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James Brickley, Inaugural Address, 1975
Following the resignation of Eastern Michigan University President Harold Sponberg in 1974, the EMU Board of Regents named James Brickley (November 15, 1928 – September 28, 2001) to the office of president. A former FBI Special Agent and future Michigan Supreme Court Justice, Brickley begins by thanking Michigan Governor WIlliam Milliken for attending the day’s activities. Brickley then emphasizes the conundrum that is balancing increasing global interdependence with counteracting increasing “brain drain” amongst American universities. The greatest problem facing EMU and all universities, says Brickley, is how to adequately adjust the needs and demands of constantly changing social and economic patterns. Brickley discusses his plans to alleviate these issues during his tenure as president.
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Leonard Posey, Inaugural Luncheon Address, 1976
Leonard Posey was elected as the first African American Student Body President of Eastern Michigan University in 1975. During his presidency, Posey caught flack from several minority student groups who charged that he was unfair in allocating the $18,000 in student assessment fees. He drew the fire of administrators who thought he was too critical of the controversial inauguration plans for University President James Brickley. In this address, Posey welcomes newly-elected EMU President James Brickley to his new post, and also sheds light on the late student unrest on campus, and the need for a university president to be adaptable to changing societal norms.
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James Brickley, Address to the Fall Faculty Conference, 1976
Brickley served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan from 1971 to 1975 and again from 1979 to 1983 under Governor William Milliken. From 1975 until 1978 he was president of Eastern Michigan University. In this annual address to Eastern Michigan University faculty, Brickley outlines the difficulties facing EMU, naming two major areas of concern: continuing fiscal austerity, and continuing problems in enrollment. Brickley speaks on the causes and effects of the present budget crunch, detailing all programs cut, and the stripping down of several other programs. The ability to “move with the market,” Brickley says, is essential to surviving the fiscal difficulties then facing EMU.
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E.E. Cummings, Poetry Reading, Part 2
Edward Estlin "E. E." Cummings (October 14, 1894 – September 3, 1962), often styled as e e cummings, as he sometimes signed his name, was an American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright. He wrote approximately 2900 poems, two autobiographical novels, four plays, and several essays. This undated recording captures cummings during his visit to Eastern Michigan University. There is no commentary between poems.
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E.E. Cummings, Poetry Reading, Part 1
Edward Estlin "E. E." Cummings (October 14, 1894 – September 3, 1962), often styled as E. E. Cummings, as he sometimes signed his name, was an American poet, painter, essayist, author, and playwright. He wrote approximately 2900 poems, two autobiographical novels, four plays, and several essays. This undated recording captures Cummings during his visit to Eastern Michigan University. There is no commentary between poems.
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Anne Sexton, Poetry Reading, 1963
Anne Sexton (November 9, 1928 – October 4, 1974) was an American poet, known for her highly personal, confessional verse. She won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1967 for her book Live or Die. Her poetry details her long battle with depression, suicidal tendencies, and various intimate details from her private life, including her relationships with her husband and children. This recording is comprised of a poetry reading given by Sexton on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. The original magnetic reel for this recording is severely damaged and fragile, resulting in periodic stoppage.
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Robert Bly, Poetry Reading, 1963
Robert Bly (born December 23, 1926) is an American poet, essayist, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic men's movement. His most commercially successful book to date was Iron John: A Book About Men (1990), a key text of the mythopoetic men's movement, which spent 62 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list. He won the 1968 National Book Award for Poetry for his book The Light Around the Body. Bly visited the campus of Eastern Michigan University in November of 1963 and delivered this poetry reading, in which he explains the construction of his poems, and compares himself to other notable poets of his day. Bly also quotes what he considers to be some of the worst opening lines in literature, and details what he considers to be the restrictions of iambic pentameter.
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William Stafford, Poetry Reading, 1964
William Edgar Stafford (January 17, 1914 – August 28, 1993) was an American poet and pacifist, and the father of poet and essayist Kim Stafford. He was appointed the twentieth Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1970. In this audio recording from Eastern Michigan University’s visiting authors series, Stafford speaks about his creative process, the mechanics of his poetry, and reads several selections from his vast body of work.
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Eastern Michigan University Presents Poet John Ciardi, 1964
John Anthony Ciardi (June 24, 1916 – March 30, 1986) was an Italian-American poet, translator, and etymologist. While primarily known as a poet, he also translated Dante's Divine Comedy, wrote several volumes of children's poetry, pursued etymology, contributed to the Saturday Review as a columnist and long-time poetry editor, and directed the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference in Vermont. In 1959, Ciardi published a book on how to read, write, and teach poetry, How Does a Poem Mean?, which has proven to be among the most-used books of its kind. At the peak of his popularity in the early 1960s, Ciardi also had a network television program on CBS, Accent. In 1964, Eastern Michigan University invited Ciardi to Pease Auditorium for a reading of his poetry. Remarking that poetry is “always a statement about poetry,” Ciardi reads poems about his father, Theodore Roetke, and the poetic capabilities of university students.
