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Purdy, Lupe (audio interview #1 of 1)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This is the first of three interviews with Lupe Purdy, conducted in her home in Redlands over the course of a 24 hour period. Although initially nervous, Purdy relaxed as the interview progressed. 4/22/1981
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- 2021-07-07
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- *** File: rrrlpurdy1.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-3:38)... Purdy's family was from Guadalajara, Mexico. Her maternal grandfather was employed as a tailor and her paternal grandparents owned a general store and a textile mill, which were confiscated during the Mexican Revolution. Her grandparents died before her parents married and Purdy never knew who they were. However, other family members told her about her family history and showed her the places where her grandparents lived and worked. (3:38-5:50)... During the Mexican Revolution, her family's property and most of their belongings were confiscated. When her father died, her mother sold the rest of their belongings and used the money to purchase train tickets to Texas. She did not have enough money to purchase a ticket for Purdy and she was forced to hide under her mother's skirt whenever the conductor checked their section. (5:50-11:06)... When Purdy's maternal grandfather died, her grandmother supported herself and three daughters by sewing and cooking special dishes. Purdy's oldest aunt married and moved away. Her second aunt contributed to the family income a great deal by selling hand-laced and embroidered items for special occasions. She also earned money as an operatic singer. Purdy's mother helped the family by cleaning houses. Her sister died when she was twelve years old and she became the sole supporter and caretaker of her arthritic mother. Purdy admired her mother because she was a devoted and responsible daughter. When her grandmother died, Purdy's mother went to work at a hotel and supervised the housekeeping staff. She lived alone until she met Purdy's father. (11:06-12:58)... Purdy's parents were married when her mother was eighteen years old. When her mother found out that her father had been married before, she left Guadalajara and moved to El Paso, Texas. Her father was heartbroken and became ill. Her mother ultimately returned to Mexico and they reconciled. A short time later, her parents gave birth to Purdy's brother. Purdy was born nine years later. When she got pregnant, Purdy's mother thought she was going through menopause because so many years had passed since her first childbirth. (12:58-14:42)... When her parents married, her father earned a living as a master shoe craftsman. He was knowledgeable in all types of footwear. Her father's parents were early settlers from Spain and raised five sons and one daughter. His mother died while giving birth to her last child. Her father was the oldest child and assumed much of the childcare responsibilities in the family. (14:42-20:04)... Purdy's parents met at one of her aunt's singing performances. However, her mother was very young at the time and they did not notice each other in a romantic way. Her father began to notice her mother a few years later. Purdy's father was previously married and the father of four boys, one who was older than Purdy's mother. The boys did not accept Purdy's mother as their stepmother. Purdy describes her parents' courtship and marital relationship. After Purdy's father died, her mother compared all other men to him and refused to re-marry. Her father was a dependable and conscientious husband and father. He owned a medicine chest and cured his animals and his children when they were ailing. When her father was on his deathbed, he told her mother that he was worried about Purdy because the family had lost their property and belongings and she would have nothing. Shortly after his death, she moved to El Paso, Texas with her mother and older brother. (20:04-24:37)... Purdy's father managed his estate informally. When he died, his estate was supposed to be divided between his sons and her mother. Her father's oldest son hired a lawyer and falsified documents that granted her father's property and personal belongings to the sons from first marriage. Purdy's mother was a very proud woman and decided that she was not going to fight them. Her father's sons offered to take her mother in, but she refused to be their servant. She sold whatever furniture she owned and moved to El Paso to make a new life for herself and her children. Job opportunities were scarce in El Paso and her mother did whatever she could to support her family. (24:37-27:40)... The cause of her father's death was unknown. He returned home from a delivery in the country and collapsed at the doorstep. He was sent to bed and died some time later. Purdy later learned that during her father's trip he got caught in the crossfire of rebel fighters and exerted himself trying to dodge the bullets. (27:40-30:11)... When her mother was four months pregnant with her, she was not overly concerned about the absence of her menstrual periods. She had not experienced any miscarriages since the birth of Purdy's brother nine years earlier. Purdy does not believe that her parents used any form of birth control End of tape. *** File: rrrlpurdy2.mp3 (0:00-3:38)... Purdy's mother gave birth to her at home. Her mother went into labor while she as out on a morning walk. By the time she made it home and into bed, Purdy was already "parting her [mother's] skirt." Her father was overjoyed to have a daughter after raising five sons. Her mother made all of Purdy's baby clothing and her father made her matching shoes. She describes a picture she took at six months old that illustrated how much her parents enjoyed dressing her. (3:38-9:07)... Purdy moved to El Paso when she was four years old and lived there until she was seventeen. When she was a child, she lived in a small room on the "other" side of the tracks. Although her family was very poor, they were clean people. She has a hard time understanding why some impoverished people live in rat-infested conditions. She believes that the difference in her family's experience with poverty is attributed to the Spanish values of self-respect and dignity that were impressed upon their culture. She was taught to obey her parents and considered her mother's orders as the law. Purdy's favorite child pastimes were reading, cleaning, and sewing. She does not regret being poor because it taught her to