Guide to the National Extension Homemakers Oral History Collection 1983-1986
Cage 825

Summary Information

Repository
Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
Title
National Extension Homemakers Oral History Collection
ID
Cage 825
Date [inclusive]
1983-1986
Extent
3 Linear feet of shelf space, 5 Boxes
Language
Collection materials are in English.
Abstract
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.

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.

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Biography/History

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.

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Scope and Content

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).

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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. >

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections  © 2015

https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/

Terrell Library

P.O. Box 645610

Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA

509-335-6691

mascref@wsu.edu

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open and available for research use.

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.

Acquisition Information

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

Processing Information

Jacki Hedlund Tyler processed this collection in 2015.

Alternative Form Available

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

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Related Materials

Separated Material

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

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Names and Subjects

Subject(s)

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

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Detailed Description of Collection

Series 1: Transcripts of oral interviews, 1983-1986 

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).
box folder

Volume I: Summary and Index 

 1 1

Volume I: Alabama and Alaska 

 1 2

Volume I: Arkansas 

 1 3

Volume I: Colorado and Delaware 

 1 4

Volume I: Florida 

 1 5

Volume II: Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, and Illinois 

 1 6

Volume II: Indiana 

 1 7

Volume II: Kansas and Kentucky 

 1 8

Volume II: Louisiana and Maryland 

 2 9

Volume III: Michigan 

 2 10

Volume III: Minnesota, Mississippi, and Missouri 

 2 11

Volume III: Nebraska and Montana 

 2 12

Volume III: New Hampshire 

 2 13

Volume III: New Mexico 

 2 14

Volume III: North Carolina 

 2 15

Volume IV: North Dakota 

 3 16

Volume IV: Ohio 

 3 17

Volume IV: Oklahoma and Oregon 

 3 18

Volume V: South Carolina and South Dakota 

 3 19

Volume V: Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington 

 3 20

Volume V: West Virginia 

 3 21

Volume V: Wisconsin andWyoming 

 3 22

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Series 2: Audio recordings of oral interviews 

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.

