Rhode Island Working Women Oral History (Mss. Gr. 52)

Biographical or Historical Information

From 1981 to 1983 URI History Professor Valerie Quinney coordinated and conducted a series of interviews as part of the University of Rhode Island Oral History Project to document the lives of clerical workers in Rhode Island. The majority of interviews are from women who were employed as clerical workers during the 1930s through the 1970s. At least one interview documents a clerical career beginning in 1907 and an additional interview is from a woman who was still employed at the time of the interview. Just as the clerical career of each interviewee was different, the observations and comments each interviewee offered regarding their careers is different.

The subject matter discussed in the interviews covers a wide variety of topics. One interviewee, a Rhode Island state clerical worker describes the changes in women’s roles within a large state agency in context with the political climate of state management and union interaction. Another interview reveals the confusion many women clerical workers experienced over the lack of job descriptions, the lack of knowledge about company policy, and the vulnerability felt when working in an all-male environment. In contrast, a third interview describes the work-culture of an all-female department within a bank. The interviews reveal the unique problems women experienced as clerical workers within the cultural expectations and confines of mid-20th century America.