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26. Interview with John Naumann, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-02-25
- Description:
- Interview with John Naumann, Concordia College class of 1925, from Lehigh Acres, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Naumann talks about, among other things, his birth in India, how he and four of his brothers attended Concordia, resenting the hazing/'shagging' and then doing it himself, the faculty's attitudes towards the practice, working as President Theodore Buenger's 'private secretary', memories about his professors, traveling to do music concerts both as a student and professor at Concordia, pranks pulled on him as a professor and pranks he did as a student, dinnertime and working in the kitchen, President Buenger teaching the students about constellations in the evenings, the limited social life due to the need to work, being quarantined due to illness yet playing hockey in the attic of the building called 'Old Main', visiting other places around the school, experiencing 'campus arrest' where one could not leave the campus without permission, and his great fondness for Concordia. This i
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
27. Interview with Herman Glienke, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-02
- Description:
- Interview with Herman Glienke, Concordia College class of 1947, from Hialeah, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Glienke talks about, among other things, attending Concordia after high school at the age of 18 in order to become a minister, taking extension courses via the University of Minnesota in 1947, receiving hours of extra tutoring from Professor Edgar Streufert, the lack of social opportunities because of the necessity of working to pay for school, some positive social effects of hazing/'shagging,' being 'green' due to starting late, his concerns about the changing attitudes towards keeping tabs on the students starting at that time, and his thankfulness for the kindness and help shown to him during his years at Concordia. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
28. Interview with Walter Volz, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-02
- Description:
- Interview with Walter Volz, Concordia College class of 1956, from Plantation, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Volz talks about, among other things, how he and his brothers would ride their bicycles to Concordia even in winter - after doing their paper routes, the young professors who came on at this time, their excellent forensics/debate team led by professor E.J. Otto, the literary societies on campus and their role in the all-male dramas (Shakespeare and such) performed on campus, participation in the campus printing and yearbook activities, interesting memories of professors, the respect students had for professors who disciplined them (like Professor Edgar Streufert), President William A. Poehler waking up the younger students in the morning, sneaking out to study while being a chapel acolyte, exploring the tunnel system of the old Reformatory school (seeing ball and chains, solitary confinement cells), giving President Poehler's daughters a hard time, his happy recollections of Concordia, and his very busy ministry in south Florida. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent).
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
29. Interview with E. G. Runge, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-05
- Description:
- Interview with E. G. Runge, Concordia College class of 1932, from Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Runge talks about, among other things, how a generous man paid for his first year at Concordia with 'no strings attached' to see if he would like it, streetcar and other modes of transportation, the 'Rebel Comet' student newspaper and its editor, excellent professors and what made them memorable, working off campus and off-campus activities, the lack of dating among students and why, getting enough to eat in the dining hall, his 'close call' with pneumonia and appreciation for the school nurse Anna Gutz, buying a photography business from a fellow student, and hazing / 'shagging' and the 'Supreme Court' young students might face. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
30. Interview with Orville Quast, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-08
- Description:
- Interview with Orville Quast, Concordia College class of 1938, from Lumberton, North Carolina, in 1981. Mr. Quast talks about, among other things, being a small town boy coming to St. Paul, how hazing was good for him, needing parental permission to smoke at Concordia when 16 years old, Professor Paul Stor's interesting biology classes, hitchhiking to school, his responsibilities as his class president, the accreditation of the high school, the effects of the Great Depression on the school, participation in sports and singing groups, being justly punished by upperclassmen, his musings about when President Martin Graebner slept, mandatory study time before early breakfast and in the evening, why he dropped out of seminary after Concordia, and the other people in his class. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
31. Interview with Delbert Roth, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-09
- Description:
