Schirrer, Peggy, 2005 July 25

Part of Collection

Call Number: RU 1055, Series Accession 2008-A-001

Scope and Contents

Peggy Schirrer was born in 1936 in Canton Illinois, graduated from Denison University and moved to New Haven in 1958 to marry her fiancé, a Yale medical student. Schirrer became involved with many women's groups at Yale University and volunteer activities in the New Haven community, but it was her participation in the Junior League that occupied most of her time. Schirrer talks about her life growing up in Illinois, being a child during World War II, and attending Denison on scholarships and loans. She cam to New Haven during Richard Lee's mayoral administration and touches on redevelopment issues in the interview. After moving to New Haven, she became a high school teacher in Woodbridge but resigned in the mid-1960s to raise her children and work in community groups. She joind the Junior League at this time and worked with the New Haven historical society and other volunteer programs. After fifteen years out of the workplace, Schirrer took a job with Xerox Learning Systems but then began to work for the national Junior League and became Director of Field Services. As a leader in the group in the 1980s, Schirrer challenged its traditionall discriminatory policies and attempted to make the League's membership more diverse by getting Jewish and African American women involved. She became interested in issues of civil rights and fair employment and attended the University of Connecticut Law School. She graduated in 1993 and worked with the League and with women in the New Haven community. She discusses the League's commitment to service and her own interest in civic involvement and issues of gender and racial discrimination.

Dates

2005 July 25

Conditions Governing Access

As a preservation measure, original materials may not be used. Digital access copies must be provided for use. Contact Manuscripts and Archives at mssa.assist@yale.edu to request access