Showing 117 results

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7417#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Ferne Goble was born on September 21, 1895 and raised in Illinois. Goble attended Miami University in Ohio, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in History, English, and Home Economics. In, 1919, she came to St. Cloud to teach at the St. Cloud Normal School, which later became St. Cloud State University. She married Allen Atwood, a lawyer and banker in 1923 and they had three children. Goble and her husband's family were very involved with St. Cloud University, donating money as well as their old homes.

Transcript Summary: To begin, Ferne Goble Atwood discussed her educational background, with special attention paid to the process by which she was brought to St. Cloud State by President Joseph Brown.

Atwood described in detail her marriage to Allen Atwood in 1923, as well as the close relationship she had with his family, who were very prominent in St. Cloud. The Atwoods also formed friendships with many St. Cloud State presidents, like George Budd, as well as other important figures, like the Whitneys.

Atwood voiced her opinions on the changes the University underwent before and after World War II, particularly her views on the decision to tear down the Old Main Building in order to make room for Stewart Hall. Atwood claimed that other than business interests, St. Cloud State University was a chief concern of the Atwoods.

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7423#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: George Benson was born on December 26, 1898, in St. Cloud. Both of his parents immigrated to the United States from Sweden in the late 1800s. His father worked as a blacksmith in the St. Cloud quarries, while his mother worked as a maid for the Whitney family. Benson graduated from the St. Cloud State in 1920, taught in the Dakotas for a couple of years before teaching in the Panama Canal Zone. Benson later received his Master’s in Education from Atlanta’s Ogelthorpe University, where he taught shop and general science for 25 years. Benson and his wife returned to St. Cloud when they retired.

Transcript Summary: The first part of the interview is focused on Benson's family background. Much attention of the oral history focused on Benson’s parents, who emigrated to St. Cloud from Sweden at different times. Benson's mother worked as a maid for the Whitney family, most likely in the house that remains on campus today. Benson’s father worked as a blacksmith in the quarries. Considerable attention was also paid to Benson's schooling in the St. Cloud area, particularly to his time at the St. Cloud Normal School. Benson discussed his relationships with several teachers as well as his participation in and recollection of extracurricular activities.

Benson had short-lived teaching experiences in both North and South Dakota before receiving his B.S. from Bradley University in Illinois. He then moved to the Panama Canal Zone to teach for five years, where he and his wife started a family. Benson discussed his time in Atlanta, where he received his Master’s Degree and taught for 25 years in the same room.

Lastly, Benson chronicled his return to St. Cloud, as well as the education of his two sons, who also attended St. Cloud State University. In addition, the interviewer asks Benson about how the school was affected by World War I, though Benson claims he did not notice any significant change.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7438#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Winston Borden was born in 1943, growing up in Center Township near Brainerd, Minnesota. Borden graduated from Brainerd High School in 1961, and attended St. Cloud State University on a speech scholarship that fall. Borden was heavily involved in the "Young Democrats" as well as student government. After graduating with degrees in Speech and Political Science in 1965 from St. Cloud State, Borden received a master’s in Government Administration and a doctorate in Law from the University of Minnesota. He later taught at the University of Wisconsin, practiced law in Duluth and Brainerd, and served on the Minnesota State Senate for eight years. In 1979, Borden became President of the Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry (MACI).

Transcript Summary: Borden's grandparents migrated to Center Township, north of Brainerd, Minnesota, in the 1880s. Borden had two brothers and one sister. He discussed his reasons to attend St. Cloud State University, as well as the encouragement from his teachers and family that led him to be the first member of his family to attend college.

Much of the interview focused on Borden's experiences at St. Cloud State. He chronicled in great detail about the effectiveness of some of his professors, like Dr. Jim Davis, who made subjects come alive and opened him up to new experiences. He also talked about the influence of interacting with students from Minneapolis and St. Paul, who possessed a much different worldview. The interview also discussed the changes that not only occurred in St. Cloud, but in the country, from civil rights to the Kennedy assassination, that affected Borden's college career and opinions.

The final piece focused more on Borden's experience in St. Cloud specifically, including how he became involved in politics, and some of the controversies he dealt with, including St. Cloud State president George Budd not allowing students to join the National Student Organization, which may have been considered "too liberal." Borden also explained the ways in which the relationship between the St. Cloud community and the university has changed since his time at St. Cloud State.