- Interview with Delbert Roth, Concordia College class of 1952, from Conover, North Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Roth talks about, among other things, transferring from a Lutheran school in Nebraska to Concordia in St. Paul in part because he needed to work during school, traveling to St. Paul and back home via train, memorable professors he had, stores on campus, being in an oratory competition, participation in sports, being made to work in the campus kitchen for smoking, rolling shot puts down the dormitory halls, choir activities including student direction of, church activities and services in the city, how the girls brought 'social life' to the campus in 1951, positive impressions of Concordia staff and the Christian people he met in the upper Midwest. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
32. Interview with Howard Patten, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-09
- Description:
- Interview with Howard Patten, Concordia College class of 1956, from Conover, North Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Patten talks about, among other things, his upbringing in the small Scandinavian-dominated town of Roseau, where he was one of the few Missouri-Synod (German) Lutherans. He also discusses being a green northern Minnesota boy at Concordia, how he decided on the train ride to St. Paul to be a pastor instead of a doctor, learning about how dancing was sinful, falling asleep in class due to working so hard, his great Greek teacher Fred 'Quickie' Wahlers, how girls helped 'civilize' the campus, his disappointments with teachers and fellow students, his being student body president and his own rebellious streak, being told by the school's president William A. Poehler to attend the worship services he was skipping, Poehler's intellect and imposing presence, organizing a dance at Como Park and attending dances at the University of Minnesota (not permitted at Concordia), hearing really
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
33. Interview with Donald Kurtzahn, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-11
- Description:
- Interview with Donald Kurtzahn, Concordia College's High School class of 1952, from Atlanta, Georgia,, in 1981. Mr. Kurtzahn talks about, among other things, his desire to be a pastor in junior high school, working to put himself through the high school, the food service, playing pranks on professors, playing on the first Concordia football and hockey teams, avoiding hazing by virtue of being a bigger kid and athlete, classmates marrying one another, losing a classmate to a car accident, having parties with friends, cutting classes, being paddled, getting a super education at Concordia and what he did with that education. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
34. Interview with Marlin Mentz, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-12
- Description:
- Interview with Marlin Mentz, Concordia College class of 1943, from Douglasville, Georgia, in 1981. Pastor Mentz talks about, among other things, how his grandfather encouraged him to be a pastor, his transfer to Concordia in 1941, the teachers the students respected and why (particularly professors John Berger and Lorenz Blankenbuehler), school President Martin Graebner's many gifts, issues created by World War II, social activities including tavern visits and effectively avoiding the President's supervision, classroom and dormitory exploits and pranks, the school's museum, food service improvements, Dr. Graebner's remarkable office manager Lydia Caldwell (Dierks), the school nurse Anna Gutz, spiritual life on campus and off, and the value, in retrospect, of his deeply classical education at Concordia. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Luth
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
35. Interview with James Mack, Concordia University Oral History Project, St. Paul, Minnesota James Mack
- Creator:
- Horn, Margaret, 1924-2004
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-13
- Description:
- Interview with James Mack, Concordia College class of 1945, from Rome, Georgia, in 1981. Pastor Mack talks about, among other things, his childhood and the church-worker-producing congregation he came from, crying himself to sleep in a room of 45 boys due to homesickness, former school president Theodore Buenger inviting him to go for a drive with him, President Martin Graebner's brilliance in Latin, getting caught staying out late by President Graebner, working in the library and elsewhere to help pay for school, being forced to get cigarettes for the older boys (part of the 'shagging,' or hazing, that occurred), nurse Anna Gutz's great concern and generosity, playing and coaching baseball, proving English professor Edgar Otto wrong, pranks (mild and dangerous) played on professors, the food donated to the students by local churches, working for a local radio station WMIN, meeting his future wife at a local church event (through the 'Walther League'), their ensuing courtship, city c
- Contributing Institution:
- Concordia University, Saint Paul
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
36. Interview with H. Wyman Malmsten, History Center, Archive of Bethel University and Converge Worldwide - BGC, Arden Hills, Minnesota
- Creator:
- Malmsten, H. Wyman.
- Date Created:
- 1981-03-17
- Description:
- H. Wyman Malmsten describes his role in fundraising for Bethel during the Great Depression.
