Northwest Women's History Project records and interviews, 1943-2021

This discussion was recorded at Portland State University on December 1, 1980. In this recording, Nona Y. Glazer describes the orientation process for new students in the sociology department at PSU, then leads a discussion on the topic.

This recording of a lecture by Jerry Baum, English professor at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, was made around 1981. Baum discusses the treatment of workers under capitalism, the rise of labor unions, and several famous labor strikes. He particularly focuses on the history of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. He talks about labor unions and the Kaiser shipyards in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, and about women workers in those unions and shipyards.

This recording is of a song entitled "Rosie the Riveter." An unidentified woman sings and plays guitar about working as a welder in an airplane factory during World War II.

This oral history interview with Ree F. Adkins was conducted by Lynn Taylor at Adkins' home in Vancouver, Washington, on June 2, 1981. In this interview, Adkins discusses her family background and early life in Hardman, Oregon. She talks about her career as a teacher, about her experience during the Depression, and about her marriage to Conser L. Adkins. She describes how she came to work as an electrician at the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, during World War II, and shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards. She talks about her job duties, about the people she worked with, and about the protective clothing she wore. She discusses her living conditions during the war, her commute to the shipyards, and briefly working in the cafeteria at the Kaiser hospital. She describes a typical day during the time she worked in the shipyards, talks about her life after the end of the war, and shares her thoughts about women in the workforce.

This oral history interview with Dorothy R. Anderson was conducted by Amy Kesselman at the U.S. Bancorp Building in Portland, Oregon, on May 22, 1981. In this interview, Anderson discusses her early life in Salem, and talks about jobs she worked during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as an electrician at Commercial Iron Works and at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. She also talks about her marriage in 1940 and about her divorce in 1944. She shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards, talks about her job duties, and describes the dangers of the job. She talks about the jobs she held after the end of the war, particularly her career with the U.S. National Bank of Oregon, shares her thoughts on the women's liberation movement, and discusses her plans for retirement.

This oral history interview with Doris Avshalomov was conducted by Madeline Moore at Avshalomov's home in Portland, Oregon, on June 5, 1981. In this interview, Avshalomov discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon, including her experience at Reed College. She speaks about working as an electrician in the Kaiser shipyard in Vancouver, Washington; shares her observations on the experiences of Black shipyard workers; and describes some of the discrimination she experienced due to her age, her gender, and her friendliness towards Black workers. She talks about her training and describes her job duties; talks about her living situation; and then speaks about her life after the war. She shares her reasons for leaving the shipyards in 1944. She reads a poem she wrote about working in the shipyards. She closes the interview by talking about some of the people she met in the shipyards. Complete transcript available (35 pages).

This oral history interview with Kay Baker was conducted by Karen Wickre at Baker's home in Portland, Oregon, on April 4, 1981. In this interview, Baker discusses her early life in Oswego (now known as Lake Oswego), Oregon, including her experiences during the Depression. She shares the reasons why she chose not to get married. She then talks about working as a burner for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works, describes how the work affected her health, and discusses some of the people she worked with. She talks about her wages, about her membership in the Boilermakers Union, and about her reasons for leaving the shipyards. She shares her observations about the experiences of Black shipyard workers, describes a typical workday, and describes some of the treatment that women workers received from their male coworkers. She talks about her life after the war, particularly her experiences working at Precision Cast Parts. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts on the women's movement and feminism. Complete transcript available (52 pages).

This oral history interview with Reva E. Baker was conducted by Sandy Polishuk at Baker's home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on April 24, 1981. The audio recording is incomplete; Tape 1 of the interview was not included in the donation of this collection to the Oregon Historical Society. In this interview, Baker discusses her experience as a welder at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, Oregon, during World War II. She looks through her scrapbook and talks about the newspaper clippings, photographs, and letters in it. She describes her job duties, discusses the ship construction process, and talks about celebrity visits to the shipyards. She discusses the dangers of the job. She also shares her memories of participating in a welding contest. She shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement. She talks about her life after the end of the war, including her career with a telephone company, and about her family.

