MY FIRST JOB AT THE U OF I

This is the typewriter I used when I started my first job with the Home Economics Extension Department at the University of Illinois, February 1942.

Jobs were very hard to find. I had graduated in May 1941 with a scholarship to a small College or a 3 month scholarship to attend Danville Institute of Business. There was no way my folks could help me with College expenses so I went to Business College and worked at Kresge's Five and Dime on Saturdays. I worked eight hours and earned $1.98 as they took two cents out for Social Security.

After finishing the 3 months at Danville Institute of Business, I went to work for Illinois Printing. That lasted only a few months. Then they started laying off....I was the last hired so the first to be let out.

I had heard there were openings at the University of Illinois and that the jobs were secure if you could get hired and worked really hard. I went to the Nonacademic Office and was sent on job interviews. Everywhere I interviewed I heard the same comment "I'm sorry, but you have no experience". When I arrived at my third interview, I was getting tired, upset, and felt I would be going home without being hired. When Mrs. Klockner in Home Economics Extension said "I'm sorry, but you have no experience", I spoke up and said "I don't know how I will get experience if no one will hire me".
I have no idea how I had the nerve to do that. Anyway, she went into another office, then came back and said "come to work on Monday morning". I thought they were the sweetest words I had ever heard. Years later, she told me that she felt I was spunky, and since I had the nerve to speak up, I would probably be a good worker.

I was a Clerk Typist and the L C Smith was my first typewriter. I typed letters, manuscripts, speeches, etc. At times had to make 10 copies and to do that, put a steel platen into the typewriter, and used 9 sheets of carbon paper. Certainly didn't want to make an error as it was a real pain to put a small piece of paper behind each carbon, erase, then remember to take out each piece. We had no copy machines at that time.

We worked a 44 hour week and my monthly check was $76. At that time, it seemed like lots of money. I roomed with two other girls and we each paid $10 a month rent, and when I went home on weekend, my parents would send food back with me. I had enough money to start a Savings Account.

They now call those "THE GOOD OLD DAYS".