- Contributing Institution:
- The History Center, Archives of Bethel University and Converge Worldwide - BGC
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
37. Interview with Carl J. Buckman (1897-1988), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-04-28
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 28, 1981, Carl Buckman discussed his parents and their years working at the St. Cloud State Normal School. Buckman detailed his father John's work as Superintendent of Building and Grounds, as well as information about many of the school presidents and teachers, such as President Waite Shoemaker, who were influential to the school and the city. He also chronicled his schooling, which was interrupted both by the necessity to work as well as a stint in the Navy during World War I. In addition, Buckman provided insight into school teachers, such as Albertina Anderson and Darius Steward, personalities, teaching styles, and anecdotes. He touched on extracurricular activities at the Normal School, from sports (mainly football) to the drama club, of which he was a part. In addition, he discussed the relationship between the school and the St. Cloud community, claiming the school was the lifeline of the city. Buckman graduated in 1922. After graduation in 1922, Buckman detailed his teaching and educational experiences. He taught 20 years at South and Edison High Schools in Minneapolis before he and his wife Benita moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he stumbled upon a teaching position at the University of Arizona. He also discussed the effectiveness of the teachers at Normal School in preparing him and other students for the future, especially in terms of disciplinary matters. After 14 years in Arizona, Buckman returned to Minnesota.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
38. Interview with Charles Graham (1929-), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-07-22
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on July 22, 1981, Charles Graham discussed his family background and his educational history. He shared an anecdote about an ancestor who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Graham discussed his college career and the internship he obtained in Washington, D.C., which gave him valuable political experience and sparked his interest in administration. Graham chronicled his years teaching in Wisconsin, including at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and at Whitewater, as well as his time working with Wisconsin senator William Proxmire. He detailed his impressions of Whitewater, a town he described as tumultuous and heavily affected by the turmoil of the 1960s. Graham touched on his appointment to a New Mexico college that he eventually turned down. The appointment was controversial since Graham was not of Spanish origin in a community that was almost entirely Spanish. He saw St. Cloud State as a change of scenery as well as a good step for his career. Graham discussed his presidency at St. Cloud State (serving from 1971 to 1981), the changes he implemented, and general observations about the faculty and students. He focused on the advent of collective bargaining, discussing how it affected the faculty. Graham also gave attention to his goal to develop and polish more career-oriented programs outside of teaching. He also discussed his attempts to make students more internationally aware, as well as his goal to unify the campus physically after the rapid expansion of campus during the 1960s. Graham discussed the idea of consolidation, meaning he had attempted to take all these new programs that had been added to improve the academic quality to benefit the students.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
39. Interview with Marie Petit Hinkle (1887-?), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-07-24
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on July 24, 1981, Marie Petit Hinkle described her early education and family. She was born on September 10, 1887, in Verndale, Minnesota. Her parents came to Minnesota in 1880 from Iowa and her father worked on the grain elevator in Verndale his entire life. Hinkle also mentions that Verndale High School, which she attended, was not accredited, so she had to make up some science classes when she went to St. Cloud State. Hinkle arrived at St. Cloud State in 1906 and graduated the next year. She discussed some of the teachers she remembers, such as Isabel Lawrence and Jason Keppel. Hinkle mentioned social activities, such as playing cards with Mrs. Shoemaker, Waite Shoemaker's wife. She also played basketball, and attended parties in Lawrence Hall. Hinkle discussed her life after graduating from St. Cloud State. She taught for a couple of years, including in Pine River, Minnesota, and later in Verndale, before getting married in 1912 and having a family. She talked of her volunteer work, as well as the many moves she and her family made, from Fargo to Minneapolis and finally to Detroit Lakes. Hinkle believed that the St. Cloud State prepared her wonderfully for teaching in the real world.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
40. Interview with George Budd (1915-2009), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-07-28
