Biographies for Elementary Webquest
Murphy Family (Family 3)
It is September 1948. You are the Murphy family. You live in a modest
two-storey
house situated on the banks of the Otonabee River in Peterborough,
Ontario. Your
house has both electricity and a telephone. Peterborough is a
working-class community
of about 37 000 people who find work in the city's numerous
factories
and industries. Your family consists of a father, a mother, and three
children
still at home. An older son is off fighting the war and two older
daughters have
married and left home. Since no one in your family learned to drive, you
don't
own an automobile and consequently your feet transport you from one place
to
another. You have about $60 to spend on this catalogue order, the only
order
your family will make this fall.
Each person in your group needs to select one of the following family
members.
Bessie (Mother)
Hello.
My name is Bessie Murphy. I am 48 years old.
My parents were born in Toronto and I was born and raised there too. I
moved
to Peterborough after I was married in 1922.
I am a housewife and take care of the children and home, cooking meals,
darning
socks, and other household tasks. I belong to the local Women's
Catholic
Church League and do volunteer work for St. Anne's parish.
Fred needs a new pair of long johns. I need a new housedress and wish I
could
buy a new set of dishes. I will phone in the catalogue order to our
Eaton's
catalogue order office in Peterborough, and then either Fred or I will
walk across
town to pick up the order when it arrives.
Go to these catalogue pages and choose a few things to
order:
- Long johns (Page 273)
- Housedress (Page 63)
- Dishes (Pages 422,
423,
and 424)
Fred (Father)
Hello.
My name is Fred Murphy. I am 53 years old and was born on a farm about
40
miles [64 km] from Peterborough.
A decade ago I worked at the Auburn textile mill but now I have a
pretty good
job as a firefighter in this city. It is dangerous but exhilarating and
rewarding
work and I have helped to save lives and property.
I need new winter boots and a warm hat. Maybe Bessie would like a new
radio.
Go to these catalogue pages and choose a few things to
order:
Marion (Child 1)
Hi.
My name is Marion and I am 15 years old.
I am in Grade 10 at the Catholic high school and it will be my last
year of
school.
I hope to get a job at the Westclox factory next year so I can start
contributing
to our family income and also have some spending money. I help my mother
do the
laundry and ironing.
I would love to get a pair of Baby Doll shoes; they are all the rage
these
days. A sharp blouse or skirt would also be nice.
Here are my favourite catalogue pages:
- Baby Doll shoes (Page 225)
- Blouse (Page 168)
- Skirt (Page 168)
Gladys (Child 2)
Hi.
My name is Gladys and I am 13 years old.
I dry the dishes for my mother every night and have to keep an eye on
my little
brother sometimes.
I am in Grade 8 and walk two miles [3.2 km] to get there. I walk home
for
lunch and back to school again.
Sometimes I take the catalogue when my mom is done looking at it and I
cut
out all the things I would like to buy. I would especially love to get a
toboggan
and a board game. I would also really like a new dress.
Here are my favourite catalogue pages.
- Toboggan (Page 483)
- Board game (Pages 502
and 503)
- Dress (Page 175)
Paul (Child 3)
Hi.
My name is Paul and I am 10 years old.
I'm a little spoiled and don't have to do too much around
the
house at all.
I am in Grade 5.
Hockey is my favourite sport and I would like to get some skates, a
hockey
stick, and a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey sweater.
Here are my favourite catalogue pages:
- Skates (Pages 490
and 491)
- Hockey stick (Page 489)
- Hockey sweater (Page 490)
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