This oral history interview with Helen E. Berggren was conducted by Sara Cook and Lynn Taylor at Berggren's home in Brush Prairie, Oregon, on May 23, 1981. In this interview, Berggren discusses her early life in North Dakota and describes the death of her mother in 1920. She talks about working as an electrician at the Kaiser shipyard in Vancouver, Washington. She talks about other jobs she worked and raising her family. She speaks about the people she worked with at the shipyard, about her job duties, and about the dangers of the job. She speaks at length about her life after the war, particularly about houses where she lived in Brush Prairie, and revisits the topic of her early life to talk about her education. She closes the interview by talking about a trip she took to Washington, D.C. Complete transcript available (36 pages).

This oral history interview with Kay Blair was conducted by Madeline Moore on April 26, 1980. Blair's daughter, Nancy K. Blair, was also present. In this interview, Blair discusses her experience working as an electrician in the Kaiser shipyard on Swan Island. She talks about her commute, about balancing home life and her career, and shares instances of sexual harassment she experienced from her male coworkers. She describes working with asbestos and other health hazards of the job. She also talks about race and sex segregation that she observed. She describes a typical work day, talks about her training, and shares her reasons for seeking work as an electrician. She also talks about the Kaiser child service centers. She discusses her reasons for leaving the shipyards and talks about her life after the war. She also talks about her membership in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and describes her working and living conditions. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts about the women's movement and feminism. Incomplete transcript available (13 pages).

The sound quality of this interview is very poor. This oral history interview with Carrie Chapman was conducted by Madeline Moore and Karen Wickre on May 12, 1980. In this interview, Chapman discusses living and teaching in Eastern Oregon, and talks about teaching special education in Portland schools. She describes how she came to work as a welder at the Commercial Iron Works shipyards in Portland. She describes the dangers of the job, talks about her job duties, and discusses the treatment women workers received in Portland, from both men and other women. She shares her feelings about working with Black people. She describes naval inspections, talks about people she worked with, and shares her feelings about the the U.S. government's incarceration of Japanese Americans. She also talks about necessary protective gear.

This oral history interview with Betty B. Cleator was conducted by Madeline Moore in Warrenton, Oregon, on June 6, 1981. In this interview, Cleator briefly discusses her family background and early life, talks about how she came to work in the Kaiser shipyard in Vancouver, Washington, and shares her experiences as a drafter. She describes the work she did as a draftsman, and speaks at length about the drafting process at Kaiser. She talks about studying landscape architecture in college, and about the difficulty of finding a job in that field as a woman. She describes daily life in the shipyards, shares stories about the dangers of the work, and talks about the discrimination women faced from their union. She shares her memories of life in Portland during the early days of World War II. She talks about jobs she held after the end of the war and discusses how attitudes toward women in the workforce changed.

This oral history interview with Nell M. Conley was conducted by Sara Cook and Amy Kesselman in March 1981. In the interview, Conley discusses her experiences as a welder and crane operator at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about using the shipyard day care center, about her commute, and about her involvement in a fashion show for welders. She discusses some of the people she worked with, her membership in the Boilermakers Union, and the treatment of the women workers after the war. She describes her job duties as a crane operator and talks about working as a telephone operator after the war. She closes the interview by sharing her observations on the treatment of Black shipyard workers. Complete transcript available (30 pages).

This oral history interview with Lue Rayne H. Culbertson was conducted by Sandy Polishuk at Culbertson's home in Gresham, Oregon, on May 4, 1981. Culbertson's husband, Leo W. Culbertson, was also present and contributed to the interview. In this interview, Culbertson discusses her early life in Portland, including working multiple jobs while in high school. She talks about working as a specialty welder in the shipyards in Portland, Oregon, during World War II, the cost of protective clothing, and about injuries on the job. She speaks about working alongside men, describes her job duties, and discusses balancing work and family life. She briefly discusses her wages and her membership in the Boilermakers union. She then talks about her life after the war, including working as a waitress. She also describes President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1942 visit to the shipyards; talks about her working and living conditions; and describes a typical work day. Complete transcript available (98 pages).

This oral history interview with Rosa N. Dickson was conducted by Sara Cook and Amy Kesselman in April 1980. In this interview, Dickson discusses her early life on a farm in Texas, including her experiences during the Depression. She talks about the reasons she came to Oregon in 1943 and about her reasons for staying in Portland after the war. She discusses working as a pipefitter helper and as a tank cleaner in the Albina shipyards; speaks about balancing work and home life; and describes her job duties. She also shares her opinion on feminism and the women's movement. She talks about her wages and the prices of household goods; about the jobs she held after the war ended; and about drawing Social Security. She also looks at photographs and talks about them. Complete transcript available (32 pages).

