Other
Butler, Jesse Haver (audio interview #1 of 11)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This is the initial interview with Jesse Haver Butler and was designed to get a broad picture of her life for later, more detailed interviews. The interview began in her bedroom sitting room in the Hillcrest Retirement Community, but then moved to the sitting room of the building. 1972-11-08
- Date
- 2020-01-28
- Resource Type
- Creator
- Campus
- Keywords
- Handle
- Language
- Notes
- SUBJECT BIO - Jesse Haver Butler served as a lobbyist for the National Consumers League in Washington, D.C. during which time she came into contact with activists in the National Woman's Party. In 1919-1920, she toured the western states with Carrie Chapman Catt during the ratification drive for the woman's suffrage amendment. Raised on a ranch in Colorado, Butler was determined to attend Smith College. She graduated from there in 1918 and went to work for first for the Massachusetts Minimum Wage and then moved to Washington D.C. to serve as a lobbyist for the National Consumers League. In Washington, she ate lunch regularly at the National Women's Party headquarters, and came into contact with many of the women involved with the picketing of the White House. After she toured the western states with Carrie Chapman Catt during the ratification drive for the woman's suffrage amendment, she married and went with her husband to England. On her return to the US, she began a new career, teaching public speaking to women. A full life history of approximately 12 hours was recorded with Butler, between November 1972 and the spring of 1973, when she was 88 years old, in her apartment in a retirement community in LaVerne, California. She had come to public attention as a result of her participation in the 1970 celebration of women's suffrage. A woman of commanding presence, with a vigorous voice and persona, Butler was highly committed to the goals of the Feminist History Research Project and to the women's liberation movement. In the course of the several years following the interview, she regularly spoke on college campuses and to women's groups and remained very involved working on child care issues with the local chapter of NOW. TOPICS - Topics covered on this side of the tape are rather wide-ranging and broad and include: Butler's employment opportunities; her work on the minimum wage bill; ratification tour with Carrie Chapman Catt; appointment as legislative advocate for LWV; her marriage and life and activities in London; return to the US;Topics covered on this side of the tape include: living in Washington, D;C;; attending George Washington University to study speech; serving as speech coach to General Federation of Women's Clubs; writing; moving to California;
- *** File: sufjhbutler1.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-2:14)... Tape introduction (2:14-5:11)... During Butler's summer break from Smith College, she attended a business school in Pueblo, Colorado where she learned how to type. She went to work at her father's office, where she worked as a legal secretary for two years. After working as a legal secretary, she went to a Smith College reunion where she met a female English professor who operated an employment agency for Smith College graduates. This woman told Butler there were several opportunities available for women with training in the business environment. In September 1911, Butler went to work for MacMillan Publishing as the assistant to the head of the College Textbook Department. She received a salary of $14 per week. (Break in tape.) (5:11-10:16)... The salaries for women at MacMillan Publishing were very poor . Her efforts at changing these conditions resulted in her termination. After leaving MacMillan Publishing, an agency placed her at Columbia University's School of Journalism, where she became the first secretary in that department. Her salary was $85 a month and she was housed in Whittier Hall, a prestigious dormitory at Columbia University and a vast improvement over the boarding house she resided in while working for MacMillan Publishing. As a result of another compromising employment situation, she left Columbia after only two years. Although she did not consider herself a feminist at the time, she believes that her actions at this juncture proved she was unwilling to accept poor working and wage conditions for women. In this era, women were increasingly leaving the home for the work environment, though most were exploited and relegated to low-paying jobs in factories and as laundresses and clerks, receiving an average salary of $4 per week. In 1913, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts and went to work as a statistician and investigator for the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission, where she received a $1,300 a year salary. She worked in this position for four years, during which time she learned statistical and investigative skills. Her assignment included copying factory payrolls and generating statistics from this data. She also worked for a minimum wage law in Massachusetts. (10:16-12:14)... In 1918, she moved to Washington, D.C. and took a job as an investigator for