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on July 28, 1981, George Budd discussed his family history and educational background. Born in 1915 in Oswego, New York, Budd talked about pursuing an education during the Great Depression, as well as his family's reaction to his decision to teach. Budd delayed college for three years after high school and then attended the Oswego Normal School. After graduation, Budd taught for three years before moving to Buffalo, New York, to earn his bachelor's degree. Budd served in the Air Force during World War II, which made it possible for him to earn a master's and doctorate degrees at Columbia University. This led him to administrative positions at Washington State and in Oneonta, New York. He also in detailed the process by which he pursued the St. Cloud State presidency, a post he served from 1952 to 1965. Budd left in 1965 to become the president of Pittsburg State University in Kansas. Budd felt that he was unprepared for the St. Cloud State presidency, not really knowing what to expect. He discussed the tremendous growth in population, both in St. Cloud itself as well as at the university, and its affect on his administration. Budd provided a detailed account of how the change from a teacher's college to a state university transformed the campus, leading to new buildings, a complete makeover of the curriculum, and the growth in community involvement. Budd tackled a variety of other topics, from the change in student demeanor and activity throughout his years as president, from those accomplishments he is most proud of, including the establishment of a summer theatre and the Alexandria-St. Cloud State College Performing Arts Foundation, and of the importance of the Alumni Foundation. He also talked about the idea that this was a period of tremendous growth throughout the country, and he simply tried to help St. Cloud State adapt to growing needs and desires of students who did not want to be teachers.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
41. Interview with Joan Anderson Growe (1935- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-08-05
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on August 5, 1981, Joan Anderson Growe discussed her family and educational background. Joan Anderson Growe was born in 1935 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her father's parents came from Sweden, while her mother's family was of German descent. She described the few career opportunities for women at the time. However, her parents encouraged her to go to college. After graduating from Buffalo High School in 1953, she attended St. Cloud State to become a teacher. She discussed her decision to complete her degree in 3 years, graduating in 1956. She gave much attention to the living situation on-campus, as well as the social activities she was involved in. She claimed that she attended college at a time when students were not focused on world affairs, but only on their own lives and surroundings, something that changed drastically in the 1960s. She also believed that the university always provided plenty of social activities, from sporting events to dances, to keep her busy. After graduating from St. Cloud State in 1956, Growe briefly summarized her experiences, which included teaching in Bloomington as well as becoming certified to teach special needs students. After becoming involved in the anti-Vietnam movement and the League of Women, she became interested in politics. In 1972, she won an election to the Minnesota state legislature. In 1974, Growe was elected as Secretary of State and won reelection in 1978. She also briefly discussed the ways in which St. Cloud State University prepared her for her future career.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
42. Interview with Robert Wick (1913-2006), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-08-17
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on August 17, 1981, Robert Wick described his family history, as well as his educational background. Born in 1913 in Henry County, Iowa, Wick said he was the only member of his family to attend college, receiving great encouragement from his grandfather to pursue his education at a time during the Great Depression. Wick described his time teaching after college in Iowa, and then his experiences in the Army. Of the unit of 100 men that fought in Europe, he was one of six who returned home. After the war, Wick attended graduate school at the University of Iowa, and through a friend from Iowa, found an opportunity to teach in St. Cloud while pursuing his doctorate. Wick discussed his time at St. Cloud State. Arriving in 1948, he taught speech courses and coached the debate team. He described his transition into administration and felt his time as a lieutenant in the Army had given him good experience to do so. Wick talked about being Dean of Science, Literature, and Arts, and some of the changes he took part it. Wick also described the road that led him to become St. Cloud State president, which he served as from 1965 to 1971. He detailed the goals he had as president, mainly to create more physical space for a campus that was growing rapidly. He also wanted to improve working and learning conditions for faculty and students and refine some of the programs since the school had gone from a teacher's college to a university with a broad curriculum. Wick described changes that took place while president, such as the growth of the Inter-Faculty Organization. He said students' attitudes changed during the Vietnam War, claiming that some came to the university simply to protest and did not care about pursuing an academic career. Wick touched upon the relationship between the university and the city of St. Cloud, stating that he did not believe it was very good when he first came in 1948. But that he and other presidents tried to improve it.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
43. Interview with L. Ruth Cadwell (1897-1987), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1981-10-23
