9/8/25 Juliette Fay "The Harvey Girls"/ Collector Andrew DeBoer

We explore the fascinating legacy of the women known as Harvey Girls - who worked as waitresses in the restaurants and hotels owned and operated by the Fred Harvey Company in the late 19th and early 20th century. We begin with writer Juliette Fay, talking about her novel "The Harvey Girls." The book follows two women who became Harvey Girls for very different reasons. One was a young teenager masquerading as an 18-year-old so she could help out her nearly-destitute parents. The other was a woman fleeing an abusive marriage. The Harvey Girls came to prominence at a time when nearly all fine restaurants utilized male waiters - and when most waitresses were regarded with disdain by polite society. Fred Harvey treated his so-called Harvey Girls with respect, paid them well, and even gave them opportunities for advancement that were almost never available to women in that era. In Part Two, we speak with Andrew DeBoer, the father-in-law of local musician and music teacher Jessica DeBoer. He has been collecting memorabilia about the Fred Harvey Company for many many years.