong Kong, Japan. Really enjoyed that trip. Planning to go on Hawaii cruise with cousin Shirley. End of Side Two
Object Description
Rating | |
Title | Chamberlin, Geraldine Fae Davis Oral History Interview, 1994 |
Interviewer | Kathan, Celena N. |
Date | 1994-03-25 |
Description | 90 minute oral history with Geraldine Chamberlin, conducted for a Women in the West (HST 398) course at Washington State University. She talks about her early childhood in Spokane and living poor. She recalls helping her father bottle beer during Prohibition and raising livestock to feed the family. She lived in Seattle when Pearl Harbor was attacked and remembers her life during both World Wars and the Great Depression; she talks about her social life as a young woman, her experiences with new, modern appliances, and family vacations. |
Subject | Rural women; Women domestics; Economic & social conditions |
Coverage | North and Central America--United States--Washington (State)--Spokane County--Spokane; North and Central America--United States--Washington (State)--King County--Seattle |
Type | Sound |
Genre | Interviews |
Publisher | Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries: https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
Rights Notes | In copyright. Item is in copyright until 95 years after 2011 publication date. |
Identifier | ua220b10f68 |
Source | Is found in Archives 220, Women in the West Oral Histories https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/finders/ua220.htm at Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC) https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc |
Holding Institution | Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries |
Contributors | Digitization and description funded through a National Endowment for the Humanities We the People grant for Washington Womens History to the Washington Womens History Consortium, a part of the Washington State Historical Society. |
Language | English |
Digitization | Original audio cassettes were converted to wav files using Audacity and a USBPre interface. Mp3 files were then created from the wav files for online access. Film clips were created as mpeg-4 files using Adobe Premiere Elements 9 to add selected images to the wav audio files, and then converted to flv files for online display. Print documents were scanned to 300dpi pdf format using a Xerox Workcentre 5030 copier/scanner. |
Description
Title | ua220b10f68_Abstract |
Full Text | Geraldine Davis Chamberlin March 26, 1994 Spokane, Washington Interviewed by Celena Kathan (Granddaughter) Tape Summery, Side One: 0-3.5 Introduction-Born in Spokane on September 9, 1921. Built the house on Glass in 1927. Graduated from Rogers High School with honors. Wanted to go to college and be a dietitian but not enough money so parents saved for her brother to go instead. 3.5-7 Work-First job was at John w. Graham where stationary, books, and leather goods were sold. She got $13 a week. Later she worked for JC Penney's in the infants department. Next, moved to Seattle for two years and worked at Tulls Luggage and Lerners. Moved back to Spokane and worked at Army Supply Depot at Fairchild Air Force Base. 7-8.5 War started-It was a Sunday in Seattle and her brother and her boyfriend were out golfing. She was home by herself. In one day's time there were sandbags and blackouts every where. 8.5-9 Christmas-Story about her first Christmas away from home. 9-11.5 Moved back to Spokane because her brother, Eugene's draft number came up. Worked at Fairchild and made good money. 11.5-12.5 Married Chester Bonnet on March 3, 1946 and had James (my dad) on December 16, 1946. She always wanted kids and would dress up her dogs and drive them around in baby buggies 12.5-13 When Jim was three, Gerry went to work in Dr. Bell's office for the next twenty years. 13-16 Depression-Remembers it from age 6 through her school years, but everyone else was poor too. Dad, Orville Davis, had to half sole the shoes to make them last longer. Had lots of eggs from the family farm in Oaksdale. Bought hogs, chickens, and cows from the farm and put them in rented freezer space in the local grocery store. 