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6822#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Gary Botzek was born in 1950 in Benton County, Minnesota. His ancestors came from Poland, Germany, and Prussia. He attended elementary and middle school in Sauk Rapids, until consolidation forced him to finish out his high school career in Foley, Minnesota. Botzek chose to attend St. Cloud State University, where he majored in Political Science with a double minor in Economics and Journalism. After graduation in 1972, Botzek received an internship in Washington D.C. working with Congressman John Zwach, which led to his first paying job as Zwach's campaign manager. He spent two years in Washington, working as Zwach's legislative assistant. In 1979, he became Special Assistant to Governor Quie of Minnesota, where he did work with the Environmental Quality Board, among other duties.

Transcript Summary: Botzek provided information on his Polish and German ancestors, who came to Benton County to farm. He also discussed the consolidation process that his local school in Sauk Rapids underwent, forcing him to finish high school in Foley and separating him and some of his friends. He also talked about choosing St. Cloud State University. He admitted that he was not prepared to make a leap to a city, since he grew up in such a small rural area.

Botzek's chronicled his time at St. Cloud State University in great detail. He spoke about the process he chose a major and career path, as well as influential professors that guided him into certain classes and student government. Botzek also chronicled the explosive reaction of St. Cloud State students to the U.S. invasion of Cambodia and Laos, as well as the Kent State riots. Botzek discussed his feelings on the situation as someone involved in student government, and how it was handled by the University. He explained the relationship between the St. Cloud community and the university, claiming that they are both parts of the same structure, and thus worked well together.

Botzek's post-collegiate career was discussed, going into great detail about his internship with Congressman John Zwach, as well as how St. Cloud State professors with whom he had formed good relationships assisted him in obtaining such a prestigious internship. The internship opened several doors for him and allowed him to work in government for ten straight years. Botzek gave much credit to his St. Cloud State academic and extracurricular activities for providing him with the necessary tools to forge such a successful career.

2 cassette tapes

Contents of Folder: Histories by Carl Buckman: These are original handwritten and revised typed histories of the St. Cloud Normal School written by Carl Buckman, with a focus on his experiences there.

Letters of Recommendation for John Buckman: These are mostly copies of letters of recommendation written for John Buckman, Carl's father, by St. Cloud State presidents Thomas Gray and Joseph Carhart.

Newsclippings and Publications: These include newspaper articles with mention of Buckman's mother, as well as a promotional item for the Normal School from the 1920s.

Photos: Three photographs are located here, all related to Normal School athletics.

U.S. Patents for John Buckman: This is a patent obtained by John Buckman in 1902 for a Hot Air Register.

2 cassette tapes

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7471#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Carl Buckman was born on May 18, 1897 in St. Cloud, Minnesota. His parents emigrated from Sweden in 1880 and 1881. Buckman's father, John, was employed as the superintendent of Building and Grounds at St. Cloud State for many years. After Carl graduated from St. Cloud’s Technical High School in 1917, he served in the Navy in Plymouth, England, during World War I. After graduation in 1922 from St. Cloud State, he taught at South and Edison High Schools in Minneapolis for 20 years. Buckman and his wife Benita left for Tucson, Arizona, where he taught at the University of Arizona for 14 years before moving back to Minnesota.

Transcript Summary: Buckman discussed his parents and their years working with 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 detailed his work and educational experiences after graduating from St. Cloud State in 1922. He had a 20 year teaching career in Minnesota before he and his wife moved to 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

2 cassette tapes

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6825#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: George Budd was born on July 12, 1915, in Oswego, New York. His family, of English and Irish descent, lived in the Oswego area for several generations. Budd graduated from high school during the Great Depression, and therefore delayed going to college for three years while he worked in a wholesale grocery store. He then attended Oswego Normal School, then taught for three and half years in the area before heading to Buffalo, New York to obtain his Bachelor's degree. After a two year stint in the Air Force from 1942-1943, Budd returned to school for his Master's degree and later his Doctorate in Administration of Higher Education from Columbia University. After working in Washington State and Oneonta, New York, he accepted the position as St. Cloud State president in 1952. During his time at SCSU, which lasted until 1965, the college underwent tremendous growth and change, transforming from a teacher's college to a state university that offered a more diversified curriculum. Budd was involved in expanding the campus, the faculty, and community involvement during a period of growth and change that swept the entire nation.

