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Esther (Betty) Moyer 4/12/94 Esther (Betty) Moyer 1 History 398, Oral History Interviewed by Melodie A. Dark Tape I, (Side A) 001 to 040 040 to 066 067 to 098 098 to 127 127 to 152 Date of birth, September 22, 1909. Place of birth, Land Grant Homestead, NE of Potlatch, Idaho. Born in a log cabin with the help of a Midwife (her Aunt). Timber on this land, with explanation of the log cabin, and furnishings. Father's was Dutch, work building saw mills with Grandfather. Health was not good due to a wagon accident, died when Betty was only three years old, from complications from this injury. Mother originally from Oklahoma, born on a Cherokee reservation, one quarter Cherokee, as a baby moved to Pacific Northwest. No education, worked simple jobs, when husband died, Betty as the only child went to live with Father's brother. Betty lived with Aunt and Uncle on a ranch between Pullman and Palouse, attended country school. Aunt's illness, Uncle unable to care for Betty, sent to Catholic boarding school as a young girl, to the Academy at Colton, WA. At the age of fifteen her Aunt died. There was a court battle, but later did go to live with her mother. 152 to 169 169 to 211 211 to 273 273 to 293 293 to 365 Esther (Betty) Moyer 2 Left the Academy at Colton when she was a junior in High School. Lived with Mother's sister for a period and attended Pullman High School, graduated in 1927. completed one year at W.S.C., small at this time, could not finish, went to live with mother in Portland, Oregon. Met first husband in Portland, he was in Navy Intelligence, leaving to go overseas, had a double wedding around 1936, moved to San Diego, CA. After husband's return from overseas, lived four years in Italy, he was also Italian. Disappearance of Husband and colleague in route to Miami from San Diego, by car. Disappeared between Galveston, TX., and Miami. Further explanation of this incident. Her grief process, one week in Naval Hospital. Mother by her side, left with only her clothes, and moved to Lewiston, Idaho, to be close to Mother. Lived in Lewiston till start of W. W .II. Worked for Boeing in Seattle as a bucker, later promoted to riveting. Worked there three years, then transferred to Boeing in San Francisco as an inspector. Transferred to Sheet Metal, then worked awhile for W. R .. Ames, as brake machine operator, in Sheet Metal. 365 to 407 Tape I, (Side B) 000 to 036 036 to 129 129 to 183 183 to 209 209 to 242 242 to 273 273 to 293 Esther (Betty) Moyer 3 After war returned to Lewiston, worked with Mother in Housekeeping at a local Hotel. While eating together after work met a man, that would become her second husband. Story of meeting her second husband. Continued story of meeting husband. He also worked for Boeing. Playing canasta, and dating. The subject of marriage, Mother's match making, and her decision to remarry. Eloped to Couer d Alene, ID, in 1948. Made arrangements to take a job on a ranch in Kendrick. Kendrick ranch, at break of Clearwater River, combination cattle, wheat, beans. Prepared to leave Lewiston for Kendrick and were chivafried by their friends all night. Worked on Kendrick ranch for a family for eight years. (Jess) her husband, became foreman, Betty worked, in the main house, cooking, cleaning, and caring for the wife of the boss. Boss of ranch becomes HI, leases out the ranch. Betty and her husband are no longer needed, stayed till they found new work. Also talked about their home, upstairs apartment in the main house, they had no children of their own. 293 to 356 356 to 385 385 to 407 Tape II, (Side A) 000 to 112 112 to 145 145 to 162 162 to 196 Esther (Betty) Moyer 4 In 1965, began work for another rancher, near Palouse. Jess doing same type of work. They worked there for seven years. Their Employer's car accident, handing over his ranches to WA state bank, asked employees to stay, that they would be rewarded. Husband (Jess) passes away of a heart attack. Betty was a housewife after the Kendrick job, she sold Avon, and helped out at Harvest time, at the main house, cooking for the hands. Jess dies in 1972, of a heart attack. Betty and other employees receive a grant. Betty buys a car. At this time she is working for a Nursing Home in Colfax. Takes a trip with a friend in her new car. Travels to Jackpot, Olympia, and the Ocean. Doesn't do much traveling now. Highlighted her life in oral history. Has been living in Pullman for five years now. (Back tracking) Her favorite subject in school, Music. First began music in the Academy at Colton, then took private lessons while attending Pullman High School. Considers herself a natural born artist. At WSC majored in Veterinarian Medicine. At WSC a year and a half, wanted to be a Vet. 196to211 211 to 224 224 to 248 248 to 268 268 to 293 293 to 312 Esther (Betty) Moyer 5 Mentions Dr. Bryan teaching at the time she was attending WSC. She states that her Uncle (Andy Maef that she lived with), also worked at WSC in Horticulture. Doesn't know how long he was there. Continued with discussion about her major in college. First Music, where she received good music education from sisters at the Academy. She plays the piano. She still plays, and also plays the organ. Discussion, reasons for not finishing college (Aunt's illness) Her tuition seemed to be taken care of by her Uncle, she also received a partial scholarship form Pullman High Schoof. After leaving college went to five with her Mother. She wishes that she could have finished her college education. She loves animals. She thought that her Jove for animals is from living as a children on a farm. As a girl she milked, worked in