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on October 23, 1981, L. (Lucy) Ruth Cadwell chronicled her family background, including a brief history of how her family came from Ireland and Massachusetts to Iowa. She was born on December 4, 1897, in Boone, Iowa. After receiving some teacher education at her high school, Cadwell decided to pursue teaching as a career. She attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, earning a bachelor's degree in 1923. She taught for a few months in Oxford, Ohio, before finding a position teaching geography and supervising students at St. Cloud State in 1924. Cadwell discussed her time at St. Cloud State, which began in 1924. Cadwell addressed what some of the faculty were like, including Albertina Anderson, and also mentioned many changes the university and the city of St. Cloud endured during her 42 years working there. Cadwell discussed World War I and II, the Dust Bowl, and the Depression, stating that her salary was cut during that time. She also mentioned her work with the Army Air Corp during World War II. In addition, she explained her impression of students she worked with throughout her long career, including her attempts to create more social activities for them, along with her ideas about how the community of St. Cloud interacted with the college. After retirement in 1966, Cadwell taught Adult Basic Education courses, while also helping assemble "The Centennial History," a nine volume collection detailing the history of St. Cloud State University. Cadwell received several civic awards for her work in the community, especially her work teaching adults how to read and write.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
44. Interview with Vernon Leitch, St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-03-25
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on March 25, 1982, Vernon Leitch described his college education (receiving degrees at Moorhead State University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Northern Colorado) and early involvement in working with the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO). He stated that he was a member of teaching unions while he taught high school in Barrett and Hibbing, Minnesota, but was not active. He discussed why he became involved with the IFO, explaining the reason for pursuing a connection with the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) and how people's opinions of that connection changed. Leitch described the work he did for the IFO-MEA, claiming that it took a great deal of time, work, and effort. In addition, Leitch expressed his thoughts on what made the campaign a success. Leitch chronicled his involvement with the IFO-MEA after the successful campaign. He served as president for a few years for the union and described the goals he tried to accomplish while in that position. He claimed that being the first president was difficult. Leitch felt that since every decision that was made could set a precedent, resulting in a very cautious and somewhat conservative approach. He also discussed the MEA and their involvement in collective bargaining at SCSU after the election. Leitch discussed what he believes to be the successes of the IFO-MEA, along with some concerns he has for the future. He felt that after the victory, there was much less complaining about difference in salaries. However, he stated that the IFO-MEA has not been as involved in campus policy-making as he would have liked. Leitch was optimistic about the future of collective bargaining, as long as faculty stay involved, and not leaving the responsibility to a handful of individuals.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
45. Interview with Francis (Fran) Voelker (1931-2012), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-03-30
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on March 30, 1982, Francis (Fran) Voelker gave a brief history of his education and background. Fran was born in Thorp, Wisconsin. He went to St. John's University, then entered the military for a few years. When he got out of the service in 1955, he accepted a job teaching high school English in Foley, Minnesota, where he stayed for four years. During that time, he pursued his master's degree, which he received in 1959. Voelker discussed his experience with the Faculty Association and collective bargaining in general. Voelker chronicled his early experiences with the Minnesota Education Association (MEA) in Foley, as well as the motivations of St. Cloud State faculty to actively pursue collective bargaining. Voelker believed that many faculty members felt that salaries were bad and their voices were not heard, so frustration began to build until they decided to do something about it. Voelker said the reasons to join the MEA was good, claiming that they had a good training program and a professionalism that really helped the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO). Voelker focused on the election in 1975 and said that even if the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) won the election, he would have joined, as most faculty simply wanted some form of representation. Voelker discussed the work he did with the IFO after the election, including lobbying during state legislature to get funding and meet negotiation deadlines. Voelker believed that collective bargaining was very successful in defining roles. He said the adversary relationship that resulted between administration and faculty was unfortunate, but did not have to be a result of collective bargaining. It was something he hoped would be amended in the future.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
46. Interview with Larry Meyer (1948- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-03-30
