In the Age of Steel: Oral Histories from Bethlehem Pennsylvania -- W. [William] Thomas Shafer

Annotation W . [William] Thomas Shafer, (1914-May 17, 1992), born in Weatherly, Pennsylvania, was the son of Charles and Laura Shafer, née Mitze. He was married to Sarah Shafer, née Pawlawski. Shafer worked for Bethlehem Steel from 1937 to 1971,serving as supervisor of workman's compensation for the Bethlehem plant and administrative assistant to the manager of safety and workmen's compensation. Prior to Bethlehem Steel he worked for the Read & Lovatt silk mill and administered relief programs during the Depression. In this interview he discusses the details of his work in each of these jobs including following pertinent legislation, investigative procedures, safety programs, and management's commitment to safety and fair compensation for work-related injuries. This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted by Lehigh University students and faculty from 1974 through 1977 focusing on retired Bethlehem Steel workers, business people, and the heirs of industrial magnates. The project was co-sponsored by Bethlehem Steel Corporation, who provided contact information for retired steel workers. An oral history interview is an act of memory and hence both highly selective and highly subjective. While it accurately reflects what a narrator remembers (or chooses to tell) of his or her experience and viewpoints, it may not accurately represent what actually transpired or what another person may have experienced. As such users should subject interviews to the same degree of critical scrutiny they would any other historical source.