Subseries: Virginia North Lehman, 1982 September 29
Use Restrictions: No release forms were gathered from Virginia North Lehman. Researchers, therefore, should not quote directly from these interviews.

INTRODUCTION

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Lived in Milwaukee. Graduated from law school 1927 or 1928. Worked in friend's Republican campaign for city council. About 1933 entered University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration; law jobs scarce during Depression, many lawyers studied social work.

FACTORS CAUSING FORMATION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Overriding factor was Depression. (Anecdotes about severity of Depression.)

LEHMAN'S SOCIAL WORK
Scope and Content Note: In Chicago lived in College Woman's Club, many residents of which were involved in social work. Worked in the district attorney's office. Part of job was trying to get fathers to pay child support. Worked with many Poles and Germans. Under Daley, one had to do ward work at night to hold a city or county job.

MILWAUKEE
Scope and Content Note: Not there during New Deal era. Not corrupt like Chicago. German immigrants

CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS (CIO)
Scope and Content Note: CIO was developing within American Federation of Labor (AFL) while Lehman in Milwaukee. CIO Actively supported grassroots organizing. Organized a core of people available for many purposes, e.g. turning empty lots into playgrounds. Many people were so involved. Intent and process of organizing was to be aware of peoples troubles and make help available. Many women involved, men more involved in strikes.

INVOLVEMENT IN UNION SOCIAL WORK
Scope and Content Note: Worked in Chicago for a private legal aid office. Talked at strike meetings on how to deal with financial problems - part of union's efforts to attract new members. Work funded by United Charities.

PARTY AFFILIATIONS OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACTIVISTS
Scope and Content Note: Some began as socialists because the way to exert liberal power in Milwaukee was through the Socialist Party. On state level, Republican Party was a better vehicle for liberals. After Roosevelt, liberals could work more effectively in the Democratic Party. People attracted to Democrats by spirit embodied in Roosevelt's fireside chats and very strong Democratic organization in Illinois.

MILWAUKEE UNION LEADERS' POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Unions always associated with liberals. Endorsed candidates but members usually supported the candidate of their choice.

END OF TAPE 2, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

UNION ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: (Anecdote about union meeting in Chicago stockyards.) People at meeting seemed enthusiastic, serious, involved. Labor had their own newspapers. People of all sorts involved, e.g. farmers conducted a milk strike. (Anecdote about Lehman's German housekeeper.)

JULIA BOEGHOLT
Scope and Content Note: Lehman met her at law school. Friends with the Boegholts and the Biemillers. Boegholt not involved in politics. Had little girl, ran nursery school and school on comparative religion and creationism. Boegholt had been laboratory technician at Georgia hospital.

ANDY BIEMILLER
Scope and Content Note: Very involved in AFL. Got involved in politics through the union. Lehman knew him socially.

LEHMAN AS ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Scope and Content Note: Job was to keep the “squawk brigade (women) out of the men's hair”. Got job through her father.

END OF INTERVIEW