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on March 30, 1982, Larry Meyer described family background as well as his motivation to attend SCSU. His grandparents were immigrants from different parts of Europe who met in the Twin Cities. When he was 12, Meyer's family moved to a farm near Princeton, Minnesota. His parents encouraged him to go to college, despite the fact that they were somewhat poor. He chose St. Cloud State, as it was very close and financially more appealing. Meyer mentioned that there was financial aid available for anyone who wished to go to college. Meyer chronicled his activism while at St. Cloud State, describing what drew him into politics. He became caught up in the anti-Vietnam movement and the student power movement. He said many issues were prevalent, including women's hours and other social restrictions. Meyer described his involvement in the Student Senate, including his decision to run for President as a moderate, which alienated some of the more radical activists. He won the election, serving the 1969/70 academic year. Meyer said campus politics took him all over the country, from New York to Los Angeles. Meyer discussed his experiences after college. After graduation in 1971, he joined the Army Reserves simply because once finished with college, young men had to either sign up for the active army or the volunteer reserves. He then embarked on a political career, which allowed him to work with Hubert Humphrey, Wendell Anderson, and the Minnesota DFL party. Meyer recounted his time working as an intern with Walter Mondale in Washington, D.C., in 1969, at a time when the city was a very tumultuous place. Meyer explained the ways in which St. Cloud State, both in his educational and political lives there, helped prepare him for the career he made for himself.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
47. Interview with Arthur F. Grachek (1940- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-03-31
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on March 31, 1982, Arthur Grachek discussed his background, detailed his education, and his return to St. Cloud State University. Grachek graduated from Foley High School in 1958. He chose to attend St. Cloud State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Speech and Social Studies in 1962 and a master's degree in 1964. He taught at St. John's University in Minnesota, as well as at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, where he also received his doctorate. Grachek returned to St. Cloud State University in 1971, where he eventually became very involved in the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO). He discussed how he became interested in collective bargaining and unions, crediting his family involvement with labor unions. Grachek said Ruth Cadwell, whose house he lived in for five years while attending St. Cloud State University, introduced him to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Grachek chronicled his first years at St. Cloud State and how he became heavily involved with the IFO. He discussed the idea that the IFO needed a political force to accompany it, which is why they found the Minnesota Education Association (MEA), which offered them tremendous support to establish a labor union for St. Cloud State faculty. Grachek described the work he did to educate people about the IFO-MEA, as well as his thoughts on why it was able to achieve victory, despite some initial resistance to the MEA. Grachek described hi ideas about the successes the IFO has achieved at St. Cloud State, including the fringe benefits it helped faculty obtain. He also discussed what he feels are problems with collective bargaining organizations, stating that some small local colleges lose their autonomy, which is something he hoped at the time would be remedied in the future.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
48. Interview with Ludmila (Mil) Voelker (?- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-04-01
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 1, 1982, Ludmila (Mil) Voelker discussed her background. Mil was born in Dodge, Nebraska, in the 1920s. Her father emigrated from Czechoslovakia, settling in Nebraska and later South Dakota, where he lost his farm during the Depression. The family eventually moved to Litchfield, Minnesota. Voelker attended the College of Saint Benedict, where she received her Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in speech and philosophy. She then taught English for three years in Holdingford, Minnesota, until 1954 when her future husband Fran, returned from Korea. They married that December, and for the next 10 years Ludmila stayed home to raise their five children. In 1965, she began working part-time at St. Cloud State while also beginning work on her master's degree. She eventually began teaching full-time at the St. Cloud State. Voelker focused on her involvement in collective bargaining at St. Cloud State, and her support for the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO) and Minnesota Education Association (MEA). Voelker explained why she became involved with collective bargaining at St. Cloud State. She believed that partnering with the MEA was a good move, as it was the strongest political unit available to them at the time. Voelker discussed her time as president and some of the activities she was involved in. Voelker chronicled her time as IFO president, and the importance of a woman being in a position of power at a time when such a thing was not very common. She claimed that the campus needed an articulate woman to show that women were capable of holding authority. Voelker discussed what she did after holding that presidency, including being the president of the Minnesota Council of Teachers, which she held before taking a year of sabbatical and beginning work on a degree in Theology. Finally, she expressed her feelings on whether or not collective bargaining on campus was a success. She felt that the tension it has created between administration and faculty is unnecessary, and that work needed to be done to build trust between the two.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
