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McSweyn, Margarita Salazar (audio interview #3 of 3)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - This is the final interview with Margarita McSweyn. As before, the interview was conducted in the living room or her small, comfortable home in East Los Angeles. This interview focuses on her life in the postwar years. The audio quality of this interview is good. 11/10/1980
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- 2021-07-26
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- *** File: rrrmmcsweyn9.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-1:53)... Brief interviewer introduction. During the war, McSweyn's activities with Spanish social clubs decreased and she began to have more contact with Anglos, particularly while working at Lockheed. (1:53-3:25)... McSweyn discusses her husband's family background. (3:25-7:06)... Her husband started working as an extra in the movies when he was in high school. He continued to work in that field when they married. He also worked odd jobs to help support his family. (7:06-9:47)... McSweyn learned about menstruation from her older sisters. She started her period when she was about thirteen years old. She accepted it as a normal part of growing up. When she got married, her sister Grace talked to her about sex and birth control. (9:47-11:01)... Most of the women she came in contact with at Lockheed were Mexican or Italian. She does not recall seeing very many Black people at the plant. (11:01-13:29)... McSweyn continued her close friendship with Molly even after they both married. They occasionally took vacations together until Molly got a little too "rich" for there lifestyles. (13:29-20:54)... Note: there is an interruption in the tape in this segment. After she left Lockheed, McSweyn was looking forward to pursuing a career in the wholesale beauty supply business. Molly was a saleswoman for a company and told McSweyn about a job opportunity as a desk girl. She was hired at the company and her responsibilities included scheduling appointments and light bookkeeping. She enjoyed this position because it gave her an opportunity to make beauty suggestions to clients. She wanted to work her way up the ladder into the wholesale end of the business. She attended night school and took bookkeeping courses to improve her skills. She was eventually promoted to work in the office. (20:54-24:35)... McSweyn's mother died before she married her husband in 1945. She discusses the circumstances of her mother's death. McSweyn believes that her mother must have known she was nearing the end of her life because she often asked McSweyn not to postpone the wedding if anything happened to her. (24:35-28:08)... She did not plan to marry her fiance immediately after he returned from the service. When he was sent to Santa Barbara they decided it was the perfect opportunity to have a quiet ceremony. Her close friends threw her a bridal shower the night before her wedding. They were married by a priest at the chapel in the Biltmore Hotel. Her sister was her maid of honor and she was given away by her husband's captain. End of tape. *** File: rrrmmcsweyn10.mp3 (0:00-3:18)... McSweyn continues to discuss her wedding arrangements. After she married her husband, she stayed in Santa Barbara for a week. He continued to serve as an MP for a couple of months after they married. Most POWs were assigned to MP duty after they returned from the war. She went back to Los Angeles and lived with her sister Rose, and visited her husbands on the weekends. (3:18-7:27)... She expected to continue working after she married her husband. When her mother died, McSweyn and her siblings each received a $10,000 inheritance settlement. She and her husband wanted to save more money so that could purchase a home. She wanted to take her time adjusting the change in her relationship from courtship to marriage. They moved into her family's home and her husband created a separate living space and kitchen for them. When her husband was discharged from the service, he returned to working as an extra in the movies. (7:27-11:54)... By the time she married her husband, she was operating the switchboard and doing bookkeeping at the beauty supply company. She also did sales work when her employer was out of the office. Her employer owned a couple beauty salons and Santa Monica Beauty College. She wanted to stay with the company because it offered opportunities for advancement. She attended night school at Roosevelt High School three nights a week to improve her typing and shorthand skills. She eventually took over the position of bookkeeper and shorthand clerk at the company. (11:54-15:32)... McSweyn miscarried a child when she was three months pregnant. During her pregnancy, she was advised to stay home and rest. She quit her job at the beauty supply company but continued to do clerical work for her boss out of her home. She got pregnant a second time when she was thirty-three and gave birth to a son. Even though she vowed to stay home after having children, she wanted to be a good provider for her son (Alex). When her son was four months old, she and her husband purchased a malt shop. Her sister Rose watched her son while she and her husband managed their restaurant. (15:32-21:38)... McSweyn discusses her decision to purchase a restaurant. Even though their business was very profitable, it was not large enough to serve the large client base in the area and there was no room to expand their facilities. She describes the types of food served at the restaurant. Her husband handled the cooking responsibilities and she cleaned and helped the customers. When the restaurant opened, she was nursing her son and went home to feed him throughout the day. When she got pregnant a second time, she stopped working at the restaurant because of severe morning sickness. Her sister Grace took over for her. (21:38-23:22)... When she left the restaurant during her second pregnancy, she stayed home and cared for her son and her sister's sons. She talks about her siblings and their living arrangements. (23:22-24:30)... McSweyn was close with her husband's family. Her husband talked to his mother on a regular basis and visited his parents on Sundays. Her husband contributed to his