Oral Histories: Lulu Launer

The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.

Lulu Launer was a school teacher in Fullerton for many years. Her husband, Albert Launer, served as the city attorney of Fullerton, and had a law practice in town. The Launer Local History Room of the Fullerton Public Library is named after the Launers, as they were very active in the community. According to the Library’s web site, “The Local History Room opened its doors in 1973 thanks to a $3500 donation from Lulu Launer as a tribute to her late husband Albert’s many years of community service.” The Local History Room has been an invaluable resource for my own local history research.

Lulu Launer was interviewed in 1970 by Kathleen B. Heil for the Cal State Fullerton Oral History Program. Below are some interesting things I learned from the interview:

Lulu grew up in Los Angeles around the turn of 19th and 20th centuries. As a young woman, she took a teaching job in La Habra. John G. Launer, Albert’s father, was the clerk of the school board. 

“I had to go to the Launer house to sign my contract,” Lulu remembers. “There was a young man on the porch when I signed my contract. We really didn’t become sweethearts at all until I resigned in La Habra and was teaching in Los Angeles, where Albert was at law school.”

The two were married in 1915. Not long after, they moved to Brea, where they lived for three years before moving to Fullerton. 

They had three children. While her kids were young, Lulu took a break from teaching and didn’t resume until World War II, when there was a teacher shortage. 

During the War, she also served as president of the North Orange County chapter of the Red Cross.

“We had a strong central organization here in Fullerton,” she said. “It was here that we did most of the sewing and the rolling of bandages. We sent millions of bandages out.”

Both Lulu and her husband Albert were very involved in clubs and civic activities in Fullerton and Orange County.

“I’m a real joiner,” Lulu said.

She was a member of the Fullerton Ebell Club, the League of Women Voters, the United Nations, the Methodist Church, the Audubon Society, the Orange County Historical Society, and the YWCA. 

At the time of the interview, Lulu was actively involved in a local chapter of a United Nations organization. She volunteered a lot of time helping raise money for various United Nations programs like UNICEF, The World Health Organization, and the International Labor Organization. At the time of the interview, she was busy planning for events and workshops celebrating the 25th anniversary of the United Nations. The theme of these events was “What can the United Nations do more effectively towards establishing and maintaining peace in the world?”

At this time (1970), the United Nations was viewed with skepticism, fear, and hostility by the conservative media and groups of Orange County. In her interview, Mrs. Launer elaborated on the powerful conservative climate of Orange County, and the difficulties it created for her work for the United Nations. When asked, “How do you feel about the conservatism of Orange County? Is it something that came into the county from the very beginning?” Launer replied:

“Yes, yes, I would think so. They [Fullerton’s first residents] were a rural group who came here and they were very conservative in their thinking. I think the newspapers have probably had a lot of influence on it with the ultraconservative Santa Ana Register (now the Orange County Register)…Where the source of their information is, I just don’t know. They get hold of the wildest rumors and statements about the Communists, in particular. They see an imaginary army marching on them. They think they’re going to lose all their rights, their property and everything else. They don’t check the source of their information.”

Launer continued, “Even this year in Tustin, I think it was the school board that sent word that there was to be no mention or instruction in any way, shape or form about the United Nations in the Tustin schools. Well, now, are they ostriches that are just putting their heads in the sand?”

Some right-wing groups at this time tried to equate the United Nations with communism. In an effort to counter the misinformation that was being circulated, the Orange County Chapter of the United Nations opened a book store in downtown Santa Ana (at 2204 North Main Street) to distribute their literature.

Unfortunately, not everyone was happy with the United Nations book store.

“This summer we had our first real problems,” Launer said. “On six consecutive weekends vandals broke the glass window…they did not break the windows anyplace else around there.”

Launer discusses the Freedom Center at the CSUF library, a special collection of materials on both right wing and left wing political groups both locally and nationally.

“You would be surprised at the organizations that are in this,” Launer said. “There are hate groups. They hate everything it seems, as well as the U.N., of course. That is one of the big ones.”

Despite the obstacles, Launer sounded determined and passionate about educating people and getting them involved in global issues like poverty, education, and social justice. She said, “In Orange County…we feel that every member that we get is a victory for the United Nations because it is only people of character who will stand up and say, ‘I believe in the United Nations, and that is our hope for peace.’ You have to get people with a certain amount of bravery to stand up and be counted and try to help. It is not fashionable in Orange County to be a member, but it is becoming more acceptable than it used to be.”