49. Interview with Eugene Perkins (1921-2004) and Lorraine Perkins (?- ), St. Cloud State University Oral History, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-04-02
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 2, 1982, Eugene and Lorraine Perkins discussed their family history, as well as their reasons for attending St. Cloud State. Lorraine chronicled the long history her family had with the St. Cloud State, as her grandfather attended the Normal School and roomed with Waite Shoemaker. Many of her aunts and several other relatives also attended the university. Eugene mentioned they lived close to the university and his dad worked with there. Lorraine said she wanted to go to Carleton College to become a writer. But the Depression prevented her from doing so, as Carleton College was expensive. So, she decided to become an English teacher. Eugene also discussed his time in World War II, which interrupted his college studies. Lorraine arrived at St. Cloud State in 1938, while Eugene first attended in 1939. They met in 1939. Lorraine talked about her varying living situations, including a year in Shoemaker Hall. Eugene also discussed the GI Bill, which of course brought many veterans to the school. Eugene described his time at the Eastman House, which was housing for returning GIs. Both Eugene and Lorraine oversaw and lived for a time in Eastman House. Lorraine and Eugene also described some of the extracurricular activities on campus, such as literary societies, sports, and different clubs such as the photo club, which Eugene belonged to. Lorraine and Eugene chronicled their experiences after leaving St. Cloud. Lorraine talked about being hired in Hayward, Minnesota, before being married, then being told to return her contract, as they did not hire married teachers. She gave up teaching for 20 years to raise her family. Eugene talked about the path that led him to pursue counseling; he taught in Paynesville, Minnesota, for three years while taking graduate classes at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on guidance and counseling. After receiving his master's degree, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked as a counselor and a school psychologist. He returned to St. Cloud State in 1958, eventually receiving his doctorate from University of Northern Colorado. Lorraine wanted to return to school, receiving a master's degree in 1967. She chronicled the establishment in 1968 and her work in the Writing Skills Center, which she believed was the only place for some students, especially foreign students, to get help. They described their support of international students. Finally, they expressed their approval of the vast physical changes undergone by St. Cloud State in the 1960s and 1970s, resulting in a beautiful campus.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories
50. Interview with Louis Filippi (1920-2012), St. Cloud State University Oral History Collection, St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Creator:
- St. Cloud State University
- Date Created:
- 1982-04-06
- Description:
- In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Professor of History Calvin (Cal) Gower on April 6, 1982, Louis Filippi described how his parents came from Italy before World War I and settled Keewatin, a town in Minnesota's Iron Range. Born in 1920, Filippi discussed life in the Iron Range and the camaraderie that he formed with other children whose parents also came from Europe. Filippi discussed his motivations for attending St. Cloud State after graduating from high school in 1939, including that two of his favorite hockey goalies, Frank Brimsek and Sam LoPresti, attended the university. Filippi chronicled his time at St. Cloud State, especially the teachers he particularly admired, such as Roland Torgerson and George Lynch. Filippi mentioned that he lived with other Iron Range men throughout his college career and that they tended to stick together. Filippi played football, baseball, basketball, and track. He also discussed the effects that events such as the Great Depression and World War II had on his college career. Filippi described his impressions of St. Cloud State. He discussed the socioeconomic backgrounds of most of the students, believing that most were of lower-income families. Filippi claimed that most of the students he knew were eager to have jobs while going to school. He also discussed the "esprit de corps" among the students, claiming that they had an immense pride in the school and were involved in supporting the school at most functions. Filippi felt the community was supportive of the university, but not strong and adamant supporters of its activities. After graduation from St. Cloud State in 1943, Filippi entered the service, despite having a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles to play football. When he finally returned from overseas in 1946, he opted out of his contract with the Eagles and moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, to work as a coach and teacher and as an NCAA referee.
- Contributing Institution:
- St. Cloud State University
- Type:
- Sound Recording Nonmusical
- Format:
- Oral histories