Esther Peterson, Washington, D.C.: interviewed by Floyd O'Neil, 1 March 1991

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Title Esther Peterson, Washington, D.C.: interviewed by Floyd O'Neil, 1 March 1991
Alternative Title No.459 Esther Peterson
Creator Peterson, Esther, 1906-1997
Contributor Cooley, Everett L.; University of Utah. American West Center; O'Neil, Floyd A.
Publisher Digitized by J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah
Date 1991-03-01
Access Rights I acknowledge and agree that all information I obtain as a result of accessing any oral history provided by the University of Utah's Marriott Library shall be used only for historical or scholarly or academic research purposes, and not for commercial purposes. I understand that any other use of the materials is not authorized by the University of Utah and may exceed the scope of permission granted to the University of Utah by the interviewer or interviewee. I may request permission for other uses, in writing to Special Collections at the Marriott Library, which the University of Utah may choose grant, in its sole discretion. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold the University of Utah and its Marriott Library harmless for and against any actions or claims that relate to my improper use of materials provided by the University of Utah.
Date Digital 2014-06-11
Spatial Coverage Provo, Utah County, Utah, United States, http://sws.geonames.org/5780026/ ; Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, http://sws.geonames.org/5780993/
Subject Peterson, Esther, 1906-1997--Interviews; Dance teachers--Utah--Biography; Teachers--Biography; Labor leaders--Utah--Biography; Labor unions--Utah--History
Keywords International Ladies Garment Workers Union; Utah Garment Factory
Description Transcript (50 pages) of interview by Floyd A. O'Neil with Esther Peterson, on March 1, 1991
Abstract Esther Peterson (1906-1997) was born in Provo, Utah. Her father was Lars Eggerrtsen, a first generation American from Danish immigrants. Her mother was Annie Neilson from Veddham, Denmark, who crossed the plains with a handcart company. Esther describes her Utah childhood and talks about teaching physical education (dancing) for two years in Cedar City, Utah, at the Branch Agricultural College. She attended the Teachers' College at Columbia to get her master's degree in Administration of Physical Education. There she met her husband, Oliver. They married in 1932. Oliver encouraged her involvement in social issues. She taught at an exclusive girls' private school, Winsor School, in Boston for six years. She also volunteered at the YWCA teaching dance to girls from the garment industry. After visiting the slums of Cambridge to observe the union movement these girls were associated with, Esther became involved in creating the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She never stopped fighting for fair labor in America. She spent her summers at the Bryn Mawr College for women working in industry. Esher had four children, and balanced motherhood with teaching for Amalgamated Clothing Workers. She worked in Utah to organize the Utah Garment Factory, and was active in other labor causes. Oliver was a labor attaché, and later worked for the State Department. They spent many years in Europe. She continued working late into her life "on the Hill" in various departments. She has successfully influenced and established many of America's labor and fairness policies. Interviewer: Floyd O'Neil
Type Text
Genre oral histories (literary works)
Format application/pdf
Language eng
Rights
Scanning Technician Matt Wilkinson
Conversion Specifications Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display
ARK ark:/87278/s69w1zxb
Topic Dance teachers; Teachers--Biography; Labor leaders--Biography; Labor unions
Setname uum_elc
ID 791026
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s69w1zxb
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