Other
Widdicombe, Evelyn (audio interview #3 of 3)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This final interview with Widdicombe was again conducted sitting at her kitchen table. As before, she was comfortable with the interview process, but also a critical observer of it as a result of her enrollment in a women's oral history seminar. By the time of this third interview, she herself had conducted some interviews for the seminar. 3/19/1980
- Date
- 2021-04-30
- Resource Type
- Creator
- Campus
- Keywords
- Handle
- Language
- Notes
- SUBJECT BIO - Evelyn (Casola) Widdicombe went to work at Lockheed, following her Navy husband's death at Pearl Harbor. Born in Canada in 1913 to US citizens, Widdicombe was raised in Tacoma, Washington. After high school, she worked as a live-in domestic briefly, and then went to live with her aunt in a rural community, earning money working on the farm. She married in 1938 while her husband was still in the Navy. Times were still bad when his hitch was over, and after three months, he re-enlisted. Initially they lived in a small apartment in Long Beach, but when Navy Housing opened a project in Long Beach, she immediately rented an apartment. That is where she was living when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Shortly afterwards, the Navy chaplain assisted in recruiting some of the "Pearl Harbor widows" to work in the Lockheed Aircraft plant in Maywood. She worked there eighteen months, first as an assembler and then as a clerical worker, before taking a job at the Navy Shipyard in Long Beach. She remarried after the war, and continued to live in Navy Housing with her new husband, and began to work in the office there. After Widdicombe and her second husband bought a home in one of the new housing tracts in Long Beach, she became a full-time homemaker. One year later, in 1950, she began working in the Fleet Support Office at the Navy Shipyard, where she remained until her retirement in 1973. Widdicombe was interviewed in the tract home in which she lived since the 1950s. Since her divorce in 1956, she lived their alone. She was among the first women interviewed for the RRR project, shortly after she enrolled in the project director's women's oral history seminar. Her involvement in the class made her an observer of the interview process, at the same time she was the narrator. As a result, it made the interviewer somewhat self conscious about her role. TOPICS - publicity on women defense workers; work clothing; working conditions; employee relationships; work roles and assignments, Long Beach Naval Ship Yard; relationship with women workers; roommate and social activiticity brownouts; social activities and relationships; USO; dating; work in the Navy Housing Office; gender and race relations at Long Beach Naval Ship Yard, Riggers Department; relationship with women workers; wagesdating and courtship; husband's military career; Japanese relocation; husband's family history; marital relationship; economic status; housing and living arrangements; domesticity; and Civil Service work, Fleet Sdivorce; reflection on the impact of her work at Lockheed; sister; Civil Service work, Fleet Support Office; retirement; travel; and educational pursuits;
- *** File: rrrewiddicombe10.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-5:40)... After the Navy wives completed an examination at the Lockheed Burbank plant, a photograph was taken of them, which was featured in Life in order to publicize that "Pearl Harbor widows were getting their chance to work for Lockheed and doing their part for the war effort." After she began working at Lockheed, Life featured another photograph of Widdicombe while she was riveting. She also spoke three lines in a newsreel that was played during the war. Even though she felt proud to represent her country in this fashion, she saw working as a financial opportunity and a way to cope with the loss of her husband. (5:40-8:03)... When the war began, Widdicombe felt alone in Long Beach because she had no family living nearby. The people she was closest to were Navy widows who lived near her in the housing project. Going to work at Lockheed opened up an interesting episode in Widdicombe's life. She was exposed to new experiences such as wearing pants and packing a lunch. In addition to earning a stable income for the first time in her life, Widdicombe was able to meet new people and learn new skills. (8:03-12:34)... The discipline and uniformity of Catholic school prepared her for the work environment at Lockheed. Although she initially felt strange wearing pants, she accepted it as a necessary condition of the job. Looking back, she remembers feeling self-conscious about her skills and working in an environment with so many men. She talks about her leadman, Joe. In some ways, her relationship with Joe differed from the relationship between leadman and women with children. Widdicombe digresses regarding married life and her domestic activities and how these experiences enabled her to accept change and authority in her life. (12:34-18:00)... Widdicombe worked at Lockheed for eighteen months (January 1942-June 1943), after which she went to work in Shop 72 of the Riggers Department at the Long Beach Navy Shipyard. Although she was classified as a production employee, she was placed in a clerical position because of her typing skills. She was expected to wear pants to work. The department was cold and noisy, and the production line operated twenty-four hours a day. She worked the day shift, usually six days a week, although she once worked seventy hours a week for ten weeks. She was employed in the shipyard for eighteen months (June 1943-January 1945) and then went to work in the Navy Housing Office. (18:00-24:34)... Widdicombe was the only woman employed in a clerical position within the Riggers Department. Some women worked in the sail loft sewing canvases, but she did not know what other type of production work women did in that