Faye Knight, Louise Warren, and Betty Bendimire oral history interview, March 31, 2010

Item

Identifier: KnightF_L2010-03

Staff Only

Faye Knight, Louise Warren, and Betty Bendimire oral history interview

Scope and Contents

Interviewed by Phil LaPorte: Faye Knight with Louise Warren and Betty Bendimire discuss their work at the Manhattan Shirt Company and their participation in the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, Local 226, in Americus, Georgia. The women detail their early years, education, and pre-union work history. They also talk about being union members: benefits, supporting their union, the difficulties of working in an anti-union town, the pressures of being union officers, and labor politics in the state of Georgia.

Dates

March 31, 2010

Creator

Knight, Faye (Interviewee, Person)

Restrictions on Access

Available in Reading Room and online

Biographical Note

Faye Knight was born in Americus, Georgia and graduated from Americus High School in 1947. Her first job was as a clerk at S.H. Kress Company. Knight began her career with the Manhattan Shirt Company in 1948, joining the union shortly after being hired. She served in several union roles during her tenure, including Vice President, President, and political action chairman. Knight retired in 1992.

Louise Warren was born in Americus, Georgia and graduated from Americus High School. After working at S.H. Kress Company and the McClesky Peanut Mills, Warren began working at Manhattan Shirt Company in 1943. Warren joined the union shortly after being hired and over the course of her employment served as Insurance Secretary, Vice President, President, and Chairman. She retired from the company in 1988.

Betty Bendimire was born in Adairsville, Georgia and graduated from Adairsville High School. She worked at Southern Bell Telephone Company and S.H. Kress prior to being hired at Manhattan Shirt Company in 1950. Bendimire joined the union soon after being hired and served as shop steward, assistant chairperson, and chairperson during the course of her employment. She retired in 1993.