Alabama 
box tape

Ouida Harwell - Interviewee --- Opal Price - Interviewer 

 4 1

Opal Price - Interviewee --- Mage Beeton - Interviewer 

 4 2

Elizabeth McAdams - Interviewee --- Miriam Watkins - Interviewer 

 4 3

Sue Moman - Interviewee --- Jean Moon - Interviewer 

 4 4

Sallie Bell - Interviewee --- Mildred Ennis - Interviewer 

 4 5

Bertha Andrews - Interviewee --- Nina Langley - Interviewer 

 4 6

Alaska 
box tape

Gussie Mumey - Interviewee --- Rieta Walker - Interviewer 

 4 7

Evie Foster - Interviewee --- L. Burgonye - Interviewer 

 4 8

Lillian Eckert - Interviewee --- Nancy Rowland - Interviewer 

 4 9

Arkansas 
box tape

Vivian Jefferson - Interviewee --- Katherine Skeleton - Interviewer 

 4 10

Ann Webb - Interviewee --- Minvera Houser - Interviewer 

 4 11

Opal Cypert - Interviewee --- Katherine Skeleton - Interviewer 

 4 12

Esse Simmons - Interviewee --- Minvera Houser - Interviewer 

 4 13

Dorothoy Tolley - Interviewee --- Minvera Houser - Interviewer 

 4 14

Colorado 
box tape

Pearl Mehl - Interviewee --- Hazel Leininger - Interviewer 

 4 15

Hazel Leininger - Interviewee --- Misaye Uno - Interviewer 

 4 16

Lois Kevan - Interviewee --- Hazel Leininger - Interviewer 

 4 17

Misaye Uno - Interviewee --- Misaye Uno - Interviewer 

 4 18

Deleware 
box tape

Tyrawski - Interviewee --- Skibinski - Interviewer 

 4 19

Dorothy Tyrawski - Interviewee --- Jean Skibinski - Interviewer 

 4 20

Florance Reed - Interviewee --- Jean Skibinski - Interviewer 

 4 21

Florida 
box tape

Thelma Barnes - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer 

 4 22

Eunice Cameron - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer 

 4 23

Elsie Gould - Interviewee --- Adelaise Moores - Interviewer 

 4 24

Emily Harper - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer 

 4 25

Pearl Laffite - Interviewee --- Louise Lindberg - Interviewer 

 4 26

Katherine Taylor - Interviewee --- Adelaide Moores - Interviewer 

 4 27

Georgia 
box tape

Glenwood Homemakers - Interviewees --- Mary Harltey - Interviewer 

 4 28

Past Presidents - Interviewees --- Mary Hartly - Interviewer 

 4 29

Hawaii 
box tape

Julia Souza - Interviewee --- Bert Kikuchi - Interviewer 

 4 30

Betty Sakate - Interviewee --- Gladys Brown - Interviewer 

 4 31

Idaho 
box tape

Dorothy Carlson - Interviewee --- Ruth Bright - Interviewer 

 4 32

Ruth Bright - Interviewee 

 4 33

Illinois 
box tape

Charlene Diel - Interviewee --- Elenor Ross - Interviewer 

 4 34

Floy Chapman - Interviewee --- Eleanor Ross - Interviewer 

 4 35

M. Hyde - Interviewee --- E. Pagal - Interviewer 

 4 36

Catherine Wycoff - Interviewee --- Eleanor Ross - Interviewer 

 4 37

Indiana 
box tape

Iva Crouse - Interviewee --- Carol Schroeder - Interviewer 

 4 38

Neva Schlatter - Interviewee --- Julia Binkley - Interviewer 

 4 39

Masa Scheerer - Interviewee --- Mona Harley - Interviewer 

 4 40

Pearl McCall - Interviewee -- ? Colbert - Interviewer 

 4 41

Beulah Grinstead - Interviewee --- Wanetta Edgerly - Interviewer 

 4 42

Kansas 
box tape

Brenda Van Meter - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer 

 4 43

Sophia Bigge - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer 

 4 44

Sophia Bigge - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer 

 4 45

Evelyn Alden - Interviewee --- Athol Reusser - Interviewer 

 4 46

Kentucky 
box tape

Margie Brookshire - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer 

 4 47

Ethel Jury - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer 

 4 48

Mary Fouts - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer 

 4 49

Mary Depaw - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer 

 4 50

Anna Evans - Interviewee --- Mabel Bertram - Interviewer 

 4 51

Louisiana 
box tape

Irene Clause - Interviewee --- Irene Clause - Interviewer 

 4 52

Billie Jones - Interviewee --- Doris Ashley - Interviewer 

 4 53

Mabel Thompson - Interviewee --- Elaine Vidrine - Interviewer 

 4 54

Virginia McIntyre - Interviewee --- Doris Ashley - Interviewer 

 4 55

Virginia McIntyre - Interviewee --- Doris Ashley - Interviewer 

 4 56

Maryland 
box tape

Eileen Moon - Interviewee --- Jeanette Green - Interviewer 

 4 57

Michigan 
box tape

Mrs. Wilma - Interviewee --- 

 4 58

Arvilla Parshall - Interviewee --- 

 4 59

Rubie Gillion - Interviewee --- 

 4 60

