Oral History Interview Ethel Schwartz

Partial Transcript: Today is February 11th, 1985. My name is Teka Ward. I'm interviewing Ethel Schwartz. We are at 3022 Vogue Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky. Our topic is Lou Tate and the Little Loomhouse.

Segment Synopsis: Ward introduces the interview by giving the date, her name, her interviewee's name (Schwartz), and their location.

Keywords: Ethel Schwartz; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Teka Ward; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: As we begin Ethel, currently you serve as treasurer of the Lou Tate Foundation, Incorporated. How long have you served in that position?

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz explains that she has been a member of the Lou Tate Foundation board for four years, but not since its inception. She then recalls her family's history of involvement with Lou Tate and the Little Loomhouse. She recalls working a display booth for the Little Loomhouse with her daughter, Susan, at Stewart's store. She also talks about helping to stuff the walls of Lou Tate's cabin with envelopes for insulation.

Keywords: Drafts; Looms; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Lou Tate Foundation, Inc.; Lou Tate Foundation, Incorporated; Louisa Tate Bousman; Stewart Dry Goods; Stewart's; Susan Schwartz; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Boards of directors; Dogs; Envelopes (Stationery); Erosion; Foundations; Girl Scouts; Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving; Woolen and worsted drawing

Partial Transcript: When you first went down there...

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz talks about Lou Tate's love of dogs, her wood-paneled station wagon, and her tendency to talk a lot. She also recounts the way the interiors of some of the cabins were laid out. Schwartz explains that she would visit The Little Loomhouse during open hours only, so she primarily spent time in the Top House, which was the most public-facing building of the three cabins. She finally began to understand Lou Tate more towards the end of Lou Tate's life and after her death.

Keywords: Booties; Bottom House; Esta; Looms; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Open houses; The Little Loomhouse; Top House

Subjects: Dogs; Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: We have a picture of Susan here, and it's with the Oral History Project, but do you want to tell us...

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz describes a photo, letter, and newspaper clipping related to Lou Tate and the Little Loomhouse. She explains that the Lou Tate Foundation has a goal to gather photos and other documents in order to create a book about Lou Tate's life that could be used to raise money for the Loomhouse.

Keywords: Karen Leifer; Kenwood Hill; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Sue Kendrick; Susan Schwartz; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Photographs; Weaving

Partial Transcript: Teka Ward: You go out there, certainly, at least once a week.
Ethel Schwartz: Once a week, and sometimes twice a week.
TW: When you started out being the Treasurer, did you just see yourself as being the Treasurer? Tell me how your increased activity evolved?

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz describes the kinds of unofficial roles she has had since becoming part of the Lou Tate Foundation. She also explains how the Lou Tate Foundation operations initially occurred at a lawyer's office, but how they were moved back to The Little Loomhouse, in the Top House. She also talks about the difficulty of making sure there were enough volunteers to allow the Loomhouse to be open to the public.

Keywords: Ann Kiper; Esta; Kenwood Hill; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Pat Bless; The Little Loomhouse; Top House; Wisteria

Subjects: Boards of directors; Foundations; Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Renovation (Architecture); Weaving

Partial Transcript: What is on your current list of things you wish could be achieved for the Loomhouse?

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz talks about the goals of the Lou Tate Foundation for The Little Loomhouse. They want to publish Lou Tate's papers and documents, make a museum, and renovate the rest of the cabins. She also talks about the struggles in reaching those goals and in keeping up the buildings.

Keywords: Drafts; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Coverlets; Coverlets--Private collections; Foundations; Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Museums; Renovation (Architecture); Weaving; Woolen and worsted drawing

Partial Transcript: What is going on with the issue concerning the survey concerning the property lines? That seems to be ongoing.

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz describes some of the issues that the foundation faces concerning the property, including disputes over property lines and ongoing erosion.

Keywords: Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Possum Path; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Erosion; Housing developers; Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: As you look back and you think about Lou Tate, do you remember anything about her in particular beside talking a lot?

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz remembers the way that Lou Tate was so good with children.

Keywords: Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Children; Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: This is the beginning of side two, interview with Ethel Schwartz about Lou Tate and the Little Loomhouse.

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz describes some of the things she has found in The Little Loomhouse building after Lou Tate's death. She describes Lou Tate as someone who never threw anything out. Schwartz also talks about recent maintenance issues at the cabins.

Keywords: Esta; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Magazines; Teka Ward; The Little Loomhouse; Top House; Wisteria

Subjects: Envelopes (Stationery); Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Periodicals; Postage stamps; Weaving; Weaving--patterns

Partial Transcript: You had said earlier that you thought Lou Tate had a plan...

Segment Synopsis: Schwartz ends the interview by describing Lou Tate's desire (evidenced by her will) that The Little Loomhouse carry on as a place dedicated to weaving education.

Keywords: Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; The Little Loomhouse

Subjects: Education; Kentucky—History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Museums; Weaving