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JK, alias (audio interview #3 of 3)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This is the final interview with JK (who chose to remain anonymous) in her apartment in South Gate. Because of arthritis and other medical problems, she became uncomfortable during the interview. Nevertheless, she remained a willing participant and was often quite candid in her responses. 4/21/1980
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- 2021-06-07
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- SUBJECT BIO - JK was working as a live-in domestic before she went to work at North American Aviation. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, the first of six children, JK came to Los Angeles with her family when she was seven years old. She was attending Los Angeles City College, and had aspirations to go to UCLA, when she became pregnant at the age of nineteen. She lived at home and, at times, as a live-in domestic. Under pressure from her parents to provide income for her child and for the family, she welcomed the North American job with its better pay. She was fired for fighting with another worker, and spent some time at home with her child before taking the Civil Service exam and going to work for the County. She continued to work in various city and county clerical jobs. In the course of the post war years, she married and divorced twice and had four more children. The interviews were held in her apartment in South Gate on her day off. Because of several medical problems, including arthritis, she often became uncomfortable during the interview. Nevertheless, and despite her decision to remain anonymous, JK was quite a willing participant. She was warm and friendly and often quite candid in her responses. TOPICS - civil service work; abortion; birth control; family history; courtship with husband; marital relationship; childcare; economic status; and social activities;family history; family life; marital relationship; childcare; household management and family responsibilities; work; earnings; social activities; and second marriage;religious beliefs; children's education; work; health; personal enrichment and education; college experiences; marital relationships and divorces; attitudes towards men and sex; and plans for her future;impact of defense work on her life; reflections on life and past marriages; and relationship with her daughters and women friends;
- *** File: rrrjk7.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-5:21)... After JK was fired from North American, she applied for a position with Civil Service as a clerk typist. She was assigned to work at County General Hospital, and worked there for three years, resigning September 1946. Following that, she went to work for the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission as a clerk typist. She took examinations for Civil Service positions periodically, and eventually was hired as a clerk typist at the Los Angeles Police Department in December 1946. She enjoyed her work at the police department more than any of her previous jobs. (5:21-9:38)... When JK got pregnant with her second child she decided to get an abortion. A friend referred her to a Mexican woman who performed abortions. JK had to go to this woman on three occasions because the fetus would not pass. On the third procedure, she hemorrhaged and was admitted into the hospital. She did not expel the fetus until two days later. The woman who performed the abortion was eventually sent to prison when another woman died during a procedure. Even after the abortion, JK remained friends with the man who impregnated her. When she married her husband, she practiced birth control methods but nothing worked effectively. She gave birth to three children in succession. (9:38-12:34)... JK was introduced to her future husband through a mutual friend. Their first date was not successful because he came on too strong. She agreed to date him again and she enjoyed his company. Although he was a nice man, she thought he was a "dumb country boy." Had she known he was illiterate she would not have continued dating him. (12:34-14:28)... JK discusses the circumstances that led to her son moving in with her aunt. It was difficult for JK to save money because she had to give part of her paycheck to her mother and to her aunt. She continued to live with her parents but was able to visit her son whenever she wanted. (14:28-19:51)... JK describes her relationship with her husband, Russell Jones. Prior to marrying, they lived together for a little over a year. He was not a trustworthy person and tried to cover up his transgressions by accusing her of sleeping with other men. When she purchased a home in her own name, he resented her for it and refused to pay the mortgage. JK's mother approved of Jones and did not challenge her decision to move in with him. JK though moving in with him was an opportunity to move out of her parents' home. She did not intend to marry Jones until she became pregnant. They married in September 1950. (19:51-22:50)... JK's mother entered the hospital in 1950 and was diagnosed with tuberculosis meningitis. She died in April while in the contagious diseases ward. At the time of their mother's death, JK's younger sisters and brothers were living at home. Her twin brothers were fifteen years old when their mother died. (22:50-30:00)... JK left her job at the police department in 1951 when she was six months pregnant. She used her retirement savings to pay the mortgage on her home, but it was eventually foreclosed. Because their income was unstable, they moved frequently. JK became a skilled poker player and won between $200-250 every weekend, which helped make ends meet. Even though she had ideas about how she and her husband could improve their lives, he was not motivated to pursue these plans and thought that she was trying to "screw" him. She describes him as an integrationist with an "Uncle Tom" outlook. He was insecure about his illiteracy and condescending towards her because she was educated. He was not affectionate or attentive to her needs while she was pregnant with his children. Eventually, she followed his example and began having extramarital affairs. End of tape. *** File: rrrjk8.mp3 (0:00-6:13)... JK continues to discuss her relationship with her husband and how she managed to care for her children. She returned to work when her daughter was six months old. Her mother-in-law, baby sat her daughter. Her mother-in-law was a typical Black southerner who referred to JK as "girl" rather than by her first name. JK did not approve of her mother-in-law's child