Photo Courtesy of David Montague

Conflicts and Compromises of Ms. Montague

​Photo Courtesy of Merrill High School Yearbook
“Girls couldn’t go to shop,” said Montague.  However, her mother “did battle” with school administrators, Montague continued, “and convinced them that if I could pass the written exam in home economics without attending the classes, I could take shop.” 
​(Raye Montague, 2015)

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Video Courtesy of David Montague

Conflict: Ms. Montague wasn't allowed to get the degree of her choice because the only college in Arkansas that offered an engineering degree was the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. At this time the university restricted African American male students to the schools of medicine and law based on their graduate status. African American females were still extremely discriminated against.
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Compromise:  Ms. Montague decided to compromise and received a Bachelor of Science in Business degree and graduated in 1956, from Arkansas AM&N, the all black university. This compromise proved to be an asset later in her career, allowing her to understand how to manage a line item on ship building in the Federal Budget.  ​
Photo Courtesy of ABCNews
Conflict:  Ms. Montague received a call from the U.S. Navy offering her an entry level job, even though she held a Bachelor of Science in Business degree. 
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Compromise: Ms. Montague had to compromise by accepting the clerk typist position at a lower wage.
​Video Courtesy of David Montague
Conflict: At first Ms. Montague wasn't allowed to touch the UNI​VAC 1 computer, but she watched the engineers and soon figured out how to program the computer. 
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​Compromise: The U.S. Navy made a compromise by allowing the engineers to teach Ms. Montague to program the UNIVAC 1. ​
Photo Credit: Naval Surface Warfare Center
Personal Interview with David Montague
Personal Video Interview with David Montague
Conflict: Ms. Montague was promoted,  but soon found out her boss  didn't like women in authoritative positions. She faced many conflicts with that boss. He assigned her a task he deemed impossible, Ms. Montague persevered and accomplished the task.

​Compromise: She had to work overtime at night without pay, bringing her son and mother to work with her because her boss wouldn't allow her to work alone. After he realized the tenacity she had to finish the task assigned, he compromised and allowed her to have a full staff to assist her on the night shift.

Conflict: Ms. Montague realized that the men she was teaching were making more money than she was. Ms. Montague was beyond frustrated with this situation. 

Compromise: Betty Holberton, Chief of Programing Research at the David Taylor Model Basin, the same building Ms. Montague worked in,  came to Ms. Montague and asked if she would like to come and work for her.


Conflict: Ms. Montague hit another obstacle being told that she had to take the Civil Service Entrance exam, even though she had already been working there nine years.
“God sends you what you need. People put obstacles in your way. You find a way to achieve, despite the system, not because of the system."
(Raye Montague, 2017)