This oral history interview with Audrey B. Dotsey was conducted by Amy Kesselman on June 15, 1981. In this interview, Dotsey discusses her early life in Arkansas and talks about coming to Oregon in 1943. She talks about working as a scaler for Willamette Iron and Steel (WISCO). She also talks about other jobs she held after the war, including working as a waitress, in canneries, and as a housekeeper. She describes a typical work day as a scaler, discusses her child care arrangement, and talks about discrimination she experienced as a Black woman. She shares her reasons for staying in Portland after the war; talks about her marriages and about adopting children; and speaks further about her experiences in the shipyards. Incomplete transcript available (5 pages).

This oral history interview with Ruth K. Drurey was conducted by Amy Kesselman at Drurey's home in Hillsboro, Oregon, on April 18, 1981. In this interview, Drurey discusses her family background and early life in Milwaukie, Oregon. She describes how she came to work as a burner at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland during World War II and shares her experiences as a woman worker. She talks about her job duties, about the protective clothing she wore, and about her living arrangement during the war. She describes a typical day in the shipyards, discusses the dangers of the job, and talks about some of the people she worked with. She also discusses her life after the end of the war and speaks at length about her career with the Housing Authority. She shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement.

This oral history interview with Leona E. Ellis was conducted by Sandy Polishuk in Portland, Oregon, on May 15, 1981. In this interview, Ellis discusses her family background and early life in Portland. She discusses working as a marine machinist for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She describes her job duties, talks about her experiences as one of the first women in the shipyards, and speaks about some of the people she worked with. She talks about her wages, about her life after the war, and about attending business college. She speaks about her social life during the war, about the dangers of the job, and about her membership in unions. She talks about the treatment she received from her male coworkers, shares her observations of the treatment of Black shipyard workers, and describes the launch of the last Liberty ship. She shares several anecdotes about her time in the shipyards, particularly regarding her experiences as a woman. She closes the interview by looking at photographs and other documents, and talking about them. Incomplete transcript available (10 pages).

This oral history interview with Alice A. Erickson was conducted by Amy Kesselman on June 5, 1981. In this interview, Erickson discusses her early life on farms in Nebraska and South Dakota. She talks about her reasons for coming to Oregon in 1941, then discusses her experiences as a tack welder and a driller in the shipyards in Portland. She describes her job duties, talks about the treatment she received from her male coworkers, and discusses jobs she held after the war. Complete transcript available (15 pages).

This oral history interview with Eva L. Groshong was conducted by Amy Kesselman in Gresham, Oregon, on June 18, 1981. In this interview, Groshong discusses her early life on a farm in Goldendale, Washington, her marriage history, and her work as a fruit packer and teacher. She describes how she came to work in the Kaiser shipyard in Vancouver, Washington, during World War II and shares her experiences as a woman worker. She talks about the dangers of the job, about the people she worked with, and about her daily activities during that time. She also discusses her husband's health and her activities after the end of the war. She shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement and about secular government.

This oral history interview with Etta G. Harvey was conducted by Sandy Polishuk at Harvey's home in Portland, Oregon, on May 28, 1981. In this interview, Harvey discusses her early life in Portland, including her first marriage to John F. Frey and early job as a waitress, then describes how she came to work as a burner at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. She also talks about her marriage to Clarence L. Harvey in 1944. She describes her job duties, shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards, and talks about her wages. She describes the dangers of the job, as well as her own work-related injuries. She talks about her son's education, career, and family. She speaks about working as a waitress after the end of the war, and reflects on the most challenging aspects of working alongside men in the shipyard. She closes the interview by sharing her thoughts on the women's liberation movement.

This oral history interview with Mabel L. Hegg was conducted by Susan Feldman at Hegg's home in Portland, Oregon, on May 26, 1981. In this interview, Hegg discusses her early jobs, then describes how she came to work as a lead lady tank cleaner for Commercial Iron Works during World War II. She talks about the work of tank cleaners and about the duties of a lead lady. She discusses racism she observed in the shipyards, talks about people she worked with, and speaks about her work after the end of the war. She also talks about briefly working in a shipyard in Seattle, Washington.

