Oral History Interview with Barbara Newman and Isabel Murray Webb: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project

Title: Oral History Interview with Barbara Newman and Isabel Murray Webb: Video, Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
LC Subject: Lesbianism Lesbian community
Local Collection ID: Coll 520
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Interviewee: Newman, Barbara Webb, Isabel
Interviewer: Long, Linda, 1956- Raiskin, Judith L.
Description: The Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project collection consists of interviews of 83 people for the Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project, conducted by Professor Judith Raiskin and Curator Linda Long at the University of Oregon starting in the summer of 2018.
Abstract: Barb was born on June 6, 1939 in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Her family eventually moved to Lansing, where Barb lived until going to college. In the 1950s, she became girlfriends with Isabel “Liz” Murray in high school. Barb describes her relationship with Liz. Barb’s and Liz’s parents stopped their relationship. Both Barb and Liz went to the University of Michigan, but they rarely saw each other. In college, Barb dated men and married Ray Newman, an engineering student. Barb began a career teaching English. Barb and Ray had three children. Liz also married, had children, and started a career teaching high school English. In the early 1970s, Barb and Liz renewed contact. In 1990, they again exchanged letters, and Barb visited Liz in Oregon. They decided to live together and Barb and Ray divorced. Barb and Liz got married when marriage became legal for same-sex couples. They have now been together for nearly thirty years. When asked if a movie could be made of their lives, and what they would call it, Barb and Liz replied, “The Road to Happiness.” Liz: Liz was born in November 1937 in Michigan and grew up in Lansing. She had a disruptive childhood, as her father was abusive. She had five brothers. Liz helped her mother in the house. Liz was a tomboy and ran a boys’ gang in the neighborhood. Her mother became the breadwinner for the family. Liz got a paper route and gave all her earnings to her mother for household expenses. Liz met Barb Newman in high school in the mid-1950s and they became girlfriends. Barb’s and Liz’s parents stopped their relationship. In college, Barb and Liz rarely saw each other. Liz dated men and got married. Liz began a career teaching English, and Liz and her husband Dick had three children. They moved to western Oregon where Dick became a smokejumper in addition to being a teacher. Liz taught at South Eugene High School. Liz and Dick divorced, and Liz received a doctorate in psychology from the University of Oregon and practiced in Eugene. In the early 1970s, Liz and Barb renewed contact. In 1990, they again exchanged letters, and Barb visited Liz in Oregon. They decided to live together and Barb and her husband Ray divorced. They got married when marriage became legal for same-sex couples. At the time of the interview, Liz had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and they belong to a group in Eugene called “Dykes with Dementia.”
Subject: Adoption; Closeted gays – United States; homophobia; Internalized homophobia; Iron Mountain (Mich.); Lansing (Mich.); Marriage equality; Teachers; Trend College (Eugene, Or.); Domestic abuse; Eugene School District 4J; Homophobia; Internalized homophobia; Lansing (Mich.); Marriage equality; Smokejumping; South Eugene High School (Eugene, Or.); Teachers.
Location: University of Oregon >> Lane County >> Oregon >> United States
Date: 2018-10-20
Identifier: Coll520_do040
Rights: In Copyright
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon Libraries
Local Collection Name: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Type: Moving Image
Format: video/mp4
Set: Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
Institution: University of Oregon