History
In 1876, a young Englishman, Fred Harvey, got tired of eating poorly cooked and indifferently served food while traveling, so he negotiated with the Santa Fe Railway to manage thier restaurants and hotels, --a handshake deal that lasted over 80 years.
He hired young girls between the ages of 18 to 30 of good character, and
who radiated an image of wholesomness. The Harvey Girls were more than waitresses
--they were hostesses. 
The
girls dressed in a simple black dress with a white neck collar, a black
bow and starched white apron with no jewelry or make-up.
The Harvey Girls brought a civilizing influence to many communities with their good manners and social poise. Many married local ranchers, miners and railroaders.
“For most Santa Fe
employees and Western ranchmen and businessmen, the Harvey waitress was more
appealing than the food she served. The stipulation that girls be of high moral
character indicated explicitly the conduct that Harvey required of his female
employees. Harvey Girls were paid a salary of $17.50 per month plus room and
board—and gratuities. They lived in dormitories that were always near their work
and were chaperoned by a matron who enforced their ten o’clock curfew. While the
girls had to promise not to marry for a year (or until their contract expired),
not many of them were able to resist the proposals of virile western bachelors
for more than a few months. Many of them married well-established Westerners.”
-James Henderson in his book Meals by Fred Harvey
Attachments
AT&SF.htm; Fred; Flor; Girl; Way; TAT; Touri; Colter; Dream; Depot
