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Nordquist, Olive (audio interview #2 of 4)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This is the second of three rather lengthy interviews with Olive Nordquist, conducted in her home in Redondo Beach. Her home and dress both reflected her range of interests, activities and mechanical skills, with washing machines and other applicances in various rooms, that she was repairing. When I first contacted Nordquist to arrange the interview, her daughter answered the phone. It turned out that she was someone I had known in the early days of the women's liberation movement in Los Angeles. Nordquist spoke very slowly and it was difficult to draw her out. Her answers were almost relatively short and to the point. Nevertheless, she was always cooperative and eager to be helpful. 8/18/1980
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- 2021-08-10
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- SUBJECT BIO - Olive Nordquist began working at Lockheed in 1942 after crossing the US with her husband and small daughter one year earlier, attracted by the jobs opening up in the defense industry. The third of nine children, Nordquist was both and raised in the vicinity of Cushing, Minnesota. After a tumultuous childhood, when she graduated from high school in 1927, she went to Minneapolis to get away from home. After various short jobs, she started to work as a packer at a cheese company, and remained there until she married in 1937. Although she attended beauty college in the hopes of becoming an operator, she developed skin condition and was unable to continue working in this field. Instead, she managed a small farm that she and her husband leased while he commuted to an industrial job in the city. Nordquist worked in electrical assembly for three years until she was laid off. By then, the family had acquired a home in Hollywood which included several rental units. This is how she began her "career" of managing, renovating and maintaining properties. After surviving a non-communicative and unhappy marriage for twenty four years, Nordquist and her husband finally divorced in 1961. At that point, her daughter, who herself had several unhappy marriages and an abusive first husband, moved n with her. Although Nordquist was still an active woman with a wide range of interests at the time of the interview, her persona was rather subdued, almost depressed. After her three year stint TOPICS - family life; childhood reading and literary influences; radio; family activities; holidays; physical activities; mother's attitude towards education and gender roles; marriage expectations; husband's background andhiring process in Minnesota for Lockheed jobs; move to California; living arrangements; housing; memories of Pearl Harbor; household responsibilities; daughter; marital and family relationships; hiring process at Llabor force demographics; working conditions; relationship with women co-workers; work breaks; expectations of future employment at Lockheed; gender relations; union; childcare; daily routine; household responsiblabor demographics; friendships with co-workers; social life; minorities and migrants; company services; dispensary; bond drives; cashiering in canteen; lunchtime entertainment; household responsibilities; daily rodaycare; daughter; husband; marital problems; postwar layoffs; real estate interests; health problems; vacation in Minnesota; unemployment insurance and postwar jobs; wages at Lockheed; life during war years; ratio
- *** File: rrronordquist5.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:02-3:10)... Because Nordquist's father was usually too tired after a full day's work to have long discussions with her mother, she believes that her mother felt lonesome. Her parents rarely discussed political matters except during presidential elections when her father was head of the election board. Her parents always had reading materials around the house, including newspapers, farm journals, and the Bible. When they could not go to church, her father gave his own Sunday school instruction at home. Her parents also owned books by Charles Dickens and similar authors. Her favorite stories were histories of westward migration and mystery and mythology stories. (3:10-5:08)... Nordquist recalls the family sitting around the used radio they family bought after WWI, listening to comedy and music programs. After they moved to the farm, their family outings and activities were reduced, and the only time they did anything together outside the home was when they attended funerals or church programs during the holidays. Her parents always had a Christmas tree and her mother prepared a dinner at both Christmas and Thanksgiving. Nordquist and her siblings liked to entertain their parents by standing on a makeshift stage and singing songs and reciting readings. (5:08-6:58)... Nordquist was physically active throughout her childhood and adolescence and was not restricted in these type of activities, unless her mother was nearby to stop her. Most of the time, however, she was out of her mother's reach when she was outdoors. The other girls in her family were not as physically active as her. She took an interest in machinery and mechanics at an early age, but the only time she explored