The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 103, July 1999 - April, 2000 Page: 32
554 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
own references." In Beaumont the tried-and-true method of "word of
mouth" was probably the most common method of obtaining servants in
the first half of the twentieth century. It allowed employees to find out
which jobs offered the best pay, the most considerate employers, or the
nicest homes, while employers could obtain personal reports from previ-
ous employers.8
Ida McFaddin and Mamie Ward usually found employees by word of
mouth from friends, relatives, or employees, although in later years
Mamie was forced to use employment agencies. Prospective employees
were interviewed at the McFaddin home or at the prospective employee's
house. It was considered bad form to hire employees away from another
family. Ida once confided to Mamie, "I'd dearly love to have Joe [yard-
man], but I'd never take him from Aurelia," but she admonished, "If he
should leave, you grab him."2' Both women set high standards for employ-
ees. Mamie noted in her diary after a series of interviews with butlers that
"none I'd have have applied yet." During a time of difficulty in finding do-
mestic employees, Ida stated her willingness to "shut up [the house] and
go to the hotel" until "better" ones could be found, or to "pitch in and do
the upstairs" herself. After hiring a new butler, Mamie discovered that he
"drank gambled & owed loan co's," and dismissed him.30
Rosine Wilson recalled that her grandmother "got the very best of the
black community to work for her." What is known of employee families
seems to corroborate their elite status. Yardman Percy Andrews' mother
Emily owned Andrews Hotel, and his brother Frank owned Andrews Dry
Cleaners and Andrews Liquor Store. Two of Andrew Molo's brothers
chauffeured for other wealthy Beaumont families. Brunie Payne's hus-
band had a dirt contracting business, and besides purchasing an auto-
mobile as early as 1927, the Paynes had the first telephone in the
African-American addition of Silver City. Many of Brunie's descendants
currently have white-collar occupations.3'
Once hired, domestic employees worked long hours. Nationwide, they
lagged behind other workers in securing reduction of hours and were
28 Haynes, "Negroes in Domestic Service," 407-412; Wilson interview, Tapes 77-78, transcript
pp. 3, 7, 17-18, 20, 28; Wilson interview, Tape 79, transcript pp. 3, 8.
29 ICM to MMW, letter dated May 28, 1943, MLMW Box 44 (MMW).
20 ICM to MMW, letter dated Jan. 20, 1942, MLMW Box 44 (MMW); MMW diaries, Apr. 22,
Aug. 8, Sept. 24, Oct. 30, 1937, Feb. 14, Dec. 26, 1938, Jan. 11, 1939, Oct. 2o, 1941,Jan. 30,
1946, May 8, 20o, 1948.
s Wilson interview, Tapes 77-78, transcript pp. 10-11; Molo interview, Tape 108, transcript
p. 1; Beaumont City Directory (1927-1967); Cecelia Smith, interview by Ida McFaddin Pyle, Aug.
22, 1984, Tape 73, transcript pp. 5-6 (MWH); Smith interview, Tapes 5-6, transcript pp. 6-7,
16, 19; Joris Colbert and Claudette Colbert Richard, interview by Judith Linsley, Apr. 30, 1992,
Tape 117, transcript pp. 2, 5-6 (MWH); Claudette Colbert Richard, interview by Judith Linsley,
Feb. 27, 1992, Tape 112, transcript pp. 6-7 (MWH).July
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 103, July 1999 - April, 2000, periodical, 2000; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101220/m1/58/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.