Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Oral History of Catherine Shaw |
Collection |
Oral History |
Scope & Content |
In this oral history, Mill Valley resident Catherine Shaw recounts her "life in the woods" with her husband and their two daughters. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1943, Catherine moved out to the West Coast with her family as a child, living first in San Diego and then Bellingham, Washington. Catherine recalls meeting her future husband, Larry Shaw, at Reed College in Portland, and their wedding a few years later in 1963 on Mount Diablo in the East Bay. Catherine and Larry moved to Mill Valley in 1975 when she was pregnant with their second daughter, and she fondly recalls the little house in the woods that they instantly fell in love with. She discusses Larry's career at the Exploratorium and his invention of Pi Day, which is now celebrated in Mill Valley's schools and around the world. She describes their involvement over the years in the Buddhist Temple of Marin and the Marin Interfaith Council, and recounts going back to school at the age of 50 to get a Masters in Buddhist Studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Catherine speaks movingly about the depth of her relationship with her husband, describes his stroke and subsequent illness, and shares many memories about their Pi Day celebrations, their numerous "re-weddings," and their life together as Buddhists. |
Audio and Transcript |
Click here to hear recording. Click here to read the transcript. |
Dates of Creation |
2016-10-28 |
Interviewee |
Shaw, Catherine |
Interviewer |
Allen, Mari |
Extent and Medium |
Transcript: 31pp Recording: 01:21:44 |
Search Terms |
Britt, Joyce Buddhism Buddhism Buddhist Temple of Marin Exploratorium - San Francisco Japanese interment Marin Interfaith Council Mill Valley changes Museums Oral history - Spirituality, philosophy, religion Pi day Religion Shaw, Larry Shaw, Sara Shaw, Tara |
Object ID |
2016.103.001 |
Object Name |
Recording |
Copyrights |
Transcript and recording copyright Mill Valley Public Library, 2016. Materials are made available for research purposes only; all rights are reserved to the Mill Valley Public Library. Requests for permission to quote for publication or for any other usage must be obtained from the Library. |