Interview with Frances M. Gordon
IntervieweeInterview with
Frances M. Gordon
(American, 1924 - 2014)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2006 October 9
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 1 Hour, 7 Minutes, 38 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.7
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Frances M. Gordon. She was interviewed on October 9, 2006 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at her home in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Fran Gordon wass born in Tucson, Arizona on September 11, 1924. Her father worked for Southern Pacific and her mother was a teacher. In 1930, her family moved to El Paso, Texas. She attended Texas Women's University and majored in Journalism and minored in Photography.
In 1945, Fran went to New York for a few weeks for training with Whelan Corporation. She was initially worked for photography studios in the south, but was asked to go to Hartford to hire and train women for a new studio at Brown Thomson & Company in September 1945. She stayed at the Heublein Hotel. A year later she began working at Sage Allen as Assistant Fashion Coordinator. Sage Allen had about eight models and G. Fox & Company had eight to ten models who worked the fashion shows at the Connecticut Room in G. Fox.
After Fran married in 1947, she left Sage Allen as her husband didn't want her to work. However, she still produced fashion shows for Sage Allen. The models from Sage Allen and G. Fox would meet at Brown Thomson's for coffee. Fran married Monroe Gordon, who worked at Gordon Fruit & Produce Company on Church Street in Hartford.
In 1954, Fran helped build the Connecticut Opera Guild with Frank Pandolfi and Edrie Van Dorn. Fran was friendly with Beatrice Fox Auerbach's daughters.
She discusses the changes in Hartford and spending time on Front Street. She also discuss the Bushnell Theater.
Fran Gordon wass born in Tucson, Arizona on September 11, 1924. Her father worked for Southern Pacific and her mother was a teacher. In 1930, her family moved to El Paso, Texas. She attended Texas Women's University and majored in Journalism and minored in Photography.
In 1945, Fran went to New York for a few weeks for training with Whelan Corporation. She was initially worked for photography studios in the south, but was asked to go to Hartford to hire and train women for a new studio at Brown Thomson & Company in September 1945. She stayed at the Heublein Hotel. A year later she began working at Sage Allen as Assistant Fashion Coordinator. Sage Allen had about eight models and G. Fox & Company had eight to ten models who worked the fashion shows at the Connecticut Room in G. Fox.
After Fran married in 1947, she left Sage Allen as her husband didn't want her to work. However, she still produced fashion shows for Sage Allen. The models from Sage Allen and G. Fox would meet at Brown Thomson's for coffee. Fran married Monroe Gordon, who worked at Gordon Fruit & Produce Company on Church Street in Hartford.
In 1954, Fran helped build the Connecticut Opera Guild with Frank Pandolfi and Edrie Van Dorn. Fran was friendly with Beatrice Fox Auerbach's daughters.
She discusses the changes in Hartford and spending time on Front Street. She also discuss the Bushnell Theater.
Collections
Funding Note: In 2006, the Connecticut Historical Society received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support the collection of oral histories, the cataloging of G. Fox & Co. materials and Fox and Auerbach family materials, and the creation of web pages. Additional funding for the oral histories was provided by The Prospect Fund, The Brookside Fund, and The Maple Tree Fund. The Connecticut Historical Society gratefully acknowledges these generous supporters. Without such generosity, this project would not have been possible.
Status
Not on view