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Audio recording
Oral history interview with Maurice Carlson, January 8, 1985
Contact MOHAI to OrderInterview conducted by Lorraine McConaghy with Maurice Carlson for the Life on the Homefront Oral History Project on January 8, 1985. Carlson was born in Seattle on February 16, 1915. He spent his career as a clerk and later secretary in the Seattle police department.
During World War II, Maurice Carlson worked as a night shift clerk for the Seattle police department. In this interview, he discusses his personal and professional response to Pearl Harbor and World War II. He talks about enforced blackouts, military encampments, Japanese American incarceration, and manpower issues. The interview covers crimes (liquor, prostitution, gambling, child abuse and transience) and police practices (including the ‘bandit phone’). Carlson also explains how he dealt with wartime rationing with carpooling, home parties, Victory gardens and scrap metal drives. He recalls that Seattle shut down for V-J Day. Overall, he has a positive opinion of Seattle during wartime and believes many who came temporarily were decided stay on permanently.
Copyright agreement: Yes
Digitized: Yes, from analog cassette to .wav files and to CD (.cda files)
Re-digitized in 2025.
Transcript: Yes, scanned from original analog to .pdf (final); original hard copy of rough draft and final transcript in admin file.
During World War II, Maurice Carlson worked as a night shift clerk for the Seattle police department. In this interview, he discusses his personal and professional response to Pearl Harbor and World War II. He talks about enforced blackouts, military encampments, Japanese American incarceration, and manpower issues. The interview covers crimes (liquor, prostitution, gambling, child abuse and transience) and police practices (including the ‘bandit phone’). Carlson also explains how he dealt with wartime rationing with carpooling, home parties, Victory gardens and scrap metal drives. He recalls that Seattle shut down for V-J Day. Overall, he has a positive opinion of Seattle during wartime and believes many who came temporarily were decided stay on permanently.
Copyright agreement: Yes
Digitized: Yes, from analog cassette to .wav files and to CD (.cda files)
Re-digitized in 2025.
Transcript: Yes, scanned from original analog to .pdf (final); original hard copy of rough draft and final transcript in admin file.
ID Number: 1985.134.3
Date: 1985
Physical Description: 1 sound cassette (62 min. 46 sec.) : analog + 1 transcript (19 pages)
Additional Information: Inventoried as part of a 2018 4Culture Collections Care grant.
View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv89619
View the finding aid for this collection at https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv89619
Credit: MOHAI, Life on the Homefront Oral History Collection, 1985.134.3
Copyright: All Rights Reserved
Media:
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