Date of Interview: February 19, 2012
Location of Interview: Kay Marquez's Residence New York, New York
Length of Transcript: 20 pages
Audio Clips:
Biographical Summary
Karen Tokar grew up in Queens, New York. She graduated from Long Island University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Med. Tokar lived in Italy for five years before returning to New York and taking up the position of Customer Service Manager at Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated. Tokar was later promoted to Textile Division Director and ultimately to Vice President of Operations. Tokar remained at Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated for 17 years.
Interview Topics
Tokar speaks about her first impression of Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated; her career progression and the range of responsibilities she had; insights into the everyday operation of the company; Jack Lenor Larsen’s contribution to the development of the mills through his innovative textile design; her affection for the close-knit culture at Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated; and her sadness when Jack Lenor Larsen Incorporated was bought out.
Summergarden (1978) Crystal Palace Collection 98.022.836
Funding for these oral histories was provided by a Craft Research Fund Grant from the University of North Carolina, Asheville Center for Craft, Creativity & Design.
