Material Type

Recording

Date Range

1992

Physical Condition

Excellent

Acquisition Source

Sir Alexander Galt Museum

Scope and Content

1 cassette tape. Length: 45 minutes.interviewee: marie-louise loescher.interviewer: lori jarokosky, museum program leader.date: 16 January 1992. - Marie-Louise Loescher came to Lethbridge in 1924 to work for L & J McLean as a milliner. For economic reasons her salary was cut and she was laid off without pay for 4 weeks out of the year. Each year her salary was cut a bit more and she was laid off for longer period of times. Eventually she had a hard time making ends meet. - In 1934 her father died and his friend offered to lend Marie-Louise $500.00 to purchase an existing millinery shop. She was in business for 39 years before retiring because of her health. It was a struggle during the depression and it took years before she could repay the money. - Talks about the Royal visit in 1938 and going to Calgary to see them. - The following year WWII broke out, and she remembers the young men marching down 3rd Ave. Because her last name is German,and she wore a pin that had a swastika on it,she experienced discrimination from some people which led her to have a nervous breakdown. - Talks about living in the basement of her shop for a while to save money. She ate one meal a day at the Yale Cafe and made arrangements to bathe once a week at the Alexander Hotel. - In 1935 she was involved in the formation of the Quota Club, a business and professional womens club. She talks about the first president and some of the early members. - Marie-Louise was 34 when she opened her shop in August 1934. She attended school in Toronto to learn the trade, but after 6 months felt she was not learning enough and quit to work in a wholesale house that had a millinery work room. - Talks about some of the ways people tried to earn money during the depression. Recalls other incidents that occurred during the depression. - Talks about how the government implementing the senior's pension helped to recharge and give back the self respect of seniors who where trying to survive on nothing.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19971068006

Collection

Archive

Less detail