An Oral History with Mary Pogue, September 17, 1980

Mary Pogue, born in Moab, Utah, in 1903, shares a lively account of her life, from childhood anecdotes on Murphy's ranch, including a "horrible rascal" who became her husband, to her experiences living through the Great Depression. She describes growing up in a large family, early education, and the adventurous, "Tobacco Road"-like travels she and her husband undertook across several states in search of work, often living on very little. The interview also covers her and her husband's later decision to adopt two of her sister's children and the unique challenges and joys of raising them. Pogue recounts her varied work experiences, from uranium mining and cowboying to working in stores, cafes, and motels, and vividly details the self-sufficient farming practices of her family, including butter and cheese making, sorghum production, and livestock raising, as well as the community spirit and interfaith cooperation in early Moab.