Working in Philadelphia in the 50s and 60s

I was thinking back about my days working in Philly. Except for a summer job at Mr. Softee in Runnemede, all my jobs were in Philadelaphia.

I worked at Strawbridge's -- a department store -- for three Christmas seasons. I worked for Echelons (a temporary agency) for four years, and while with that agency I was sent to law firms, the Pennsylvania Railroad, Graybar, and finally the owner of the Philadelphia franchise took me in as her assistant, which meant I did it all, including placing people in jobs.

I didn't particularly like that job, but I was prompt and did my work with perfection because less than perfection for me was not an option (personally). I found a permanent job in the listings that came in, that was working for a law firm in the PSFS building, and that law firm included a young man who was running for mayor of the city, that man being Arlan Spector. I really wanted that job. I would be private secretary for one of the senior partners. I had visions of me accompanying him to court, doing his leg work, etc., like Perry Mason's secretary did in the TV show. Not to be. I mean, I got the job, but this partner was a zoning specialist, which meant all we did was building searches, land searches, etc. It was pretty boring stuff.

Back then, too, you had to think about how hiring was. I was newly engaged, and they were reluctant to hire an engaged or newly married woman because they figured she'd be gone within a year either because she was pregnant or because she and her fiance moved away. So, I hit my engagement ring and got the job. Not quite honest, but I knew I wasn't going to get pregnant and I wasn't going to move anywhere.

There was uniform all women wore to work in the 50s and early 60s. By the mid-60s the uniform was no longer required.

First, let me tell you, that I would arise at 6:30 a.m., get dressed (I took my shower and washed my hair at night), run out the door at 6:50 to catch the 7:00 bus. Now, I was only a two or three minute walk from the bus stop, but buses didn't necessary run exactly on time. Mostly they were early, so I made sure I was at the stop at 6:55 a.m. That got me into Philly (because it was an express) by 7:30 -- enough time to stop at Schraft's for breakfast.

My stomach has never worked well right after I get up. It needs at least an hour to "settle" before I put even coffee in it.

So, I, in my uniform -- a hat, white gloves, and a dress or suit, nylons with seams up the back, and high heels -- went to work. I had a very limited "uniform" closet, so each week, during the summer I would purchase one item for my closet, albeit a hat (I loved hats), a pair of shoes, a new dress, a new suit, a winter coat -- I purchased something for my closet.

When I worked at Strawbridge's I got 20 percent off, and I would head down to the bargain basement and get such great bargains. But to get to the bargain basement I had to pass the handbag counters. I think I mentioned before my affinity for handbags. Since I was TWO, I carried a handbag, always. I loved pocketbooks (handbags).

Now, I have a handbag that is functional, not pretty, and I don't change it out from day-to-day or weekly or monthly. I don't change it out at all. It's the same handbag I purchased last summer in Wyoming. I don't expect to change that bag for anything because it's also a wallet, and I don't need a big bag to stuff a lot of menial stuff in.

Of course, those handbags I bought back in the 50s and 60s weren't large either. I still have them and I notice that they barely would contain a wallet and a tube of lipstick. At least my new purse will hold a cell phone, makeup, and anything you could stuff into a wallet.

I'm a little dismayed that workplace and, yes, church, dress standards have been so lowered that women no longer have to "dress" in dresses and wear hats. There's just something about that manner of dress that I love.