National Extension Homemakers Oral History Collection, 1983-1986

Overview of the Collection

Title
National Extension Homemakers Oral History Collection
Dates
1983-1986 (inclusive)
Quantity
3 Linear feet of shelf space, (5 Boxes)
Collection Number
Cage 825 (collection)
Summary
This collection contains transcripts and audio recordings of oral history interviews conducted between 1983 and 1986 for the Voices of American Homemakers book project by the National Extension Homemakers Council.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

In 1982, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded a major grant to the National Extension Homemakers Council (NEHC) for a three-year, nationwide effort to collect, process and disseminate representative oral histories. Entitled 'Voices of American Homemakers, The project combined extensive volunteer effort with careful attention to the professional canons of oral history practice. Professional historians guided the effort throughout, offering substantive perspectives on women's history and technical counsel on oral history.

The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 instituted cooperation between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and land grant colleges across the United States to develop public demonstrations on home economics. Clubs emerged as a result of these demonstrations and community participation. The National Home Demonstration Council was formed in 1936, and changed their name to the National Extension Homemakers Council in 1963.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains copies of transcripts and audio cassette recordings of oral histories conducted by the National Extension Homemakers Council for the Voices of American Homemakers book project, between 1983 and 1986. The primary product of this effort is a collection of [219] oral histories by women throughout the United States. Typically they describe homemaking, child rearing, and family management in the small towns or rural areas where they live. They also discuss the role of Extension Homemaker groups in their lives. Repositories selected by the NEHC were provided with a complete set of the materials, including duplicates of the [171] cassette tapes (Series 1) and bound copies of the transcripts, which also contains indexes (Series 2). The collection also includes secondary material related to the book project, including a copy of a book based on the project, Voices of American Homemakers, including advertisements, and a collection of papers presented at a symposium in 1983 (Series 3).

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

The audio tapes were digitized in 2022 and the audio file retained as an unedited wav file in MASC’s archival digital storage.

Restrictions on Use

According to the project documentation filed in the collection, the NEHC grants users full photocopying privileges and "fair use" publication rights to maximum of 5,000 words from the entire collection. Publication in excess of 5,000 words requires written consent of the president of the National Extension Homemakers Council, Inc.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

National Extension Homemakers Oral History Collection, 1983-1986 (Cage 825)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series: 1. Transcripts of oral interviews, organized in alphabetical order according to state. Folder one contains a summary and index. 2. Audio recordings of oral interviews, and 3. Miscellaneous project documentation and related papers. Series 2: Audio recordings of oral interviews, 1983-1986, organized in alphabetical order according to state. Series 3: Miscellaneous project documentation and related papers, 1983-1986. >

Acquisition Information

The National Extension Homemakers Council, Inc., donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in 1985 (MS.1986.09

Processing Note

Jacki Hedlund Tyler processed this collection in 2015.

Separated Materials

Bound volume transferred to the rare book collection for separate cataloging: Arnold, Eleanor, ed. Voices of American Homemakers. National Extension Homemakers Council, Inc., 1985.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Transcripts of oral interviews, 1983-1986Return to Top

This series contains transcripts of the oral interviews conducted by the NEHC for the project Voices of American Homemakers. The transcripts are organized in alphabetical order according to state. Folder 1 contains a summary and index. The following folders contain the transcripts organized by volume number (I to V).

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
1 1
Volume I: Summary and Index
1 2
Volume I: Alabama and Alaska
1 3
Volume I: Arkansas
1 4
Volume I: Colorado and Delaware
1 5
Volume I: Florida
1 6
Volume II: Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, and Illinois
1 7
Volume II: Indiana
1 8
Volume II: Kansas and Kentucky
2 9
Volume II: Louisiana and Maryland
2 10
Volume III: Michigan
2 11
Volume III: Minnesota, Mississippi, and Missouri
2 12
Volume III: Nebraska and Montana
2 13
Volume III: New Hampshire
2 14
Volume III: New Mexico
2 15
Volume III: North Carolina
3 16
Volume IV: North Dakota
3 17
Volume IV: Ohio
3 18
Volume IV: Oklahoma and Oregon
3 19
Volume V: South Carolina and South Dakota
3 20
Volume V: Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington
3 21
Volume V: West Virginia
3 22
Volume V: Wisconsin andWyoming

Series 2: Audio recordings of oral interviewsReturn to Top

This series contains audio recordings (audiocassettes) of oral interviews conducted by the NEHC for the project Voices of American Homemakers. The tapes are organized in alphabetical order according to state.