This oral history interview with Edna L. Hopkins was conducted by Amy Kesselman on May 28, 1981. In this interview, Hopkins discusses her early life in Kentucky and Tennessee, including raising a family and working at an aircraft plant. She then talks about coming to Oregon in 1943 and shares her experiences as a welder in the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver, Washington. She describes her training, her job duties, and the dangers of the job. She discusses her union membership, as well as balancing work and home life. She speaks about her life after the war, including working at the Jantzen Knitting Mills. She shares her opinion on the women's movement and feminism, shares her observations of the treatment Black people received in Portland, and talks about her children, their families and their careers. Complete transcript available (38 pages).

This oral history interview with Lois L. Housman was conducted by Madeline Moore at Housman's home in Portland, Oregon, on May 22, 1981. In this interview, Housman speaks at length about her early life on a farm near Springfield, Missouri. She talks about her marriage to Joe Housman. She speaks at length about working at and running restaurants in Portland, Oregon. She describes how she came to work as a welder in the Kaiser shipyards in Portland during World War II and shares her experiences as a woman worker. She talks about her training, about her friendship with Augusta Clawson, author of "Shipyard Diary of a Woman Welder," and about a typical day in the shipyards. She discusses the dangers of the job and the protective gear she wore; shares her observations about how Black workers were treated in the shipyards; and talks about balancing her family and work. She shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement.

This oral history interview with Joan F. Hudlicky was conducted by Sara Cook and Amy Kesselman at Hudlicky's home in Vancouver, Washington, on April 10, 1981. In this interview, Hudlicky discusses her early life in Portland, Oregon. She talks about her experiences working in the shipyards, particularly her work as a crane operator. She also discusses her life after the war. She describes a typical day in the shipyards, talks about her child care arrangement, and discusses the dangers of the job. She speaks about the treatment she received from her male coworkers and talks about how women's status in society changed after the war. Complete transcript available (29 pages).

This oral history interview with Patricia C. Koehler was conducted by Sandra Cook at Koehler's home in Portland, Oregon, on June 18, 1981. In this interview, Koehler describes how she came to work as an electrician in the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, during World War II and shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards. She discusses the job duties of an electrician, describes a typical day in the shipyards, and talks about the protective gear she wore. She discusses her wages, the people she worked with, and the dangers of the job. She shares her experience working the graveyard shift, talks about her commute, and discusses her social life. She then talks about her college experiences at Reed College and Portland State University, and about her children, their families, and their careers.

This oral history interview with Velma A. Lake was conducted by Amy Kesselman on May 20, 1980. In this interview, Lake discusses her experience as a scaler and a welder at Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon, during World War II. She describes her job duties, discusses her union membership as a scaler, and talks about her child care arrangements. She talks about people she worked with and discusses the diversity of the shipyard workforce. She describes the protective clothing she wore, talks about how women were treated by male coworkers, and speaks about her life after the end of the war.

This oral history interview with Virginia I. Larson was conducted by Madeline Moore at Larson's home in Estacada, Oregon, on April 12, 1981. In this interview, Larson discusses her family background and early life in North Dakota, and shares her family's experience during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as a machinist at the Kaiser shipyards in Portland, Oregon, during World War II, and shares her experiences as a woman worker. She talks about her job duties, discusses her machinist training, and describes the protective clothing she wore. She talks about the people she worked with, about the dangers of the job, and about her typical daily activities. She speaks about her life after the end of the war, and shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement.

This oral history interview with Rita M. Lievsay was conducted by Sandra Cook and Amy Kesselman in October, 1980. In this interview, Livesay describes how she came to work as a riveter in the Kaiser shipyards in Portland, Oregon, and shares her experiences as a woman worker. She talks about her wages, about the different jobs she worked in the shipyards, and about the houses she lived in. She shares her work history and discusses her life after the end of the war.

This oral history interview with Beatrice G. Marshall was conducted by Madeline Moore and Christine Poole on June 11, 1981. In this interview, Marshall discusses her involvement in the National Youth Administration during World War II, then talks about her experiences as a Black woman worker in the Portland shipyards. She describes her machinist training in Indiana; speaks about being denied work for which she was qualified due to racial discrimination; and talks about working as a painter's helper and a sweeper, which were the only jobs open to Black women. She talks about her life after the war, including the jobs she held. Complete transcript available (35 pages).