care practices and hired another woman to baby sit her child while she worked at the police department. She eventually quit her job at the police department and decided not to return to work because of another pregnancy. (6:13-10:11)... JK and her husband did not disclose the amounts of their paychecks to each other. When she moved in with him she naturally assumed that she would handle all of the finances because that is what her mother did. However, her husband usually cashed his checks and only gave her a certain amount to use towards the bills and the rent. Whenever she worked, she usually paid the majority of the household expenses. Her husband gave her about $30 a week and after they divorced, he gave her approximately $40 a week in child support. (10:11-13:56)... JK worked sporadically between 1950-53, staying at home to take care of her three small children. She returned to steady employment when her fourth child was six months old. She worked for the Department of Social Services for about two years and then found employment in a state agency, during which time she divorced her husband. She was able to purchase a small home where she and her children lived for ten years. She went to work for a construction company for a short time and then found a position with the US Selective Service. (13:56-18:20)... JK was married to her first husband, 1950-59; and to her second husband in the early 1960s. She lived together with her second husband for about a year before they married. Although he had big plans for their future, nothing ever materialized because he was an alcoholic. While they were married, JK worked for the US Selective Service until 1964, then went to work with the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control. Her husband worked at several different jobs, including as a custodian for a music center towards the end of their marriage. After two years of marriage, JK decided she had enough of his behavior and they divorced. (18:20-27:36)... JK's father moved in with her while she was married to her second husband. She digresses regarding her relationship with her aunt and provides some general family history. End of tape. *** File: rrrjk9.mp3 (0:00-5:27)... When JK's sister and aunt converted to Catholicism, Knot was curious about the religion. During her religious exploration, she found an inner peace and decided to covert to Catholicism as well. She sent three of her children to a Catholic private school. Her oldest son attended a Baptist private school until he was about six years old, when he contracted polio. He spent approximately one month at the Children's Hospital. She took a leave of absence from the police department so that she could take him to physical therapy treatments. When he recovered, she enrolled him in public school, which she regretted. When she married her first husband, Russell Jones, her son was about six years old. Jones and her son remained very close even after she divorced him. (5:27-9:22)... JK divorced her second husband around 1965. At that time, she was working for the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control. She worked there for eight months and then transferred to the Probation Department. She left that department in 1977. However, a friend persuaded her to return to work and she was transferred to Las Padrinas Juvenile Hall. She describes her experiences working in this environment. (9:22-13:57)... Following her second divorce, JK did not have time to pursue a serious relationship. Her life was consumed with caring for her children and providing them with a decent living. She involved them in activities so that they would learn more about religion and culture. She continued to have trouble with first husband and had to petition the court so that he would stop harassing her. Her relationship with her second husband was a mistake and her children did not like him. Her children were particular about who she dated and generally did not approve of any of her male friends. In 1972, she began taking medication because of some health problems. As a result, her sex drive diminished, making it easier for her to live without male companionship. (13:57-24:06)... JK enrolled in Compton College to keep herself busy. She obtained an AA degree in psychology. She was timid when she started college, but eventually learned to express herself in class. Many students on campus knew her as a "big mouth" because she was not afraid to speak out. Among the topics discussed in some of her courses was the matriarchal role of Black women in the family. After she obtained her AA, she did not intend to return to college. However, her daughter persuaded her to enroll in classes at California State University, Dominguez Hills. JK majored in psychology, but decided to leave college because she had a difficult time with a statistical analysis course and it was affecting her health. (24:06-26:10)... JK discusses her plans for the future. She enjoys attending the theater and fine arts performances. She explains that it is impossible to meet a man with similar interests because "all they want is a good romp in the bed." She also enjoys crocheting, sewing, and quilting while relaxing at home. She will continue to do typing from her home to make some extra money. End of tape. *** File: rrrjk10.mp3 (0:00-1:30)... Other than finding her war work an interesting chapter in her life, it did not have a profound affect on her life in any way. She continues to be a person who is not mechanically inclined. After obtaining experience in other areas, she stopped listing her defense work on job applications. (1:30-4:14)... Upon reflection, she would have liked to attend college and start a career before having children. Had she gone this route she believes she would have met someone with an educational background and a professional job, instead of marrying an illiterate and then an alcoholic. While she was separated from her first husband, she met a man who was a business owner; however, their relationship did not work out. (4:14-8:01)... JK believes she has had more of impact on female friends than her own daughters. She discusses her relationship with a co-worker and the advice she had provided this young woman. JK's daughters are somewhat independent and do not listen to her advice. End of tape.
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5765791675298961-rrrjk8.mp3 | 2023-10-20 | Public | Download |
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4031607025345092-rrrjk9.mp3 | 2023-10-20 | Public | Download |
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4919537360649326-rrrjk10.mp3 | 2023-10-20 | Public | Download |