department. Widdicombe got the distinct impression that the other women resented her because of her "heavenly" working conditions and because she received a production wage. She digresses regarding her friend Alice, who also was employed in defense work during the war. The two moved in together about a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor in order to share living expenses and to quell the loneliness they felt after losing their husbands. Widdicombe describes the social activities they enjoyed while living together. (24:34-25:31)... Although she met a lot of men during the war, she did not feel it was appropriate to date until a reasonable time had passed after the death of her husband. The atmosphere in Long Beach was "buzzing with people," particularly military men. She began dating again in 1943. The interview ends just as she is discussing how she met a Dutch pilot. End of tape. *** File: rrrewiddicombe11.mp3 (0:00-1:52)... Widdicombe describes her route to the Lockheed Maywood plant and the "brown out" along the ocean route. People also were asked to keep their shades or curtains closed in the evenings to maintain the brown out in the city. (1:52-5:00)... Widdicombe volunteered her evenings and Sundays at the USO headquarters located at the Pico landing between Terminal Island and Long Beach. She spent her time dancing, playing games, and talking with soldiers. She was required to wear a uniform and a badge that identified her as a hostess. Her USO activities made her feel patriotic and provided her with an opportunity to meet men. The USO was a "hubbub of activity, and it was very gay in a way because the boys were away from their ships in the company of women and they were lonesome." (5:00-9:21)... While volunteering at the USO headquarters, Widdicombe met a Dutch pilot. They dated while he was stationed in Long Beach, during which time he asked her to hide a special part of an airplane in her home. This experience was exciting and filled her with a great sense of responsibility. She also dated a man who worked in a civilian shipyard on Terminal Island in order to avoid the draft. They spent a lot of time driving around Long Beach and visiting his family in Lakewood. He also took her to places like Big Bear, San Diego, and Tijuana. Although it was "unreal" to be dating men, the war years were a very pleasant time in her life. (9:21-11:40)... She left the shipyard in January 1945 when she was transferred to a clerical position in the Navy Housing Office. Her responsibilities included interviewing prospective tenants and determining their eligibility for Navy Housing. Even though she enjoyed her work, she was isolated from many of her friends and social activities outside navy housing. At the same time, her work and living environment was gloomy because of her contact with so many Navy widows. She worked at the Navy Housing Office until 1953 [Note: elsewhere she dates this as 1950]. (11:40-16:40)... Widdicombe received a thirty-minute lunch break when she worked at the Long Beach Navy Shipyard. She purchased and ate her lunch in the cafeteria, which was always crowded with shipyard employees. Although women in production were cordial, Widdicombe believes that they saw her as the "teacher's pet" because the boss liked her. They probably resented her because in addition to having a comfortable job in an office, she was financially stable with no marriage or family responsibilities. Other than a scheduled lunch break, she took breaks at her leisure. Women in production, however, were closely supervised by their leadman. Talking about gender and race relations in Shop 72, she notes that most of the White women in the shop had never worked with Black men. She does not believe there were any Black women employed in Shop 72. She recalls that most Black women worked in the laborers shop cleaning the dry dock and other facilities in the shipyards. (16:40-20:49)... There were no special services available for women working in the shipyard, but it was an attractive place to work because the pay was good. Widdicombe purchased war bonds, payment for which was taken directly out of her paycheck. She used her savings to purchase a car and, later, a fur coat. She also was able to vacation comfortably when visiting her family. When she was transferred to Navy Housing, she took a pay cut, earning a $1,400 annually with ten automatic pay raises per year. She was classified initially as a GS2 employee, but eventually was elevated to a GS3. Even though her pay decreased, she was attracted to the job because she was classified as a clerical worker, rather than a production worker, her classification at the shipyard. (20:49-23:22)... Widdicombe alludes to her impending marriage between the time she left the shipyard and began working at the Navy Housing Office. She digresses regarding her typical activities after work, which involved settling in for the night with her roommate Alice. On Sundays, Widdicombe prepared for the work week ahead by washing her hair and doing miscellaneous tasks. The interview ends as Widdicombe is discussing the circumstances that led to a blind date with her future husband. End of tape. *** File: rrrewiddicombe12.mp3 (0:00-5:12)... Widdicombe was set up on a blind date with her future husband, Dick Widdicombe, a provost marshal for the Los Angeles regiment of the US Army stationed at the Port of Embarkation. During the war, his service included overseeing the transportation of Japanese and Japanese Americans to relocation camps around the country. When she first met Dick she thought he was a handsome and courteous man. When the war ended, he was discharged from the army and honored in a ceremony. They married in September 1946 after her husband got a job at the Automobile Club of Southern California. (5:12-12:59)... Widdicombe continued to work in the Navy Housing Office after she married. Navy authorities granted her special permission so that her husband could move into Navy