the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. She was involved in efforts to pass a Minimum Wage Law in Washington, D.C. and was hired as the secretary of the National Consumer's League in that city. She was appointed to work as the lobbyist for the woman's minimum wage bill, which was written by Justice Brandeis. To everyone's surprise, she got the bill passed in six months. She became active in the suffrage movement as a result of her activities with the Consumer's League. (12:14-14:17)... Professionally, she was among the first women to work in the business industry and faced many of the earlier problems regarding women and work. After she successfully lobbied for the women's minimum wage law in Washington, DC, she became active in National Consumers League efforts to legislate the meatpacking industry. Because her father was a pioneer in this field, her knowledge of the industry made her particularly qualified to lobby for this legislation. Carrie Chapman Catt invited Butler to tour the western United States during the final ratification drive for women's suffrage. Butler's speeches focused on identifying the kinds of legislation women would be interested in once they won the vote, including legislation related to the meatpacking industry. In anticipation that Butler's speeches would discuss unlawful material on the meatpacking industry, meatpackers followed Butler and Carrie Chapman Catt during the tour. Although this alarmed Carrie Chapman Catt, Butler's speeches used the same material made public during the hearings in Washington, DC. She believes that her efforts resulted in President Woodrow Wilson founding the Federal Trade Commission. (14:17-16:34)... Prior to touring with Carrie Chapman Catt, Butler developed friendships with Alice Paul and women active in the National Woman's Party. She later shared a public speaking course with a Mrs. William Kent , who was one of the lead picketers during Alice Paul's strike on Washington, DC. Although she spent time at Alice Paul's home in Washington, DC, she was not involved in any suffrage activities with these women because of her work schedule. She explains that most of the women working for suffrage had husbands whose financial support allowed them the freedom to participate in volunteer activities. As a single woman, Butler had to work to support herself, which did not provide her the opportunity to participate in suffrage activities. Although Butler preferred Carrie Chapman Catt's tactics, she doesn't believe that these were sufficient. Rather, Alice Paul's National Woman's Party program resulted in President Woodrow Wilson asking the congress to support the amendment. She claims that the day after the National Woman's Party burned Woodrow Wilson in effigy, he went to congress. Butler was in the audience and recalls that President Wilson gave Carrie Chapman Catt the credit, but she believes it was Alice Paul's efforts that made the difference. (16:34-20:00)... Note: There is a break in tape leading to a discussion on what topics would be addressed in the interview. She received $500 to tour with Carrie Chapman Catt to lobby for the ratification of the suffrage amendment in the western United States. In each state, Butler shared the platform with Catt. Butler's speech on the meatpacking industry was an example of the types of issues new voters would have to address, and how these issues required women's participation in the political process. (Break in tape.) At the end of the tour, Catt invited Butler to St. Louis, Missouri, where she formally disbanded the National American Woman Suffrage Association and created the League of Women Voters. Butler sat on a platform at this meeting and was appointed the legislative advocate for the League of Women Voters. That summer, she returned to Washington, DC and assisted the League of Women Voters with readying their legislation for congress. (20:00-23:57)... That summer, her future husband was appointed Trade Commissioner for the US Department of Commerce in London. Although she never advertised it, she did not want to get married or have children. She attempted to break off the relationship for four months, only to find that she was very much in love with her future husband. In opposition to her husband's family, they were married on December 6, 1920 in a very modest ceremony at the home of John Haynes, a well-known preacher in the Episcopalian Church. On August 12, 1921, she left for London and ended her career. Her decision to go to London was made on a deep, spiritual basis, which she did not want to discuss during the interview. Although this was a very difficult decision, her life improved because of marriage. Keywords: marriage; husband; career. (23:57-26:23)... (Break in tape.) When they arrived in London, they bought a house in the Hampton Gardens suburb, which was the first planned community in the city. She believes that America mirrored the planned communities after those created in England. When her father-in-law passed away, her husband received a $4,500 inheritance, which she used to buy antique furniture for their 11-room home. She kept herself busy by attending mothers' clinics, where she learned parenting skills. She gave birth to her daughter in 1924 when she