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Michigan State Normal College Choral Ensemble, "Faiths of Our Fathers," 1949
Michigan State Normal College Alum John S. Elwell leads the MSNC Choir and present spectators in the singing of “Faiths of Our Fathers,” at the Centennial Celebration of Michigan State Normal College.
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Michigan State Normal College Choral Ensemble, 1940
During the dedication ceremony for the Frederick Alexander Memorial Organ, Music Director Haydn Morgan played a recording of the Michigan State Normal College Choir, circa. 1940. The playing of the vinyl record was part of a tribute to the abilities and musical and teaching talent of Alexander, who led the MSNC Music Department 1909-1941. The choral selection is approximately fifteen minutes in length, though no title was given.
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Michigan State Normal College Brass Ensemble, Wagner’s “King’s Prayer,” 1949
During a musical interlude in the dedication of Pierce Hall at the Michigan State Normal College, the MSNC plays Richard Wagner’s “King’s Prayer,” from the opera Lohengrin.
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Bill Woodworth, "Second Movement of Trombone Concerto," by Rimsky Korsakov, 1954
The University of Michigan Studio Sampler was a television show spotlighting various local talents, and aired from the University of Michigan campus. The show was written by Don Hall and Bill Rabe, presented by the UoM Department of Speech and PAD T.V. In this clip from the show, Michigan State Normal College senior Bill Woodworth performs the 2nd Movement from “Trombone Concerto” by Rimsky Korsakov.
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Harlous Wilson, "Hills of Home," by Oscar Fox, 1954
The University of Michigan Studio Sampler was a television show spotlighting various local talents, and aired from the University of Michigan campus. The show was written by Don Hall and Bill Rabe, presented by the UoM Department of Speech and PAD T.V. In this clip from the show, Michigan State Normal College senior and baritone vocalist Harous Wilson performs “Hills of Home,” by Oscar Fox.
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Sally Donegal, "One Fine Day," from Madame Butterfly, 1954
The University of Michigan Studio Sampler was a television show spotlighting various local talents, and aired from the University of Michigan campus. The show was written by Don Hall and Bill Rabe, presented by the UoM Department of Speech and PAD T.V. This clip from Studio Sampler features Michigan State Normal College senior and soprano vocalist Sally Donegal, as she performs One Fine Day from Madame Butterfly.
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Frederick Alexander Memorial Organ Dedicatory Recital, 1961
In his will, longtime Michigan State Normal College music professor left $85,000 to Eastern Michigan University for the purpose of installing a pipe organ in Pease Auditorium. This recording captures the inaugural recital of that organ after its completion. Also in his will, Alexander requested specific musicians and pieces of music to be performed at this recital. All of his wishes were honored, and here several pieces of music are performed by former Alexander student Russell Gee of Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Pieces of music performed include: Basse et Dessus de Trompette by Louis-Nicolas Clerambault; Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne by Detrich Buxtehude; Chorale Preludes by Johannes Brahams; and Ronde Francaise by Leon Boellman.
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Erich Goldschmidt, John Kennedy Memorial, 1963
Erich Goldschmidt was a professor of music at Eastern Michigan University, and consultant ex-officio for the Frederick Alexander Memorial Organ in Pease Auditorium. Goldschmidt also served as organ builder in residence at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In this memorial service for slain president John F Kennedy, Goldschmidt plays a selection of sacred music on the Alexander Memorial Organ.
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Eastern Michigan University Marching Band, "Eastern Michigan Fight Song," 1965
The marching band of Michigan State Normal College plays the school fight song on this undated recording.
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Erich Goldschmidt, "Bach's Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now," 1966
Erich Goldschmidt was a professor of music at Eastern Michigan University, and consultant ex-officio for the Frederick Alexander Memorial Organ in Pease Auditorium. Goldschmidt also served as organ builder in residence at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Here, Goldschmidt performs "Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now" by J.S. Bach on the Frederick Alexander Memorial Organ in Pease Auditorium.
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Faculty Recital, pt. 2, 1969
Clarinetist Armand Abramson, Cellist Edward Szabo, and Pianist Joseph Gurt -all EMU Music Department faculty- perform in this faculty recital at Pease Auditorium. Part 2 of 2, this recording consists of 2 pieces: Faure’s Elegie for Cello and Piano, and Beethoven’s Trio for Clarinet, Cello and PIano, Op. 11.
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Faculty Performance, Puccini's "Senza Mamma," 1974
Having received her Masters at Eastern Michigan University in Voice Performance in 1971, Glenda Kirkland then joined the faculty of EMU in 1973 as professor of Applied Music. Joseph Gurt, having received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Julliard School of Music, served as Professor of Music at Eastern Michigan from 1967 until his retirement in 2000. Included in this recording are two pieces, Giacomo Puccini’s “Senza Mamma,” and Mozart’s “Non Mi Dir,” from his opera, Don Giovanni. These pieces were included in a larger event, the 1974 Fall Faculty Luncheon, the primary focus of which being an address by Ralph Gilden, who was then acting as interim president of the university.