Housing. They also allowed her to move into a two-bedroom apartment, paying only thirteen dollars a month in rent. Her husband disliked living in the project on account of his affluent upbringing. Widdicombe married Dick when she was thirty-three years old and he was thirty-six. He had been married and divorced once before, but there was no stigma surrounding a male divorcee at that time. Widdicombe talks about her husband's family history, his early work experiences, and his first marriage. (12:59-14:32)... By the time Widdicombe married her husband, he was no longer working on Japanese relocation. Other than mentioning that it was once his responsibility as provost marshal, he did not talk about the procedures involved or his feelings towards relocation. In general, she thinks that her husband was unsympathetic to the Japanese and was only focused on carrying out orders. However, the situation must have bothered him because he requested that he be removed from the assignment. (14:32-21:33)... She continued to work in the Navy Housing Office after she married not only so she could keep her apartment, but because she wanted to earn her own money and receive a pension. She never imagined that it would possible for her to buy a home. After about a year, they sold their home and moved to Belmont Shores in order to live near their friends. In 1950, they purchased a home in a new housing tract with a down payment of $500. They watched the construction of their home from start to finish. They were making good money at the time, but her husband had "champagne tastes on a beer budget" and enjoyed spending money on new cars and clothing. They combined their incomes and shared the responsibility of managing their finances. In 1950, when the Long Beach Navy Shipyard closed, she was laid off. (21:33-26:14)... After losing her civil service position in 1950, she immersed herself in domestic life. She cashed in her retirement plan and used the $1,400 to purchase amenities for her home. When the Korean War began, the Civil Service Commission apprised her of job opportunities, and she was hired in the Fleet Support Office located on Terminal Island. She started with a GS2 classification. Shortly after she was hired, three former WAVES were sent to her office and she became their supervisor. As Widdicombe's responsibilities increased, her position was reclassified. She retired in 1973 with a GS6 classification. The interview ends just as Widdicombe mentions that she divorced her husband while she was employed with the Fleet Support Office. End of tape. *** File: rrrewiddicombe13.mp3 (0:00-3:47)... Widdicombe discusses her marital problems and divorce to Dick Widdicombe after ten years of marriage. During their marriage, her husband expressed his wishes that she stop working so that she could spend more time at home. However, Widdicombe never considered leaving her job to become a full-time housewife. She talks about her husband's activities after their divorce, indicating that they remained close friends. (3:47-5:13)... She never envisioned a future with Lockheed. The job was a way to make money and express her patriotism. She was one among a group of women who "belonged together... it was like a club in a way with a common goal." (5:13-8:22)... After her divorce, finances were tight and she had to budget her expenses. In the divorce settlement she received a car and their home. Her mortgage payments were scaled down because of her ex-husband's veteran status. However, when he married she was no longer able to receive this benefit and her house payments increased. Fortunately, as her living expenses increased so did her salary. Coping with divorce was made easier when Widdicombe's sister moved to Long Beach. (8:22-11:07)... Widdicombe describes the operations of the US Navy Port Control Office and her responsibilities in the Fleet Support Office. (11:07-16:48)... While employed in the Fleet Support Office, Widdicombe befriended two WAVE officers and often accompanied them to the Navy Officers Club. She also kept herself busy by taking evening courses at LBCC. When the Long Beach Naval Station closed in 1973, she took advantage of a lucrative retirement offer. At the same time, her first husband's military pension was reinstated and she also became eligible for education benefits through the GI Bill. She graduated from LBCC as an English literature major in June 1976 and then enrolled at CSULB. (16:48-18:19)... When questioned about retirement, Widdicombes states, "I still have to retire and I don't know what I'm going to do, but I will always go to school." She digresses regarding her neighbors and their travels. She enjoys traveling and since she retired from the Fleet Support Office she has traveled to Europe on five occasions. (18:19-22:58)... Widdicombe discusses how her work at Lockheed affected her life. Operating a rivet gun did not provide her with any mechanical skills that she was able put to use later in life. She feels lucky that she spent the majority of her life as an unmarried and independent woman. She prides herself on her work ethic and the fact that she never had to ask for any favors, stating, "I have earned everything I have, but have had some marvelous breaks along the way and some terrible losses." She maintains a positive outlook on life and envisions good things for herself in the future. End of tape.
- 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 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: https://www.csulb.edu/university-library/form/questionssuggestions-the-digital-repository-group
Relationships
- In Collection:
Items
| Thumbnail | File information | Actions |
|---|---|---|
|
6916352241429871-rrrewiddicombe10.mp3 Public
|
Download |
|
|
2725598771346300-rrrewiddicombe11.mp3 Public
|
Download |
|
|
2725450224606765-rrrewiddicombe12.mp3 Public
|
Download |
|
|
5373782545005336-rrrewiddicombe13.mp3 Public
|
Download |
|
|
7274315270302121-rrrewiddicombe.jpg Public
|
Download |