Cavazos, Peggy 1991-01-25

Peggy Cavazos, wife of Dr. Lauro Cavazos, reminisces about her life.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Peggy Cavazos

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: January 25, 1991

Location: Concord, Massachusetts

Interviewer: Dr. David Murrah

Length: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Peggy Cavazos' Background, Parents--Gertrude and Jesse Murdock, Mother reared in Ellis County, Father reared in Grapeland, Born in Plainview during the Great Depression, Family life, Father a cotton buyer with limited education, Mother attend school through the fifth grade, Parents divorced when Peggy was eleven, Lack of unity in the family, Parents did not support educating females, Texas Tech University, Started school in 1947, Studied pre-med for three years, Decided to study nursing instead, Incarnate Word College, Attended nursing school, Career, Worked at West Texas Hospital, Personal life, Met Lauro Cavazos when she was a sophomore at Tech, Corresponded constantly while away at school, Lubbock, Texas, Worked as nurses' aid at Lubbock Memorial Hospital, Returned to area to work as a nurse, Personal life (again), Discussion of dating, Career (again), Worked until birth of first child, Returned to work part-time after tenth child, Child rearing, Philosophy concerning children, Rose Kennedy's influence on her, Discusses attending Rose Kennedy's hundredth birthday celebration, Experienced great joy watching her children grow, Key to large family--organization and flexibility

Tape 1, Side 2: Child-rearing (again), Difficulty of time period to rear children, Discusses disciplinary action taken against children, Two children suffered with dyslexia, Remained a close family, Lubbock, Texas (again), Children's reaction to West Texas, Peggy discouraged the move back to Lubbock, Discrimination, Anticipated extreme prejudice, Children never experienced many problems, Encountered more prejudice at Tech from professors, Discusses problems after daughter admitted to medical program, Dr. Cavazos accused of nepotism, Child-rearing (again), Children involved in all family decisions, Texas Tech University (again), Peggy Cavazos' duties, Spent less time at home, Involved in Ex-Students Association and entertained regents

Tape 2, Side 1: Texas Tech University (again), Expectations as first lady, Disenchanted with socializing required, Felt alienated from campus life, Lubbock versus Washington, D. C., Grew frustrated with Lubbock, Washington not receptive to wives, but better than Lubbock, Texas Tech University (again), Received a good education, Unifying experience for family

Tape 2, Side 2: Texas Tech University (again), Received support form community, Students loyal to the school, Tech prepared Dr. Cavazos for his life work, Discussion of their relationship with the Tech students

Range Dates: 1930-1988

Bulk Dates: 1947-1988

Access Information

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Recording Format Notes:

Transcript:

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