File f65 - Mooney, Florence May, nee Richardson

File consists of a recording of Florence Mooney. Topics of the conversation include family origins: Bradley and Richardson pioneer histories, Ottawa Valley, Carleton County areas; farm family background. Father's discouragement, mother's encouragement of higher education for women; careers of subject and three sisters. Influence of school principal, dentist, in decision to attend university. Status as roomer in city boarding house, dining at Hen Coop. Queen's campus during WWI. Mother's acceleration of subject through junior school. Queen's freshette-senior system. Student Armistice Day celebrations. Dating at Queen's for the first time; mother's disapproval. Levana Society as strict, regulating, protective body. Dr. Joliffe, Classics, as 'a perfect professor'. Decision to teach for want of other female options; experiences teaching Latin. Mother as dominating, ardent self-educator. Mandatory gowned dress at Queen's. War-amputee husband. Absence of radio, TV., during WWI, infrequent news of war. Public as less supportive of WWI than of WWII. Vague awareness of women's movement on WWI Queen's campus: knowledge of Nellie McClung. Husband's French Canadian back­ ground, political career: anxiety as Chairman of Food Comittee during Depression; position as Goderich mayor. Subject as first female Goderich mayor, 1964. Service on Parks committee; tightness of funds previous to Wintario grants etc. Subject's approval of post-WWII removal of women from paid jobs. Permissive society seen as reaction to restrictive past. Extensive travels, membership in Heritage Canada. WWII fund-raising with lODE, issuing ration-books with Red Cross. Interest in people, family, as motivating force in subject's life. Subject's sons, grandchildren.