Showing 77 results

archival descriptions
CA SVE SD-01-02-01-01-SD_WLHP_069 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Mrs. Atwal, Mrs Maan, Mrs. Johal talk about immigrating from India and their early years in Canada; Mrs. Gill talks about her experiences as a Canadian-born, raised and educated woman. The women talk abut their arranged marriages, their children’s rejection of the same, and about their lives as logger’s wives and living conditions in Lake Cowichan in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-01-SD_WLHP_070 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Mrs. Atwal, Mrs. Maan, Mrs. Johal and Mrs. Gill talk about managing a working class wage including not being able to afford going to a restaurant, the importance of women raising animals and gardening to feed the family, and taking on menial jobs; how despite their poverty they all enjoyed those early times; Mrs. Johal tells a story of finding her cow in the house eating her knitting; living in housing owned by the mill companies; their responsibility towards family members including helping those immigrating during their first years in Canada; their experiences working outside the home, including in nursing and as agricultural labourers.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-02-SD_WLHP_336 · Item · 16 Sep. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Nancy Buker discusses her family’s immigration from Scotland to Saskatchewan in 1920, and her subsequent experiences growing up in the area. She also talks about moving to and living in Vancouver during the Great Depression and World War II. She discusses working in the shipyards of Vancouver and the Burrard Dry Dock (finding work, first day on the job, daily duties, working with men), and joining the steamfitters and plumbers union, and becoming shop steward. Finally, she discusses social life within the union.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-02-SD_WLHP_337 · Item · 16 Sep. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Nancy Buker discusses living at the Humphrey Creek logging camp with her husband, and her short term job in the kitchen. She also further discusses notable incidents at the shipyard, her feelings towards the war effort, what she learned from her time on the job, and advice for the next generation of women.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-01-SD_WLHP_071 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Mrs. Atwal, Mrs. Maan, Mrs. Johal and Mrs. Gill talk about the dangers of forestry jobs; criticism of the union for supporting workers charged with working unsafely even if the worker is in the wrong; how the union helped them get holiday pay and retirement pensions; the ways women support the union during strikes such as feeding people on the line; how women had to be very careful of household budgeting.

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-01-02-01-03-SD_WLHP_341 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Ruth Bullock continues discussing abortion, the difficulties of pregnancy and childbirth, and her involvement in the birth control movement. She discusses her increased involvement in politics, and her joining of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1933, and the position of women inside the party. Finally, she discusses changes within politics and the women’s movement with the advent of World War II, and her work in the canning industry in the Mission area.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-03-SD_WLHP_093 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Ruth Bullock discusses factionalization within leftist parties and labour organizations, particularly as such factionalization affected attitudes towards the war. She also discusses how women were politicized during the war, and her experiences within women’s auxiliaries.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-04-SD_WLHP_366 · Item · 17 Mar. 1990
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Marge Dalskog talks about how she met her second husband during the IWA’s fight to leave the International (1946); writing and reporting for the Richmond Times and writing her column “Hold the Line, Please” for the union paper; life on Lulu Island in the 1940’s; how women reacted to the changes in the workplace post-war; how working women found childcare; disputes with the press during the 1946 International fight; reasons for the local IWA wanting to leave the US-based International; attacks on union organizers for their political beliefs.

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.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-04-SD_WLHP_367 · Item · 17 Mar. 1990
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Marge Dalskog talks about her husband Ernie’s work with the Woodworker’s Union of Canada around 1947 and subsequent blacklisting; her participation in the radio show “Five Minutes with Mona” (Mona Morgan); and why the Auxiliary was important to the union and the women who participated.

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.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-04-SD_WLHP_068 · Item · 17 Mar. 1990
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

(Part 1) Marge Dalskog talks about her early married life as the only woman in a small logging camp with her first husband, a gas shovel operator; living out of a tent; walking four miles in a dress to have tea with the boss’ wife; her first experience of a logger’s death; lack of compensation for injury or death in non-unionized camps; daily life of mothers in the camps; (Part 2) Expectations of women by men; social relationships between the women; early attempts to unionize the camps; stories about her father’s fight for farmer’s rights in Saskatchewan during her childhood; joining the Women’s Auxiliary after moving to Lulu Island; the end of her marriage; (Part 3) How involvement in trade unionism and the Women’s Auxiliary benefitted women and bolstered their sense of self-worth; getting a job and raising her two children on her own in North Vancouver; becoming Secretary of the Council; her work in an umbrella factory and as the boss’ driver; women not being welcome at regular meetings with the men; impressions of the federal government while serving as a delegate to Ottawa; working at Boeing near the end of the war.

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-01-02-01-06-SD_WLHP_329 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey talks about the Lake Cowichan Women’s Auxiliary travelling delegations; women’s activities during the 1946 strike and the Auxiliary’s 10th anniversary; the Auxiliary’s community role as fundraisers and supporting services; the local chapter of the charity Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE); the importance of Gordon’s general store and the co-op; and the Indo-Canadian community at Cowichan.

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.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-06-SD_WLHP_330 · Item · [198-] or [199-]
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Lil Godfrey discusses issues surrounding the Canadian IWA split from the International in 1948; labelling of trade unionists as radicals and communists; the social focus of Women’s Auxiliary activities after 1948; early conditions in the bunk houses. Lil describes photos, printed material, and newspaper clipping, from her scrapbook that document the Auxiliary. Includes information on other members and the IWA Trek to Victoria.

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-01-02-01-07-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-01-02-01-08-SD_WLHP_083 · Item · 14 Sep. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Gladys Hilland discusses her early life on a farm in Dunkirk, Saskatchewan, including the work she did on the farm, unionization amongst farmers during the Great Depression. She discusses the Farmer’s Unity League, her brother’s involvement with the organization, and the impression it made on her. She also discusses her move to Vancouver, and her work as a domestic.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-08-SD_WLHP_086 · Item · 14 Sep. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Gladys Hilland discusses struggles over leadership within the International Woodworkers of America (IWA), the Canadian unions’ break with the international, the consequences of this break, and her own role within it. She also discusses federal legislation’s impact on union organizing, the No Strike Pledge, the war effort, and unionism as a political issue.

CA SVE SD-01-02-01-08-SD_WLHP_085 · Item · 14 Sep. 1987
Part of Sara Diamond fonds

Gladys Hilland discusses the position and activity of women in the union, and the exodus of women from industry after World War II. She discusses the wage freeze and the strike of 1946, as well as the structure of the union and the ways decisions were made within it. Finally, she discusses McCarthyism and tension within the union during the postwar period.