the fields, and rode horses. Betty shared about the Horses that her Uncle had, and how they would travel around to show them in competition. She helped with the care of these horses. Happiest time as a child is going to live with her real Mother. She wanted to get off the farm, and she was city struck she said. Wanted to see what living in the city was like. 312 to 323 323 to 359 359 to 367 367 to 393 393 to 402 Tape II (Side B) Esther (Betty) Moyer 6 Do not know who her Mother was until she was eleven. Uncle did not tell her. Aunt and Uncle were her foster parents. Land Grant received for Parent's Homestead. The land had timber, where they built a log cabin. Potlatch Incorporated began buying all the timber rights there. After Betty's father passed away, her Mother was unable to take care of the land, and to pay the taxes that were now being collected. This land was in escrow until the mill was built, but after probate her Mother never did receive any money from this land. Potlatch Forest Incorporated contracted the land for the lumber on it. Mother from Oklahoma, she was one quarter Cherokee, at the age of four or five when her family moved to Pacific Northwest. Betty was the only child, and had no children of her own. Betty talks about her Indian heritage, and that she is not ashamed of it. States that Indians should be proud of their heritage. Betty talks about going to Pow Wows, ceremonial dances. She also does Indian bead work. At this point I stop the tape and she shares with me some of the beading work that she has done. Beautiful earrings, and necklaces, with pendants. 010 to 078 Esther (Betty) Moyer 7 Discussion on her feelings toward fife in her later years. She believes it is very important to keep active, and to be of service to people. Has illnesses at this point in her life, but feels that keeping busy helps her. End of tape.
Object Description
Rating | |
Title | Moyer, Esther Mael Oral History Interview, 1994 |
Interviewer | Dark, Melodie A. |
Date | 1994-04-28 |
Description | 66 minute oral history with Esther Moyer, conducted for a Women in the West (HST 398) course at Washington State University. Betty was born in a log cabin on a homestead in Potlatch, Idaho. She talks about her father's Dutch heritage and her mother's Cherokee roots. She describes her early childhood on a farm outside of Pullman, Washington, where she lived from the time she was three, with her aunt and uncle after her father's death. Later, after graduating Pullman High School, and attending Washington State College for a year, she moved to Portland, Oregon to live with her mother. This is where she met her first husband who was a naval intelligence officer. Soon after they were married, she and her husband moved to San Diego, but her husband tragically disappeared on a business trip to Miami, Florida. After working a variety of jobs and moving around the Pacific Northwest, Betty was promoted to an inspector position at Boeing, and moved to San Francisco, California; this is where she met her second husband. Eventually, she and her second husband, Jess, return to the Palouse and worked for two ranch families as foreman and housekeeper. After the death of her second husband in 1972, Betty moved to Colfax, Washington. She talks about being proud of her native American ancestry. |
Subject | Employment; Religious education; Internal migration |
Coverage | North and Central America--United States--Idaho--Latah County--Potlatch; North and Central America--United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Pullman; North and Central America--United States--Washington (State)--Whitman County--Colfax |
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 | ua220b12f84 |
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 | ua220b12f84_Abstract |
Full Text | Esther (Betty) Moyer 4/12/94 Esther (Betty) Moyer 1 History 398, Oral History Interviewed by Melodie A. Dark Tape I, (Side A) 001 to 040 040 to 066 067 to 098 098 to 127 127 to 152 Date of birth, September 22, 1909. Place of birth, Land Grant Homestead, NE of Potlatch, Idaho. Born in a log cabin with the help of a Midwife (her Aunt). Timber on this land, with explanation of the log cabin, and furnishings. Father's was Dutch, work building saw mills with Grandfather. Health was not good due to a wagon accident, died when Betty was only three years old, from complications from this injury. Mother originally from Oklahoma, born on a Cherokee reservation, one quarter Cherokee, as a baby moved to Pacific Northwest. No education, worked simple jobs, when husband died, Betty as the only child went to live with Father's brother. Betty lived with Aunt and Uncle on a ranch between Pullman and Palouse, attended country school. Aunt's illness, Uncle unable to care for Betty, sent to Catholic boarding school as a young girl, to the Academy at Colton, WA. At the age of fifteen her Aunt died. There was a court battle, but later did go to live with her mother. 152 to 169 169 to 211 211 to 273 273 to 293 293 to 365 Esther (Betty) Moyer 2 Left the Academy at Colton when she was a junior in High School. Lived with Mother's sister for a period and attended Pullman High School, graduated in 1927. completed one year at W.S.C., small at this time, could not finish, went to live with mother in Portland, Oregon. Met first husband in Portland, he was in Navy Intelligence, leaving to go overseas, had a double wedding around 1936, moved to San Diego, CA. After husband's return from overseas, lived four years in Italy, he was also Italian. Disappearance of Husband and colleague in route to Miami from San Diego, by car. Disappeared between Galveston, TX., and Miami. Further explanation of this incident. Her grief process, one week in Naval Hospital. Mother by her side, left with only her clothes, and moved to Lewiston, Idaho, to be close to Mother. Lived in Lewiston till start of W. W .II. Worked for Boeing in Seattle as a bucker, later promoted to riveting. Worked there three years, then transferred to Boeing in San Francisco as an inspector. Transferred to Sheet Metal, then worked awhile for W. R .. Ames, as brake machine operator, in Sheet Metal. 