Treasure Hunt revealed

The buttons from the last post were a real treasure, and I suspect they were from my grandmother, Mimi!

This was in and amongst her files.  I imagine that she was doing a quick change from business to party as she was a fabulous businesswoman AND a great partier!!!  Her husband died when she was 49 and she had 5 kids to educate and set off on their lives.  She learned ranching and banking and tried to take up where her husband left off, but got involved with politics and became great friends with Truman.  When he came through OK on his "Give 'em Hell Harry" train stop, it was Mimi and the current gov of OK, Roy Turner, who raised funding to get the train all the way to the West Coast. 

Here she is with her two daughters, Patricia on the left and Blake on the right, both of whom cast giant shadows of their own.  Fashion note:  notice the gloves, hats purses...a woman in 1952 was not without all of these and of course Mimi's beautiful corsage.  The other thing I love about this picture (sorry can't help myself) is how well the suits all fit and what great tailoring they were.  Blake's jacket had a turned-up notched lapel look, while Patricia's had beautiful arrow-pointed besom pockets and Mimi's was a great notched lapel with a high stance - a mainstay for any business woman.  And the shoulder pads and those extended shoulders!  Joan Crawford - eat your heart out!!!


This photo is in 1952,  when she was sworn in as Asst. Treasurer of US under Truman.  She was about 65 y/o with gobs of energy.  We're not sure how old she was as this was really before lots of records, and she was born in rural Missouri AND she varied her age from time to time. 

One time when she was filling out a visa to travel abroad, my Dad was helping her and asked her age (even though he knew it, he knew it was also a "flexible figure"), and she gave him a figure, which he responded, "Well, that's great Mabe (that's what he called her), but that's younger than your youngest daughter so you might want to re-think that figure just a tad!!!" 

Hey, worth trying!

Some of the Mimisms I grew up with were: 

• "Women under 50 don't need much to look pretty, it's only when you're over 50 that you need big jewelery and long furs!!!" 
• Another was on taking a lot of luggage on a trip, "Doesn't do any good at home in the closet!"  She loved wearing lots of jewelry and it didn't have to be real, and the buttons just scream "Mimi!"

 She's my model - what great example to have in the family.

 

 

 

Comments

[Bunny]

What an impressive woman and role model! Thanks so much for telling us about Mimi.

My mom was called Mimi as well. We often talk about her using the same term you do, "Mimisms." My favorite was "The Good Lord whips without bricks or sticks." How true!

[SewOm SewOm]

She sounds awesome. And yeah - the fashions in those photos rock and inspire. I aspire to dress that well. It does make a difference, especially when working in a corporate or high profile government environment.