This oral history interview with Ida E. Matz was conducted by Sandra Cook at Matz's home in Portland, Oregon, on June 18, 1981. In this interview, Matz discusses her early life as the child of a forest ranger in Oregon and Washington, including her education and family summers camping in state forests. She talks about her education and career as a nurse at Emanuel Hospital in Portland. She also shares her experience during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as a nurse at Commercial Iron Works during World War II. She talks about some of the injuries she saw in patients at the shipyards and about workplace safety there. She compares her shipyard nursing work to her other nursing jobs and shares her reasons for leaving the field of industrial nursing after 1968. She shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement.

This oral history interview with Marie Merchant was conducted by Amy Kesselman at Merchant's home in Portland, Oregon, on July 20, 1981. In this interview, Merchant discusses her early life in Lexington, Kentucky, including her marriage history and raising a family during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as a scaler and painter's helper at Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Oregon, during World War II. She talks about the job duties of a scaler, about her child care arrangements, and about the work she did after the end of the war. She shares her reasons for remaining in Portland and talks about her involvement in her church.

This oral history interview with Betty Niederhaus and Marie Schreiber was conducted by Barbara Whittlesey at Niederhaus's home in Portland, Oregon, on May 17, 1981. In this interview, they discuss their family background and early life in Portland. They then talk about their experiences as marine machinists for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. They describe their job duties, talk about the dangers of the job, and speak about people they worked with. They also discuss the experience of being laid off immediately after the war ended. They talk about their lives after the war and Niederhaus speaks about working for Jantzen Knitting Mills. They discuss the lower wages they earn as women, and share their thoughts on the women's movement and feminism. Complete transcript available (49 pages).

This oral history interview with Nona F. Pool was conducted by Amy Kesselman on May 25, 1981. In this interview, Pool discusses her early life in Nebraska and in Denver, Colorado, and describes her experiences during the Depression. She speaks about her experience as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She talks about living in Vanport and about her child care arrangements. She describes her training, her job duties, and the dangers of the job. She discusses balancing work and family life. She speaks at length about jobs she held after the war, including returning to welding for Freightliner. She shares her opinion on the women's movement and feminism. Incomplete transcript available (6 pages).

This oral history interview with Patricia L. Rowlands was conducted by Karen Wickre at Rowlands' home in Gresham, Oregon, on May 20, 1981. In this interview, Rowlands discusses her family background and early life in Portland, including attending high school with Connie McCready, her experience during the Depression, and her first marriage. She describes how she came to work on a clean-up crew at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, and shares her experiences as a woman worker in the shipyards. She talks about people she worked with, describes her job duties, and discusses the dangers of the job. She shares her experience with the Kaiser child care centers. She speaks about later working as an electrician trainee at the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. She describes her typical day as a shipyard worker, then talks about her life after the end of the war, including the end of her first marriage and working at Jantzen Mills. She speaks about her children, their families, and their careers. She shares her thoughts about the women's liberation movement.

This oral history interview with Billie H. Strmiska was conducted by Karen Wickre at Strmiska's home in Wheeler, Oregon, on June 14, 1981. Strmiska's husband, Edward Strmiska, was also present and occasionally contributed to the interview. In this interview, Strmiska discusses her early life in Penelope, Texas, then talks about her experiences during the Depression in Oregon, in Texas, and in Washington. She discusses her experiences as a welder for the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation and for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She describes her training, talks about the protective clothing she wore, and discusses the dangers of the job. She speaks at length about participating in a welding contest in 1943 and about the trip she took as a result of achieving second place. She talks about her life after the war, running a berry farm with her husband. Complete transcript available (60 pages).

This oral history interview with Mabel E. Studebaker was conducted by Amy Kesselman at Studebaker's home in Vancouver, Washington, on April 15, 1981. In this interview, Studebaker discusses her early life on a farm in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and about raising a family during the Depression. She describes how she came to work as a pipefitter at the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver during World War II and shares her experiences as a woman worker. She discusses her job duties, talks about balancing raising a family with work in the shipyards, and describes a typical day on the job. She speaks about working in canneries and baking wedding cakes after the end of the war.

This oral history interview with Berenice E. Thompson was conducted by Sara Cook and Amy Kesselman in Gladstone, Oregon, in April 1980. In this interview, Thompson discusses her experiences as a welder for Commercial Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. She talks about drug use in the shipyards; about the treatment she received from her male coworkers, including her husband; and about the dangers of the job. She discusses her child care arrangement, describes the protective clothing she wore, and shares anecdotes about her time in the shipyards. She talks about her life after the war, and speaks about her hobbies of painting and bread baking. Incomplete transcript available (10 pages).