their farm machines was when she was with her brother because her father forbade his daughters from associating with the farmhands. (6:58-10:21)... Nordquist mother was miserable in her marriage and wanted her daughters to choose a different path. She thought that if they had an education they would not feel inferior to their husbands, and could support themselves and their children if the marriage ended. Nordquist never wanted to get married or have children. She changed her mind when all of her girlfriends married and she began losing her social network. At the age of twenty-eight, "I was kind of a misfit in a society that got married." Her fiance seemed like the right man because he was protective and at her beck and call. (10:21-11:37)... Nordquist's husband's parents were from Sweden and did not encourage their children to pursue an education. Her husband started working when he was very young, and although he did not have a good education, he spent most of his spare time reading during their marraige. Her husband was not an affectionate or communicative person, and did not start communicating with her until he decided that he wanted a divorce. (11:37-12:52)... At Blumberg Cheese, workers were required to wear hair nets in the cheese processing sections or whenever they were around cheese that was not packaged. (12:52-15:31)... Nordquist thought that it was relatively easy for her to find a job during the Depression because her personality appealed to employers. During one two-day period of unemployment, she worked evenings as a cigarette girl at a nightclub. At the end of her second day, her boss told her that she was not the right type of woman for the job and he let her go. (15:31-18:16)... Union representatives tried, unsuccessfully, to organize the employees at Blumberg Cheese during the 1930s. Nordquist believes that the company was one of the few places that paid its workers well. [Note: she digresses briefly, recounting the vice president's attempts to entice her into having a relationship with him.] It was not until she met her fiance that she learned about the union. He was a member of a union and participated in a factory walk out when he was employed at the BB company. Instead of settling the strike, however, the company relocated to South Dakota and he was forced out of a job. (18:16-20:18)... Nordquist had an active social life thrived while she was employed at Blumberg Cheese, doing to dances, roller and ice skating and swimming. She would not have considered marriage if she thought that she would have a place in society as an unmarried woman. When she became engaged, she began attending beauty college and married just before she graduated. She had planned to work as a beauty operator and start a family. (20:18-24:37)... After her daughter was born in 1940, most of the social things that Nordquist enjoyed doing by herself were curtailed. She joined the Stitch and Chatter Club and went to the monthly meetings, where the women sewed and did various types of handwork while they visited. Many of the women brought their children to the meetings. Once a year, they sold their work and donated the proceeds or their work to charities. Occasionally, they organized parties that included their husbands, and also went on short trips and planned dinners at nice restaurants. (24:37-26:56)... Nordquist thought it would be a good idea to move to a farm for her daughter's and her husband's health. Finances were tight and she was confident that she would be able to contribute to the family income by selling chickens, using the money to cover their food and living expenses. Her husband's income was used to buy their clothes and pay for his vehicle expenses. The farm was not equipped with electricity or running water. When they decided to move to California, they had to sublease the farm because they had more than six months left on their year lease. End of tape. *** File: rrronordquist6.mp3 (0:02-4:59)... Nordquist's husband answered an advertisement in the newspaper for job opportunities at Lockheed, filled out an application and was interviewed while they were still living in Minnesota. He was hired to work in the metal shop for .80/hour. Nordquist was excited about moving to California because she wanted to get away from her mother and her husband's parents and start a new life. They arrived in Los Angeles in October 1941 and the environment exceeded her expectations. They lived in an apartment for about three weeks before they moved into a two-room home in Hollywood. She was focused on getting settled in California and initially did not think about looking for work. (4:59-8:05)... Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Nordquist thought that the US was getting ready to enter the war because men were already being drafted by June 1941. On December 7, 1941, she and her family were in San Pedro taking in the scenery. A fisherman sitting on a rock nearby had a radio on and Nordquist overheard the broadcast about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although both her husband and her mother-in-law didn't believe her, the family went home immediately, fearing an attack on the mainland. She still has the photographs commemorating that day in San Pedro. She went to work at Lockheed about six months later, in June 1942. (8:05-12:12)... Nordquist describes her daily routine in Los Angeles before she went to work at Lockheed. Even though her relationship with her husband during this period was congenial, he spent all of his spare time at home reading and ignoring both his wife and daughter. She recounts an incident when she asked him to watch their daughter so that she could use the bathroom, only to discover that their daughter had left the house. She was found crossing a busy intersection. (12:12-13:25)... Nordquist shared a two-room home with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law, who slept in a folding bed in the kitchen. Although they got along well, Nordquist and her mother-in-law had different ideas about what constituted a healthy meal. Her mother-in-law did all the grocery shopping and Nordquist reimbursed her. But Nordquist was never able to get the kinds of fresh meats and vegetables she felt were healthy for her family. Her mother-in-law liked to buy luncheon meats and canned foods because they were easy to serve. (13:25-17:25)... When Lockheed encouraged men to ask their wives to apply for work at the company, Nordquist brought an application home. During the hiring process, she was interviewed and given a physical examination. She received a telegram two weeks later notifying her that she had been hired to work in the electrical department. She believes that Lockheed placed women in departments based on how well their personalities meshed because people were still under the impression that "women could not get along together." Her starting wage was .79/hour. Because she frequently worked overtime, she often brought more money home than her husband, which did not please him at all. (17:25-19:53)... During her interview, Nordquist was told about the company policies and procedures, including her work schedule, transportation, and work attire. She wore slacks, a blouse, and a hair net to protect her hair from the machinery. After she received the hiring telegram from Lockheed, she reported to work the following week. Her husband's aunt (cousin) took care of their daughter for the first two weeks Nordquist worked at Lockheed. After that, they found a childcare agency that boarded children during the week. She brought her daughter home for visits on Sundays. (19:53-25:17)... On her first day, Nordquist was given a brief company orientation, including information on safety and work breaks. She was taken to the electrical assembly department where she was assigned to bench work and trained to strip, crimp, and label wires for the the jig assembly. Although she also was tested on soldering, she was not placed in this section. She was required to purchase a small set of tools prior to going to work, but she could not recall if she purchased these in or outside the plant. There were approximately 200 people employed in electrical assembly. End of tape. *** File: rrronordquist7.mp3 (0:03-1:14)... Nordquist and approximately fifteen women were assigned to the electrical assembly department on their first day in the plant. All of the co-workers in the the bench work section were White women. (1:14-3:10)... The work she performed in electrical assembly was a simple operation and she learned how to do it very quickly. She liked her work environment; her co-workers were friendly and she felt that she was among peers with common interests. Although she was not able to socialize while working, she visited with her co-workers during breaks. Nordquist's section was managed by a leadwoman and a male supervisor. (3:10-6:05)... During her ten-minute breaks, she had a snack or a drink of water and spent the rest of the time visiting with her co-workers. The restrooms were crowded during breaks and if she had to use the facilities, her entire ten minutes was taken up waiting in line and going to the bathroom. She usually packed a lunch and either ate at her work station with her co-workers or went to the canteen. She ate lunch with approximately four to six women from her department. Like Nordquist, most of these women worked before they married and re-entered the workforce during the war. (6:05-7:22)... When she was hired at Lockheed, Nordquist did not expect to make a career of it. She knew that the men who worked there before the war were promised their jobs once they returned from service. Although she knew that her job would last only for the duration of the war, she hoped it would give her an opportunity to save enough money to purchase a home. She and her husband were able to buy their first home before she left Lockheed. (7:22-10:08)... Nordquist describes her first impressions of the plant. The men whistled at the women as they entered the plant, which was both unappreciated and ignored by Nordquist. The electrical assembly area where she worked was located on a balcony and the plane assembly was located below. Although the noise level was unbearable at first, she got use to it. The doors of the plant were left open to allow air to circulate through the departments. The only odor in her department came from the soldering section. She could not recall there being any substantial variations in temperature. (10:08-12:14)... Nordquist was too overwhelmed by her surroundings to feel self-conscious or insecure about being in the plant. She felt