In 1983 and 1984, the History Division of the National Museum of Man sponsored "Behind the Kitchen Door", an oral history project documenting the day-to-day experiences of British Columbia women in their households during the years 1900-1930. The project was administered through the Modern History Division of the British Columbia Provincial Museum.

The collection consists of 64 Interviews on 71 audio reels with Victoria and Vancouver area women. The focus is the otherwise undocumented day-to-day activities of maintaining and running a home in B.C. The interviews were conducted by Kathryn Thomson, Lynn Bueckert, Kathy Chopik and Catherine Hagen.

CALL NUMBER: T3531:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Informal discussion on the subject of St. Joseph's Mission School, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-05 SUMMARY: Interviewees discuss their life at the Mission Indian Residential School. Many voices are heard, making it difficult to follow dialogue. TRACK 1: In this discussion, topics touched upon include: experiences at the Mission school; Sisters teaching at Mission; running away from the Mission; Father Aurore -- intelligent man; loss of the Native language; learning English; hard for parents to visit; Sisters Laura and Patricia were at Mission for many years; girls sewed clothing for themselves and for the boys' school; description of typical day. TRACK 2: Discussion of: Brother Collins; boys had to look after livestock; learning to cook; anecdote about making a fire at 3 am; ironing, washing clothes; mass every morning; relations between boys and girls were limited; teasing by the boys; story about one woman's wedding; visit of Bishop, confirmations; changes in Mission school layout.

CALL NUMBER: T3531:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Informal discussion on the subject of St. Joseph's Mission School, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-05 SUMMARY: Interviewees discuss their life at the Mission Indian Residential School. Many voices are heard making it difficult to follow dialogue. TRACK 1: Discussion of: train station near the Mission school; Indian graveyard rumours; years spent at the school; working for the Sisters in the summer; graduating, activities after graduation; games played; stories about other Natives in the community who went to the Mission school; boys were dressed as girls if they ran away; differences between lifestyle of Natives in the pre-war years, and now. (End of interview)

The file contains a photocopy of a typescript of an article by Home Economics Branch director, Jessie L. McLenaghen, giving brief survey of the development of Home Economics in B.C. schools from 1895 to 1941. The article was intended for publication in "The School".

The item consists of an audio interview with Lillias Milne recorded in Sidney, B.C. on June 13, 1983.

Tape summary
Track 1: Lillias Milne lived in Egerton, Alta. Describes home. They cut their own ice and stored it over the summer. Describes her chores. They had a live-in helper. Mother used the Five Roses Cookbook, and she has one passed down by her mother. Mother taught her baking. They had some unusual special foods. Took home economics at the University of Alberta, 4 years, mostly science. Describes course content, in their final year they prepared a formal meal and had the services of a maid. Stressed nutrition. Had portable stoves and fireless cookers. Used new utensils in home economics, and new kinds of equipment. Taught home economics at the Vermillion School of Agriculture. Students made individual size portions. Trained the women to be homemakers -- they learned cheese making, gardening, baking, sewing etc. so they could be efficient.

Track 2: Describes school fairs, and what the students had to do. Taught for the Department of Agriculture in B.C. and would stress various food, i.e. eggs or milk as well as the basics, i.e, tea biscuits. School fairs were judged by market agents, who were looking at vegetables to be sold. Taught home economics at Oak Bay High in later years.

A copy of this 47 pp. typescript by Elizabeth Berry Lightfoot and Margaret Maynard will also be found in GR-1030.