Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project: Interview with Jennifer Mayville

Titles: Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project: Interview with Jennifer Mayville (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Jennifer Mayville moved to Minneapolis at age seven. She became politically active at age 16. Her father was a radical thinker, but not a joiner or leader. A friend of her father's influenced her to get involved organizationally She married Harry Mayville, a public speaker and recruiter, in 1938. He spent 6 months in jail following a 1937 demonstration in the Senate chambers. Jennifer put out papers, leaflets, organized auxiliary and volunteer events. She had five children but remained politically active. Harry had a heart attack in 1952 and had to lead quieter life afterward. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Childhood on the Northside of Minneapolis; growing up in a Finnish neighborhood. Labor consciousness of parents. Reaction of family to labor activities. Organizing labor history classes and study groups. Unemployment issues, demonstrations for food in early 1930s. Employment insurance struggle, late 1930s. Various labor strikes: Flour City, Wisconsin mills. Importance of social activities. Criticism of Teamsters' strike. Unity and splintering of CP. Ends with personal philosophies and evaluation. Raising children with social consciousness. COMMENTS ON INTERVIEW: The transcript is only partially edited, and the spellings of many names are approximate. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Interview may not be quoted directly for publication.

Dates

• 04/02/1977 (Creation)

Creation

• interviewee: Mayville, Jennifer
• interviewer: Trimble, Steve

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 30.47
• Accession Number: AV1990.228.69
• Link to Finding Aid

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Twentieth Century Radicalism in Minnesota Oral History Project' <OH 30>

Quantity: 2 hours sound cassette 25 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 01:44:06 running time

Subjects

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