Amenuensis Monday - Julia May Mills Seitz

Julia May Mills Seitz was born on September 4, 1912, in Lordsburg, Hidalgo County, New Mexico, and died on January 5, 1993. She used the name May, rather than Julia.

John and Tennessee (Wood) Mills can be found in the 1910 census, before May's birth, in Sutton County, Texas. In 1920, the family is living in Animas, Hidalgo County, New Mexico. May is enumerated twice in the 1930 census. Her parents were living in Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona, where May is listed, but noted as absent. She also appears in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, as a servant living in the household of Charles P. England. The home no longer exists, as its location is now at the 7th Avenue interchange with the I-10 freeway.

The 1936 Phoenix directory shows that May has married Richard Seitz. The Seitz family home in 1940 has since become another victim of growth in Phoenix. It was located near the intersection of 18th Street and Henshaw Road, now Buckeye Road. Today that area lies just past the west end of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and is zoned light industrial, primarily used for airline operations and the rental car center.

May's interview refers to working for Murphy, Major [sic] of Phoenix. The reference is probably to Frank G. Murphy, who served as the mayor of Phoenix from 1954 to 1956.

The interview abstract does not expand on the changes that May thought to be very bad; however, my many years as a (former) Phoenix resident lead me to believe that the building and expansion of the airport and the surrounding freeways contributed to her observation. The contentious battles between affected property owners and governmental authorities were widely reported by the media.

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Transcription of the interview abstract. All typos and misspellings appear as in the original.

Craig R. Schill
Dr. Hinton, Hist 399

INTERVIEWED: Mrs. May Seitz, born in Lordsburg NM, 1912. Came to Arizona
                                in 1920. The interview took place on March 17, 1989.

I. Homesteaded land in New Mexico
     a. lived there until 10 years old
     b. sold due to illness
     c. came to Arizona

II. Trip to AZ in 1920
     a. in covered wagon
     b. was enjoyable
     c. stopped in Globe

III. Globe (Summer 1926)
     a. father worked on road
     b. rented out teams
     c. earned $6/day/team

IV. Moved to Higly, AZ
     a. worked on farm
     b. kids put in school

V. Moved to Chandler, AZ
     a. raised ostriches at home
     b. finished school year

VI. Moved to Phoenix in 1929

     a. attended Phoenix Union H.S.
     b. worked through school

VII. High School
     a. (up north) 2 rooms, 2 students
     b. (in Phx) 4000 kids at Phx. Union
     c. new buildings
     d. Mask of Yellow Moon pagent

 VIII. Prejudice

     a. not very evident
     b. integrated well

IX. Transportation
     a. street cars were big
     b. automobiles

X. Depression
     a. worked for Murphy, Major of Phoenix
     b. either feast or famine
     c. built first house on land given them at Buckeye Ave.

XI. Crime and Saftey
     a. no fear at all
     b. little crime
     c. Phoenix was a small town

XII. Responsibilities on ranch
     a. looking after younger children
     b. birth of sisters' baby
     c. cowboys helped out
     d. canned pears
     e. scared of cows

XIII. Changes for better or worse?
     a. some very very bad things
     b. some good changes

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