Transcript Summary: George Budd discussed his family history as well as educational background. Here he talked about pursuing an education during the Great Depression, as well as his family's reaction to his decision to teach. Budd mentioned briefly his time in the Air Force, which made it possible for him to pursue a master's and doctorate degrees at Columbia University. This education led him to administrative positions in both Washington State and New York. He also in detailed the process by which he pursued the St. Cloud State presidency in 1951.

Budd covered his time at St. Cloud State. He felt that he was unprepared for a presidency, not really knowing what to expect. He also discussed the tremendous growth in population, both in St. Cloud itself as well as St. Cloud State, and how that affected his administration. In addition, he provided a detailed account of how the change from a teacher's college to a state university transformed the campus, leading to the addition to 12 new buildings and a complete makeover of the curriculum, as well as a growth in community involvement.

At the end of the interview, Budd tackled a variety of 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 all want to be teachers.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7459#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: L. (Lucy) Ruth Cadwell was born on December 4, 1897 in Boone, Iowa. Her ancestors were of Irish descent, and her father's family lived in Massachusetts for several generations. 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. She supervised at the Campus Laboratory School until her retirement in 1966. After retirement she taught Adult Basic Education courses, while also helping assemble "The Centennial History," a 9-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.

Transcript Summary: Cadwell chronicled her family background, including a brief history of how her family came from Ireland and Massachusetts to Iowa. She then discussed her schooling, from a one-room school house in Iowa to Boone High School, and then on to a college career where she trained to become a teacher.

Cadwell discussed her time at St. Cloud State, which began in 1924. She 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 also 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.

1 cassette tape

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7426#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Robert Coard was an English professor at St. Cloud State from 1960 to 1990. After teaching high school in Illinois and at the University of Nebraska from 1946 to 1948, he received his doctorate in English from Illinois in 1952. After earning his doctorate, Coard taught for five years at the Minot State Teacher's College in Minot, North Dakota. After three years at the University of Alabama, he was offered a position at St. Cloud State in 1960. Coard retired in 1990.

Transcript Summary: Coard detailed his college and graduate educational background, describing the positions he held before arriving in St. Cloud, his various teaching experiences, and explanations for why he chose to move on. For example, he taught for three years at the University of Alabama, but grew ever more uncomfortable with the tense racial situation and integration. Needing a more stable work environment, Coard accepted a position at St. Cloud State.

Coard described his time at St. Cloud State and the changes that occurred on campus. He said that there was no English department when he first arrived, and discussed the power George Budd had in expanding the curriculum and faculty. He also described the physical changes undergone by the campus. Coard briefly described what the campus looked like when he arrived and then what changed. He also mentioned Fifth Avenue South, where he lived for thirty years, and how it really went from a peaceful residential area to what he terms an area in "shambles."

Coard explained his ideas about students at St. Cloud State University, and how they have changed. He claimed that the university used to be much stricter with students, taking attendance and sending grades to parents if the student was under the age of 21. Overall, he felt his work with these students was a positive experience.

Interviewed by Jerry Westby

2 cassette tapes

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6828#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Mary Craik was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1924. Her family was very poor, and her father received only a second grade education. However, she finished high school in 1942, and worked several part-time jobs in the area before marrying her husband in 1945, who was in the Air Force. Craik did not consider attending college until 1951, when her husband went to Korea and she had given birth to three children. Her intellectual curiosity led her to begin attending college, eventually receiving her bachelor's degree in 1960 from the University of Texas at El Paso. Craik almost immediately began attending night classes in pursuit of a master's degree (which she earned from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1963) and later a doctorate in Educational Psychology in 1968 from the University of Iowa. In 1968, she came to St. Cloud State, where she began teaching in the Psychology department. At St. Cloud State, she helped establish a Psychology of Women Course, and also assisted in creating a Women's Studies minor. After being passed over for a promotion as chairperson, she filed a lawsuit against the university in 1976 that took 9 years to settle. The lawsuit led her to take an early retirement. Craik initially lost the suit, but upon appeal, the court ruled in her favor.

