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Looking back at our history, there is a common misconception that women didn’t work until World War II. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Women’s labor has always been an important part of the US economy, whether paid or unpaid. Throughout the decades of the twentieth century, though, the nature of this work changed as the country changed. More opportunities became available, and women’s labor diversified. Charlotte Becker takes us through what this transition looked like in Gresham, using personal stories of housewives, teachers, entrepreneurs, and many more.
Music for this episode: Simplicity by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0.www.scottbuckley.com.au
Workers at the Gresham Berry Growers cannery, which employed women to process and pack the season's harvest. From left to right: Elsie Wilson, Ella Burdick, Maude Winn, unidentified, unidentified, Lucy Boring, Arlie Davidson.
GHS 894, donated by Elsie Wilson, whose voice is heard in this episode.
Charter of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Gresham, Oregon, dated June 8, 1929. Betty Chisum (a speaker in this episode) was a member along with her mother, Betty Bartholomew, and sister, Liz Jones.
Employees of the First National Bank of Gresham, 1950s. Betty Chisum (third row at right) often found herself training men for higher-paying jobs that she, as a woman, was not eligible for.
GHS 1256
First grade class at West Gresham Elementary (then Gresham Grade School) with teacher Ms. Stout in 1933. During the Great Depression, with paying work scarce even for men, teaching was one of the few jobs available for women - but only if they were unmarried.
GHS 2001.010.0004, donated by Nellie Hjaltalin (2nd row, 3rd from left)
Mildred Davies (center front) teaches a 4-H home economics class in 1917. Young women were generally expected to work in the home once married, and vocational training focused on the skills they would need to efficiently run a household.
GHS 1392
Mildred Fancher's World War II ration book, 1942-1943. During the war, women rejoined the workforce, taking over traditionally male-dominated jobs in the manufacturing sector.
View the full book on Northwest Digital Heritage.
GHS 2005.024.0020
Nettie Williams with children Joyce, Harry, and Raymond in front of the family's farmhouse. Women did many jobs critical to running a farm, as well as taking the primary role in raising children.
GHS 413
Takeout bag from Sunny Han's Wok & Grill, a longtime Downtown Gresham restaurant. Owner Judy Han began her career as an entrepreneur at age 21. She was highly involved in community causes throughout her career and remains so in retirement.
GHS 2005.08A.0011
Esther Maness and son Bob Hays on the front steps of Esther's boarding house on 10th and Roberts. The 1899 home formerly belonged to Gresham mayor Charles Cleveland.
From the Gresham Outlook.
A podcast about Gresham history, told through the voices of those who have lived it. Join us each Wednesday as we bring Gresham's past to life - from the Japanese American experience to Prohibition and speakeasies. Hosted and co-written by Stephanie Vallance and Melissa Bevency, in partnership with GHS.
In 1880, the first Japanese settler arrived in Oregon. Her name was Miyo Iwakoshi, and her arrival would pave the way for generations of Japanese Americans to come. Buried in an unmarked grave, she became a mystery, uniting historians across space and time in the search for who she was. Join us as we explore the unusual life of Miyo Iwakoshi, the Western Empress of Orient.
Last week, we were introduced to Gresham’s first Japanese settler - Miyo Iwakoshi. In episode 2 of Voices of Gresham, we'll take a closer look at how the issei and their nisei children followed in Miyo's footsteps to put down their own roots. Their families' experiences were much like those of many early 20th century American immigrants.
Last week, we were introduced to Gresham’s first Japanese settler - Miyo Iwakoshi. In episode 2 of Voices of Gresham, we'll take a closer look at how the issei and their nisei children followed in Miyo's footsteps to put down their own roots. Their families' experiences were much like those of many early 20th century American immigrants. Joy and hope were often coupled with tragedy and loss and would define the lives of Japanese American immigrants during the first half of the 20th century.
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. As war broke out, so did feelings of suspicion towards Japanese Americans, ultimately culminating in President Roosevelt’s internment order. Gresham’s Japanese families sold most of what they owned, left behind their farms, and boarded buses headed towards an unknown future. Most arrived a
On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. As war broke out, so did feelings of suspicion towards Japanese Americans, ultimately culminating in President Roosevelt’s internment order. Gresham’s Japanese families sold most of what they owned, left behind their farms, and boarded buses headed towards an unknown future. Most arrived at the Portland Assembly Center, where they found livestock stalls that they were temporarily forced to call home. Join us as we travel with them on the first leg of their journey.
