Interview with Mary Lou Hoogenboom and Joyce Shelvon
Files
Download Hoogenboom and Shelvon Interview Transcript (256 KB)
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Interviewers
Jay Gavan
Description
Interview with Mary Lou Hoogenboom (1931-2019) and Joyce M. Shelvon (1927-2018) recorded on November 14, 2012 at KVCC's Anna Whitten Hall in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Recorded by interviewer James 'Jay' Gaven for a Kalamazoo Valley Museum exhibit on Gibson Guitars. Mary Lou started in 1953 and was one of the last employees to leave in 1984; she worked in multiple departments and jobs, including rim-lining, hand sanding, electronics, assembly. Joyce worked at Gibson Guitar from the early 1950s through 1968; she did hand and belt sanding. They recount their memories at the factory, including:
- how they were hired into the Gibson factory, and starting pay
- social interactions in the factory, going for lunch at taverns, the bowling team
- Mary Lou's position as union steward
- negotiating for the employees during the closure of the Kalamazoo factory
Date of Interview
11-11-2012
Location of Interview
Kalamazoo (Mich.)
Series
Gibson Guitar Factory Oral Histories
Disciplines
Oral History | Other Music | Public History | Women's History
Language
ENG
Document Type
Interview
Recommended Citation
Hoogenboom, Mary Lou and Shelvon, Joyce, "Interview with Mary Lou Hoogenboom and Joyce Shelvon" (2012). Kalamazoo Valley Museum - Gibson Guitar Factory Oral Histories. 9.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/gibson-guitar-oral-histories/9
Length of video
00:43:54
Length of video log
20 pages
Rights Statement
Notes
Another interview of Mary Lou Hoogenboom and Joyce Shelvon was conducted in 2012 by NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) as part of their Oral History Program: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/mary-lou-hoogenboom