Akt(e) f17 - Cullen, Grace, nee Taylor

File consists of a recording of Grace Cullen. Topics of the conversation include subject's idyllic childhood (Braeside, Ottawa Valley) as minister's daughter, family of 7, c WWI. Father's pacifist stance; painful effect of son's dutiful enlistment; son's nerves badly affected by war. Subject's retrospective resignation to inevitable futility of war; praise for German Canadian com­munity known in Eganville; lasting impression of cemetery for Canadian soldiers seen in Black Forest, Germany. High school (Arnprior); enrolment of 4 children in Queen's as closest university. Mother's Scottish origins: thrifty, well-off family life. University attendance for enjoyment of learning, pleasure of friendship: taken for granted, not career-­oriented. Teaching in Braeside following high school. Teachers' College; summer courses at Queen's; residence in Goodwin House, Ban Righ; two years full attendance, 1929-30. Financial security throughout Depression. Teaching as self-chosen profession. Depression period, not recalled in terms of hardship: dinner outings in female friend's red roadster. Employment with Montreal telephone company; 3 years teaching in Eganville. Teaching in Hampshire, England (1935) for League of the British Empire; glorious crossing on cattle boat (500 cattle, 12 passengers). League tickets to George VI coronation, Westminster Abbey; invitation to garden party, Buckingham Palace. Holiday trips to Europe with female friends. 'Heil Hitler' salutations in Germany, 1936. Falling-out with Prof. MacGillivray over German studies at Queen's. 'Standing room only' in soldier-laden Italian 3rd-class railway compartment (end of Abyssinian War). English teaching experience (class suppression, caning, lack of ambition, in rural Council school for the poor) contrasted with Canadian: even in rural, working-class Braeside, students would have been 'reaching for the stars'. Residence in England, well cared-for by English lady's maid. Excellent staff in English schools. Hiking acquaintance with Isle of Wight; trips to London, Epsom Downs. Industrial workers' apprehension over arms shipments to Germany. Friendliness of people in Germany: feeling they didn't want the war. Teaching in Canada (till 1941). Employment with External Affairs Dept. to satisfy war-conscience; meeting with future husband; unpaid overtime work hours. Membership, 1946 delegation to UN, New York; residence in Biltmore Hotel; responsibility to prominent delegates for documents. Marriage, 1947. Youngest brother's participation in WWII; father's unvocal suffering. Canadian attitudes to WWII; no recollection of pacifism, German immigrant/French Canadian problems. Media coverage. Doubt who will act as aggressor in future atomic war.//Gradual return of veterans to Ottawa; lack of bitterness. Subject's retirement after marriage, child-raising. Husband's embassy post in Washington, 1952-57; 4 years residence in San Francisco. Founding of San Francisco branch of Queen's Alumni. Firm belief in UN; dislike of 'one vote per country' system. Washington excitement over McCarthy hearings; Cold War distancing from Russian diplomats. Subject's enjoyment of USA. Posting in 1960s to Los Angeles; Viet Nam issue. Dislike of extremism, belief in conformity; ruination of San Francisco by 'gay' disturbances. Pollyanna hope that things will right them­selves. Happy embrace of motherhood, marriage, in place of office Iife; approval of wider options for women; belief that children need a mother's devoted care; dislike of day-care. Children, grandchildren, as greatest pleasure in subject's life. Modern greed, money-worship; increased salaries-have not meant increased happiness. Subject's continuing faith in religion. Summary feeling 'it was a good life'.