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Faculty Performance, Mozart's Non mi dir, 1974
Having received her Masters at Eastern Michigan University in Voice Performance in 1971, Glenda Kirkland then joined the faculty of EMU in 1973 as professor of Applied Music. Joseph Gurt, having received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Julliard School of Music, served as Professor of Music at Eastern Michigan from 1967 until his retirement in 2000. Included in this recording are two pieces, Giacomo Puccini’s “Senza Mamma,” and Mozart’s “Non Mi Dir,” from his opera, Don Giovanni. These pieces were included in a larger event, the 1974 Fall Faculty Luncheon, the primary focus of which being an address by Ralph Gilden, who was then acting as interim president of the university.
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Faculty Recital, pt. 1, 1969
Clarinetist Armand Abramson, Cellist Edward Szabo, and Pianist Joseph Gurt -all Eastern Michigan Music Department faculty- perform in this recital at Pease Auditorium. Part 1 of 2, this recording consists of three pieces: Schumann’s Phantasy-Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op.73; Sammartini’s Sonata in G for Cello and Piano; Honegger’s Sonatine pour Clarinette en La et Piano.
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Glenda Kirkland, Oral History Interview, 2018
Glenda Kirkland was a vocal instructor with the EMU Department of Music and Dance from 1972 until 2009. Kirkland taught many courses in music at EMU and served as the director of the EMU Opera Workshop. She has also given many lectures and recitals with various opera companies and guest performed with luminaries such as William Warfield, Gwyneth Jones, and Luciano Pavarotti. She’s been universally praised for her interpretive skills, her charisma, her prefect breath control and deep respect for the text’s open-hearted naiveté.
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Jeffery Duncan, Oral History Interview, 2019
Dr. Jeffery Duncan was professor of English Language and Literature at EMU from 1971 until his retirement in 2012. Awarded the Ronald Collins Distinguished Faculty Award in 2002, Duncan was regarded as one of the most beloved faculty members at the University for his rough and tumble Tulsa upbringing and inventive, innovative teaching methods.
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Richard "Dick" Schwarze, Oral History Interview, 2018
Dick Schwarze was campus photographer at Eastern Michigan University from 1970 until 2006. Before joining EMU staff, Schwarze served in the United States Army in Vietnam, and briefly attended Wayne State University in Detroit. During his 36 career year here, he won numerous campus and professional awards, including “Institutional Values Award for Continuous Improvement, Innovation, and Customer Service” in 2005. His photography captures many aspects at EMU and has been used for promotional work and numerous public relations campaigns.
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James Porter, Oral History Interview, 2019
Dr. James Porter began his tenure with the Eastern Michigan University Department of Astronomy and Physics in 1968, a particularly tumultuous time for the University. Witness to many student protests and the local law enforcement response to them, Porter shares his perspective on a changing university and the community surrounding it. Porter received Emeritus status when he retired in 2008.
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Courtney McAnuff, Oral History Interview, 2018
Courtney McAnuff was Vice President for Enrollment Services at Eastern Michigan University from 1996 until his departure in 2006. Prior to serving as Vice President, McAnuff served EMU in a variety of positions starting in 1980 as Director of Financial Aid. Larry Smith, former Vice President for Student Affairs at EMU said “if Courtney had a fan club, I would be the president.” McAnuff committed himself to many vital undertakings at EMU, both on and off campus, earning McAnuff Emeritus status in 2006.
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Kenneth Stevens, Oral History Interview, 2018
Kenneth Stevens served with the Communication and Theater Arts Department -currently Communication, Media, and Theater Arts Department- from 1973 until his retirement in 2014. During that time, Stevens created the graduate and undergraduate programs in Arts Management, directed hundreds of plays and musicals, was a ten-time winner of the faculty recognition awards, received the EMU Gold Medallion Award, and the Teaching Innovation Award. Outside of teaching at EMU, Stevens has also served as Associate Director of the Cherry County Playhouse in Traverse City, producer at the Red Barn Theater in Saugatuck, MI, as well as Director of the Actors Repertory Theater in Las Vegas, and President of the Michigan Theater Association.
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Glenna Frank Miller & Gregory Peoples, Oral History Intervew, 2019
regory Peoples is a long-time administrator of EMU. He was hired in 1977 to work in the Campus Interact Office until 1980. During the course of his career with EMU, Peoples served as Assistant Director of Admissions, Associate Director of Admissions, Associate Dean of Students and then Dean of Students. In 2004, Peoples became Director of the Office of the Ombuds, an office he created with University Provost Jim Vick. Outside of EMU, Peoples served with the GMI Engineering and Management Institute, and as Director of Enrollment Services at Washtenaw Community College. Peoples retired in 2003. Glenna Frank Miller is Emerita Vice President for Student Life at EMU. Beginning her career at EMU in 1974 as a Resident Unit Administrator, she became Resident Life Area Manager and then Director of Campus Life in 1983. Miller is known for her high level of involvement on campus, developing relationships with students and creating educational programs for the empowerment of women. Frank Miller also worked in Campus Life, McKenny Union, and in many McKenny Union Campus Life and Diversity programs. Frank Miller may be best-known for her leading role in the design and construction of the EMU Student Center, opened in 2006. Frank Miller retired in June, 2013.