In the summer of 1942, Gresham’s interned families were loaded onto trains and forcibly relocated to Hunt, Idaho. There they found an unfinished concentration camp called Minidoka, where they would live under guard for the next three years. Despite their imprisonment, many looked for ways to exercise autonomy and build community. They cul
In the summer of 1942, Gresham’s interned families were loaded onto trains and forcibly relocated to Hunt, Idaho. There they found an unfinished concentration camp called Minidoka, where they would live under guard for the next three years. Despite their imprisonment, many looked for ways to exercise autonomy and build community. They cultivated gardens in the dusty soil, started their own baseball teams, and created their own newspaper and yearbook. Join us as we uncover their incredible stories from the Idaho desert.
During internment, the Japanese had done their best to maintain autonomy and community despite their difficult circumstances. While laboring at Nyssa and counting down the long desert days at Minidoka, many thought of what life would be like after the war. Upon leaving the camps, would they be embraced or rejected? Would they ever get ba
During internment, the Japanese had done their best to maintain autonomy and community despite their difficult circumstances. While laboring at Nyssa and counting down the long desert days at Minidoka, many thought of what life would be like after the war. Upon leaving the camps, would they be embraced or rejected? Would they ever get back what was lost? In this episode, we examine what it was like for those who returned to their homes in Gresham.
The decades following World War II were pivotal for Gresham’s Japanese American community. Many engaged with Japanese traditions alongside the American notion of freedom that internment had denied them. It was a time of reparations and rebuilding, of both seeking amends for the past and creating a better future. Through it all, Miyo Iwako
The decades following World War II were pivotal for Gresham’s Japanese American community. Many engaged with Japanese traditions alongside the American notion of freedom that internment had denied them. It was a time of reparations and rebuilding, of both seeking amends for the past and creating a better future. Through it all, Miyo Iwakoshi's unmarked grave rested beneath a tall cedar – a symbol of strength and resilience throughout 100 years of history.
At a glance, 1920s Gresham appeared to be a quaint, sleepy farm town. However, beneath the surface, something strange was brewing. Stills and speakeasies were popping up rapidly – much to the frustration of the county sheriff. From barns and backyards, moonshine traveled east and west along Base Line Road. As Portland residents flocked to
At a glance, 1920s Gresham appeared to be a quaint, sleepy farm town. However, beneath the surface, something strange was brewing. Stills and speakeasies were popping up rapidly – much to the frustration of the county sheriff. From barns and backyards, moonshine traveled east and west along Base Line Road. As Portland residents flocked to Rockwood’s roadhouses, colorful characters connected over illicit spirits. Join us as we hear from those who lived it, exploring this hidden history 100 years later.
As we wander through the streets and fields of Gresham today, it’s easy to overlook the layers of history beneath our feet. On today's episode, we’ll journey through the environmental story of Gresham and uncover how millennia of constant transformation shaped the town we know today. Kayte Williamson and Kendal Young, our newest voices of
As we wander through the streets and fields of Gresham today, it’s easy to overlook the layers of history beneath our feet. On today's episode, we’ll journey through the environmental story of Gresham and uncover how millennia of constant transformation shaped the town we know today. Kayte Williamson and Kendal Young, our newest voices of Gresham, explore the powerful and sometimes surprising connections between the environment and the people who call this place home.
Gifts and contributions to the Gresham Historical Society support the continued preservation and sharing of our local history. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations are tax deductible.
GHS volunteers and staff are working hard to find great local history stories and share them with you. Check out their research on our YouTube channel and learn about upcoming lectures at the museum.
What's your history mystery? Search for the answer in our archives! Resources include over 70 years of the Gresham Outlook (our local newspaper) as well as thousands of historic documents and photos. You can also browse a portion of our collection online.
Join us for upcoming events, including lectures, tours, and fundraisers. Monthly history talks, walking tours of historic cemeteries, and family-friendly workshops are just some of what we have to offer.
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