be a self-reliant and responsible woman. (9:07-13:59)... Purdy's brother attended a private school in Mexico prior until the family moved to El Paso. He was a brilliant boy and the teachers often told her father that he actually taught them things. When he was about thirteen years old, he went to work as an office boy for the Chamber of Commerce in El Paso. The people there gave him English, typing, and stenography lessons and he learned how to translate both Spanish and English fluently. He also went to night school to learn English. He then went to work for the largest department store in El Paso designing store windows. He was a talented artist and designed the best displays in the city. He did not allow her mother to work past the age of forty. She stayed home and he supported the family on his income. He caught the influenza virus and died when he was about twenty-five years old. (13:59-15:06)... Purdy worked after school and during summer vacations for a man in El Paso who repaired and sold new and used sewing machines. He expanded his business to antique furniture and Purdy learned a lot about refinishing furniture and antiques. (15:06-17:44)... When Purdy was thirteen years old, her family moved into a basement apartment in a home where her mother worked as a housekeeper. This arrangement was short lived because her mother's employers asked Purdy's brother to do gardening work and for Purdy to baby sit their children. Her mother's Spanish pride kicked in once again and she informed her employees that her children's labor was not part of the agreement. Her mother did not want anything to interfere with her children's studies. They then moved into a home and rented out rooms to help pay the rent. (17:44-22:40)... Purdy's primary language when she started school was Spanish. She attended a private parochial school with a Spanish-speaking student body. She received a bilingual education that taught her how to read, pronounce, and translate English to Spanish. Prior to enrolling in school, her brother taught her the English and Spanish alphabets. As a result, she went from the first grade to the second grade in one day. Purdy did not experience any language barriers during her lifetime. She often mixed Spanish and English when communicating with friends and family. Her children did not learn how to speak or understand Spanish. After she married and moved to California, she went to night school for several months and took different types of courses. (22:40-26:35)... She attended a private parochial school until the eighth grade and then went to a public high school. She did not like public high school because it was disorderly and the kids were undisciplined. She was not involved in any social clubs or athletic activities while in high school. She occasionally participated in competitive spelling bees. She believes that the purpose of school should be learning, not socializing. (26:35-30:43)... Purdy's childhood activities included play acting, playing with dolls, reading, gardening, and sewing. She had a selected group of friends that she played with and did not like to do any "rough stuff." She enjoyed making stages and putting on shows. She wanted to be a professional dancer but her mother could not afford formal lessons. However, Purdy was involved in a few dancing engagements involving cultural dances from different countries. The interview ends just as she is discussing the process of making rag dolls. End of tape. *** File: rrrlpurdy3.mp3 (0:00-3:05)... Purdy continues her discussion on the activities she enjoyed when she was a child. She was not involved in organized sports, but enjoyed dancing. Occasionally, she went to dances with her friends. Her mother chaperoned her if she attended a dance in the evening. (3:05-4:08)... Her family occasionally went across the Mexican-Texas border to Juarez for social activities and shopping. People walked or rode a streetcar across the bridge that connected the border towns of Juarez and El Paso. People from El Paso did their shopping in Juarez and vice versa. (4:08-7:46)... Purdy was responsible for completing various chores around the house. She was not a rebellious child and did not question her duties. Her mother occasionally spanked the children to discipline them. Purdy was obedient and respected her mother's authority. She understood her mother was busy with work, family, and social commitments. However, her mother occasionally misunderstood Purdy's need for motherly attention. (7:46-12:33)... She does not celebrate Mexican holidays. Even though she is loyal to certain Spanish cultural values, she considers herself an American. She applied for citizenship prior to WWII so that she could work in the defense industry. When she got to the part about taking up arms against her native country, it was difficult to imagine fighting with native Mexicans. However, she would not hesitate to protect the US because it is her country now. (12:33-13:14)... Purdy's mother did not prepare her for menstruation. She heard other girls talk about it and did not think it was a big deal when she started her period. (13:14-14:44)... The high school she attended did not offer a lot of social activities outside of class studies. Schools competed in scholastic and athletic activities and the school organized a school picnic once a year. She went out on group dates in high school. When she got a boyfriend, they went out on unsupervised dates to the movies or dances. (14:44-21:04)... Purdy left high school a year early. Her brother was sick and she needed to get a job to help her family. The only expectations she had for her future included marriage. She describes, in detail, how she met her husband, Robert Purdy. (21:04-23:22)... Purdy discusses her husband's family background and family history. Her husband often complained about his life growing up in La Mesa. Purdy used these opportunities to remind her husband of his good fortune compared to the conditions in which she grew up. (23:22-30:11)... Her husband worked for the railroad and was gone for short blocks of time. Before he left for one of his trips, he told Purdy that when he returned they would marry. Her mother approved of her husband and gave them her blessing. In 1935, they went to Juarez and were married in a private and quiet ceremony at the courthouse. They celebrated their marriage with dinner and dancing. Her husband was fond of her mother and they never exchanged harsh words. Purdy did not continue working after she married her husband. Her expectations for married included being a good wife and raising a family. End