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Joseph Gurt, Oral History Interview, 2019
Dr. Joseph Gurt was a professor of music at Eastern Michigan University from 1967 until his retirement in 2000. During his time at EMU, Gurt was renowned as a teacher with students coming from all over the world to study under him and also as a concert pianist performing in the U.S, Israel, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and on stages from Carnegie Hall to Lincoln Center.
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Michael G. Nastos, Oral History Interview, 2019
Longtime broadcaster, music critic, and jazz aficionado Michael G. Nastos is best known for his work at WEMU-FM, the NPR affiliate station making its home in King Hall on the WEMU campus. Emeritus Senior Producer, Music Librarian, Assistant Music Director and full-time evening broadcaster at EMU for nearly thirty years, Nastos has written for Downbeat Magazine, Cadence magazine, Coda Jazz Forum, Swing Journal, and a host of other local and national music publications.
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Patrick Barry, Oral History Interview, 2019
Patrick Barry is one of the most ardent supporters and boosters of Eastern Michigan University. Longtime instructor and former president of the EMU Alumni Association, Barry has been present for some of the most pivotal events in University history. Forming close bonds with faculty, students, and administrators, Barry has continued to showcase and support a wide array of University departments and organizations.
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Quirico Samonte, Oral History Interview, 2019
Dr. Quirico Samonte served as professor of education at Eastern Michigan University from 1963 until his retirement in 2001. Aside from teaching, Samonte served as University Coordinator for the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education, Chief of Party to the Basic Education Development Project in Yemen, and Advisor to the Ministry of Education for the Primary Curriculum Development Project in Swaziland. Born and raised in the Philippines, Samonte was a boyhood acquaintance of future-President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos.
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Linda Yohn, Oral History Interview, 2020
Linda Yohn is said to have done more for jazz in Southeast Michigan than any other single person in her 30 years with WEMU. Six-time winner of the jazz programmer of the year award, frequent panelist at national conventions, and universally recognized for her commitment to all things jazz here and everywhere else. Yohn was given Emeritus status by Eastern Michigan University when she retired in 2017.
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Barbara Scheffer, Oral History Interview, 2019
Barbara Scheffer served with Eastern Michigan University from 1976 until her retirement in 2013. A professor with the EMU School of Nursing, Scheffer went on to serve as the Associate Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. Always a proponent of bridging the gap between university and community, Scheffer led students into Ypsilanti neighborhoods to help community members and gain valuable hands-on experience in the nursing field. Scheffer received Emeritus status when she retired in 2013.
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Howard Booth, Oral History Interview, 2019
Dr. Howard Booth taught biology at Eastern Michigan University for forty-six years. An alumni of EMU, Booth was very active in athletics while a student, earning recognition in track and field and gymnastics, as well as joining the cheer team. After a 39-year hiatus from the sport, Booth took up the pole vault at age 61, traveling the world to compete, and winning gold medals in competitions ranging from the National Master's Track and Field Championship in Boston and the World Athletics Championship in Brazil.
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David Geherin, Oral History Interiew, 2019
David Geherin served as professor of English Language and Literature from 1969 until his retirement in 2010. During his time at EMU, Geherin, an author of crime fiction novels and analytic studies of contemporary crime fiction authors, designed several courses, most notably on crime fiction. Geherin was also an avid traveler during his time with the University, accompanying students on World Cultural History tours across Europe, studying classic works or art, history, and literature in their places of origination. Geherin received Emeritus status in 2010.
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Alida Westman, Oral History Interview, 2019
Alida Westman served as professor in the Department of Psychology from 1972 until her retirement in 2012. Born in The Hague, Holland, during World War II, and growing up in post-war Europe, Westman learned at an early age that certain cultural landscapes elicit specific reactions in human beings based on past trauma. As a result, the rest of her life was set by the age of four toward perception and research. After immigrating to the United States, Westman attended school in the Pacific Northwest and Cornell University, and landed at Eastern Michigan University as a professor in perception and comprehension studies. A supporter of the American Association of University Professors and member of countless academic committees during her career with EMU, Westman attained Emeritus status when she retired in 2012.