Transcript Summary: Craik described her family and educational background and how that affected her ideas about women and women's rights. Craik grew up in Kentucky, depicting her family as "hillbillies," since they were very poor and not very educated. She talked about getting married and having children young, then feeling an "intellectual curiosity" that forced her to pursue further education. She also discussed her time in Cambridge, England, where her husband was stationed for three and a half years, and how it inspired her to further her education. Craik detailed her decision to pursue her master's and doctorate degrees after taking almost 8 years to earn a bachelor's degree.

Craik discussed her arrival at St. Cloud State. She spoke of her efforts to establish a Women's Studies program, particularly her course called "Psychology of Women," which was immediately very popular. She also talked about the purpose of establishing that course, as well as some of the effects that course had on students' lives.

Craik chronicled the discrimination she encountered at SCSU, not just in her own experiences, but in that of other women and men. She detailed about what she believes changed, regarding the role of women, their salaries, and eligibility for promotion, in the 15 years she spent at St. Cloud State. In addition, Craik addressed some of the positive effects of her lawsuit, including the money it brought to some women on campus.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7432#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Clair Daggett was born in Wisconsin in 1909. His family hailed from Maine and was of Scottish and English descent. His family farmed in Omro, Wisconsin, where Dagget graduated from high school in 1927. He then attended college in Whitewater, Wisconsin, where he received a bachelor's degree in Commercial Education, which would today be called Business Education. After stints teaching high school in Menominee and Kenosha, Wisconsin, he pursued a master's degree at the University of Iowa, and came to St. Cloud State in 1939 to teach business courses. Dagget joined the Air Force during World War II, then returned to his position at SCSU, where he taught until 1974.

Transcript Summary: Daggett discussed his educational and family background. He detailed some roadblocks he encountered in his education due to family issues and accreditation problems between Iowa and Wisconsin universities. He provided some colorful anecdotes about his family and youth.

Next, Daggett chronicles his arrival to St. Cloud and his early years teaching at the university. Daggett detailed how small the Business Department initially was with only three faculty. In addition, he discussed his time in the Air Force during World War II, and how the G.I. Bill allowed him to obtain his doctorate when he returned from service. Daggett taught many veterans after his return, who were older than most students.

Finally, Daggett focused on the changes at St. Cloud State, and in his own department, experienced during his 35 years at the university. For example, the Business department grew from 3 faculty to 50 at the time of the interview. Here, Daggett also discussed the different St. Cloud State presidents and their administration. He claimed that president George Budd discouraged university employees’ involvement in downtown social clubs because Budd desired to be the sole connection between downtown and St. Cloud State.

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7402#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Ruth Dahlquist was born on January 18, 1898, in Stewart, Minnesota, about an 65 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Her maiden name was Senescall, and her ancestry was Swedish, German, and English. The town of Stewart, where she grew up, was a German community where German was still frequently spoken. Dahlquist always wanted to be a teacher, so attending St. Cloud State was the natural thing to do. After graduating in 1917, she found teaching jobs in Buffalo Lake and Hutchinson, Minnesota as well as Wyoming, before settling in LaPorte, Indiana, where she taught for 19 years. In 1946, Dahlquist married, and her husband passed away in 1955. She then taught in Michigan for 10 years before retiring.

Transcript Summary: Dahlquist described her family history and what inspired her to become a teacher. She talked about her ancestry, having English relatives on her father's side, as well as growing up in a largely German community. She also mentions that she had always wanted to be a teacher, and since so many girls from Stewart, Minnesota attended St. Cloud Normal School for that purpose, it seemed like the natural thing to do.

Dahlquist chronicled her time at St. Cloud State. She detailed what life was like in the dormitories. She claimed the teachers were very strict, so strict she was surprised. She discussed the two different St. Cloud State presidents she encountered, Isabel Lawrence and Joseph Brown. Brown, Dahlquist stated, was freer with the students and brought more modern ideas to the school. Dahlquist described several other teachers and their personalities, interests, and teaching styles. In addition, she explained what she and her friends would do during their time off, and also discussed the literary societies they were involved in, which, though not sororities, had many similarities to them.

Finally, Dahlquist's discussed her experiences after leaving St. Cloud State, including her marriage in 1946. She addressed such issues as World War I, which the U.S. became involved in during her time at the St. Cloud State. Dahlquist claimed that many students were shocked, and that the war was a controversial topic. She reflected on her experiences at St. Cloud State as a whole, and thanked the institution for being so severe and strict with her, as it provided her with a strong foundation that helped guide her for the entirety of her teaching career.