confident that her previous work experience made her well-qualified for the work. (12:14-13:02)... Nordquist was told about the union when she started at Lockheed. She was under the impression that membership was mandatory, so she joined. She believes that one of her lead supervisors introduced her to a shop steward. (13:02-15:27)... Nordquist discusses the childcare arrangements she made while she was employed at Lockheed. (15:27-18:32)... Nordquist describes her daily routine before leaving for work at 4:00 p.m. Her husband also worked the swing shift at Lockheed. While they were home together during the day, he never helped her around the house. Whenever she asked him to do anything, he claimed that he was too tired or did not feel well. They eventually moved into a larger home and his parents moved to California and stayed with them, taking care of Nordquist's daughter while she and her husband were at work. She and her husband carpooled with other workers who lived in the vicinity. (18:32-21:11)... Nordquist worked in electrical assembly bench work for about six weeks before she was transferred to the jig section, where she worked on both small and large jig boards. She worked in this section for the rest of the time she was employed at Lockheed. The work was relatively simple. The company encouraged workers to propose ideas to help speed up production, and when one of hers was implemented, she received $35 award. (21:11-25:43)... There were approximately twenty women in the jig section where Nordquist worked. Some of the women in her department had previously worked as teachers, beauty operators, or clerks prior to getting married. They were close to Nordquist in age and most had children. There few women in the department who were over fifty played a motherly role. (25:43-27:38)... The leadmen generally treated the women well, and Nordquist believes that they were instructed to behave themselves around the women. One of the leadmen asked her to take a drive with him in the hills one evening while giving her a ride home. She declined his offer and he was "picky" towards her after that. (27:38-28:26)... Nordquist cannot recall men making advances towards women, but believes there were probably some women who invited that sort of behavior. She recounts an incident in which an older woman who did not wear a bra one day lifted up her blouse and exposed herself. With the exception of this woman, most women behaved themselves while they were at work. End of tape. *** File: rrronordquist8.mp3 (0:03-5:10)... There were no women under the age of twenty in the jig section, nor were there any Blacks, Mexicans, or "Okies." There was an American Indian woman in the section who was twenty-five years old. She confided in Nordquist that she was pregnant and was planning to abort by taking a potion of whiskey and buckshot, which she did and it worked. Most of the women in Nordquist's section were well educated. She became particularly close to two women, and they socialized outside of work. Occasionally, one of them and Nordquist worked in the canteen as cashiers during the lunch hour, for which they were paid. (5:10-7:15)... Nordquist did not use any of the company services offered by Lockheed. She visited the company store a couple times, but usually did not have time to shop there. The plant also had a dispensary where employees could obtain medical care. She never sought assistance from the Women's Counselors, commenting: "I put up with things the way they were." (7:15-8:43)... When the company announced a bond drive over the speaker system in the plant, both she and her husband signed up to have money deducted from their checks. They later cashed them in to purchase their first home. Music was played in the plant during lunch breaks and in the canteen, but she could not recall there being any entertainment programs. (8:43-15:12)... Nordquist and her husband were renting a small home in Burbank when his parents came to California and moved in with them. Although her father-in-law worked occasionally, she and her husband supported her in-laws in exchange for childcare. She did most of the grocery shopping and household cleaning, while her mother-in-law handled the cooking responsibilities. Because they lived so close to the plant, Nordquist and her husband often rode their bicycles to work. (15:12-16:28)... Nordquist discusses food rationing during the war. (16:28-19:26)... In April 1944, Nordquist and her husband purchased a four-bedroom home in Hollywood, which included a three-unit apartment complex that they rented to cover their mortgage payments. The purchase price was $5,200. They put $1,100 down on the house, which they covered from their savings and war bonds. A couple of years later, they sold their property in Minnesota and paid off their mortgage in Hollywood. Since then, she has borrowed money using her home in Hollywood as collateral to purchase other rental properties in Los Angeles. (19:26-22:10)... After they purchased their home in Hollywood, Nordquist was busy with home improvement projects and had even less time for a social life. Her husband did not get involved in any household projects and spent as much time as he could away from home in order to avoid these tasks. Occasionally, she socialized with a girlfriend from work