Interview with Delia V. Griffin
IntervieweeInterview with
Delia V. Griffin
(American, 1917 - 2012)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2007 January 12
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 48 Minutes, 26 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.18
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Delia V. Griffin. She was interviewed on January 12, 2007 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at her home in Ellington, Connecticut.
Delia Griffin was born in East Hartford, Connecticut. She attended Burnside School and graduated from East Hartford High School in 1936. Her father owned a barbershop on Gold Street in Hartford, and her mother was a housewife. Her first job after high school was a Wise, Smith & Co. wrapping packages. She then worked at Steiger's Department Store as an Assistant Buyer for Adelma Simmons and then as an assistant in the Gift Shop. She worked at Steiger's for ten years. In 1944, during World War II, Delia applied for a job at G. Fox & Co. and was hired as an assistant in the Handkerchiefs & Umbrella Department. She worked at G. Fox for 27 years.
She discusses her interactions with Beatrice Fox Auerbach and what her job was like during the 1940s and 1950s. After her boss in the Handkerchiefs Department retired, Delia moved to the Wallet Department. She would travel to New York on buying trips for both departments. She was a member of the Moses Fox Club and discusses her experience with the Club. She discusses her experiences with customers and other staff members. She discusses the G. Fox charge plates. She discusses the changes that occurred after the store was sold to the May Company. She mentions labor unions and Centinel Hill Hall.
Delia Griffin was born in East Hartford, Connecticut. She attended Burnside School and graduated from East Hartford High School in 1936. Her father owned a barbershop on Gold Street in Hartford, and her mother was a housewife. Her first job after high school was a Wise, Smith & Co. wrapping packages. She then worked at Steiger's Department Store as an Assistant Buyer for Adelma Simmons and then as an assistant in the Gift Shop. She worked at Steiger's for ten years. In 1944, during World War II, Delia applied for a job at G. Fox & Co. and was hired as an assistant in the Handkerchiefs & Umbrella Department. She worked at G. Fox for 27 years.
She discusses her interactions with Beatrice Fox Auerbach and what her job was like during the 1940s and 1950s. After her boss in the Handkerchiefs Department retired, Delia moved to the Wallet Department. She would travel to New York on buying trips for both departments. She was a member of the Moses Fox Club and discusses her experience with the Club. She discusses her experiences with customers and other staff members. She discusses the G. Fox charge plates. She discusses the changes that occurred after the store was sold to the May Company. She mentions labor unions and Centinel Hill Hall.
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 view2007 June 7