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Richard Robb Oral History Interview, 1998 June 3
Richard Robb served on the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents from 1967 to 1993, and as Chair of the Board from 1975-1985. In this interview, Robb details his relationships with several EMU administrators of the period, and defends the appointment of James Brickley to President of EMU. Robb also discusses the importance of athletics in the collegiate experience and the decision to change the EMU logo. This interview has been distributed over two cassette tapes. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Leah Adams, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this episode of Roles and Perspectives, Hoexter interviews Leah Adams. Dr. Adams served Eastern Michigan University from 1969-1999 as a professor in early childhood education with the EMU College of Education. In this interview, Adams, a strong supporter of the growing preschool programs in the United States, defends the practice of preschooling children by saying that the emergence of preschool fits perfectly within the changing society in which it resides. With the emergence of widespread automobile use, families were able to begin isolating themselves from their neighbors, yet they wanted ways in which to socialize their children. This need for socialization, coupled with the nation’s recent “Sputnik Complex,” lead to parents wanting children to learn faster and sooner. The woman’s role in the household had changed as well, from that of homemaker who was seen to be shirking her motherly duties if she left her child at a daycare center, to that of professional, career-minded woman.
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John Porter, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this episode of Roles and Perspectives, Hoexter interviews John Porter. In 1979, Dr. Porter was appointed the seventeenth President of Eastern Michigan University. During his first year of administration, Dr. Porter unveiled an ambitious plan entitled "A Decade of Advancement", a phrase which has come to describe Dr. Porter's legacy to Eastern. In 1989, upon retirement from the University, Dr. Porter joined the newly created national Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In this interview, conducted when Porter was State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Michigan, Porter discusses the matter of accountability in Michigan schools. Accountability, to Porter, boils down to providing quality education to all Michigan citizens, but also includes quality communication between schools, parents, students, administration, and taxpayers. Bypassing the term “testing,” Porter instead claims that “assessing” students should involve determining whether students have acquired the skills and knowledge that teachers have expressed as being important to students. When questioned about promises made by the state in terms of funding, Porter says that it is the new responsibility of the state to “bridge the gap between promises and practices;” if the state can not meet the demands of the teachers, they must delegate responsibility to an entity that can meet those demands.
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Sally McCracken, Oral History Interview, 2018
Dr. Sally McCracken is an Emeritus Professor from the Eastern Michigan University Communication, Media, and Theater Arts Department, teaching at EMU from 1968 until her retirement in 2012. In addition to teaching at EMU, McCracken has negotiated several contracts on behalf of the American Association of University Professors, an institution in which she played many roles: chief negotiator and president until 1968- From 1968 till 1994 and continued to function as regional council member. McCracken served on the Faculty Council, reader of names for commencement and president of the Emeritus Faculty Association. In this interview, McCracken details her experience growing up in Southern Ohio, the essentiality of Communication studies to forging productive relationships, and her perspectives on the growing diversity of EMU programs and campus life.
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W. Scott Westerman, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this interview, Hoexter sits down with W. Scott Westerman. Westerman served as Dean of the Eastern Michigan University College of Education from 1971-1992. Westerman’s commitment to quality education brought EMU national recognition for outstanding academic programs and a national reputation as one of the largest producers of quality educators in the U.S. In this interview, primarily about bussing in public schools, Westerman discusses the effect of bussing on the integration of public schools, and the rise in academic performance amongst disadvantaged students when placed with high-achieving students.
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Senator Gilbert Bursley, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this episode of Roles and Perspectives, Hoexter interviews Senator Gilbert Bursely. Gilbert E. Bursley was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, February 28, 1913. He was educated at the University of Michigan (A.B., 1934) and the Harvard Business School (M.B.A., 1936). Prior to his election to the Michigan State House of Representatives in 1960, Bursley had a varied career in the military as military attaché in Turkey after World War II, as United Nations peacekeeping observer in the Middle East in the 1950s, and as United States Information Agency head in portions of Africa. Returning to Michigan, he served as chairman of the Ann Arbor Republican Party, 1958-1959, then in 1960, he won election to the Michigan House, serving two terms, then in 1964, he was elected to the Michigan Senate, where he served until 1978. After leaving office, he became president of Cleary College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He died in September 1998. In this interview, Bursely discusses the relation of redistributed tax dollars to quality education. Stating that the state needs to play a greater role in the oversight of
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Ruby Meis and Stephen Brewer Oral History Interview, 2017
Ruby Meis joined the faculty of Eastern Michigan University in 1964 as a professor with the Home Economics Program, then an unaffiliated program within the University. Meis also served as Acting Assistant Dean of the Graduate School at EMU, as well as Vice President of the Women’s Commission and Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. Meis retired on December 31, 1993. Stephen Brewer joined EMU in 1964 as a professor of Chemistry, and during his tenure at EMU authored the textbook, “Solving Problems in Analytical Chemistry,” published by John Wiley and Sons. Brewer retired on September 10, 2001. In this interview, Brewer and Meis reflect on their respective relationships with longtime EMU Vice President for Instruction, Bruce K. Nelson. Meis speaks of her appreciation for Nelson’s encouragement and assistance in developing the Department of Home Economics, while Brewer expresses his appreciation for Nelson’s ability to keep his cool during some of the hardest times on campus, the student demonstrations of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
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P. George Bird Oral History Interview, 2016 April 22
P. George Bird taught in the Theatre department at Eastern Michigan University from 1956-2006. The interview is an account of his time teaching on campus, his most memorable productions and the planning and construction of Quirk Theatre. This is the second interview in a three part series.
