Lil Godfrey

Harriet Lillian Godfrey, nee Greenwell, (1915-1999) was born in Extension, Vancouver Island.  Her father was a third generation miner. The family had mined in Wellington, BC, Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Durham and Northumberland, England.  Lillian trained as a teacher, however, there were no jobs available during the depression so she took on housework jobs. She married logger Ralph Clement Godfrey (1904-1994) in South Wellington in 1937 and the settled in Lake Cowichan.  Lil joined the IWA Women’s Auxiliary in 1940.

Video Interview [c.1980s]

Description: Lil Godfrey discusses her life in the Lake Cowichan area during the 1940s, including housework and trade unionism in the region. She talks about where her support for trade unionism came from, her family’s immigration to Vancouver Island, actions undertaken by the lumber industry unions (including a 1946 strike), and fundraising in the Women’s Auxiliary. During the interview she looks through her scrapbook of correspondence and publicity regarding trade union issues and actions.

Title: [Lil Godfrey – 1/3]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Godfrey, Lil

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: [Unknown]

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_101

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: The VIVO Media Arts Centre. Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives. Sara Diamond fonds.

Rights: Videos provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use these videos must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.

Description: Lil Godfrey talks about the Lake Cowichan Women’s Auxiliary travelling delegations; women’s activities during the 1946 strike and the Auxiliary’s 10th anniversary;  the Auxiliary’s community role as fundraisers and supporting services; the local chapter of the charity Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE); the importance of Gordon’s general store and the co-op; and the Indo-Canadian community at Cowichan.

Title: [Lil Godfrey – 2/3]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Godfrey, Lil

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: [Unknown]

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_329

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: The VIVO Media Arts Centre. Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives. Sara Diamond fonds.

Rights: Videos provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use these videos must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.

Description: Lil Godfrey discusses issues surrounding the Canadian IWA split from the International in 1948; labelling of trade unionists as radicals and communists; the social focus of Women’s Auxiliary activities after 1948; early conditions in the bunk houses. Lil describes photos, printed material, and newspaper clipping, from her scrapbook that document the Auxiliary. Includes information on other members and the IWA Trek to Victoria.

Title: [Lil Godfrey – 3/3]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Godfrey, Lil

Subject: Women–Employment–British Columbia ; Women labor union members–British Columbia ; Women–Employment–British Columbia–History–20th century

Date Created: [Unknown]

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_330

Is Part Of: Sara Diamond fonds

Series: Women’s Labour History Project

Source: Original Format: The VIVO Media Arts Centre. Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives. Sara Diamond fonds.

Rights: Videos provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use these videos must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.