Betty Boller oral history
Scope and Contents
The oral history interview with Betty Boller was recorded on November 14, 1999 by Ashley Kuehl in Urbandale, Iowa. There is one audiocassette and a 13-page transcript of the interview.
Dates
- Creation: 1999
Creator
- Boller, Betty, 1924- (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The oral hiorioral history and transcript are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to the University of Iowa.
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Biographical / Historical
Betty Boller was born in 1924 and grew up in East Des Moines. Her father died during the Great Depression when she was young, so money was tight in the household. She, her mother, and her brothers all held jobs during this time. She did not ever consider college, but she found work soon after finishing high school in 1942. In 1943 she married Don Boller, a high school classmate.
In the interview, Betty Boller discusses the economics of dating when money was very scarce. She describes the secretarial work she did and compares it with the variety of jobs women could find during the war, such as welding jobs. Upon war's end the men retrieved such jobs. Boller describes her marriage to Don Boller, with whom she had two children. Don Boller worked out of the home, while Betty Boller stayed home to raise the children. She provided leadership for many Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.
When asked if she regretted anything, Boller stated that she wishes she had spent time in the work force, had gained more education, and had studied music. She envies today's young women for the opportunities they have to become self-supporting. Boller instilled the values of a strong work ethic, honesty, religious belief, and citizenship with her children. Her main advice to today's children is to get a good education.
Extent
0.25 linear inches
1 Cassettes (1 audiocassette [AC 502])
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Des Moines wife and mother who worked as a secretary during World War II.
Arrangement
One folder, shelved in SCVF.
Method of Acquisition
The papers (donor no.691) were donated by Ashley Kuehl in 1999.
Subject
- Boller, Betty, 1924- (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Temporal
Topical
- Author
- Margaret Richardson, 2000, revised by Janet Weaver 2003. [BollerBetty.doc]
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Repository Details
Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)
lib-women@uiowa.edu