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Emery, Louise (audio interview #4 of 4)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This last interview with Louise Emery focuses primarily on her post-retirement trip around the world. Like the previous ones, this interview was recorded in her living quarters at Pilgrim's Place. The audio quality is good. 3/11/1977
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- 2021-02-23
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- 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 - move to California; Depression; work with First Congregational Church; wages; executive directorship of YWCA; retirement; and travels;travels, especially to Japan and India; attitudes towards marriage and status as a single woman; gender roles; Status of Women Committee; and women's liberation;
- *** File: reflemery7.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-7:41)... Emery backtracks and talks about her uneasiness over the family move to California. She was concerned about her parents leaving their friends and starting over in new surroundings. They were completely dependent on her father's profits from the sale of several patents, one of which was going through a lengthy settlement process. At the same time, she was concerned about her new position with the First Congregational Church. She was hired in 1931-32 during the Depression and the church was recovering from a large debt incurred from new construction. (7:41-14:07)... Emery was active in the YWCA for twenty two years. She reflects on her work, indicating that it was a very rewarding experience to develop new programs and observe the progress in the children and their families. However, she did have setbacks in the YWCA, such as the controversy over health insurance with the AMA. She also describes the process with the Planning Commission regarding the definition of the YWCA and its statement of principles. (14:07-22:22)... Emery describes her typical day as Executive Director of the YWCA, which included meetings among staff, public committees, public affairs, and the Board of Directors. The YWCA also coordinated activities with churches, including the development of a nursery school and play room for children. She notes the various programs developed by the YWCA while she acted as executive director. (22:22-26:54)... The YWCA typically encountered problems in the cafeteria or with the residents who lived at the YWCA facility. She describes the YWCA building and its facilities. To help manage her full schedule, she had a full-time secretary and a bookkeeper. The YWCA made itself known to the community through a large sign in front of the building and by publishing advertisements in newspapers. It was very well known throughout the community; if people needed assistance, they were referred to the YWCA by other agencies. (26:54-30:28)... In 1963, she retired from the YWCA. She was worn our from all of her activities and planned a European vacation. (30:28-45:24)... On the first leg of her vacation she returned to Hawaii, where she rested for approximately a week. From there she went to Japan for three weeks. end of tape *** File: reflemery8.mp3 (0:00-12:37)... Emery details her travels at length. In the fall of 1963, she arrived in India. She became ill there and spent several days in the hospital. Many people advised her not to go to India because of the poverty. However, she found that it was a beautiful country rich in culture. She visited several schools, including a women's college operated under the auspices of the Methodist Church; she was inspired by what was being done to overcome poverty and ignorance. She also visited a school especially for young brides, where they received lessons in reading, writing, hygiene, sewing, and the basic responsibilities of being a wife. (12:37-21:36)... Emery continues to discuss her trip to India, including Kashmir, where she stayed for three weeks. In Kashmir, she visited a mosque and describes her experience as one of the only Westerners there. (21:36-30:24)... Emery continued to discuss her trip, describing her experiences in the Middle East and Greece. After that, she went to Switzerland and then Germany. (30:24-35:29)... After Germany, she went to France and visited Reed Hall, which was connected to a woman's university. She began to experience pain in her eyes and was referred to a French doctor who told her she needed an operation, which she received in an American hospital in France. She describes her experiences in the hospital and the circumstances surrounding the permanent loss of sight in one eye. After leaving Europe, Emery went to stay with a friend in Connecticut for a short time and then returned to Los Angeles. She discusses her attitudes towards retirement, indicating that although she would like to be more active, she is happy with the status of her life. (35:29-38:54)... Emery was engaged at the age of thirty, but her fiance died. She discusses her life as a single woman. While in Boston, she often dated and enjoyed the company of men. When she moved to California, however, her career and family responsibilities left her with very little time or energy for romantic interests. She feels that her life was very interesting and exciting, but was not easy. She believes that had she stayed in Massachusetts, she probably would have married. (38:54-41:50)... She reflects on her life, noting that she was a little too serious in regards to home and work responsibilities. However, she could not be idle after receiving such a rewarding education. Even during times of difficulty, she enjoyed good times with close friends to break up the monotony of life. Most of her friends were also professional women with very busy lives. (41:50-45:06)... Emery discusses her involvement with the Business and Professional Women's organization. She believes that women now have more autonomy. She discusses the Status of Women Committee and the investigations of inequities in women's salaries and opportunities. She believes that women's liberation is good as long it is not extreme. end of tape
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