Research and Ramblings

I came across this pamphlet in Governor of Washington State, Ernest Lister's (1913-1919) papers. This is an example of finding a distraction while research something else. As mentioned before (see post from June 2023, Meet Ollie Parrish), I am interested in the Women's Industrial Home and Clinic that opened briefly from September 1920 to March 1921. My question was why was it opened and what else happened to determine it was no longer needed? I took a closer look at what else was happening during this time period. In Washington State and possibly in other states, looking into the Governor's records can show what issues are brought to the Governor. This file on "Red Light Abatement" had letters and brochures from Purity conferences in other states. A fear of loose women and the passing of venereal diseases were on the forefront of those writing to the governor as well as a fear the "wrong" people were procreating. To find out more about this in Oregon, he...

I have been fascinated by the Women's Industrial Home and Clinic that opened in September 1920 and closed in March 1921. It was located in Medical Lake near the Eastern State Hospital. Governor Lister listened to the women who wrote in requesting a State Industrial Home for Women. The women thought it to be new, as no other state had this provision, more need since the war, didn't want the wasteful methods of arresting, detaining, releasing, and re-arresting, and to provide women a place they could be kept long enough to be given a new idea about life and teach them other ways to earn a living. The Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs lead the charge. They wrote letters recommending women who could run the clinic, ideas about what could be offered, and reminders of the need for moral purity in these times. I am working on a series of vignettes about the women who stayed at the Industrial Home and Clinic for its short lived existence. I have also started researching ...