Family History Fun: Women in the Workplace

This week's Sepia Saturday prompt photogrpah shows the scene in a munitions factory in the First World War where the workers were largely women. I featured munition workers recently so here I take a look at other "women in the workplace" ranging from agriculture, and textiles, to hairdressing and dressmaking. - and not forgetting housewives.

Mill Workers at Rhymer's Mill. Earlston in the Scottish Borders- early 1900's. As in other Border textile towns, women were a significant part of the ẃorkforce and key contributors to the local economy. But to me, as someone who is non-technical, that machinery in the first image looks frightening!

***********

Housewives at Work - here shopping in the Traveling

Co-op Van in Earlston.

Where home was the workplace:

Both before and after her marriage, my mother offered dressmaking services from her home. Mum had been apprenticed to a tailor at the age of 14, and was still sewing well into her 80's. I only came across her early business card after her death.

She continued her home dressmaking throughout her life. In the 1950's this meant working in the small spare bedroom which was icy cold in winter and hot and stuffy in summer. I remember one time when my little brother - a typical boy into everything - got hold of her oiling can, filled it with water and proceeded to "oil" the sewing machine!. He was not very popular!

Mum was a typical homemaker of the 1950's and 60's -- and beyond. She was always making something - cushions changed their covers regularly, new patchwork quilts appeared on the beds and new curtains at the windows, worn sheets were turned, old bath towels were cut, and trimmed into hand towels, tray cloths and table cloths were embroidered.

I remember as a young child my mother wearing her apron with a front pocket for carrying dusters etc. and putting up her long hair in a scarf and turban on wash day - always a Monday - we were very traditional in the north. This was the days before washing machines, not even a twin tub, never mind an automatic. She did the washing by hand and then got out the mangle to feed the soaking clothes etc. through it to wring out the water. If I was at home on holiday I helped feed the sheets through, before everything was hung outside to dry.

All of this made wash-day an arduous task, so Monday tea was left overs - cold meat from the Sunday roast, served with chips.

Needless to say no photograph exists of my mother on her housewife tasks. Family snapshot were strictly for recording leisure activities, not housework.

**********

Workwear at the Egg Packaging Station at Georgefield Farm, Earlston

The distinctive work costume of the Bondagers.

Bondagers were female farm workers in south east Scotland and Northumberland. As part of their husband's contract (or bond) with the farmer, he would undertake to provide another worker (usually his wife) to help as and when required. The women wore a distinctive dress with bonnet, described as the "last remaining peasant costume" in Britain. The custom of bondagers lasted well into the 20th century.

********

And from my own family collection photographs I have featured before, but are among my favourites and fit the theme so well.

My great aunt Jennie Danson (second on the left) with her work colleagues from the post office in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. Her daughter Pam recalled a story that during the First World War, a telegram was received at the Post Office for Jennie's widowed mother Mrs Maria Danson. Fearing the worst, Jenny was allowed to run home with it. Fortunately it was good news to say that brother Frank was wounded but recovering in hospital in Malta. .

**********

Home was the workplace for my mother's second cousin, Elsie Oldham, who as "Elise" (note the French version of her name!) offered "Bobbing, Shingling, Marcel Waving and Perming", from her home in Blackpool, Lancashire, and advertised (above) on this lovely evocative 1920's blotter.

The Oldham home in Blackpool, Lancashire with the adverts in the window and on the garden pole, promoting Elsie's business.

***********

A different source gave me a lovely insight on my Aunt Edith (Danson), a teacher . Ex pupils at the school set up a Facebook page ahead of the centenary of the school in 2014 and in a google search found my blog and got in touch. I was delighted to read comments from former pupils of "Miss Danson", who was remembered with fondness: "I always thought she was a wonderful teacher with lots of patience and 8nderstanding".

***********

As for my working life life

- that ranged from student work in a variety of Einburgh shops including a fishmongers (totally out of my comfort zone), a bookshop (my favourite) and a tartan trash souvenir shop - think garish tasteless tartan products aimed a tourists. I spent a year in the USA on an exchange programme as a trainee librarian (a wonderful American experience); as a young mother I did voluntary work setting up a library at my daughter's school and at the local Citizen's Advice Bureau.

I returned to the workplace in 1978 at my local tourist information centre - above. It now looks so old fashioned - old telephone, no computer, let alone a typewriter, no uniform, just a name badge - they all came years later! But I loved it - until I was made redundant! Finally I returned to my roots in the Local Studies Library, before being the Family History Researcher in the Scottish Borders Archive Centre. How many people can say their hobby became their job!!

*****************

And finally - not to forget this week's prompt photograph ....../