was 38 years old. In England, breast feeding centers were established, and she attended these classes. She breast fed her daughter for nine months, which was a very exciting and fulfilling experience. She hired a governess and a cook to assist with her household and child care responsibilities. She gave birth to a son in 1940, who she also breast fed. (26:23-31:06)... On the advice of her doctor, once a week she participated in activities outside her home. She established a current events club at the American Woman's Club, which included European, American, and English women. Members shared current events from their country and Butler taught them how to give news reports. On occasion, Madam d'Esterre, a renowned public speaking coach, visited the current events club. She taught public speaking skills to all of the royal princes, as well as the men in the House of Commons and their wives. She found it remarkable that English women were allowed to speak on the same platform with their husbands, while most American men kept their wives away from public and political life. While she and her husband traveled around London, a governess took care of their daughter. Butler also traveled the country, teaching American History. She took a vacation every year without her family. For several summers she attended the Fabian School and sat with George Bernard Shaw, who she claims dedicated one of his books to her. (31:06-32:53)... In 1928, she was presented at court. Except for the ambassador, she was the only other person from the American Embassy invited to court. Nervous about the event, she enlisted an English woman who arranged the details of her visit and assisted with her attire. The dress she wore to court cost $40 and the entire affair cost a total of $150, which was vastly less expensive than the costs other women incurred when they were presented at court. (32:53-36:28)... In 1929, her husband accepted a position as head of the Department of Commerce in New England. When they returned to the US, they purchased a three-story home in Needham, Massachusetts. The top floor of the home was rented to teachers and the income was used to pay the rent on the home. Butler's governess disliked her because of the limited time she spent with her children. In the evenings, she would sit down with the governess, who would tell Butler everything that happened with her children, which was how she learned how to be a mother. From 1930-35, she taught classes in public speaking throughout New England. She also earned $2,000.00 per year lecturing at women's clubs on pomp and pageantry at the Court of St. James. She was paid $50-150 per lecture, which consisted of discussing English court life and teaching women how to curtsy, wearing the same dress she wore when she went to court. (36:28-40:28)... In her teaching and social activities she did not advertise that she was a feminist. However, she was making good wages independent of her husband. She used the money she received from lecturing to finance her children's education. In 1932, her husband lost his job because of the Depression. He eventually landed a position as an executive in a factory. However, he lost this job after six months because he was not qualified to work in the business industry. She believes she was partly responsible for his dismissal because of her organizing efforts in the community. For instance, she organized the first Parent Teacher's Association for people in the community unable to send their children to the private school. The community was populated by many people who cared more about social status than quality education for the entire community. Her feminist attitude did not coincide with the elitist social values of the upper-middle class community. (40:28-44:21)... After her husband lost his job at the factory, he made unsuccessful attempts to find new employment. They traveled to Boston where they visited an astrologer who told her husband that he was one of the few people gifted for public work and assured him success at a position in which he would be surrounded by ships. end of tape *** File: sufjhbutler2.mp3 (0:00-1:50)... In 1932-33, her husband traveled to Washington, DC and began working for the Social Security Administration. She moved to Washington, DC and purchased a home, renting the top floor to students. During World War II, her husband worked as an executive for a coal industry. (1:50-4:18)... Before she moved to Washington, DC, she sent her son to live with a family in Florida. She sent her daughter to Colorado, where she paid an educator $50 a month to teach her daughter. Her daughter stayed in Colorado for two years and spent the holidays with Butler's family. When her daughter returned to Washington, she received a full scholarship to the Hope and Arms School. Contrary to most people, she believes that children do not need to be with their parents all of the time and can be taught by others. She and her husband ran a boarding house in Washington, D.C. for two years. She went back to school and received a degree in public speaking from George Washington University in 1935. (4:18-5:45)... She was encouraged to get involved with the woman's movement because of her leadership skills. In 