of tape. *** File: rrrlpurdy4.mp3 (0:00-10:39)... Purdy believes in adhering to strict gender roles in a marriage. While it is a woman's job to create a stable and comfortable domestic environment for her husband and children, it is a man's job to be the breadwinner in the family. The only reason Purdy went into defense work during WWII was to help the war effort, not for the money. Her feelings about married women and work were confirmed while she was employed during the war. Her schedule was stressful, she did not like putting her children in a nursery, and the financial benefit was negligible. She returned to work following the war when her children were older. Her income paid for her children's tuition for private school and gave her family the means to move into a new home. She finds fault with women who are frustrated as housewives and mothers, indicating that those women have no business being married in the first place. (10:39-13:22)... When Purdy married she kept herself busy with cooking, cleaning, and sewing responsibilities. She entertained herself by taking dances lessons and reading. However, she did not have a lot of spare time to participate in too many activities outside the home. She enjoyed cooking and was particular about the types of meals she prepared for her family. Her mother did not assist her with the cooking and cleaning responsibility, except for occasionally cooking special dishes for the family. (13:22-16:27)... Purdy gave birth to three children between 1935-39, with one miscarriage prior to the birth of her second child. During her second pregnancy, her uterus was tipped and she spent the first couple of months in bed. Her water did not break and the delivery was painful. Two of her children were born at home and one in the hospital. After her third child was born, she practiced birth control; however, she does not elaborate on any particular methods she used. (16:27-17:54)... Her husband thought she was a "snob" because she was particular about who she befriended while he was friendly with everyone. Occasionally, they went to company dinners and it always bored her when the men started drinking and talking about inappropriate subjects. (17:54-20:47)... Purdy's mother was not an extremely religious person. Purdy and her brother attended a Baptist parochial school in El Paso and eventually converted from Catholicism to Baptists. Her mother was disappointed that they converted because their family had traditional ties to the Catholic Church. However, she eventually converted to the Baptist faith. Purdy and her children attended church on a regular basis. (20:47-23:41)... Purdy and her husband moved to Los Angeles in 1936 in anticipation of finding better job opportunities. They rented for a short time before purchasing a home in south Los Angeles during WWII. They lived in this home for ten years and then purchased a two-story home in the Wilshire District, where they raised their children. Her children attended a Christian private school near this home. (23:41-26:22)... Purdy was happy about her move to Los Angeles because there were more activities for her to do. She enjoyed going to the movies and taking the Red car to the beach. Occasionally, movie stars attended movie viewings and she got a chance to meet them. The environment was safe and peaceful. Things changed during the war years when an influx of people moved into the city to work in the defense industry. (26:22-30:29)... While many people went to work in defense to make money, she went to work to help the war effort. The starting wage for defense work was $1.25. Typically, when employees were hired at defense companies they were sent to a training facility for six weeks and learned how to operate the tools and machinery used to manufacture airplanes. However, when Purdy was hired she was sent directly to the main plant. The plant was large and extremely noisy. Her initial impression of the plant and the working conditions was negative. Without any training, she was handed a rivet gun and a set tools and told to go to work. End of tape.
- SUBJECT BIO - Lupe Purdy was working in the garment industry in Los Angeles before she went to work at Douglas Aircraft for two years. Although she had a mechanical aptitude and liked acquiring and using the skills she learned at Douglas, ultimately the unpleasant working conditions and strained family life took its toll. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the second of three children, Purdy was raised first in El Paso and then came to Los Angeles with her family when she was in high school. She married in 1935, just out of high school, and stayed home after the first of first child. Although she returned to work when her third child was one year old and worked outside the home intermittently until 1960, she defined herself primarily as a wife and mother. Indeed, she viewed her work as an extension of her role in the home, i.e. to help with the expenses of raising a family. The interviews with Purdy were conducted just one month after her husband's sudden death and she seemed to welcome the opportunity to talk with someone. Because Purdy lived some distance from Long Beach, the interviewer arranged to spend a day and a night at her home, located in the foothills outside the city of Redlands. The house was still in the process of being remodeled when her husband died. The interviews were conducted sitting on a couch in the living room, the first in the afternoon; the second after dinner; and the third the next morning. Although Purdy was understandably depressed and initially nervous, she was always open and candid and was able to recall her experiences in an orderly, clear manner. TOPICS - family background and family history; childhood; Mexican Revolution; parents' marital relationship; mother's pregnancy with Purdy; death of her father; division of her father's estate; and move to El Paso, Texas;story of childbirth; living arrangements and conditions; economic status; cultural values; family history; brother's education and work; mother; childhood; schooling; language; and childhood activities;childhood activities; household chores; relationship with mother; schooling; cultural identity; applying for citizenship; dating and courtship with husband; wedding; marriage expectations; and husband's family backexpectations of marriage; gender roles; gender expectations; domestic responsibilities; pregnancy; childbirth; social activities; husband; housing; religion; training for defense work; and defense plant and workin
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