Donavan, Margaret 1983-03-14
Margaret Donavan discusses her family and their ownership of the Matador Ranch.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Margaret Donavan
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: March 14, 1983
Location: London, England
Interviewer: David Murrah
Length: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
Background,
Born--1895,
Family life,
Recollections of her father,
Lists siblings,
Description of family home,
Family history,
Mother's family of Canadian heritage,
Father's family of Scottish heritage,
Parents married in 1890,
Father's business,
Involved in oil companies,
Great Depression hurt his financial situation,
Purchased property in Highlands to plant trees,
Involved in cattle industry,
Father's hobbies,
Interested in science,
Avid reader,
Father's business (again),
Started accounting firm
Tape 1, Side 2:
Education,
Attended boarding school in England,
Attended Cambridge University,
Father believed in educating women,
Travels,
Traveled to France in 1918 to work in hospitals,
Provided assistance to French refugees,
Visited New York,
Impressions of America,
1925 traveled to Florida and Matador Ranch,
Cattle industry,
Father owned 2 ranches,
Matador Ranch,
Description of ranch,
Ranch visit,
Remembrances of trip,
Mud a problem,
Allowed to eat from chuck wagon,
Discussion of Scottish songs heard on ranch,
Great Depression,
Crash affected business,
Father sold portions of ranch,
Maintained land in Florida
Tape 2, Side 1:
Personal life,
Married Richard C. Donavan--1926,
Moved to London while husband worked in diesel business,
Donavan entered World War II,
Children,
Discussion of her three children,
Matador ranch (again),
Maintained investments through World War II,
Decision to sell ranch not hers,
Investors wanted money,
Discusses disappointment of sale by Matador townspeople,
England,
Describes places to visit,
Current political situation
Tape 2, Side 2:
Blank
Range Dates: 1895-1983
Bulk Dates: 1920-ca. 1950s
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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