Interview with Roslyn Blawie
IntervieweeInterview with
Roslyn Blawie
(American, 1928 - 2009)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2007 January 4
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 58 Minutes, 34 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.16
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Roslyn Blawie. She was interviewed on Janury 4, 2007 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at her house in East Hartford, Connecticut.
Roslyn Blawie was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Her family first lived on Garden Street, then moved to Martin Street. She attended the Mary M. Hooker School, which was a school for underweight and physically handicapped children who had to be recommended by a doctor to attend. The school was located on Stonington Street in Hartford. She describes what the school was like. She describes how her parents immigrated to the United States and their history. She attended Weaver High School.
Roslyn worked at Wise Smith & Company during high school. After high school she worked at The Hartford Times as a copy girl. In 1960, Roslyn was hired at Christmas to work in G. Fox & Company's Toy Department. She describes how she worked in various departments after her temporary Christmas job. She describes Auerfarm and the store hospital. She eventually became a Service Manager on the Mezzanine. She retired in 1984.
Roslyn describes how Beatrice Fox Auerbach told the staff that the store was being sold to the May Company. She describes how women were the majority of the staff, the customers, the Connecticut Room, and the events held at Centinel Hill Hall. She explains the changes she saw in Hartford.
Roslyn Blawie was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Her family first lived on Garden Street, then moved to Martin Street. She attended the Mary M. Hooker School, which was a school for underweight and physically handicapped children who had to be recommended by a doctor to attend. The school was located on Stonington Street in Hartford. She describes what the school was like. She describes how her parents immigrated to the United States and their history. She attended Weaver High School.
Roslyn worked at Wise Smith & Company during high school. After high school she worked at The Hartford Times as a copy girl. In 1960, Roslyn was hired at Christmas to work in G. Fox & Company's Toy Department. She describes how she worked in various departments after her temporary Christmas job. She describes Auerfarm and the store hospital. She eventually became a Service Manager on the Mezzanine. She retired in 1984.
Roslyn describes how Beatrice Fox Auerbach told the staff that the store was being sold to the May Company. She describes how women were the majority of the staff, the customers, the Connecticut Room, and the events held at Centinel Hill Hall. She explains the changes she saw in Hartford.
Collections
Subject Note: In 1934, the Mary M. Hooker School was consolidated into the Walter G. Camp School. At that time the school for the physically handicapped, on Stonington Street, formerly the Outdoor School was renamed for Mrs. Hooker. During World War II it was abandoned because of its close proximity to Colt Firearms Manufacturing Company. The students were transferred to the Washington Street School. [Source: The Names of Hartford's Public Schools and other historical notes by Wilson H. Faude, 2011, p. 10]
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 view2007 June 7