Container(s) Description
Alabama
Box tape
4 1
Ouida Harwell - Interviewee --- Opal Price - Interviewer
4 2
Opal Price - Interviewee --- Mage Beeton - Interviewer
4 3
Elizabeth McAdams - Interviewee --- Miriam Watkins - Interviewer
4 4
Sue Moman - Interviewee --- Jean Moon - Interviewer
4 5
Sallie Bell - Interviewee --- Mildred Ennis - Interviewer
4 6
Bertha Andrews - Interviewee --- Nina Langley - Interviewer
Alaska
Box tape
4 7
Gussie Mumey - Interviewee --- Rieta Walker - Interviewer
4 8
Evie Foster - Interviewee --- L. Burgonye - Interviewer
4 9
Lillian Eckert - Interviewee --- Nancy Rowland - Interviewer
Arkansas
Box tape
4 10
Vivian Jefferson - Interviewee --- Katherine Skeleton - Interviewer
4 11
Ann Webb - Interviewee --- Minvera Houser - Interviewer
4 12
Opal Cypert - Interviewee --- Katherine Skeleton - Interviewer
4 13
Esse Simmons - Interviewee --- Minvera Houser - Interviewer
4 14
Dorothoy Tolley - Interviewee --- Minvera Houser - Interviewer
Colorado
Box tape
4 15
Pearl Mehl - Interviewee --- Hazel Leininger - Interviewer
4 16
Hazel Leininger - Interviewee --- Misaye Uno - Interviewer
4 17
Lois Kevan - Interviewee --- Hazel Leininger - Interviewer
4 18
Misaye Uno - Interviewee --- Misaye Uno - Interviewer
Deleware
Box tape
4 19
Tyrawski - Interviewee --- Skibinski - Interviewer
4 20
Dorothy Tyrawski - Interviewee --- Jean Skibinski - Interviewer
4 21
Florance Reed - Interviewee --- Jean Skibinski - Interviewer
Florida
Box tape
4 22
Thelma Barnes - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer
4 23
Eunice Cameron - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer
4 24
Elsie Gould - Interviewee --- Adelaise Moores - Interviewer
4 25
Emily Harper - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer
4 26
Pearl Laffite - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer
4 27
Katherine Taylor - Interviewee --- Adelaide Moores - Interviewer
Georgia
Box tape
4 28
Glenwood Homemakers - Interviewees --- Mary Harltey - Interviewer
4 29
Past Presidents - Interviewees --- Mary Hartly - Interviewer
Hawaii
Box tape
4 30
Julia Souza - Interviewee --- Bert Kikuchi - Interviewer
4 31
Betty Sakate - Interviewee --- Gladys Brown - Interviewer
Idaho
Box tape
4 32
Dorothy Carlson - Interviewee --- Ruth Bright - Interviewer
4 33
Ruth Bright - Interviewee
Illinois
Box tape
4 34
Charlene Diel - Interviewee --- Elenor Ross - Interviewer
4 35
Floy Chapman - Interviewee --- Eleanor Ross - Interviewer
4 36
M. Hyde - Interviewee --- E. Pagal - Interviewer
4 37
Catherine Wycoff - Interviewee --- Eleanor Ross - Interviewer
Indiana
Box tape
4 38
Iva Crouse - Interviewee --- Carol Schroeder - Interviewer
4 39
Neva Schlatter - Interviewee --- Julia Binkley - Interviewer
4 40
Masa Scheerer - Interviewee --- Mona Harley - Interviewer
4 41
Pearl McCall - Interviewee -- ? Colbert - Interviewer
4 42
Beulah Grinstead - Interviewee --- Wanetta Edgerly - Interviewer
Kansas
Box tape
4 43
Brenda Van Meter - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer
4 44
Sophia Bigge - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer
4 45
Sophia Bigge - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer
4 46
Evelyn Alden - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer
Kentucky
Box tape
4 47
Margie Brookshire - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer
4 48
Ethel Jury - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer
4 49
Mary Fouts - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer
4 50
Mary Depaw - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer
4 51
Anna Evans - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer
Louisiana
Box tape
4 52
Irene Clause - Interviewee --- Irene Clause - Interviewer
4 53
Billie Jones - Interviewee --- Doris Ashley - Interviewer
4 54
Mabel Thompson - Interviewee --- Elaine Vidrine - Interviewer
4 55
Virginia McIntyre - Interviewee --- Doris Ashley - Interviewer
4 56
Virginia McIntyre - Interviewee --- Doris Ashley - Interviewer
Maryland
Box tape
4 57
Eileen Moon - Interviewee --- Jeanette Green - Interviewer
Michigan
Box tape
4 58
Mrs. Wilma - Interviewee ---
4 59
Arvilla Parshall - Interviewee ---
4 60
Rubie Gillion - Interviewee ---
4 61
Gladys Fox - Interviewee --- Frances Michalek - Interviewer
4 62
Cecilia Lamb - Interviewee --- Rhea Thayer - Interviewer
