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Charles L. Hayward was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1895. He studied chemical engineering at Columbia University, but changed his major to electrical engineering. His studies were interrupted by World War I, during which he served in the U.S. Army 13th Balloon Corps in France. After his discharge, he completed his degree at Columbia. He worked for many years as a manufacturer of time switches and later of self-starting motors for clocks, known as Telechron motors. He also served as chair for Minnesota congressman Walter Judd's campaign committee, and as chair of the Republican Party in Minnesota's fifth ward. In 1923, he and Grace Parsons were married; they soon divorced, but Hayward maintained a lifelong relationship with her son. At the age of 80, he and Ruth Bailey were married. Hayward settled in Portland, Oregon, late in his life. He died in 1998.
Oral history interview with Charles L. Hayward, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 2035, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Oral history with Charles L. Hayward, by Linda S. Dodds, SR 9580, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
This oral history interview with Charles L. Hayward was conducted by Jim Strassmaier from April 13 to May 4, 1994. The interview was meant to act as a sequel to an earlier interview with Hayward that was conducted by Linda S. Dodds in 1979. The sequel interview was conducted in two sessions.
In the first interview session, conducted on April 13, 1994, Hayward discusses his family background and early life in Holyoke, Massachusetts, including his education and his social life. He talks about his experience studying chemical engineering and electrical engineering at Columbia University, including his social life, his involvement in sports, and the advent of World War I. He discusses his U.S. Army service in the 13th Balloon Corps in France during the war. He describes a back injury he sustained during training and the treatment he received after his discharge. He then talks about his career after the war, manufacturing time switches and later self-starting motors for clocks, known as Telechron motors. He also discusses his involvement with the American Legion and dealing with the Veterans Administration. He also talks about serving as chair for Minnesota congressman Walter Judd's campaign committee.
In the second interview session, conducted on May 4, 1994, Hayward discusses his association with Charles Lindbergh while Hayward was manufacturing clock self-starting motors. He also briefly revisits the topic of his U.S. Army service in the 13th Balloon Corps in France during the World War I. He then talks about his brief marriage to Grace Parsons and his relationship with her son, Robert P. Hayward. He discusses his affiliation with the Congregational Church and his involvement with the American Legion. He closes the interview by taking about his participation in a parade in Vancouver, Washington.
Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA,