Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelFile
Ref NoMS 3801/5/2
TitleInterview with Janis Cameron (1951-): library assistant
Date22 March 2007
Extent1 item
Creator NameInterviewer: Richard Lawes. Recording equipment: Olympus WS-200S Digital Voice Recorder
DescriptionInterview length: 45 min 56 sec

Interview Summary: Janis Cameron, born 1951, current occupation: part-time library assistant. Married to Iain Cameron, born 1949. Three children: Clare, born 1975, nursery nurse; Grant, born 1979 student; Bruce, born 1982, student. Family originates in Lanarkshire. Maternal grandfather initially worked as a miner, later became a chauffeur/gardener for large houses/estates. Maternal grandmother also worked in service. Father, born 27 February 1924, worked as an architect, died when Janis was 11. Mother, born 20 June 1925, was a secretary, currently lives in Ellon. Janis born in Bell's Hill Hospital, Lanarkshire. One younger sister, Kirsty, married, no children, has lived and worked in Canada for over twenty years as a sales representative for a medical diagnostics firm. Grew up in East Kilbride, attended the village infant school, then newly constructed Halfmurk Primary School, and Duncan Rigg Secondary School. Left school aged 17, gained two Higher Grade qualifications in French and English. No further full-time education. Interested in Brownies, Guides, dancing and drama as a child. Initially employed as a Library Assistant in East Kilbride Public Library, worked for 3 years until married. Married, 8 July 1972. Met husband through sister, aged 18. Describes husband's changes in employment early in marriage. Moved to near Stirling due to change of husband's job, worked in Stirling University Library for 3 years until first child born. Describes typical day working in Stirling University Library. Did not work after first child was born until returning to work in 1990 initially as a shop assistant in Aberdeen, latterly as a Library Assistant in Ellon. Describes various home moves between Stirling and Ellon. Describes husband's move to Total in 1983 to work on MCP-01: routine; pay; prospects. Believes that local people were harder to get to know than the mixture of foreign and wider UK oil employees who lived locally. Describes the positive effect of husband being available to care for children due to offshore/onshore rotation. Discusses the family orientated nature of Total, believes this declined after Total / Elf merger. Felt that library work had changed little between 1975 and 1992. Library was computerised in 1993. Discusses motivations and interest in library work and projects. Was not very interested in and did not understand husband's work, however considered him to be happy. Kept incomes separate, enjoyed having own money and considers this a major motivation to continue working in library. Describes husbands change from working offshore to being more shore based. Did not like one of her husband's jobs in Indonesia, felt this was disruptive to family life. Discusses maintaining contact with her father's family and her sister. Considers the oil industry to have been beneficial to the local community and Scotland.

END OF INTERVIEW
AccrualsNone expected.
Access StatusOpen
Access ConditionsAccess by prior appointment only. Please contact specialcollections@abdn.ac.uk at least two working days before your visit to make arrangements to view this record. Available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material. Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Head of Special Libraries and Archives and from the copyright owner. Responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
Physical DescriptionWMA file; only available digitally
Related MaterialMS 3801/5/3
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