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Emery, Louise (audio interview #1 of 4)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - The life history interviews with Louise Emery were conducted for a women's oral history class at California Polytechnic University, Pomona. They were recorded in her living quarters at Pilgrim Place, a retirement community in Claremont, California for people who have devoted their lives to social service. Emery's memory is quite good, with an impressive grasp of details. The audio quality throughout the interview is good. 2/3/1977
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- 2021-02-23
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- *** File: reflemery1.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-4:05)... Note: there is no introduction on the tape. Born in Quincy, Massachusetts, Emery's lineage can be traced back to England. As a young woman, she was a member of the Junior Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and was required to prove a straight descent to a relative involved in the American Revolution. She discusses an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution at Valley Forge and another who was a member of the first regiment to respond to Abraham Lincoln's call to preserve the Union during the Civil War. (4:05-9:02)... Her maternal grandmother was an independent woman who handled the family's affairs while her husband was fighting in the Civil War. She was a frequent visitor to Concord Church, where she became acquainted with Louisa Alcott. Emery's mother attended Salem Normal School and then began teaching in Concord, Massachusetts. The chairman of the school board was Ralph Waldo Emerson's sister. (9:02-12:14)... Her father was born in Boston and both of his parents died when he was a young boy. Though his upbringing was difficult, and he was basically self taught, he was an accomplished engineer with several marine engine patents. She discusses her father's family background and her childhood experiences testing boat engines with her father. (12:14-18:32)... Both of her parents belonged to the Universalist Church. When they married and moved to Boston, they joined the Unitarian Church. However, Emery notes that religion was not an important factor in her upbringing. Her parents were both liberals and encouraged discussion about current and international events. The family was financially comfortable with very moderate luxuries. (18:32-23:57)... At the age of three, she started kindergarten. Even at this young age, she walked to school every day by herself. She began attending first grade when she was five years old. During this period, she contracted scarlet fever and was housebound for six weeks, during which time she demanded that she be read to every day. (23:57-26:20)... Emery describes the school she attended during the first grade; she was taught basic reading and writing skills. Her mother taught Sunday school at church and Emery attended that class every week. She digresses regarding her recollections of the only Black family living in her community. This family was highly respected and she did not grow up with any prejudice towards other races. (26:20-28:36)... Emery led an active childhood, and played baseball and rode her bicycle through the countryside. She enjoyed a lot of freedom as a child and her parents did not place restrictions on her activities. The time and place where she grew up was very calm and peaceful. (28:36-30:16)... Following grammar school, she went to a girls middle school and then to an all-girl college preparatory school. During her senior year, she was the president of her class and planned a class trip to Washington, D.C. (30:16-34:23)... Talking about her family's home in Quincy and the neighborhood in which they lived, she notes that their house was built by her father and that there was a large backyard garden where she tried to grow a "victory garden" during WWII. She recounts an invitation by a neighbor friend to accompany her on a vacation on their schooner, and also describes some of her boating experiences and her father's knowledge of sea vessels. (34:23-38:02)... Her father operated a machine shop out of Boston and also had representatives working for him in New York; her mother was active in the church and other social organizations. She tutored the neighborhood children, but would not accept money for her services. Emery explains that family history was very important to her mother. She encouraged Emery to join the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and they often visited war monuments in other parts of the country. (38:02-40:36)... Emery discusses early role models in her life, such as Anne Hutchinson and Alcott. Before she went to college, she recalls hearing a talk by Mary Woolley at Ford Hall to which her mother took her. These women were a great influence on Emery's life during her college years at Mt. Holyoke, although doesn't believes that there was really any consciousness about women's rights when she attended Mt. Holyoke. She attributes this to the fact that women were not in a competitive position with men. She recalls later reading Madame Secretary: the Life of Frances Perkins. She had great admiration for Perkins' efforts on behalf of women. (40:36-44:01)... Holidays were very important celebrations in her family. She describes her family's traditions during Fourth of July and Christmas. end of tape *** File: reflemery2.mp3 (0:00-5:19)... Although Emery's initial choice was Wellesley College, she decided to attend Mt. Holyoke instead so that she could experience life away from home and a new environment. The all-girls high school she attended prepared her well for college. She remained there an extra year because she was very young and she wanted to take more preparatory courses. (5:19-8:51)... When she arrived at Mt. Holyoke, she shared an off-campus residence with six other freshmen. She enjoyed her experiences in college, and worked hard. She majored in English and history, and did push herself when