4 63
Emma Jones - Interviewee --- Joan Luerr - Interviewer
4 64
Edith Huffman - Interviewee ---
4 65
Luelle Hamilton - Interviewee --- Petra Swanson - Interviewer
4 66
Estella Myers - Interviewee --- Joan Luerr - Interviewer
Minnesota
Box tape
4 67
Persistent Pals - Interviewee --- Mary Mayer - Interviewer
Mississippi
Box tape
4 68
Orrie Little - Intervieweee --- Marian Carmicheal - Interviewer
4 69
Ruth Irwin - Interviewee --- Mrs. E.R. McKight - Interviewer
4 70
Mrs. B.N. Simrall - Interviewee --- Mrs. E.R. McKnight - Interviewer
4 71
Betty Newman - Interviewee --- Mrs. E.R. McKnight - Interviewer
4 72
Jane Morgan - Interviewee --- Marian Carmichael - Interviewer
Missouri
Box tape
4 73
Verna Lefman - Interviewee --- Betty Reynolds - Interviewer
4 74
Nellie Frost - Interviewee --- Betty Reynolds - Interviewer
4 75
Edith Fennel - Interviewee --- Donna Howard - Interviewer
4 76
Edith Gladden - Interviewee --- Janet Vaughn - Interviewer
4 77
Lillie Stuery - Interviewee --- Betty Reynolds - Interviewer
Montana
Box tape
4 78
Pearl Herndon - Interviewee --- Gayle Muggli - Interviewer
4 79
Luelle Hardie - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer
4 80
Marie Carlile - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer
4 81
Daisy Taylor - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer
4 82
Lilie Badgeley - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer
4 83
Elsie Rieger - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer
Nebraska
Box tape
4 84
Nellie Yost - Interviewee --- Sandra Hansen - Interviewer
4 85
Eva Gill - Interviewee --- Norma Schneemeyer - Interviewer
4 86
Anna Coburn - Interviewee --- Selma Stevens - Interviewer
4 87
Nellie Yost - Interviewee --- Sandra Hansen - Interviewer
New Hampshire
Box tape
4 88
Eleanor Whittmore - Interviewee --- Goldie Roscoe - Interviewer
4 89
Lora Tosey - Interviewee --- Glodie Roscoe - Interviewer
4 90
Priscilla Lloyd - Interviewee --- Glodie Roscoe - Interviewer
4 91
H.Barnstead - Interviewee --- G. Roscoe - Interviewer
New Mexico
Box tape
4 92
Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 93
Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 94
Mary Moore - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer
4 95
Marie Cauhape - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 96
Marie Cauhape - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 97
Nona Berry - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer
4 98
Florence McDonald - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 99
Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 100
Ruth James - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer
4 101
Ima Fairly - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 102
Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 103
Frances Matthews - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer
4 104
Florence McDonald - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer
4 105
Jalie Martin - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer
North Carolina
Box tape
4 106
Henrietta Phillips - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer
4 107
Nancy Madre - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer
4 108
Letha McCall - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer
4 109
Lucy Wilson - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer
4 110
Theo Hammond - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer
North Dakota
Box tape
4 111
Cora Lykeen - Interviewee --- Maryadele Knudsen - Interviewer
4 112
Karen Retzlaff - Interviewee --- Maryadele Knudsen - Interviewer
4 113
Margaret Lien - Interviewee --- Arlene Sagness - Interviewer
4 114
Mary Mootz - Interviewee --- Maryadele Knudsen - Interviewer
4 115
Minnie Ness - Interviewee --- Arlene Sagness - Interviewer
Ohio
Box tape
4 116
Nellie Stratton - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer
4 117
Winifred Thrush - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer
4 118
Mary Jones - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer
4 119
Laura Ness - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer
4 120
Betty Wenig - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer
Oklahoma
Box tape
4 121
Elba Johnston - Interviewee --- Hester Sickles - Interviewer
4 122
