Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Jean Ten Broeck (1896-1996) oral history

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Track 2, Transcript p. 2-4: Track 2, Transcript p. 2-4
Transcription: Track 2 JTB: We had no switchboard, just three phones which I answered. I learned a little about electricity from them. Talking on one phone, a second one rang. I picked it up and a tingling shock was mine. Contrasts between then and now is memory filling. The newspaper plant was the first floor of an old house on Central Avenue where the First Federal Savings and Loan Bank parking lot is now. Our quarters were very cramped. The main office had desks for Charles C. Hotz, manager, Miss Carrie, who later became Mrs. George B. Martin of Wilmette and me. Mr. Hollister's office was a cubbyhole adjoining the small office where the editor, Mike Webber, and the society editor, Miss Ruth Risley, had their desks. We were the only full time staff. Afternoons the Northwestern University journalism students came in as reporters. Philimon B. Kohlsaat, Winnetkan, who had been Mr. Hollister's teacher at Lewis Institute wrote the editorials. Saturday mornings everyone stopped his or her work and went to an office counter to hand fold the printed Sunday morning program for a Wilmette church. After a time, I don't remember just how long, Miss Risley was leaving to be married. I was offered her position because I know, because of my knowledge of the North Shore and its life. There was one catch, however. I must learn to type in ten days. I borrowed a typewriter, a book on the touch system, and plugged away nights, meeting my deadline with the strange combination of the book system and my own. Speed rather than perfection resulted. Under the tutelage of Mike Webber, my editorial department career began. Mike had come to Chicago after his college years in Ohio to find newspaper work. He was running out of funds. While looking on entering an office building, he found fifteen cents on the floor. With it he bought coffee and a doughnut, his first food for that day. He found a job with the City News Bureau which was always considered a very fine source of news training and experience. His first assignment was to cover the tragic Chicago River disaster, the capsizing of "The Eastland" with tremendous loss of life. He later joined the Wilmette Hollister staff. Work with him was a happy, rewarding experience. He was not bossy. He gave one her job responsibility and direction. Then let her do it in her own way. Criticism and corrections when made were kindly and brief. Mr. Hollister was the same, and when confrontations occurred, I always was impressed by the men's fair judgment and their hearing the employee's side before making their decision. Mike Webber, who preceded me in the department by several years, stayed in his position until his death in September, 1957. Fred Favor of Wilmette succeeded him. Mike was a real newspaperman, liking to be "out on the street" in newspaper parlance, hobnobbing with and knowing people, picking up news items and different ideas and being aware of village trends.
Creators: Ten Broeck, Jean, 1896-1996, Interviewee; Adler, Rhea Saul, 1906-1990
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Image; Text
Item Type: Audiocassettes
Description: Interview with Jean Ten Broeck by Rhea Adler in the Spring, 1977 in Wilmette, Illinois.

ABSTRACT:
Name and present home, previous, place of residence prior to coming to
Wilmette after World War I

Interviewed by Lloyd Hollister for a job with Hollister Press began work April 4,
1923
Description of early years and employees

Mike Weber came to Hollister Press from Chicago City News Bureau prior to
1923 and remained until his death in September 1957. He was succeeded by
Fred Favor

New building erected in 1928

"Society Editor" - covered breadth of Wilmette and Kenilworth social life and
activities: churches, womens' clubs, schools, any group or activity was covered

Contribution of Wilmette Life to Jean Ten Broeck
Wilmette Life contribution to life of Wilmette
Place of Publication: Wilmette, Illinois
Date of Original: 1977
Subject(s): Oral histories
Wilmette (Ill.) -- Residents
Personal Name(s): Ten Broeck, Jean
Local identifier: R977.31 TE
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Date: 1977
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Public Library
Copyright Holder Contact Information: 1242 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, Il 60091
U.S.A.
Recommended Citation: Ten Broeck, Jean, and Rhea Saul Adler. Jean Ten Broeck. Wilmette, Ill: Wilmette Public Library District, 1977.
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
Email:refdesk@wilmettelibrary.info
Website:
https://www.wilmettelibrary.info/

Agency street/mail address:
1242 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL
60091-2558
U.S.A. Phone: 847-256-6930

Jean Ten Broeck (1896-1996) oral history

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Transcript

Track 1, Transcript p. 1-2

Track 2, Transcript p. 2-4

Track 3, Transcript p. 4-7

Track 4, Transcript p. 7-8

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