Gladys Fox - Interviewee --- Frances Michalek - Interviewer 

 4 61

Cecilia Lamb - Interviewee --- Rhea Thayer - Interviewer 

 4 62

Emma Jones - Interviewee --- Joan Luerr - Interviewer 

 4 63

Edith Huffman - Interviewee --- 

 4 64

Luelle Hamilton - Interviewee --- Petra Swanson - Interviewer 

 4 65

Estella Myers - Interviewee --- Joan Luerr - Interviewer 

 4 66

Minnesota 
box tape

Persistent Pals - Interviewee --- Mary Mayer - Interviewer 

 4 67

Mississippi 
box tape

Orrie Little - Intervieweee --- Marian Carmicheal - Interviewer 

 4 68

Ruth Irwin - Interviewee --- Mrs. E.R. McKight - Interviewer 

 4 69

Mrs. B.N. Simrall - Interviewee --- Mrs. E.R. McKnight - Interviewer 

 4 70

Betty Newman - Interviewee --- Mrs. E.R. McKnight - Interviewer 

 4 71

Jane Morgan - Interviewee --- Marian Carmichael - Interviewer 

 4 72

Missouri 
box tape

Verna Lefman - Interviewee --- Betty Reynolds - Interviewer 

 4 73

Nellie Frost - Interviewee --- Betty Reynolds - Interviewer 

 4 74

Edith Fennel - Interviewee --- Donna Howard - Interviewer 

 4 75

Edith Gladden - Interviewee --- Janet Vaughn - Interviewer 

 4 76

Lillie Stuery - Interviewee --- Betty Reynolds - Interviewer 

 4 77

Montana 
box tape

Pearl Herndon - Interviewee --- Gayle Muggli - Interviewer 

 4 78

Luelle Hardie - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer 

 4 79

Marie Carlile - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer 

 4 80

Daisy Taylor - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer 

 4 81

Lilie Badgeley - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer 

 4 82

Elsie Rieger - Interviewee --- Arlene Stoner - Interviewer 

 4 83

Nebraska 
box tape

Nellie Yost - Interviewee --- Sandra Hansen - Interviewer 

 4 84

Eva Gill - Interviewee --- Norma Schneemeyer - Interviewer 

 4 85

Anna Coburn - Interviewee --- Selma Stevens - Interviewer 

 4 86

Nellie Yost - Interviewee --- Sandra Hansen - Interviewer 

 4 87

New Hampshire 
box tape

Eleanor Whittmore - Interviewee --- Goldie Roscoe - Interviewer 

 4 88

Lora Tosey - Interviewee --- Glodie Roscoe - Interviewer 

 4 89

Priscilla Lloyd - Interviewee --- Glodie Roscoe - Interviewer 

 4 90

H.Barnstead - Interviewee --- G. Roscoe - Interviewer 

 4 91

New Mexico 
box tape

Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 92

Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 93

Mary Moore - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer 

 4 94

Marie Cauhape - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 95

Marie Cauhape - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 96

Nona Berry - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer 

 4 97

Florence McDonald - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 98

Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 99

Ruth James - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer 

 4 100

Ima Fairly - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 101

Jessie Halsell - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 102

Frances Matthews - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer 

 4 103

Florence McDonald - Interviewee --- Beatrice Stagal - Interviewer 

 4 104

Jalie Martin - Interviewee --- Mary Popejoy - Interviewer 

 4 105

North Carolina 
box tape

Henrietta Phillips - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer 

 4 106

Nancy Madre - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer 

 4 107

Letha McCall - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer 

 4 108

Lucy Wilson - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer 

 4 109

Theo Hammond - Interviewee --- Virginia Harris - Interviewer 

 4 110

North Dakota 
box tape

Cora Lykeen - Interviewee --- Maryadele Knudsen - Interviewer 

 4 111

Karen Retzlaff - Interviewee --- Maryadele Knudsen - Interviewer 

 4 112

Margaret Lien - Interviewee --- Arlene Sagness - Interviewer 

 4 113

Mary Mootz - Interviewee --- Maryadele Knudsen - Interviewer 

 4 114

Minnie Ness - Interviewee --- Arlene Sagness - Interviewer 

 4 115

Ohio 
box tape

Nellie Stratton - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer 

 4 116

Winifred Thrush - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer 

 4 117

Mary Jones - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer 

 4 118

Laura Ness - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer 

 4 119