Mary Skelley - Interviewee --- Hester Sickles - Interviewer
4 123
Zelma Woods - Interviewee --- Hester Sickels - Interviewer
4 124
Sarah Ball - Interviewee --- Hester Sickles - Interviewer
Oregon
Box tape
4 125
Alice Wand - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer
4 126
Dorothy Personnette - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer
4 127
Saundra Zook - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer
4 128
Marie Brown - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer
4 129
Dorris Graves - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer
South Carolina
Box tape
4 130
Hazel Johnson - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer
4 131
Nona Jennings - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer
4 132
Pat Gates - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer
4 133
Etta Sellers - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer
4 134
Etta Sellers - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer
South Dakota
Box tape
4 135
Marge and Cara Kleinjam - Interviewees --- Linda Svec - Interviewer
4 136
Byrdie Johnson - Interviewee --- Evelyn Beug - Interviewer
4 137
F. Jenson
4 138
I. Hutchendorf
4 139
Irska Stroschein - Interviewee --- Linda Svec - Interviewer
4 140
Marjorie Pontius - Interviewee --- Linda Svec - Interviewer
4 141
Cleo Tyler - Interviewee
4 142
Florence Phillips - Interviewee --- Arlene Erickson - Interviewer
4 143
Minnie Murphy - Interviewee --- Laura Grubl - Interviewer
4 144
Christine Gaffin - Interviewee --- Arlene Erickson - Interviewer
Tennessee
Box tape
4 145
Hautie Nelson - Interviewee --- Alpha Worrell - Interviewer
4 146
Aileen Cole - Interviewee --- Marian Mariner - Interviewer
4 147
Julia White - Interviewee --- Marian Mariner - Interviewer
4 148
Tressa Waters - Interviewee --- Marian Mariner - Interviewer
Virginia
Box tape
4 149
Mrs. Irby Arnette - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer
4 150
Corria Ratliff - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer
4 151
Mrs. Ray Cassell - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer
4 152
Janet Cassell - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer
Washington
Box tape
4 153
Edna Dagnen - Interviewee --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer
4 154
Skiles - Interviewee --- Colville - Interviewer
4 155
Violet Cottrell - Interviewer --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer
4 156
Violet Cottrell - Interviewer --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer
4 157
Edna Dagnen - Interviewee --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer
West Virginia
Box tape
4 158
Diana Barton - Interviewee --- Margaret Lewis - Interviewer
4 159
Beatrice McCann - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer
4 160
Phyllis Sullivan - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer
4 161
Ansel Peterson - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer
4 162
Pearl Faulkner - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer
4 163
Margaret Hill - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer
4 164
Gertrude Humphries - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer
4 165
Deanne Cook - Interviewee --- Margret McKenzie - Interviewer
Wisconsin
Box tape
4 166
Lillian Blonien - Interviewee --- Georgia Hoberg - Interviewer
4 167
Joesphine Nixion - Interviewee --- Georgia Hoberg - Interviewer
4 168
Celia Lausted - Interviewee --- Georgia Hoberg - Interviewer
Wyoming
Box tape
4 169
Mary Raymond - Interviewee --- Dianna Cosner - Interviewer
4 170
Jennie Williams - Interviewee --- Katherine Martini - Interviewer
4 171
Jennie Williams - Interviewee --- Katherine Martini - Interviewer

Series 3: Miscellaneous project documentation and related papersReturn to Top

This series contains papers pertaining to the NEHC for the project Voices of American Homemakers, including advertisements, and a collection of papers from a "Seminar of Humanists and Homemakers."

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 23
Letter from Eleanor P. Arnold to John Guido
1985
5 24
Voices of American Homemakers (book)
1985
5 25
Brochure
1986
5 26
Seminar of Humanists and Homemakers papers
1983

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Agriculture
  • Home economics extension work
  • Women -- Societies and Clubs