365 to 407 Tape I, (Side B) 000 to 036 036 to 129 129 to 183 183 to 209 209 to 242 242 to 273 273 to 293 Esther (Betty) Moyer 3 After war returned to Lewiston, worked with Mother in Housekeeping at a local Hotel. While eating together after work met a man, that would become her second husband. Story of meeting her second husband. Continued story of meeting husband. He also worked for Boeing. Playing canasta, and dating. The subject of marriage, Mother's match making, and her decision to remarry. Eloped to Couer d Alene, ID, in 1948. Made arrangements to take a job on a ranch in Kendrick. Kendrick ranch, at break of Clearwater River, combination cattle, wheat, beans. Prepared to leave Lewiston for Kendrick and were chivafried by their friends all night. Worked on Kendrick ranch for a family for eight years. (Jess) her husband, became foreman, Betty worked, in the main house, cooking, cleaning, and caring for the wife of the boss. Boss of ranch becomes HI, leases out the ranch. Betty and her husband are no longer needed, stayed till they found new work. Also talked about their home, upstairs apartment in the main house, they had no children of their own. 293 to 356 356 to 385 385 to 407 Tape II, (Side A) 000 to 112 112 to 145 145 to 162 162 to 196 Esther (Betty) Moyer 4 In 1965, began work for another rancher, near Palouse. Jess doing same type of work. They worked there for seven years. Their Employer's car accident, handing over his ranches to WA state bank, asked employees to stay, that they would be rewarded. Husband (Jess) passes away of a heart attack. Betty was a housewife after the Kendrick job, she sold Avon, and helped out at Harvest time, at the main house, cooking for the hands. Jess dies in 1972, of a heart attack. Betty and other employees receive a grant. Betty buys a car. At this time she is working for a Nursing Home in Colfax. Takes a trip with a friend in her new car. Travels to Jackpot, Olympia, and the Ocean. Doesn't do much traveling now. Highlighted her life in oral history. Has been living in Pullman for five years now. (Back tracking) Her favorite subject in school, Music. First began music in the Academy at Colton, then took private lessons while attending Pullman High School. Considers herself a natural born artist. At WSC majored in Veterinarian Medicine. At WSC a year and a half, wanted to be a Vet. 196to211 211 to 224 224 to 248 248 to 268 268 to 293 293 to 312 Esther (Betty) Moyer 5 Mentions Dr. Bryan teaching at the time she was attending WSC. She states that her Uncle (Andy Maef that she lived with), also worked at WSC in Horticulture. Doesn't know how long he was there. Continued with discussion about her major in college. First Music, where she received good music education from sisters at the Academy. She plays the piano. She still plays, and also plays the organ. Discussion, reasons for not finishing college (Aunt's illness) Her tuition seemed to be taken care of by her Uncle, she also received a partial scholarship form Pullman High Schoof. After leaving college went to five with her Mother. She wishes that she could have finished her college education. She loves animals. She thought that her Jove for animals is from living as a children on a farm. As a girl she milked, worked in the fields, and rode horses. Betty shared about the Horses that her Uncle had, and how they would travel around to show them in competition. She helped with the care of these horses. Happiest time as a child is going to live with her real Mother. She wanted to get off the farm, and she was city struck she said. Wanted to see what living in the city was like. 312 to 323 323 to 359 359 to 367 367 to 393 393 to 402 Tape II (Side B) Esther (Betty) Moyer 6 Do not know who her Mother was until she was eleven. Uncle did not tell her. Aunt and Uncle were her foster parents. Land Grant received for Parent's Homestead. The land had timber, where they built a log cabin. Potlatch Incorporated began buying all the timber rights there. After Betty's father passed away, her Mother was unable to take care of the land, and to pay the taxes that were now being collected. This land was in escrow until the mill was built, but after probate her Mother never did receive any money from this land. Potlatch Forest Incorporated contracted the land for the lumber on it. Mother from Oklahoma, she was one quarter Cherokee, at the age of four or five when her family moved to Pacific Northwest. Betty was the only child, and had no children of her own. Betty talks about her Indian heritage, and that she is not ashamed of it. States that Indians should be proud of their heritage. Betty talks about going to Pow Wows, ceremonial dances. She also does Indian bead work. At this point I stop the tape and she shares with me some of the beading work that she has done. Beautiful earrings, and necklaces, with pendants. 010 to 078 Esther (Betty) Moyer 7 Discussion on her feelings toward fife in her later years. She believes it is very important to keep active, and to be of service to people. Has illnesses at this point in her life, but feels that keeping busy helps her. End of tape. |
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