NHF_CUSP_2002_Clardy_Mary
December 27 2002
January 6 2003
January 6 2003
Mary Page Clardy was born on 21 January 1922 in Manley, Iowa, the oldest of five
girls; her father worked for the railroad, and for that reason had moved from the
South some years before Mary was born. Mary attended local schools, graduating
from Manley High School in 1941. After school she worked from 1941-43 in Manley
and nearby Mason City, doing domestic work, before deciding that greater
opportunities awaited in the wartime economy in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In St. Paul, Mary lived with a family friend in the St. Anthony neighborhood,
and quickly found an assembly line job at Griggs and Cooper, a St. Paul
manufacturing firm. Over the next two years her sisters joined her in St. Paul, lured
by the chance for a well-paying job. In 1944 Mary became pregnant, and returned
briefly to her parents in Manley to have her child.
Following her son’s birth in July 1945, Mary returned to St. Paul; she worked
at Acme Linen and later Anchor (Regents) hospital, in the dietary division. In 1947
she married James Clardy (d. 1987), and had two more children. Mary retired in
1984, but keeps busy with her family and her church, Pilgrim Baptist of St. Paul. At
the time of this interview (December 2002) Mary lived in St. Paul.
Mary provides the perspective of a young African American woman from Iowa,
drawn to St. Paul during the war years for the economic opportunities.
Mary Clardy passed away on 17 July 2010.
girls; her father worked for the railroad, and for that reason had moved from the
South some years before Mary was born. Mary attended local schools, graduating
from Manley High School in 1941. After school she worked from 1941-43 in Manley
and nearby Mason City, doing domestic work, before deciding that greater
opportunities awaited in the wartime economy in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In St. Paul, Mary lived with a family friend in the St. Anthony neighborhood,
and quickly found an assembly line job at Griggs and Cooper, a St. Paul
manufacturing firm. Over the next two years her sisters joined her in St. Paul, lured
by the chance for a well-paying job. In 1944 Mary became pregnant, and returned
briefly to her parents in Manley to have her child.
Following her son’s birth in July 1945, Mary returned to St. Paul; she worked
at Acme Linen and later Anchor (Regents) hospital, in the dietary division. In 1947
she married James Clardy (d. 1987), and had two more children. Mary retired in
1984, but keeps busy with her family and her church, Pilgrim Baptist of St. Paul. At
the time of this interview (December 2002) Mary lived in St. Paul.
Mary provides the perspective of a young African American woman from Iowa,
drawn to St. Paul during the war years for the economic opportunities.
Mary Clardy passed away on 17 July 2010.
Digital
1h 36s
Mary Clardy, Interview, National Home Front Project, Washington College, Chestertown Maryland.
Interview was recorded by Thomas Saylor through Concordia University St. Paul for the Starr Center of the American Experience National Homefront Project.
Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, United States, NA [44.94441,-93.09327] [id:5045360]Manly, Worth, Iowa, United States, NA [43.28718,-93.20215] [id:4866032]Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, United States, NA [43.15357,-93.20104] [id:4866445]Saint Anthony, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States, NA [45.02052,-93.218] [id:5044290]
African American women--History
C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience (Washington College)
Concordia University--St. Paul
oral histories (literary works)
Women--Employment--United States--History--20th century
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--United States
C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience (Washington College)
Concordia University--St. Paul
oral histories (literary works)
Women--Employment--United States--History--20th century
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--United States