Mabel Pernot Oral History Interview

In this interview, Mabel Pernot recalls her experiences working as the manager of the Clothing and Textiles Stockroom at Oregon State University and her memories of Margaret Snell. The Clothing and Textiles Stockroom was housed in Milam Hall and sold materials to home economics students. Pernot recounts how she was selected for the position by a friend who worked in the home economics department at the time despite her not having a college education or any initial interest in the role. She ultimately held the job until her retirement.

The interview shifts away from Pernot’s personal life to her memories of Margaret Snell, dean of home economics at Oregon Agricultural College (later Oregon State University). During her childhood, Snell was very close to Pernot’s family and they would visit each other frequently. She and her sister considered Snell to be like an aunt to them. She didn’t see Snell as often after the Pernots moved to Portland. Pernot reminisces on Snell’s endearing style of dress and forceful personality. Pernot says she sees similarities between Margaret Snell and current dean Betty Hawthorne and believes Snell had an influence in her life. The interview concludes with Pernot recounting an anecdote from her childhood about a cooking class for children of OSU faculty taught by Snell. Pernot recalls that one day the class was making fudge, and she hid under the stove and ate most of the fudge before it was cooked.