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P. George Bird Oral History Interview, 2016 April 19
P. George Bird taught in the Theatre department at Eastern Michigan University from 1956-2006. The interview is an account of his time teaching on campus, his most memorable productions and the planning and construction of Quirk Theatre. This is the first part in a three part series.
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P. George Bird and Reinhard Wittke Oral History Interview, 2016 April 23
P. George Bird taught in the Theatre department at Eastern Michigan University from 1956-2006. The interview is an account of his time teaching on campus, his most memorable productions and the planning and construction of Quirk Theatre. Reinhard Wittke was a professor in the History Department at Eastern Michigan University from 1956-1990. During his time at Eastern, Wittke established and was best known for establishing the European Adventure Tours in 1960, which became International Studies Program. This is the third part in a three part series.
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Peggy Liggit Oral History Interview, 2017
Serving Eastern Michigan University for more than 20 years, Peggy Liggit began her tenure with EMU as a professor of biology and science education. After spending three years as Director of Academic Assessment, Liggit became Director of the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center. Her research focus now includes learner-centered teaching in higher education, organizational learning, humanized assessment practices, and faculty peer-coaching. In this interview, conducted during the opening of the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center, Liggit shares personal recollections of Bruce Nelson, and discusses the representation of Nelson’s principles of education on the EMU campus, and more specifically, in the Faculty Development Center that bears his name.
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Mary Ellen Riordan, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this episode of Roles and Perspectives, Hoexter interviews Mary Ellen Riordan, President Emerita of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, Local 231, AFL-CIO. Riordan blazed the trail for collective bargaining rights for teachers. This action resulted in the Michigan Legislature adopting the 1965 Public Employee Relations Act that gave teachers and all public employees the legal right to collective bargaining. Detroit was second only to New York in obtaining collective bargaining rights for teachers, a trend that would sweep the United States five years later. At her retirement, Ms. Riordan was president of one of the largest local unions in the nation, totaling more than 12,000 members. Before Riordan, no other union headed by a woman had exceeded several thousand members. In this discussion, Riordan answers the public perception that unionized public school teachers simply show up at 8:30, and leave at 3, exhibiting no passion for the job. Riordan details what it is that teachers are going home to: grading papers, contacting parents, organize lesson plans, making dinner for their families, etc. The aggression shown by teachers’ unions is not necessarily a reality, but more a fixation by the media to generate headlines, claims Riordan. While the media wants to talk about teacher salaries contributing to the struggling US economy, Riordan claims that what they should really be talking about are the enormous class sizes, lack of supplies, lack of textbooks, poor lunch programs, and the safety of students walking to and from school in Detroit.
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Linda Pritchard, Oral History Interview, 2018
Linda Pritchard served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Eastern Michigan University from 2002 until 2005. Pritchard then joined the faculty in the History Department, and later played a vital role in the formation of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, which she headed from 2008 until 2012. Returning to the classroom, Pritchard taught with the History Department until her retirement in 2016. In this interview, Pritchard begins by giving an account of her formative years in Lansing and Bakersfield, California, before summarizing her time at Arkansas State University as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Pritchard extensively discusses her time at EMU, detailing the duties and hiring process of a College Dean, the success of particular programs she was involved in, and her philosophy of education, in which the importance of letter grades pale in comparison to the development of student communication skills, and a sense of empathy for the subjects and people around you in the greater world. Pritchard also discusses the economic hardships and personnel turnover of the early 2000’s, and the effects this instability had on the faculty’s ability to carry out job functions.
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Jack Minzey, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this episode of Roles and Perspectives, Hoexter interviews Jack Minzey. Jack Minzey joined the faculty at EMU in 1968. At various times, he served as head of the Department of Leadership and Counseling, acting dean of the College of Education, and director of the Center for Community Education. Minzey also served as president of the National Community Education Association and has won numerous awards, including an Outstanding Service Award from the NCEA. In 1992, Minzey was inducted into the Michigan Education hall of Fame. In this interview, Minzey discusses the concept of community schools, which he championed throughout his career. The ingredients of community education according to Minzey, are as follows: greater usage of public structures for ongoing educational purposes, expanded educational activities for the traditional education population, greater educational relevancy, and equal educational opportunities for all members of the community, regardless of age.
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Frederick Cleveringa, Oral History Interview, 1960
Born in 1890, Frederick Cleveringa began work in the Michigan State Normal College in 1913 while a student at MSNC. When Librarian Genevieve Walton stepped down in 1940, Fred was appointed Reference LIbrarian and Assistant Professor in the new Department of Library Sciences. Cleveringa retired from the library in 1952. In this oral history, Fred recounts the early days of his employment under Genevieve Walton, and the values Walton instilled in all of her employees.