parents' income until they died. (24:30-27:10)... Her restaurant was open Tuesday through Saturday. It was a difficult job maintaining a restaurant for two years. McSweyn decided to leave the restaurant when she got pregnant with her second child and began experiencing terrible morning sickness. Her sister Grace took her place at the restaurant. When Grace cut her eye, she left the restaurant and they hired new waitress. Her husband began noticing that money was missing from the cash register. At that point, they decided to sell the restaurant. End of tape. *** File: rrrmmcsweyn11.mp3 (0:00-2:46)... McSweyn describes a typical day in her life raising two children. Her life was focused on family activities and child care responsibilities. (2:46-5:46)... They decided to sell their restaurant because they could not find a dependable waitress. Her husband went to work as a "fitter" in the steel industry. They purchased a home when her children were five and six years old. She spent her time maintaining her household and sewing. (5:46-7:27)... McSweyn and her husband made decisions about economic and family matters together. They shared child rearing responsibilities and both were disciplinarians. (7:27-8:53)... Most of her family's activities included other relatives and family friends. She and her husband did not frequent nightclubs after they had children. (8:53-10:40)... Her family went to church on Sunday. Her children were schooled at St. Alfonso Catholic School. She participated in church activities and parent-teacher groups. She was a den mother and her husband was scout master for their sons' Boys Scouts group. Her sons were altar boys and they worked in the rectory after school. (10:40-13:34)... McSweyn returned to work when her children started school. She got a part-time job working as a baker at a local grocery market. She worked during the afternoons and came home to check on her children when they were finished with school. Her husband was home by 5:00 p.m. and her children were never home alone for more than one hour at a time. Her sons were not allowed to have friends in the home and her neighbors kept an eye on them when they were home alone. Her husband did not have any problems with her decision to return to work. (13:34-19:19)... McSweyn worked at the grocery store until she met Mr. Desi, a client at the wholesale beauty supply company where she had earlier worked. He offered McSweyn a job at his company. She initially declined the offer because she did not want to work full time. After discussing things over with her husband, she decided to go to work for Mr. Desi in the late 1950s so that she could afford send her sons to Catholic high school. She describes her job responsibilities at the wholesale beauty supply company. She prepared dinner and got her children's things ready for school every night. She went to work at 8:00 a.m. and got home at 6:00 p.m. Her husband had dinner waiting for her when she got home so that the family could eat meals together at the table. (19:19-21:16)... Household responsibilities were divided between McSweyn, her husband, and her children. Her children called her "Mr. Clean." She took care of her chores on the weekends. (21:16-22:44)... Her husband stopped working in the steel industry and obtained a real estate license. He went to work for her friend Molly as a salesman. McSweyn believes that her husband did not like working for a woman. He quit working for Molly and went to work for a real estate company staffed by men. (22:44-25:46)... McSweyn talks about her family's activities during the time her husband worked in real estate and she worked for the wholesale beauty supply company. Her husband's social activities decreased during these years because of an illness. (25:46-28:03)... McSweyn's second pregnancy was a breach birth. It was a traumatic experience and the doctor advised her that she should not have anymore children. She wanted to have a daughter and even made a bassinet because she anticipated a daughter. She had a "mother complex" about not having daughters and liked to do things for girls to satisfy her desire for a daughter. End of tape. *** File: rrrmmcsweyn12.mp3 (0:00-1:14)... McSweyn talks about doing "motherly" things for her nieces, such as making clothes for them. (1:14-2:50)... When her sons were in high school, she was involved in parent clubs and attended her children's sporting events and other school activities. (2:50-5:47)... When McSweyn's boss at the wholesale beauty supply company went on a European vacation he left her in charge of the company. She talks about her experiences during the Watts race riots when she was at work with her sons. All of the businesses on the street were looted except for those owned or staffed by African Americans. There were no problems at the beauty supply company because the janitor was Black. (5:47-8:57)... When her sons were in high school, her husband began expressing concerns about her working. Their sons were more involved in social activities with the opposite sex and her husband wanted someone to be home to supervise them. She did not have any problems leaving her job. The extra time allowed her to go to school and pursue some her hobbies. (8:57-13:55)... Her son Alex attended CSULB and enrolled in Chicano Studies. Looking back, she thinks she made a mistake enrolling her children in a Catholic School run by French nuns because her sons did not learn any Spanish. Alex later learned Spanish at Guadalajara University. He lost fluency in the language when he returned to the US and did not have very many opportunities to practice his Spanish skills. Although her son Joe has Mexican friends, he does not date Mexican women. (13:55-20:16)... McSweyn's son, Joe, attended East Los Angeles College and dropped out to marry his girlfriend when she graduated from high school. They both attended college for a short time until she got pregnant. McSweyn thought her son was too young to marry. He worked in various jobs before settling on a career as an extra in the movies. He and his wife divorced and he pays child support. (20:16-23:42)... McSweyn's sons moved away from home at about the same time. She spent a lot of time caring for her grandson. She likes to take classes and participate in club activities through the