whose marital relationship was similar to Nordquist's. Her girlfriend also had a daughter, so they had a lot in common. (22:10-24:07)... Many of her co-workers had husbands or sons in the service during the war. Some of the women were single, but did not socialize with them because she was married. Her single co-workers probably never thought about asking her to accompany them to dances or other social events because "they didn't think about married women doing those things." (24:07-25:18)... Switching from the swing shift to the day shift was a smooth transition for Nordquist. By that time, her daughter was enrolled in a daycare center and Nordquist picked her up after she got off of work. She thinks her daughter began going to daycare when she was four years old. End of tape. *** File: rrronordquist9.mp3 (0:03-3:37)... Nordquist discusses the arrangements she made for her daughter to go to daycare at Grant School in Hollywood. She believes that she learned about the daycare center through Lockheed. Her daughter continued in after-school daycare while she was in kindergarten, for which Nordquist paid $4/week. She walked her daughter to daycare in the morning and picked her up from the center after work. (3:37-4:30)... Although Nordquist's husband and daughter liked each other, they were not close. He usually sat and read while her daughter was left alone to entertain herself. For a short time, Nordquist and her husband worked different shifts and he was able to spend more time with her alone. She believes they were probably closer when Nordquist was not around. (4:30-5:30)... Nordquist he did not have any family members in the service during WWII. She briefly talks about a girlfriend whose husband was in the Navy. (5:30-7:20)... After a couple of years working on jigs, Nordquist's job became a matter of routine. She was offered an assignment in the experimental department, but turned it down because she anticipated that the war was coming to an end and she would be leaving the plant. She also did not want to deal with any changes at that time because of problems at home. (7:20-8:58)... Towards the end of the war, Nordquist's husband began talking about divorce. He was spending more and more time away from home and often scheduled vacations without his wife and daughter. She later learned that he was having an affair with a woman in Minneapolis who he had dated before marrying Nordquist. She never entertained the idea of divorce because she figured they should stay married for the sake of their daughter. She was not interested in dating anyone else and would never have brought a new man into her daughter's life. (8:58-10:34)... Nordquist did not consider staying at Lockheed after the war. She decided that she did not want to work for anyone and began making plans to buy and rent real estate as a means of earning income. Her husband did not agree with this plan and did not cooperate with her in any way. (10:34-11:06)... The electrical skills Nordquist learned at Lockheed were not useful to her later in life. (11:06-19:48)... Lockheed began laying people off after VE-Day. At that point there was only a skeleton crew in her department. Work was slim and she got bored sitting around and doing nothing. In the mean time, she developed several uterine cysts and missed work a couple times a week. Her husband did not empathize with her health problems and expected her to do everything around the house. He talked about divorce, but she ignored him like he ignored her for so many years. Nordquist decided to take a break in the summer of 1945 and went back to Minnesota with her daughter, where she recuperated. Instead of taking a leave of absence from Lockheed, but simply did not show up for work. She returned to Lockheed after VJ-Day and was not laid off until December 1945. She collected unemployment and went on various job assignments given to her by the unemployment office. By the time she was laid off from Lockheed, her wages had increased to $1.85/hour. (19:48-21:05)... Nordquist took a variety of courses in the postwar years. Her husband seemed to interfere with her ability to improve her education because every time she signed up for a course, he signed up for one at the same time, causing her to drop the class so that she could stay home with her daughter. He would then quit his class. (21:05-22:12)... Rationing made it difficult to buy things during the war years. Nordquist did not buy very many clothes during the war because she thought the quality was poor. Nordquist tried to keep herself busy after she was laid off from Lockheed. A woman who rented a room in her home watched Nordquist's daughter whenever Nordquist wanted to take a class or go out and do something. (22:12-25:06)... Recounting her feelings when she was laid off from Lockheed, Nordquist notes: "I would have welcomed to work there more because I had good friends there and it was kind of a let down because you had a routine and felt kind of lost at first." She enjoyed and appreciated working at Lockheed. However, she knew that she was capable of doing other types to work and would manage in the postwar years. She talks about the friends she made at Lockheed, some of whom she continues to stay in contact with. End of tape.
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