Betty Wenig - Interviewee --- Eva Barger - Interviewer 

 4 120

Oklahoma 
box tape

Elba Johnston - Interviewee --- Hester Sickles - Interviewer 

 4 121

Mary Skelley - Interviewee --- Hester Sickles - Interviewer 

 4 122

Zelma Woods - Interviewee --- Hester Sickels - Interviewer 

 4 123

Sarah Ball - Interviewee --- Hester Sickles - Interviewer 

 4 124

Oregon 
box tape

Alice Wand - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer 

 4 125

Dorothy Personnette - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer 

 4 126

Saundra Zook - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer 

 4 127

Marie Brown - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer 

 4 128

Dorris Graves - Interviewee --- Dorothy Klock - Interviewer 

 4 129

South Carolina 
box tape

Hazel Johnson - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer 

 4 130

Nona Jennings - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer 

 4 131

Pat Gates - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer 

 4 132

Etta Sellers - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer 

 4 133

Etta Sellers - Interviewee --- Bee Cochran - Interviewer 

 4 134

South Dakota 
box tape

Marge and Cara Kleinjam - Interviewees --- Linda Svec - Interviewer 

 4 135

Byrdie Johnson - Interviewee --- Evelyn Beug - Interviewer 

 4 136

F. Jenson 

 4 137

I. Hutchendorf 

 4 138

Irska Stroschein - Interviewee --- Linda Svec - Interviewer 

 4 139

Marjorie Pontius - Interviewee --- Linda Svec - Interviewer 

 4 140

Cleo Tyler - Interviewee 

 4 141

Florence Phillips - Interviewee --- Arlene Erickson - Interviewer 

 4 142

Minnie Murphy - Interviewee --- Laura Grubl - Interviewer 

 4 143

Christine Gaffin - Interviewee --- Arlene Erickson - Interviewer 

 4 144

Tennessee 
box tape

Hautie Nelson - Interviewee --- Alpha Worrell - Interviewer 

 4 145

Aileen Cole - Interviewee --- Marian Mariner - Interviewer 

 4 146

Julia White - Interviewee --- Marian Mariner - Interviewer 

 4 147

Tressa Waters - Interviewee --- Marian Mariner - Interviewer 

 4 148

Virginia 
box tape

Mrs. Irby Arnette - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer 

 4 149

Corria Ratliff - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer 

 4 150

Mrs. Ray Cassell - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer 

 4 151

Janet Cassell - Interviewee --- Mildred Reeves - Interviewer 

 4 152

Washington 
box tape

Edna Dagnen - Interviewee --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer 

 4 153

Skiles - Interviewee --- Colville - Interviewer 

 4 154

Violet Cottrell - Interviewer --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer 

 4 155

Violet Cottrell - Interviewer --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer 

 4 156

Edna Dagnen - Interviewee --- Esther Pogorele - Interviewer 

 4 157

West Virginia 
box tape

Diana Barton - Interviewee --- Margaret Lewis - Interviewer 

 4 158

Beatrice McCann - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 159

Phyllis Sullivan - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 160

Ansel Peterson - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 161

Pearl Faulkner - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 162

Margaret Hill - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 163

Gertrude Humphries - Interviewee --- Margaret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 164

Deanne Cook - Interviewee --- Margret McKenzie - Interviewer 

 4 165

Wisconsin 
box tape

Lillian Blonien - Interviewee --- Georgia Hoberg - Interviewer 

 4 166

Joesphine Nixion - Interviewee --- Georgia Hoberg - Interviewer 

 4 167

Celia Lausted - Interviewee --- Georgia Hoberg - Interviewer 

 4 168

Wyoming 
box tape

Mary Raymond - Interviewee --- Dianna Cosner - Interviewer 

 4 169

Jennie Williams - Interviewee --- Katherine Martini - Interviewer 

 4 170

Jennie Williams - Interviewee --- Katherine Martini - Interviewer 

 4 171

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Series 3: Miscellaneous project documentation and related papers 

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."
box folder

Letter from Eleanor P. Arnold to John Guido 1985 

 5 23

Voices of American Homemakers (book) 1985 

 5 24

Brochure 1986 

 5 25

Seminar of Humanists and Homemakers papers 1983 

 5 26

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