VIVO Media Arts Centre Archive > Mona Morgan

Mona Morgan

Mona Lauvey Morgan, nee Bjarnason (1913-2004) was born in Wynard, Saskatchewan. Both parents were children of Icelandic immigrants. Her mother, Dora, was a school teacher. Her father, Paul, was a socialist, poet, publisher of the Wynard Advance, and automobile and real estate salesman. Her family moved to Vancouver about 1934. Mona’s goal to be a teacher like her mother was derailed by the Depression. She made a living as a domestic for a time and later as a stenographer; notably being fired when it was discovered her fiancee, Nigel Morgan, was organizing the workers. Mona and Nigel married in 1941 and raised two children. Nigel was President of the International Woodworkers of America in BC by 1943. Mona continued to work in the woodworking industry, served on the executive of Local 107, and was a member of the I.W.A. Women’s Auxiliary.

Audio Interview [1979]

Description

Morgan discusses being raised in Saskatchewan during the Depression and the financial impact on her family; her first contact with socialists and communists through her father; the family’s relocation to Vancouver so her brother’s could go to University; doing housework and being a cook in a private home and typical conditions; working the switchboard at B.C. Plywood office (1936) ; being let go because of her husband being a  union organizer; working for Harold Pritchett, president IWA (1939); the Youth Congress League and the goals of its movement; trying to organize the CIO in B.C.; John McCush, president and organizer for Loggers Local 1-71; racism in logging companies on Vancouver Island; mistakes made by the Labour Progressive Party; the politics of the no-strike pledge during WWII; detailed description of the activities of the Lake Cowichan Women’s Auxiliary; the murder of the wife of a Washington State IWA officer; the effect of the UnAmerican Activities Committee on trade unions in the U.S.; challenges of union work as a mother; criticism of strategies of the Office and Technical Workers Union; International Women’s Day activities (1949+).

Transcription

Full transcription: Morgan, Mona
Edited by Subject: Mona, Morgan (edited)

More Information

Title: [ Mona Morgan- 1/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_382-03A

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: Media provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy or otherwise use of this media must be obtained from the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archives.

More Information

Title: [ Mona Morgan- 1/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_382_03B

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

More Information

Title: [ Mona Morgan – 3/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_441_03A

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

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 4/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_441_03B

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

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan- 5/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_377_03A

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

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 6/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_377_03B

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

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 7/7]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1979

Type: Audio recording

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 audio cassette

Format: audio/mp3

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_376_03A

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

Video Interview [1989]

[Mona Morgan - 1/6]

Description: Mona Morgan discusses how she got involved with the labour movement, including details about her early life, the Great Depression, and her first jobs in Vancouver as a housekeeper and in the office of B.C. Plywoods. She talks about her firing from the mill, her involvement with the International Woodworkers of America (IWA), and the pushback people receive when they stand up for their rights. She talks about wages, hours, living conditions, and safety for housekeepers and mill employees.

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 1/6]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1989-05

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_370

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.

[Mona Morgan - 2/6]

Description: Mona Morgan discusses the Women’s Auxiliary, and the living conditions of women married to loggers. She also discusses the attitudes of men towards women’s organization, and the 1946 Strike.

More information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 2/6]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1989-05

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_371

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 b

[Mona Morgan - 3/6]

Description: Mona Morgan discusses the position of women in the union and the wood industry, and societal changes for women during and after World War II. She also discusses racism within the industry and the union.

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 3/6]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1989-05

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_372

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.

[Mona Morgan - 4/6]

Description: Mona Morgan discusses her election to the executive of Local 107, the activities undertaken by Women’s Auxiliaries, the organization of social events, and recruitment techniques. She also discusses cultural differences between the past and present, the On to Ottawa trek, houswives organizing after the war, and red baiting.

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 4/6]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1989-05

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_373

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.

[Mona Morgan - 5/6]

Description: Mona Morgan discusses activism amongst housewives after the war, and her personal experiences with social movements.

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 5/6]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1989-05

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_374

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.

[Mona Morgan - 6/6]

Description: Mona Morgan discusses isolation amongst homemakers and the necessity of joint responsibility for the home. She also discusses women’s rights, including their inability to vote in civic elections. Finally, she discusses McCarthyism in the unions, and her experiences running for civic office.

More Information

Title: [Mona Morgan – 6/6]

Creator: Diamond, Sara

Contributor: Morgan, Mona

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

Date Created: 1989-05

Type: Moving Image

Genre: Interviews

Extent: 1 Betacam videocassette

Format: video/mp4

Language: English

Identifier: SD_WLHP_375

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.

Photographs

Courtesy of Mona Morgan. Sara Diamond fond.