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CA SVE SD-01-02-01-06-SD_WLHP_101 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey discusses her life in the Lake Cowichan area during the 1940s, including housework and trade unionism in the region. She talks about where her support for trade unionism came from, her family’s immigration to Vancouver Island, actions undertaken by the lumber industry unions (including a 1946 strike), and fundraising in the Women’s Auxiliary. During the interview she looks through her scrapbook of correspondence and publicity regarding trade union issues and actions.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_094 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey discusses the Greenwall family history, including her family’s life in Extension and Wellington, mining communities near Nanaimo, BC. She talks about the effects of the 1912-1914 miner’s strike, the arrival of the militia, and the hardship on families. She mentions her father’s death in an explosion at the No. 5 Pit, Wellington Colliery in 1927. She also discusses the her teacher training, lack of jobs during the Great Depression, her marriage, and she and her husband’s move to Lake Cowichan for his logger job.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_095 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey & June Olson describe their childhood living conditions, including food and power shortages, and the work their mothers did to feed them, clothe them, and advocate for the community’s needs (for example, roads and healthcare). They describe their fathers’ experiences with logging work, including difficulties with the seasonal nature of the job, and the lack of unemployment insurance.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_096 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey and June Olson discuss the various issues advocated for by the IWA Women’s Auxiliary, disaffiliation with the American union, and factionalization within the union. They also discuss pensions, red baiting, and their experiences with forming a co-op grocery and credit union in their community.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_097 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey and June Olson discuss methods for organizing on the logging camps, the importance of active participation in unions, and the ways union participation has changed. They also discuss the types of work done by the Women’s Auxiliary, and the war effort. Finally, they discuss the 1946 Strike, the role of the Women’s Auxiliary within the strike, and media coverage of the strike.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_098 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey and June Olson continue discussing activities and issues taken up by the Women’s Auxiliary, including the types topics covered at educational meetings. They also talk about organizing between communities, how they became involved in the Auxiliary, the skills they learned through their involvement with the Auxiliary, and community events they helped organize.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_099 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey and June Olson talk about family life at Lake Cowichan; their husbands’ extended stays in logging camps; bunk house living conditions; camp safety; reasons for forming the Ladies’ Auxiliary; and the role of families in the 1946 strike and the Victoria Trek.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-21-SD_WLHP_100 · Item · 6 Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey and June Olson talk about the importance of the Auxiliary to each of them; the value of learning how to run a meeting; social activities like bazaars, dances, sports days, and quilting bees; some casual conversation that includes discussion about treatment of activist and blacklisted men.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-12-SD_WLHP_369 · Item · Sep. 1989
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

June Olson and her husband, Nels Olson, discuss the Lake Cowichan logging industry and their families’ roles in it during the depression and war years. Nels gives an overview of the many companies that worked there including McDonald Murphy Logging. Tree felling safety issues are discussed.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-07-SD_WLHP_081 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Betty Griffin discusses her experiences working in the Boeing factory during World War II, including details about hours and wages, working with men, and her feelings towards the war effort. She also discusses her involvement with leftist politics, union organizing, and social life within the union.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-07-SD_WLHP_082 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Betty Griffin discusses daily life as a Boeing employee, including an account of her first day at work. She also discusses her experiences as union shop steward and social committee chairman, including her experiences with getting fired (and subsequently re-hired) due to her involvement with the union. Finally, she discusses her experiences with going to university after having experienced working life, the Mayday Parade, and demonstrations on the Powell St. grounds (now Oppenheimer Park).

