McDonald, Myrtle 1998-07-24
Lubbock, Texas attorney Myrtle McDonald talks about working as a legal secretary and she talks about becoming a lawyer.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Myrtle McDonald
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: July 24, 1998
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Fred Allison
Length: 1 hour 20 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1: McDonald, Myrtle,
Born in Hamilton County, Texas in June 1941,
Oldest of 4 children,
Father
Farmer,
Moved to Lubbock, Texas because of the drought in central Texas, 1951,
Worked construction and injured his elbow,
Started working for a vending company,
Education in Lubbock, Texas,
Was a member of the first class at Monterey High School,
Lubbock, Texas (mid 1950s),
Characteristics,
Student life,
Holly, Buddy,
Death,
Baptist churches,
Trinity Baptist Church,
Memorial Baptist Church,
Rules,
Expansion,
Monterey Shopping Center,
McDonald, Myrtle (again),
Education,
Monterey High School (again),
Home economics,
Texas Tech University,
Jobs during school,
Worked for attorneys,
Irvin, R. Briggs,
Treadaway, Gordon,
Quilliam, Reed,
Bloomrosen, J.R.,
Stopped going to school,
Worked for J.R. Bloomrosen and Gordon Treadaway,
Co-op work,
Legal secretary,
Duties,
Attorneys - Lubbock, Texas,
Shaver, Wemar,
Hurly, Dan,
Sowder, Madison,
Attorneys - Lubbock, Texas (continued),
Davidson, Howard,
Jones, Fliger, Brown and Morton Law Firm,
Opinions,
Bloomrosen and Treadaway,
Split partnership,
McDonald, Myrtle (again),
Went to work for Bloomrosen,
Great Plains Building,
Moved to Texas Commerce Bank Building, 1964,
Stopped working for Bloomrosen, May 1969,
Went back to Texas Tech University, 1967,
Gave birth to daughter, fall 1969,
Graduated, May 1970,
Commencement ceremonies called off due to the Tornado of 1970,
Began school at Texas Tech University School of Law, fall 1970,
Tornado of 1970 - Lubbock, Texas,
Story,
McDonald, Myrtle (again),
Texas Tech University School of Law,
Families reaction to attending,
Husband,
Difficulties,
Attrition rate,
Professors,
Kirk, Maurice,
Graduated, December 1972,
Took the Bar exam, February 1973,
Licensed, April 1973,
Looking for a job,
Applied with SEC,
Lubbock, Texas District Attorney's Office,
Griffon, Alton,
Juvenile work.
Tape 2: McDonald, Myrtle,
Lubbock, Texas District Attorney's Office (continued),
Welfare work,
Duties,
Left district attorney's office, February 1976,
Began working with J.R. Bloomrosen,
Had partnership until April 1989,
Jones, Charlie,
Opinions,
McDonald, Myrtle (again),
Lubbock, Texas District Attorney's Office again,
Juvenile robbery case,
First jury case,
Lubbock Bar Association,
Characteristics,
Memorial services for deceased lawyers,
Lawyer tactics,
Other bar associations,reputations,
Dallas, Texas,
McDonald, Myrtle (again),
Reflections of career,
Problems practicing law,
Sexual discrimination,
Competition for clients,
[This side ends after 20 minutes].
Range Dates: 1941-1998
Bulk Dates: 1969-1989
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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