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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

At Work in Industry Today Page 8

[photo to right]
Eugenia T. Edmerson

Technician gets satisfaction in playing role in advancing science

"As a technologist, I find it full and satisfying to play a part in the tremendous strides being made today in science and technology." So says Eugenia T. (Genie) Edmerson, a biological technician at the Hanford Biological Laboratory at the Company's atomic operations in Richland, Wash.
     Her background for this career began after graduating from high school in Topeka, Kansas. She took two years of nurse's training while working as a nurse's aide in Memphis, Tenn. Later, while her husband was teaching at Waco, Texas, she attended Paul Quinn College for one year.
     When Mr. Edmerson accepted a position with General Electric at the southeastern Washington Hanford Atomic Plant in 1951, she joined him and also sought employment there.
     Mrs. Edmerson's education and work experience qualified her for a job as a laboratory assistant in the Hanford Biology Laboratory. In her first job with General Electric she performed laboratory analysis of blood samples from various research projects. In the past 13 years, Genie has earned four promotions to her present position as biological technician. Her salary has more than doubled while she has been working for General Electric.
     "Both in school and since I have been working, I have tried hard to make the most of my opportunities," according to Genie Edmerson. "There is no doubt that the extra effort has been worthwhile. My progress with General Electric has resulted in more income, but, in addition, new responsibilities added zest to the job and provided a chance to continue to increase my knowledge and ability."
     At present Genie Edmerson processes biological samples for subsequent measurement of their radioisotope content. The samples include whole fish, animal tissue or bone, vegetation, milk, blood or plasma. Usually she reduces the samples to a solution with acid and heat, but the materials and techniques she uses vary greatly depending on the isotope involved, the kind of sample, and the object of the research. Skilled use of laboratory techniques and very precise measurements are required.
     Mr. and Mrs. Edmerson make their home in Sunnyside, Washington, on a hill overlooking the orchards in the Yakima River Valley. They are active members of the Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, serving as advisors to the senior high school youth group, and as teachers in the Sunday School. She devotes one night a week to the city library program and her husband acts as a counselor in the Sunnyside High School career planning program.

[photo to right]
Dorothy Emery

She's using World's Fair job to help finance more education.

One evening when Dorothy Emery came home from work as a cashier at Montgomery Ward's in Danville, Ill., her father had something to show her.
     William Emery, an 11-year employee and stockkeeper at the Company's Ballast Department in Danville, had a copy of the employee newspaper, Today. In it was a story about how the Company would give preferential consideration to relatives of employees in hiring the staff for Progressland, the General Electric exhibit at the New York World's Fair.
     Miss Emery applied and was accepted, as a hostess. Her duties vary-- from controlling the progression of the scenes in the Carousel auditorium to acting as a Dome guide. She thinks her education helped her land the job. She's a graduate of the Danville  High School, of a business college, and of a business-machine training school in St. Louis.
     "It's hard enough to get a job even with an education," she says. "But there's no hope without it."
     As the oldest of eight children, Dorothy Emery emphasizes that fact to her six sisters and brother. While working at the World's Fair, she lives at the YWCA in Manhattan. "Living in New York is an education in itself," she says. "I spend much of my free time visiting museums and going to the theater." She hopes to work at the Fair during the 1965 season, too. But this winter she plans to take some more courses at the business school in Danville.
     As a hostess, she must have skill in meeting people-the thousands who go through the Company's exhibit every day. "I love to meet them. As long as i'm doing it, I'm happy." she says.
     Miss Emery also reports on being a Negro at the Fair: "I'm being treated wonderfully. There hasn't been any trouble with prejudice. And the people I'm working with are just wonderful. We Negroes can do the job now because we're getting the education. Just give us a chance, and we'll prove ourselves. I think we're at last getting that chance."

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[photo to right] Eugenia T. Edmerson Technician gets satisfaction in playing role in advancing science "As a technologist, I find it full and satisfying to play a part in the tremendous strides being made today in science and technology." So says Eugenia T. (Genie) Edmerson, a biological technician at the Hanford Biological Laboratory at the Company's atomic operations in Richland, Wash. Her background for this career began after graduating from high school in Topeka, Kansas. She took two years of nurse's training while working as a nurse's aide in Memphis, Tenn. Later, while her husband was teaching at Waco, Texas, she attended Paul Quinn College for one year. When Mr. Edmerson accepted a position with General Electric at the southeastern Washington Hanford Atomic Plant in 1951, she joined him and also sought employment there. Mrs. Edmerson's education and work experience qualified her for a job as a laboratory assistant in the Hanford Biology Laboratory. In her first job with General Electric she performed laboratory analysis of blood samples from various research projects. In the past 13 years, Genie has earned four promotions to her present position as biological technician. Her salary has more than doubled while she has been working for General Electric. "Both in school and since I have been working, I have tried hard to make the most of my opportunities," according to Genie Edmerson. "There is no doubt that the extra effort has been worthwhile. My progress with General Electric has resulted in more income, but, in addition, new responsibilities added zest to the job and provided a chance to continue to increase my knowledge and ability." At present Genie Edmerson processes biological samples for subsequent measurement of their radioisotope content. The samples include whole fish, animal tissue or bone, vegetation, milk, blood or plasma. Usually she reduces the samples to a solution with acid and heat, but the materials and techniques she uses vary greatly depending on the isotope involved, the kind of sample, and the object of the research. Skilled use of laboratory techniques and very precise measurements are required. Mr. and Mrs. Edmerson make their home in Sunnyside, Washington, on a hill overlooking the orchards in the Yakima River Valley. They are active members of the Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, serving as advisors to the senior high school youth group, and as teachers in the Sunday School. She devotes one night a week to the city library program and her husband acts as a counselor in the Sunnyside High School career planning program. [photo to right] Dorothy Emery She's using World's Fair job to help finance more education. One evening when Dorothy Emery came home from work as a cashier at Montgomery Ward's in Danville, Ill., her father had something to show her. William Emery, an 11-year employee and stockkeeper at the Company's Ballast Department in Danville, had a copy of the employee newspaper, Today. In it was a story about how the Company would give preferential consideration to relatives of employees in hiring the staff for Progressland, the General Electric exhibit at the New York World's Fair. Miss Emery applied and was accepted, as a hostess. Her duties vary-- from controlling the progression of the scenes in the Carousel auditorium to acting as a Dome guide. She thinks her education helped her land the job. She's a graduate of the Danville High School, of a business college, and of a business-machine training school in St. Louis. "It's hard enough to get a job even with an education," she says. "But there's no hope without it." As the oldest of eight children, Dorothy Emery emphasizes that fact to her six sisters and brother. While working at the World's Fair, she lives at the YWCA in Manhattan. "Living in New York is an education in itself," she says. "I spend much of my free time visiting museums and going to the theater." She hopes to work at the Fair during the 1965 season, too. But this winter she plans to take some more courses at the business school in Danville. As a hostess, she must have skill in meeting people-the thousands who go through the Company's exhibit every day. "I love to meet them. As long as i'm doing it, I'm happy." she says. Miss Emery also reports on being a Negro at the Fair: "I'm being treated wonderfully. There hasn't been any trouble with prejudice. And the people I'm working with are just wonderful. We Negroes can do the job now because we're getting the education. Just give us a chance, and we'll prove ourselves. I think we're at last getting that chance." 8