Biographical Information: Martha Dallman was born on March 20, 1904 in New Ulm, Minnesota. Both her parents were of German descent, and her mother migrated to Minnesota from Germany when she was 19. Her father was a minister for a German Evangelical Church, and later a minister for the United Church of Christ. He eventually gained a position at a church in St. Cloud at what is now Peace United Church of Christ. Martha chose to attend the St. Cloud State since it was close and she always wanted to teach. After graduating from the university in 1922, she taught in Tower for three years before attending the University of Minnesota for her master's degree. She accepted a job as a 5th grade Supervisor Critic in Winona, Minnesota, during which time she began work on her doctorate. After receiving her doctorate, she taught at several universities, including the University of Chicago, Wesleyan University in Ohio, and the University of Delaware. At the age of 78 she worked as a volunteer at Tiny Woods School in Mississippi, in charge of the reading lab. She also helped write several textbooks on teaching reading methods.

Transcript Summary: Dallman detailed her family history and upbringing, as well as her educational background. Here she discussed her father's work as a minister for the United Church of Christ, and how that affected her life and decisions. Her father, whose parents came from Germany, preached in German at first, but eventually transitioned to English as the younger generations could not understand German. Dallman also described her motivation to attend the St. Cloud State, based on both its proximity to her home as well as her desire to be a teacher.

Dallman discussed her time at St. Cloud State. Dallman described the teachers she admired, including Evelyn Pribble and President Joseph Brown, who she says was very personal with the students. She reflected on the fact that her strict father would not allow her to participate in any evening activities, which led her to feel that she missed out on some things. Dallman mentioned the rise in tuition when the school become St. Cloud State Teacher's College. Here she also discussed the fact that if a woman was married, it was much more difficult to find or keep a teaching job.

Dallman addressed the social activities she participated in at St. Cloud State, including the Avon Literary Society. She also discussed her life after leaving the Normal School, which led her to different teaching jobs in Minnesota. After earning her master’s and doctorate degrees, Dallman received several different teaching positions all over the country, from Chicago to Alaska. Dallman also discussed how her time at the St. Cloud State prepared her for a lifetime of teaching. Comparing the university to colleges today, she claimed that during her time at St. Cloud State, college was more of the exception than the rule. She believed today that going to college does not necessarily mean students are interested in studying and gaining knowledge.

2 cassette tapes

1 cassette tape

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7566#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: John Derus was born in 1940 in northeast Minneapolis. His family lived in the area for five generations, though they were originally of Irish, German, and French ancestry. Derus attended DaLaSalle High School, then the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship for a year before quitting in order to work to make money for his family. His father, along with one of his sisters, died in a plane crash, leaving the family financially strained. He decided that he wanted to work with children, and found a job as a counselor at the St. Cloud Children's Home, where he worked while fitting in classes where he could at St. Cloud State. He graduated from St. Cloud State in 1967 with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. He traveled to northern India with the Peace Corps where he taught English for two years. Upon his return he decided to get involved in politics, landing a position with Hubert Humphrey. He was elected as alderman of the 4th Ward in Minneapolis and later as Hennepin County Commissioner in 1974, a position he still held at the time of this interview.

Transcript Summary: Derus explained his educational background as well as his reasons for choosing to attend St. Cloud State University. Derus discussed his high school education and his excitement at receiving a football scholarship for the University of Minnesota. However, his father's death and his family's financial troubles forced him to abandon that scholarship to focus on earning money for his family. He explained the good things he heard about St. Cloud, as well as his desire to work with children and help those who were in trouble.

Derus chronicled his time in St. Cloud. He spent about 9 years here, attending classes when he could, but also working more than full-time, both at the Children's home and as a bartender. He discussed his favorite teachers, such as Herb Goodrich and Henry Goehring. In addition, Derus mentioned that he enjoyed the smaller class sizes, as compared with those at the University of Minnesota. A interesting aspect of the interview focused on Derus's description of the culture for young people in St. Cloud at the time, including living arrangements, and what he called a subculture of "workies," college students who were forced to work in order to put themselves through college.