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Fred Barney, Oral History Interview pt. 2, 2005
Fred Barney (b.1922) entered the Army Specialized Training Program on October 11, 1943, at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Marching to and from classes and meals, and kept busy from dawn till dusk, Barney and his fellow ASTP trainees were educated in various military specialized fields. Shipped out to France shortly after D-Day, Barney’s unit, the 76th Infantry Division in General George Patton’s Third Army, became the spearhead in piercing the Siegfried Line of fortifications on Germany’s western border. In this interview, Barney recalls the daily routine of the ASTP Program, the journey to France, and many details of combat and routine in Europe.
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Fred Barney, Oral History Interview pt. 1, 2005
Fred Barney (b.1922) entered the Army Specialized Training Program on October 11, 1943, at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Marching to and from classes and meals, and kept busy from dawn till dusk, Barney and his fellow ASTP trainees were educated in various military specialized fields. Shipped out to France shortly after D-Day, Barney’s unit, the 76th Infantry Division in General George Patton’s Third Army, became the spearhead in piercing the Siegfried Line of fortifications on Germany’s western border. In this interview, Barney recalls the daily routine of the ASTP Program, the journey to France, and many details of combat and routine in Europe.
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Francis Goodrich, Oral History Interview, 1956
Francis Goodrich was a graduate of Michigan State Normal College, class of 1897. Following gradutation, Goodrich remained in the College library, assisting reference librarian Genevieve Walton until his departure in 1906. In this oral history interview, Goodrich gives an account of the activities of himself and Librarian Genevieve Walton at the turn of the century. Book binding, classification, and book buying is discussed here, as well as the adaptation of the Dewey Decimal System to the MSNC Library.
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Donald Loppnow Oral History Interview, 2017
Donald Loppnow served Eastern Michigan University in several capacities over a total of 40 years. He was the department head of the School of Social Work, the assistant to the president for strategic planning, associate vice president for extended programs, provost, vice president and executive director of the EMU Foundation. In this informal interview, Loppnow discusses his relationship with Bruce Nelson, former Vice President for Instruction at EMU, and longtime supporter of a wide variety of University-related causes. Loppnow talks of his first meetings with Nelson, as well as his constant interest in the Ypsilanti community and the welfare of EMU students.
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Barbara Borusch, EMU Roles and Perspectives Interview, 1972
EMU Roles and Perspectives was a taped television program broadcast from the campus of EMU, and produced by Robert Hoexter (1930-1978). Hoexter joined the faculty at the EMU School of Education in 1964, and served as Coordinator of Graduate Advising from 1969-1971. A member of the Faculty Senate from 1973-1976, Hoexter was elected vice-chairman from 1974-1975, and chairman, 1975-1976. In this episode of Roles and Perspectives, Hoexter interviews EMU Professor of Education, Barbara Borusch. Hired in 1950, Borusch served in many capacities during her tenure at EMU, teaching Elementary Health Education, Anatomy, Physiology, General Psychology, and more. In this interview, Borusch expresses her support for the “open classroom,” a learning setting in which children map out their own learning trajectory, and the teacher is seen more as a friend and helpmate than a traditional teacher behind a desk. Though some people, familiar with the traditional style of learning may call open classrooms “chaotic,” Bousch explains that they are anything but. The students in open classrooms are self-directed, can work in groups if they choose, and are able to study subjects that they themselves have a genuine interest in.
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Bruce Nelson, Oral History Interview, 1999
Bruce Nelson served Eastern Michigan University in a number of roles from 1954 until 1981, serving as Vice President of Instruction for 21 of those years. In this interview, Nelson describes the administrative hierarchy and operations at Eastern Michigan University during his tenure with the school. Nelson profiles several faculty and administration officials while describing their impact on the power and academic structure of EMU. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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William Stephens Oral History Interview, 1998 May 13
Colonel William Stephens served on the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents from 1996 until 2001, serving as vice chairman and being named EMU Regent Emeritus in 2001. In this interview, Stephens details his experience as a black student in a majority-white college in the 1950s, his extensive military service, and his involvement with the United States Republican Black Caucus in Washington D.C. Stephens also discusses his service on the EMU Board of Regents, and his desire to ensure that Board members act as honest brokers for the University. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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William Shelton Oral History Interview, 1999 April 19
William Shelton served as President of Eastern Michigan University from 1989 until 2000. In this interview, Shelton details his upbringing in the Mississippi Delta and the hardships his family endured in his youth. Shelton details his experience as a student at Memphis State University, and as vice president for Institutional Advancement at Kent State University. Shelton also speaks about changing the controversial EMU logo and mascot. This interview is the second in a series of two interviews. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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William Shelton Oral History Interview, 1998 April 3
William Shelton served as President of Eastern Michigan University from 1989 until 2000. In this interview, Shelton discusses the importance of good faculty/administrator relationships, marketing the university, and university fundraising. Shelton also evaluates his presidential predecessors on their merits and what he saw as their shortcomings. This interview is the first in a series of two interviews. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Sally McCracken Oral History Interview, 1998 April 30
