White, Jane

Part 1 was recorded on September 18th, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. It covers the following themes: 

b. 1948 

  • Family history in Indiana. Mother’s lung condition and family’s move to Tucson in 1957. Father’s study of industrial arts. 

  • Impressions of the Southwest from popular media. First impressions of Tucson. Staying at a motel on Miracle Mile. 

  • Fourth grade at Blenman Elementary. Move to Sts. Peter and Paul. White’s father’s job as a shop teacher at Catalina and Rincon high schools. 

  • Experience at Sts. Peter and Paul. Living near Catalina High School and moving to Wilmot and 22nd in 1962. 

  • Importance of education to White’s family. Mother’s interests. 

  • High school experience at Salpointe. School spirit. Carmelite priests. Freshman initiation. 

  • High school pastimes: family trips around southern Arizona. Playbox community theater. 

  • Marriage in 1967. Husband’s work at Shakey’s. 

  • Buying a house near Ruthrauff and Interstate 10 in 1968. Transformation of the Flowing Wells area from an agricultural community to an urban one. 

  • The cultural 1960s, Vatican II, and the Vietnam War. 

  • Work at the Duval Mine from 1975-81. Description of training, work in a predominantly male environment, the open pit, shifts, and jobs on trucks, shovels, and drills. 

Part 2 was recorded on September 27th, 2023 in Tucson, Arizona. It covers the following themes: 

  • The Duval Mine, continued. 

  • Transfer to the molybdenum mill in 1976 and description of mill-work. 

  • Considering other careers. 

  • Employment instability and competition from international mines. Workplace safety. 

  • Transferring to a job as a surveyor’s assistant. 

  • Layoff from Duval Mine in 1981. Studying industrial engineering at the University of Arizona. Interest in domestic manufacturing. Internships at IBM. 

  • President of the Society of Women Engineers at UA. 

  • Industrial engineering opportunities in the late 1980s. Move to Dallas for a job with Texas Instruments in 1989. 

  • Reasons for leaving Arizona. 

  • Working for Rockwell/Alacatel in telecom manufacture in Dallas. Changes in inventory and production on demand. 

  • Move to San Diego in 2001 to work for IBM. 

  • Relocation to Grand Junction, Colorado in 2007. 

  • Changes in American manufacturing from the 1980s to late 2000s. 

  • Work for Colorado motor vehicles department in 2009. Retirement and return to Green Valley, Arizona in 2020. 

  • The offshoring of American industry across White’s career. 

Aengus Anderson