16-17 Story about the poor English family with a daughter who had TB. 17-17.5 Amusement-Played cards, had friends over. 17.5-18.5 Prohibition-Dad made his own home beer, "it had a pretty good jolt." Every now and then she could smell it in other people's homes when they were making it. She would ho into the basement and help him bottle it. 18.5-19 Dad always had a job during the Depression and did not realize how poor they were. 19-20 Youngest memory-Story about getting her hand cut by a worm tin can lid. 20-22 Her Dogs-Dad breed their bull dog once a year and she would dress up the puppies in doll clothes. She cried when he cut off their tails. Story about her dog, Peg, who would watch out for her. Dad said "If you want Gerry, just look for Peg." 22-23.5 23.5-24 24-27 27-28 28-29 29-33.5 Women's role-People felt that a at home until the war industry. that the U.S. has stems in part being at home. mother's place is Thinks the problems from mothers not First car was a Ford convertible with a rumble seat. Paid $20 a month for it. World Events-Remembers Roosevelt and his fireside chats, World War II, hearing about World War I (Dad did not go because he was in the hospital with the Flu Epidemic.) Many friends were killed in World War II but the country pulled together for the war. Dating-Never without a date. Lots of men were around because of the military base. World War II. Teen age fun-Four to six couples would pile into a car and go the lake for the day, "a super-duper Sunday". They went to dance houses with bands until midnight then go out for a bowl of chili or a hot dog. Ice skating in the winter or skiing without ski lifts. Summers were spent at lakes, playing pool or cards. Went to the movies once or twice a week. 33.5-37.5 Vaudeville shows were popular-Sally Rand, Gypsy Rose Lee Show, plays like South Pacific, Annie Marne. Met Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Phil Harris. 37.5-39.5 Family History-Mother, Sadie Fae, was born in Oaksdale on the family farm. Father, Orville Davis, was born in Oklahoma territory and his family later settled in Colfax. They met during harvest at her fathers farm and they married when she was eighteen and moved to Spokane. Orville worked for Carnation Dairy and Sadie Fae was a homemaker. 39.5-41 Grandparents history-Her grandma's uncle established the town of Oaksdale and the Masonic Lodge. He was a typical Southern gentleman who smoked cigars. 41-42.5 Travel-Remembers a trip to the ocean in a model A car. 42.5-44.5 Outdoors-She would get a penny for every worm and grasshopper she caught for her grandfather to use while fishing. He would say he caught the biggest fish with her bait, not her brother's. 43.5-45 Story about how she knocked her brother out one time with a dress-up high heel shoe. End of Side One Geraldine Davis Chamberlin March 26, 1994 0-1.5 1.5-2 2-2.5 Tape Summery, Side Two: What did you want to do when you grew up?-Be a dietitian but women usually worked in the home. Maybe a Home Economics teacher. Worked at Dr. Bell's office then for General Electric Communications. Wedding-Small wedding, 15-20 guests. Wore a pale suit and pink and blue hat. 2.5-7 Reception-Was at Carmalini's. Originally it was a speak easy and a bootleg business. Describes bootlegging. 7-9.5 Crazy stuff-Skinny dipping with girlfriends. Hike into the mountains on old logging roads. Story about stopping at bar to buy towels for swimming, "really cutting something up there." 9.5-11.5 Difference between generations-Dad would say you could ''get a job shaking farts out of sheets", meaning women could only get domestic jobs. Few women went to college. Women can do anything now. She raised two kids and paid for a house by herself, which her mom could never do. 11.5-18 Clothing styles-Nice but never extreme when young, always had new clothes. Mom wore dresses mid calf, in high school hemline was right below the knee, World War II above the knee, after war then back down to below the knee. Platform shoes in the early forties. Remembers first pair of nylon stockings. Used leg make-up during the War. Only hookers wore black nylons. Grade school mom made her wear long johns but two blocks away from home, pulled them up under dress. Hated bloomers. 18-22.5 Inventions-Remembers first radio they had and neighbors came to listen to it. First ride in air was in a biplane. 22.5-23.5 Gas Rationing-Pool gas stamps to go places. Gas pedals were rigged so people could only go 45 mph to save 23.5-24 gas. Trains-Likes to travel on trains. Rode train in China and Japan. 24-26 More inventions-On the farm had a crank phone. Story about her and cousins call own number and wait for the nosy neighbors to pick up then make up stories about their dates, kissing, and drinking booze. 26-27.5 TV-Got first tv in 1955 or 1956 and sit around and watch test patterns. Watched wrestling. After color tv, lots of theaters closed. 27.5-34.5 More inventions-On the farm, had a big tub and ringer before automatic washers. Electric stoves, vacuum, dryers, disposable diapers. Before refrigerators, used ice box with 25¢ chunks of ice. Automatic heat, hot water heaters, electric things. 34.5-37 Best memories-Raising the kids, Jim and Carol. He would protect her from bullies. Went out with a wealthy man so did lots of expensive, fun things then. 37-37.5 Camp outs at Priest Lake-Pop (Orville), Gerry, Jim, and Carol. 37.5-38 Christmases were fun. 38-40 Going to China, Hong Kong, Japan. Really enjoyed that trip. Planning to go on Hawaii cruise with cousin Shirley. End of Side Two |
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