Interview with Louise H. Branscomb, M.D., conducted at Birmingham, AL, Sept. 14 and October 7, 1985, by Martha E. King, 1985 September 14, 1985 October 7
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- From the series: Oral History Interviews, 1985 September-October
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From interview worksheet:
"Tape 2 Side 1, September 14, 1985 and October 7, 1985. Relationship of parent-child when a Society organized a Guild. Survey used with employed women to determine their needs and goals. Explanation of how Louise went directly from local to Wesleyan Service Guild Committee (National) and resulting resentment that she had not gone 'through channels." The Guild flourished partly because the times were right for women to organize. Of utmost importance to Louise was the cooperation of Guild and Society and, ideally, the the total church, the cooperation of men and women. She feels the Women's Division has been able to keep its identity, largely due to its income. Concern about apartheid in South Africa in 1967 resulted in a proposal to challenge banking practice. Compromise effected -- but 18 years later this is still an issue. Tension between Women's Society and Guild but the reason it worked was that church women made it work. Example of tension is shown in the history of North Alabama women which devotes only 2 of the 127 pages to the guild. Values of service on the Board of Missions to Louise. Her attempt to place two Guild members on the Board was defeated. Louise was named to represent the Board at the Geneva Conference on 'The Future of Man in a World of Science-Based Technology.' Scientists, theologians and public servants attended and the scientists seemed to be the authority. Only three women were in attendance among the one hundred persons participating.
Tape 2, Side 2, October 7, 1985. Conference had simulataneous translation. Her experience with Harvey Cox and participation in the communion service. Also, reaction to Margaret Meade. Louise's rebuttal to Dr. Hakm's stance that the women's movement was unnecessary. Dr. Warwick Kern of Sao Paulo spoke frankly on political torture and charged that the oppressors were trained by people from United States and financed by Porte Este. This distressed Louise. It seemed to Louise that the scientists were the particpants who were looking ahead and declaring that science, religion and government need to help each other. Reference to Eric Frohm's "Art of Loving" and Louise's conclusion on its popularity. Louise finds too many areas today which are too highly specialized. Reference to participation recently in a seminar at Vanderbilt University on 'The Professions and Ethics.' She explains that she finds it difficult to share the experience of a conference or seminar with others. Following the Geneva Conference, Louise visited in the home of Bishop Schaefer. An account of dinner with his family and the practice of discussing the events of the day together. She feels that abolishing the office on 'Status of Women' in the Women's Society was a mistake. With the formation of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women the responsibilities were transferred from Society to Commission. The latter had a three-fold function: advocacy, monitoring, and catalyst. Louise feels that the function of education was lost as the Commission did not have a network. She views as very important the joint effort of the Women's Division and the Commission on Status and Role of Women to prepare women for participation in General Conference. Her observation is that the local woman does not understand the work of supportive community as it deals with the 'status and role' function."
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