| Description | Tape 1 Side A. ROSEMARY RYAN nee ESCHMANN born 21.06.1927 Monterey, Mexico. Father born in Switzerland, worked with American Smelting & Refining Company. Details re his mining, architectural qualifications, work. He came to US in Depression time. One of eight children, three died young. Currently works with twin sister. Details of siblings names. Earliest memory of playing the piano. Catholic religion. Recalls family almost being executed for this. Father murdered in Mexico. Details. Hard life for mother. Recollections of father. He spoke seven languages. Mentions blondes in family. Further details re father. Mother born in Mexico. Details re her, her accent etc. Recollections re childhood home, neighbourhood in Houston near Rice University. Mother died at almost 100. Recalls problems getting dates because of distance from centre of town, being 'out in the bunnies'. Explains how mother got by economically. Recalls childhood home routine, helping mother. She worked at parachute factory during war. Details. Describes her, her personality. Family was close. No money to go to university. Interested in music from early age, had piano lessons. Religion always important in family. Explains. Father always a presence. Career aspiration - to be a pianist. First high nuptial mass in Houston was at own wedding. Details. Few friends outside family. Details re mother's, own citizenship, determination to become American. Before marriage worked for engineers. Mentions shorthand typing, contact with oil industry, work in Venezuela. When young, mother strict about dating etc. Relationship with twin sister. Mentions own 7 children, having several careers. First job as secretary. Details of wages. Married at 24 after working 8 years.
Tape 1 Side B. Married 52 years. Details of first meeting with husband Gerald Francis Ryan, a lawyer. Details re his family. Describes him, his interests. Went to live in Caracas, Venezuela. Recalls first leaving home. Had 7 children. Mentions regular family dinners for up to 18. Details re grandchildren, time spent raising own children, home life, typical dinner menu and routine. Compares raising own children with earlier family approach. Returned to work c1969 after 20 years for financial reasons. Did English/Spanish translation work with husband for oil companies. Details. Explains move to work for Petroleum Industry Yellow Pages. Reference to Superior Oil, Texaco, Brown & Root. Details re family home, lost recently in Tropical Storm Alison. Learned at PIYP how to create a directory. Promoted to international area. Details re Yellow Pages, coverage etc. Mentions problems with downtime in industry. Recalls significant conversation with Armand Hammer, Occidental re Russian translation. Reference to Offshore Technology Conference. Problems re translations. Importance of networking skills, contacts. Impression of Hammer. Explains importance of dealing with people at the top. PIYP closed 1984/5. Explains. Joined them at age 44. Details re publication procedures, travel involved. Describes combination of work and family, their help etc. Details re family social life, feeding up to 30 people. First awareness of North Sea oil industry. Impact of Bill Beaton, Clydesdale Bank. Mentions Afro/European oil industry edition of PIYP directory. First business calls from Scotland, involvement through CONOCO. Recalls gathering early North Sea contact lists.
Tape 2 Side A. First links with UK North Sea oil/gas industry (cont'd). Most enquiries concerned material. US technology improved by British, then sold back to US. 1972 first contacts with Clydesdale Bank, Bill Beaton. Helped him with contact-making procedures. Details. Became customer contact person in Houston for Clydesdale. Further details re Petroleum Industry Yellow Pages. Reference to GTE telephone company. 1971-4 heard about North Sea oil. Impression of Ian Wood. 1974-92 (self) worked as full time Clydesdale representative in Houston. Details re Bill Beaton, his fearless personality. Role played by Edwin Reid, one of the first to realise importance of oil to Scotland. Own work was to get accounts for Scotland. Mentions Stewart & Stevenson, Houston Grampian Association. Describes own office, hospitality offered to customers of bank. Gives example of services offered. Bank provided all office expenses. Details of variable working hours. An avalanche of activity. Details re advice given to enquirers about potential business etc. Mentions current work for Craig Group. Got many customers for bank. Example of first contact with Huffington Oil Company. Details of own speculative procedures, constant surveying of media etc. Situation repeating itself now with new technologies. Travelled around US. Recalls competition from Royal Bank, Bank of Scotland. Compares their US representation (Scots) with Clydesdale's, their constant changes, benefit to Clydesdale. Importance of personality, contacts in work. Recalls Compaq deal, reason for not getting main account. Recalls visit to Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, England. Details of main contacts in bank. Importance of Edwin Reid in bank. Compares his approach with own. Recalls an occasion when Malcolm Forbes of Forbes magazine wore kilt backwards.
Tape 2 Side B. Recalls Forbes Magazine luncheon for bank (1991). Worked as Clydesdale representative 1974-92. Names of company accounts acquired for Clydesdale Bank, usually related to oil industry. Clydesdale Bank was willing to work with companies, had easy decision-making process. Describes own techniques selling bank to potential clients. Importance of knowing how to deal with people. Male orientation of oil industry not a problem. Explains ice-breaking approach as a married woman, appropriate use of cards with men who weren't used to dealing with women in business. Recalls own approach to alcohol at lunches, paying the bill, business relationships. Like walking on eggshells. Explains. Never brought up politics. Recalls meeting Margaret Thatcher at Offshore Europe exhibition with Ian Wood, and at Houston luncheon. Opinion of Thatcher. Further details of own approach in dealing with, often pompous, men. Recalls association with chairman of Cameron Ironworks, getting his business. Mentions own interest in gardening. Comments on appropriate dress for visits to offices, refineries etc. Hazards when visiting refineries. Reaction of people in refineries to own age. Compares attitude of men there (to others in offices). Comments on gender situation in oil industry. Invited to be part of Chain Corporation acquired by Craig Group. Reference to Norwegians. Details re trips to Scotland, hospitality there. Impressions of Scots people. Describes extent of own work brief. 1987 sale of Clydesdale to National Australia Bank by Midland Bank. Ran Midland American Capital Corporation (debt securities) for 6 years until NAB sale, made director. Explains structure, role of companies, own responsibilities, routines. Mentions salary, building place in hill country.
Tape 3 Side A. Story of helping out a Saudi prince who had trouble managing his accounts, difficulties of being guest of honour at a dinner. Further details re Saudi prince, his death, involvement with his business affairs and benefit to the bank. Retired from Clydesdale Bank in 1992. Since then has run own business representing Craig Group and other companies from Scotland, Wales, Norway etc. Details. Reference Chain Corporation. Still very involved with North Sea oil/gas industry. Mentions home life, forthcoming holiday. (Twin) sister Frances has worked in office since 1996. Reference to Consuls General, Iain Murray. Feelings about Scotland, Scots. Awarded MBE 1995. Recalls work with Houston-Grampian Association, year as president. Own attitude to work, importance of personal relationships. |