Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archive: Women in Utah politics oral history project, ACCN 1855

The Women in Utah politics oral history project (1976-1994) consists of interviews with several women who have been active in political and judicial organizations in Utah. Interviews were conducted by Kathryn MacKay, Eloise McQuown, and Gregory C. Thompson under the auspices of the University of Utah's American West Center.

This collection has not been digitized.  In-person access only.

• Reva Beck Bosone

Bosone (1895-1983) was the first woman elected to Congress from Utah. She recalls her childhood in American Fork, Utah, and ruminates on the influence of family on her career. Other topics discussed include her involvement in the theater, public school teaching, law school and practice, being a judge, alcoholism, dealing with prostitution, the Utah State legislature, minimum wage an hour law, child labor, the United States Congress, Indian affairs legislation, the Colorado River project, Hill Air Force Base, the McCarthy era, combining motherhood and a career, women in politics, Mormon culture, and the Equal Rights Amendment.

• Frances Farley

Farley (b. 1923) was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She recalls her childhood, education, and her experiences in the business community. She describes her political involvement in civil rights and women's issues in Minnesota, the move to Utah, the influence of the dominant culture, behind the scenes political activity, and her election to the Utah State Senate. Other topics include sales tax on food, the anti-war movement, housing, campaigning, gender discrimination, fund raising, women's issues, and senior issues.

Farley continues the discussion of her political career from her early political experiences in Minnesota to her bid for the United States Senate. Topics include meetings with the LDS church hierarchy, thoughts on working mothers, influence on legislation, campaign financing, and nuclear dumping in Utah. She also recalls more childhood experiences.

• Susanna Mae Grua

Grua details her genealogy and recalls her childhood in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She discusses her education and teaching experience, her involvement with the Business and Professional Women's Organization, equal rights, community projects, lobbying, equal pay for equal work, the Women's Legislative Council, the Salt Lake City Council of Women, women in the workplace, divorce, dramatics, and the writing of history.

• Nellie Jack

Jack recalls her introduction to politics, legislative terms, being a woman politician, and financing a campaign. She also talks about her political philosophy.

• Sonia Johnson

ERA and the separation of church and state, press attention, national network, pressure on legislators, unratified states, Recruiting Mormons for ERA, stumpin in Illinois. Interviewed by David Merrill Jabusch at the Mormons for ERA strategy session in Pocatello, Idaho. Also includes a speech about Mormons for ERA given in Pocatello, Idaho.

• Beatrice Marchant

Marchant (b. 1903) talks about becoming a "Roosevelt Democrat" in the 1930s, New Deal programs, party philosophies, mass meetings in the 1940s, the Women's Democratic Study Club, Social Security, campaigning, and being told by a fellow-legislator "Mrs. Marchant, you've got a big heart, but you don't have any sense." Other topics include Bircher's Liberty Amendment, bill sponsorship, welfare, unequal pay, the education of women, her children, and the ERA in Utah.

• Eloise McQuown

McQuown talks about the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women, ERA defeat by the Utah Legislature in 1973, Phyllis Schafly, the ERA speakers bureau, the National Organization of Women, and pressure from LDS church authorities. She also recalls her childhood and early political activity, the McCarthy campaign, the Equal Rights Coalition, and the Women's Movement in Utah.