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-07-SD_WLHP_354 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Betty Griffin discusses wages and equal pay for women, and the difference in attitude towards women working during World War II and after the war. She also discusses consciousness raising within the rank and file (including the Worker’s Educational Association and the Miss Production contest), and struggles within the union between right wing and progressive factions. Finally, Griffin discusses attitudes towards the war effort and Fascism.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-11-SD_WLHP_335 · Item · Jul. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Emily Nuttall continues her discussion of the Milwaukee Convention (1946), and also discusses Archie Johnson, and her opinion on current events at the time of interview.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-11-SD_WLHP_091 · Item · Jul. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Emily Nuttall discusses difficulties with organizing in restaurants (lots of turnover, its consideration as “women’s work”), changes in outlook on the profession from the Depression, her involvement with hotel organizing (particularly in the Georgia Hotel and the Belmont Hotel), and the union’s work towards shorter work weeks and the elimination of split shifts.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-11-SD_WLHP_089 · Item · Jul. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Emily Nuttall discusses her early life, education, and her first job waitressing in 1930s Winnipeg (job search, wages, hours). She also discusses working conditions, sexual harassment in the workplace, and when she became interested in union organizing, and her early experiences in unions (Toronto, 1942).

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-11-SD_WLHP_090 · Item · Jul. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Emily Nuttall discusses her experiences in hotel & restaurant workers unions, her election to President of Local 676, working conditions, hostility towards feminism in the bartender’s unions, daily union work, the bravery and difficulty of union organizing, and the war effort.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-11-SD_WLHP_092 · Item · Jul. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Emily Nuttall discusses pushing for legislation implementing paid transportation at the end of night shifts, women in the trade union movement and the progression of the women’s movement, the Milwaukee convention (McCarthyism, communism and red baiting), her expulsion from the union, blacklisting, and unemployment.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-13-SD_WLHP_346 · Item · 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Alice Person discusses attitudes towards women working, the issue of equal pay, the beginnings of her union consciousness, and what she learned from her family with regards to politics. She also discusses changes to women’s rights.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-17-SD_WLHP_349 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Jean Shiels discusses the Mother’s Council and relief during the Great Depression. She also discusses the peace movement, the League Against the War on Fascism, and support for Spain in the 1930s. Finally, she discusses the Young Pioneers and summer camp, race relations, women in trade unions, and birth control.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-03-SD_WLHP_340 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Ruth Bullock discusses her early life on Saltspring Island, and the injustices faced by girls. She also discusses her first job as a housekeeper in New Westminster, including wages and daily duties. Finally, she talks about her first marriage, enduring the Great Depression, the difficulties of pregnancy and childbirth at the time, and her fears that her newborn baby girl would face the same injustices she did.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-15-SD_WLHP_350 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Jean Scott discusses her early life, growing up on the prairies, and her first jobs as a domestic. She discusses her musical aspirations, leaving her abusive husband, and the poor treatment of domestic workers. Finally, she discusses working in a small country hospital, attending night school, and the personal changes that came with the advent of war.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-13-SD_WLHP_344 · Item · 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Alice Person discusses her family’s move to British Columbia, her early life, and her family’s experiences on welfare. She also touches upon organizations for the unemployed, her employment history, working on a hops farm, and segregation in the farming industry.

FTBT - E. Fordham - #1
CA SVE SD-01-02-01-05-SD_WLHP_240 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Elizabeth Fordham discusses her experiences during the Great Depression, including difficulties with housing, food, and looking after children. She also discusses the women’s labour movement and the types of organizing undertaken by the movement. Finally, she discusses the pacifist movement during the 1930s.

FTBT - E. Fordham - #2
CA SVE SD-01-02-01-05-SD_WLHP_353 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Elizabeth Fordham discusses the On to Ottawa Trek, Women’s League meetings, how she became involved in politics, and the different women’s organizations at the time. She also discusses evictions in Vancouver during the Great Depression, the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike, and her first job.

FTBT - E. Fordham - #3
CA SVE SD-01-02-01-05-SD_WLHP_241 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Elizabeth Fordham discusses her job pressing clothing. She also discusses her reasons for immigrating from England to Saskatchewan, and her subsequent movement from Saskatchewan to British Columbia. She talks about the birth control movement and the lack of sexual health education for women. Finally, she discusses her experiences setting up a summer camp for workers’ children.