Sally McCracken arrived at Eastern Michigan University in 1968 as a professor in the Communication and Theater Arts Department. McCracken has negotiated many contracts on behalf of the American Association of University Professors Union, and has won several teaching awards during her service at EMU. In this interview, McCracken details the role of the AAUP in faculty decisions and strikes. She gives recollections of several prominent faculty and administrators, as well as explains the reasons why she came to love EMU. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Roy Wilbanks Oral History Interview, 1998 April 7
Roy Wilbanks’ extensive involvement with Eastern Michigan University began in 1983 as assistant to the president for governmental and community relations. He subsequently held the positions of secretary to the Board of Regents, vice president for University Relations, executive vice president, and supervisor of the EMU Foundation. He served on the Board of Regents from 2004 to 2012. In this interview, Wilbanks discusses the development of the EMU athletic program, the planning and cost of campus structures, and the corporate culture that John Porter brought to Eastern Michigan University. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Ron Collins Oral History Interview, 1998 August 12
Ron Collins arrived at Eastern Michigan University in 1965 as Assistant Professor of Chemistry. After becoming Department Head in 1977, he was made Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1980, and then Provost in 1983 where he served until his retirement. In this interview, Collins discusses low EMU enrollment at the time of his arrival, the changes to the University over time, which Collins calls “overwhelmingly positive,” and the technological advances at Eastern. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Richard Robb Oral History Interview, 1998 June 3
Richard Robb served on the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents from 1967 to 1993, and as Chair of the Board from 1975-1985. In this interview, Robb details his relationships with several EMU administrators of the period, and defends the appointment of James Brickley to President of EMU. Robb also discusses the importance of athletics in the collegiate experience and the decision to change the EMU logo. This interview has been distributed over two cassette tapes. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Philip Incarnati Oral History Interview, 1998 May 25
Philip Incarnati served as Chair of the Board of Regents from 1995 to 2005. In this interview, Incarnati details his high school collegiate experience, and his subsequent time at a student at Eastern Michigan University. Incarnati discusses campus culture at length, from campus streaking to Playboy Magazine’s designation of EMU as one of the top ten party schools. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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John W. Porter Oral History Interview, 1999 May 7
John Porter was the 17th president of Eastern Michigan University, his term lasting from 1979 to 1989. Major improvements and upgrades were made to the University during Porter’s tenure. In this interview, Porter discusses his upbringing, professional life, and the many structural and educational changes which took place during his time as president. This interview is the second in a series of two. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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John W. Porter Oral History Interview, 1998 April 23
John Porter was the 17th president of Eastern Michigan University, his term lasting from 1979 to 1989. Major improvements and upgrades were made to the University during Porter’s tenure. In this interview, Porter discusses his upbringing, professional life, and the many structural and educational changes which took place during his time as president. This interview is the first in a series of two. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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John Fountain Oral History Interview, 1999 February 8
John Fountain began his work with Eastern Michigan University in 1964 as director of sports information, and served as acting athletic director from 1974 to 1985. Fountain also worked as a broadcaster for EMU sporting events. From 1983 to 1985, Fountain was Vice President for University Relations. In this interview, Fountain details his experience in broadcasting before and after working at EMU, and profiles several Eastern Michigan University athletes. Fountain also discusses the growth and development of the EMU Athletics Department. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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James H. Brickley Oral History Interview, 1998 September 11
James Brickley served as the sixteenth president of Eastern Michigan University from 1975 to 1978. This interview is an account of his time as president of EMU, the adjustments made by his family in moving to campus, the attitude of the faculty at the time of his arrival, and the changes that Brickley effected once taking office. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Gary Hawks, Oral History Interview, 1998
Gary Hawks spent 17 years at eastern Michigan University, starting in 1964 as a supervisor of Accounts Receivable, executive director of University Relations, director of personnel, and as Vice President of University Relations. He was secretary to the Board of Regents from 1970 until retiring in 1981. In this interview, Hawks details his relationships with several University presidents, and also describes the overall growth of the school, from issues of enrollment to the building of physical structures on campus. This interview is distributed over two cassette tapes. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Everett Marshall, Oral History Interview, 1998
Everett Marshall taught in the Education and Psychology Departments at Eastern Michigan University from 1938-1949. From 1949-1979, Marshall served as Dean of Academic Records and Teacher Certification. In this interview, Marshall details his relationships with, and characteristics of, several EMU presidents and faculty members. Marshall also describes his methods of raising enrollment from 1,850 at the beginning of his tenure to over 19,000 at the time of his retirement. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Dr. Albert P. Marshall, Oral History Interview, 1998
Dr. Albert P. Marshall served Eastern Michigan University from 1969 until 1980, during which time he taught library science, served as Library Director and Dean of Academic Services. This interview serves as a comprehensive biography of Marshall, from childhood through his time as Dean of Academic Services at Eastern Michigan University. Notable are Marshall’s experiences as librarian for the United States Coast Guard before arriving at EMU, and his concern for the welfare of black students at Eastern. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).