church. Her husband retired and was told that he was 75% disabled. She discusses her husband's health problems and his exposure to hazardous conditions working as a fitter in the shipyards. (23:42-26:04)... When McSweyn's grandson moved to Colorado, she went back to school at East Los Angeles College and took courses in English and tailoring. End of tape. *** File: rrrmmcsweyn13.mp3 (0:00-3:34)... McSweyn continues a discussion regarding the lives and careers of her sons, Alex and Joe. (3:34-7:28)... After her husband retired when he was sixty-three, she quit going to school and they started spending more time together. She describes the different social and recreational activities they enjoy in their retirement. (7:28-12:38)... McSweyn talks about her brother's health problems and eventual death from appendicitis. She spends a lot of time with her siblings. She digresses regarding her husband's household projects. (12:38-18:55)... Her plans for the future include traveling and relaxing. Her husband wants to purchase a car and vacation at least twice a year. His health is failing and although he can live for a long time, his condition is degenerative. She discusses how her husband's illness has affected their lives. They are currently pursuing restitution from her husband's previous employer because his illness is directly related to hazardous working conditions. She discusses the sources of their income and their economic status. (18:55-19:54)... McSweyn sees her sons on a weekly basis. She cooks a big dinner them on Sundays. (19:54-22:31)... If she had a chance to do things differently in her life, she would probably try to have a daughter. She always wanted a large family and would have liked to participate in activities focused on girls. She digresses regarding her husband's attachment towards her now that they are retired. (22:31-26:25)... Note: there is an interruption in the tape in this segment Women have more job opportunities today than her generation. She rarely saw a woman employed in an executive position. She thought she was doing very well considering that she had a very modest education. Women are not restricted from the places they can go like she was when she was a young girl. if she were young again, she would pursue an education in public speaking and work with the community in some way. (26:25-28:48)... She supports the women's movement and wants women to push for their rights. However, some women are too "mannish" and feel that they have to act that way in order to gain equality. A woman should not sacrifice her femininity to fight for equal rights. End of tape> *** File: rrrmmcsweyn14.mp3 (0:00-1:55)... Even though she is a religious woman, she believes that a woman should have the right to choose whether or not she wants to have a child. McSweyn's granddaughter wants to have a career before a family. She has talked to her granddaughter about birth control measures. (1:55-4:02)... She supports the ERA, but believes that the women behind the movement are not organized. It is imperative that women gain cooperation from the men in charge at the top if anything is going to change. People are still threatened by women. She digresses regarding marriage and the changing values relative the meaning of sex in relationships. End of tape.
- SUBJECT BIO - Margarita Salazar McSweyn was twenty five when she went to work at the Lockheed subassembly plant in Los Angeles in 1942. She had been working as a beautician, and kept hearing stories from her clients about the good money to be had in aircraft. Born in New Mexico, the fourth daughter in a large family, Margie - as she called herself - was an infant when the family moved to Los Angeles. Nine years later, they family became one of the first Mexican families to move into the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Her life revolved around her family, and as she became older, around the Mexican social club to which she belonged. After completing high school, McSweyn went to beauty college and began working as a beauty operator. Eager to be involved in the war effort, the way her brothers were, she took a job in defense and also joined the Civilian Defense Corps, whose uniforms were patterned after the ones worn by WAVES. By war's end, she returned to work in the field of cosmetology, working her way into a white-collar job. She continued working after marrying in 1945, until the birth of her first son. After that, she worked on and off, until 1970. Margie was above all, a family woman, and the oral history interviews with her became a family affair, although everyone was instructed not to interrupt us during my visits. Nevertheless, I met and visited with her husband and one of her sons, and they all followed the progress of the interviews. She proudly displayed not only her own sewing and crocheting, but also the cradle that her husband handcrafted. A pert, youthful woman at the time of the interviews, it was nevertheless difficult for McSweyn to sit for long stretches due to a chronic severe back problem. However, she became so absorbed in telling her story that she forgot her discomfort. She enjoyed reminiscing, and her oral history was often punctuated with laughter, except when she spoke about the deaths in her family. Then she would drift into a melancholy reverie. TOPICS - husband's family background and work; menstruation; Lockheed work force demographics; friends; work at beauty wholesale supplier; career expectations; mother's illness and death; and wedding;wedding; husband; living arrangements; marriage expectations; married life; career expectations; work at beauty supply company; job responsibilities; pregnancies; operating family restaurant; siblings; and husband'motherhood and domesticity; pregnancy and childbirth; husband's work; household management; marital relationship; family life; family activities; children; and work;family activities; children's school activities; Watts "Riot;" work; children; ethnic identity; husband's illness; and retirement;children; retirement; recreational and social activities; family history; siblings; husband's illness; reflections on life; future plans; and attitude towards the women's movement;attitude towards abortion, ERA, marriage, and sex;
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