Oral Histories

Interview of Louise Chrimes

Housekeeper at Midland School in Los Olivos, California.
Subtitle:
Midland's Housekeeper
Series:
College Preparatory Schools of Southern California
Topic:
Education
Biographical Note:
Housekeeper at Midland School in Los Olivos, California.
Interviewer:
Mink, James V.
Interviewee:
Chrimes, Louise
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by James V. Mink, University Archivist and Director, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., M.A., History, UCLA; B.L.S, UC Berkeley; Certificate in Archival Administration and Preservation, American University, Washington, D.C.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
This series includes interviews who founded or served on the staff of college preparatory schools in Southern California in the middle decades of the twentieth century.
Abstract:
Childhood in New England; education; work as a designer; a trip to California; early years at Midland School; threat of an epidemic; fire in the kitchen; Louise Squibb; early years in Massachusetts; philosophy of life; outside help from Solvang; the "Midland family"; building a house in 1937; chapel lamps and plaques; the Midland Model; school solidarity; impression of the school in the community; a standard of good behavior; one unhappy boy; Midland Thanksgivings; comportment; visiting clergy; athletics; Louise Austin Chrimes: forebears and early needlework training, as a mother, extensive knowledge of needlework, world travels, macrame self-taught, medal for master craftsman stitchery; Elsa Williams: the samplers, as a teacher, her first air travel.