ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW
Rita Ferguson
May 17, 1994
by Barbara Higgins Aubrey

0:01:10	She was born in Wilbraham. Talks about her schooling.
0:00:00	From Junior high she went to work at fifteen.
0:00:00	Her mother worked at the American Sled taking care of jumbo spool.
0:00:00	Talked about her parent's marriage.
0:00:00	She went to work in a factory at fifteen years old.
0:00:00	She went to evening schools for years.
0:00:00	She moved to Manhattan and had evening school.
0:00:00	Evening school was offered at Holyoke High School.
0:00:00	Talks about jobs she had in New York.
0:00:00	Talks about grandmother's piano.
0:00:00	The war came. She was working at the World's Fair. She didn't want to be there or in New York. There were threats of bombings and small incidents that happened at the World's Fair.
0:00:00	Her cat (Tiger) starts playing wi th mike. Talk abut Tiger.
0:00:00	She asks Barbara where she lives.
0:00:00	Talks about her mother forced into retirement because of her age. Her mother was making three dollars a week.
0:00:00	Went to work at the Armory.
0:00:00	Talks about the women's page in the Amory news letter.
0:00:00	She also talks about the writers.
0:00:00	Enjoyed working in the Armory.
0:00:00	She complimented the writers and illustrator.
0:00:00	Her title was the Under Photographer.
0:00:00	She worked in the photo lab. The building was 104.
0:00:00	Talked about the location of the building.
0:00:00	Talked about nick names.
0:00:00	The only ones alive now are Rosie and me. Rosie was office girl.
0:00:00	Talka about meeting Rosie three years ago.
0:00:00	Rosiela last name was Staltary
0:00:00	She met Fexguson at the Armory. They were married for fifty years. He died last January-Talks about her husband.
0:00:00	She talks about the number of people that were hired to work at the Armory. Ten thousand the first year.
0:00:00	Talks about how she met her husband.
0:00:00	She talks about their first apartment and the location of it.
0:00:00	Talks about her son [?]
0:00:00	Talks about her husband not getting into the Military.
0:00:00	Talks about her husband's best friend that joined the Navy.
0:00:00	Talks about her husband's degrees. She wanted an education also.
0:00:00	Talks about how she got into the college and gets her degree.
0:00:00	She went to Rhode Island School of Design.
0:00:00	Made her an assistant to the supevisor (Mrs. Bruno) of the house. Talks about the house.
0:00:00	Talks about the last painting she made.
0:00:00	After getting her degree she started teaching in the Springfield school system.
0:00:00	Taught fourth grade. Talks about her students.
0:00:00	You learn about life no matter where you are. At the Armory it was an experience.
0:00:00	Working in the Armory was like being a part of a family because everyone was cooperating and working for the same thing.
0:00:00	Talks about where she learned how to use a camera.
0:00:00	When she worked at the Armory she did not get any training. They told her how to operate it.
0:00:00	Talks about working in the dark room.
0:00:00	There were different colors used on the badges to determine what department you worked in. There were also employee numbers.
0:00:00	Ferge [Ferguson) her husband was working in experimental. That is what made her apply at the Armory.
0:00:00	Talks about people who were in the department.
0:00:00	Not involved with the union at the Armory. You would have to get in touch with the editor of the Union news. They would know everything.
0:00:00	She left the Armory because the War ended.
0:00:00	There was a Black man – Mr. Ancion – in charge of a little shop in the Armory. He asked for a picture of his workers. She made one for him and each of his workers.
0:00:00	There were music groups from Springfield played in front of the cafeteria each noon.
0:00:00	Talks about a famous dancer from Russia.
0:00:00	She took pictures of all the dignitaries, including President Roosevelt.
0:00:00	Took a bus to get to work.
0:00:00	She had lunch at the cafeteria. She had breakfast and supper at the YMCA, where she lived.
0:00:00	Talks about a joke she said to an officer.
0:00:00	Talks about taking pictures of gun parts when no one else need pictures.
0:00:00	She knew all the nurses well. She talks about taking a class with them. This was a cooperative thing between the Armory and the community.
0:00:00	Glad that the War was over and didn't her any more. She was sad when it closed in 1968.
0:00:00	Talks about the time when the commanding officer said every women working in the factory must keep hair tied up.