1948, her husband went to work for the Maritime Commission, in which he handled all of the subsidies for the American Merchant Marine. Ten years earlier, the astrologer predicted that he would be working in a field where he was surrounded by ships. (5:45-8:25)... When her children returned to Washington, DC, she hired a "black Negro" housekeeper to run her home. From 1940-50, she taught public speaking courses. Initially, she rented a studio where she taught classes. One of her first students was a woman involved in the women's movement who encouraged Butler to teach other women involved in the women's movement. She then taught women at both the Democratic and Republican Party headquarters in Washington, DC. She also taught several women involved with law and government, including the wife of Senator Fulbright . She received $45 per lesson and taught in the mornings during the fall and the spring. She was home by 4:00 p.m. so that she could be there for her children. (8:25-12:32)... She and her husband bought a house in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia, where for 12 years they spent the weekends. She met a lot of fundamental "hickie" farmers who assisted the Butlers with food and house work. The economic status and the dwellings were very poor for these people. She paid the farmers' daughters five cents each to do her dishes and tidy the house. During the summer of 1944, Butler wrote her first book on public speaking while living in the mountains. She spent the entire summer writing the book, which was published in 1946. She revised this book twice. (12:32-13:48)... She became the speech coach for the General Federation of Women's Clubs and was on the board. She attended federation meetings and taught four work shops on public speaking for eight years. She also traveled around the country and taught courses on public speaking. Teaching was very inspiring to her because a woman who is a well-trained speaker can surpass a man speaking on the same subject. There were no men in her circle of friends who could speak as well as some of the women she taught. (13:48-15:08)... In 1950, she moved to California with her husband. Her husband's health was failing and they sought medical treatment from a biochemist. Her husband traveled to Mexico where he stayed for a year and improved his health. (15:08-18:20)... While her husband was in Mexico, she wrote her autobiography. Although she sent it to two or three publishers, it has not been published. In 1967, she wrote a book entitled, "Adam's Other Wife," a critique of society, which was a story about a man seeking companionship from his wife. Many women neglect their husbands after they have children, which causes men to seek companionship in other women, such as their secretaries. (18:20-21:29)... When she came to California, she began teaching at Mount San Antonio College one night a week for two years until the administration terminated her position because of her age. She was very popular at the college with high attendance in her classes. Her move to California killed her speaking and teaching career. She believes that many Californians do not want to hear about people's lives, careers, or how famous they are. Most of the latter part of her career involved writing. She later became an enthusiast of exercise guru Vic Tanney and learned how to strengthen her body. She exercised three times a week for four years while in her 70s. (21:29-24:21)... She began thinking about aging when she was 49 years old. However, she heard the editor of McCalls, a woman well into her 80s, give a speech and decided that if this woman could be active at that age, Butler could live well past her 80s. She and her husband adopted a new age religion that ties the teachings of the Bible and Jesus Christ into modern ideas of healing and spirituality. end of tape (24:21-25:23)... Note: The end of the interview consisted of outlining the material that would be covered in the next session. During the course of the interview, the tape was shut off when Butler went into too much detail, since the goal of this first interview was to get a broad overview of Butler's life.
- Rights Note
- This repository item may be used for classroom presentations, unpublished papers, and other educational, research, or scholarly use. Other uses, especially publication in any form, such as in dissertations, theses, articles, or web pages are not permitted without the express written permission of the individual collection's copyright holder(s). Please contact the CSULB Library Administration (http://www.csulb.edu/library/Common/SubmittedForms/digital_rep_request.html) should you require permission to publish or distribute any content from this collection or if you need additional information or assistance in using these materials.
Relationships
- In Collection:
Items
| Thumbnail | File information | Actions |
|---|---|---|
|
5396898589957232-sufjhbutler1.mp3 Public
|
Download |
|
|
8843222003262155-sufjhbutler2.mp3 Public
|
Download |
|
|
7332546544037324-BUTLERm.JPG Public
|
Download |
|
|
6336146121660855-BUTLERy.JPG Public
|
Download |
|
|
3466375665837322-sufjhbutler2.jpg Public
|
Download |
|
|
7086942685164680-sufjhbutler1.jpg Public
|
Download |