necessary. (8:51-11:35)... Mt. Holyoke did not have sororities. There was an English club known as the Black Stick Club, through which students could get papers published in the campus newspaper. Boys from the local agricultural college often came to Mt. Holyoke for dances and parties. Upon reflection, she enjoyed college more than she realized at the time. Her studies were both satisfying and challenging, and she made many good friends. It was a time when she began to explore new ideas. (11:35-19:00)... Her parents established rules and when she failed to abide by these rules, her parents made her life unpleasant. They were not strict disciplinarians, but reasoned and lectured her as a means of preventing bad behavior. In college, she did not like cigarettes, but occasionally smoked as a social activity. She describes her experience at a "thimble" party when she drank brandy from a thimble. With the exception of these few occasions, she did not have any interest in alcohol or cigarettes. She was too busy with other hobbies and interests. She was quite active as a young woman and describes her participation in sports. (19:00-23:22)... She did not know her father's family very well, but recalls meeting an uncle once. At Mt. Holyoke, there were only approximately 15-20 students in each class. She views her education as being unique because it was a network of women educating women. Although there were some male faculty members, the majority were women. The teachers were guided by Woolley's outlook and natural concern for the world. Many prominent speakers, writers, and historians came to the campus as guest lecturers. (23:22-28:01)... When she was at Mt. Holyoke, she recalls that there was one Black student, one Japanese student, and two Chinese students. Her exposure to minority groups was very limited because most of the students at Mt. Holyoke were middle class Whites. She talks about the mill workers in the area, indicating that she was very sympathetic to their situation. It was a difficult time for many people because of WWI. She discusses the efforts on campus to help the war effort. At the time, she believed the war was inevitable and that it was necessary for the US to get involved. However, she did not agree with the war and describes herself as a pacifist. (28:01-30:03)... Her mother supported woman's suffrage and followed events very closely. Emery, however, was too consumed with college and her personal interests to participate in the suffrage movement. In many ways, she felt that Mt. Holyoke's group of prominent women professors, such as Perkins and Woolley, were paving the way for other women. (30:03-35:52)... Emery believes that her mother was involved in the suffrage movement when she was a young woman. She aspired to a higher education, but her family focused on her brother's education. Although she disagreed with this favoritism, she would have never openly expressed it. Although her mother was involved with women's clubs, she viewed them as conservative organizations. Though quiet in her radicalism, she did speak out in defense of others when they were wrongly treated. Emery describes her parents' involvement in a friend's struggle with a former employer over patent rights. This man 's suicide was a turning point for Emery, raising her awareness that there was injustice in the world. (35:52-36:39)... She discusses her attitudes towards the suffrage amendment. The first time she voted was for a Republican candidate. Her parents later became "enlightened" and switched to their allegiance to the Democratic Party. (36:39-40:18)... Emery's mother pushed her to participate in community and social activities. She recalls a woman in her neighborhood who went to college and confined herself to her home and then committed suicide. Emery's mother told her that it was important to keep a balanced mind and to stay active. Discussions about sex were taboo, but mainly were not nearly as important as other issues. While in college, her interest in men was somewhat limited because she was busy with her studies. After college, she developed more romantic interests and dated quite often. (40:18-45:31)... Following college, she went to work in Boston, commuting to work every day for 3-4 years. Her first job was in the editorial department at Ginn and Company. After leaving this company, she went to work for N.W. Ayer & Son Advertising Agency. Her employer was very generous and she wrote an advertising column on his behalf for which she earned an additional $35-40 a week. Other jobs she held during this period are also discussed. end of tape
- SUBJECT BIO - Louise Emery spent most of her adult career engaged in social programs, initially at the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles and then at the YWCA, first in Hawaii and then in Pasadena. After graduating from Mt. Holyoke, Emery worked at publishing companies and advertising agencies in Boston until moving to Los Angeles with her parents. Although her job at the First Congregational Church launched her career in social welfare, it was her work as the executive director of the YWCA in Hawaii that first brought her into contact with various ethnic communities. Emery arrived in Hawaii just a few months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, she developed programs and services at the YWCA both to provide support to servicemen and their wives and the members of the Japanese community. After the war, in 1946, she returned to Los Angeles and became the Executive Director of the Pasadena YWCA. During her seventeeen years there, until her retirement in 1963, Emery started many programs for minorities and fought reform battles with the male-dominated community. TOPICS - family history and background; parents; childhood; home life; school; education; college; neighborhood; housing; role models; and holiday celebrations;education; college; parents; childhood; home life; WWI; pacifism; woman's suffrage; development of social consciousness; sex; and career opportunities and work in Boston;
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