Derus described his involvement in extracurricular activities at St. Cloud State, including one play and intramural sports. He also addressed his post-graduate experiences, including his work with the Peace Corps. Derus also described his relationship with Hubert Humphrey, who gave him his start in politics, and was inspired by President John Kennedy to try. In addition, he addressed the way in which students and faculty reacted to the Vietnam War. In particular, he recalled one small demonstration that led to the firing of one professor, which he felt was poorly handled. Finally, Deris detailed the way that the community of St. Cloud and the University helped him get his life on track at a time when it was not going well at all.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7399#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Marcus (Mark) Erickson was born on October 22, 1913 in Fairmont, North Dakota. When he was young, his family moved to St. Cloud after his father got a job for Pan Motor Company, and later at Mathew Lumberyard, where he worked for 30 years. After graduating from St. Cloud’s Technical High School in 1932, he decided to go to St. Cloud State to become a teacher. Here he received a Bachelor's degree in 1936 in Education, with majors in Science, Math, and Industrial Arts. After he graduated, he received teaching jobs in Remer and Brainerd, Minnesota, before he began working with the Army Air Force Program. Here he helped develop a program that would help correct improper weight and balance in airplanes. This program was later moved to Yale, where Erickson was able to receive his master's degree in Education. He also received a master's degree in Science from the University of Michigan. He then moved to California, where he taught until 1956, when he began working with the California Teachers Association. He remained in California and eventually retired.

Transcript Summary: Erickson detailed his family history and educational background. Erickson discussed his father's receiving a job with Pan Motor Company as their reason for moving to St. Cloud, though the company later folded as a result of the owner going to jail. He described his family was somewhat poor, so the decision to attend St. Cloud State was a natural choice, since it was affordable and would allow him to live at home. He also detailed his reasons for becoming a teacher.

Erickson chronicled his time at St. Cloud State, as well as his involvement with the National Youth Administration (NYA), a New Deal program that allowed students to take part in work study programs. If not for the NYA, Erickson would not have been able to finish college. He also discussed several important teachers to him, including Evelyn Pribble. Erickson claimed that the teachers were very strict, but only because they knew the students were there to learn. He also addressed some of the extracurricular and social activities he was involved in at St. Cloud State, including band and the Camera Club, as well as the demographics of the school.

Erickson talked about his career after graduating from St. Cloud State, and also reflected on the ways in which the University prepared him for his career and other aspects of his life. He also discussed his memories of how the Depression affected the school and the people around him. Overall, he claimed that St. Cloud State was a strict but friendly school that prepared him wonderfully for a career as a teacher.

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6831#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Louis Filippi was born on March 1, 1920 in Keewatin, Minnesota. His parents came from Pravigula, Italy in 1910. They settled in Keewatin, Minnesota, in the Iron Range, where his father worked in the mines. Filippi graduated from Downing High School in 1939, and decided, as many of his friends in the Iron Range did, to attend St. Cloud State University to become a teacher. During his years there he excelled at sports, especially football and basketball. Filippi graduated from St. Cloud State in 1943. After college, Filippi entered the service, despite having a contract with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. His time in the military took him from New Guinea to the Phillipines. When he finally returned to the United States in 1946, he opted out of his contract with the Eagles and moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, to work as a coach and teacher. He also coached high school sports, and even worked as a professional referee in the NCAA for 11 years. He married his wife in 1962, with whom he had six children.

Transcript Summary: Filippi detailed his family background. He discussed that his parents came from Italy before World War I and settled in the Iron Range. He also talked about growing up in the Iron Range, and the camaraderie that he formed with the other kids, whose parents also came from Europe. Filippi discussed his motivations for attending St. Cloud State, including the fact that two of his favorite goalies, Frank Brimsek and Sam Lopresti, attended the university. He was also encouraged to attend by Coach Ed Colletti.

Filippi chronicled his time at St. Cloud State. He discussed those 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 because of that common bond. Filippi described his involvement with sports. Initially he was in football, baseball, basketball, and track, until he had to drop track and baseball because of the war. He also discussed the effects that events such as the Depression and World War II had on his college career, including the B-7 Program, which allowed students to stay in college during the war.

Filippi described his impressions of St. Cloud State and its students. For example, 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 willing and 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 very involved in supporting the school at most functions. Filippi explained his impressions of the relationship between the city of St. Cloud and the university, stating that the community was supportive of the college, but not strong and adamant supporters of its activities. Filippi described his post-college career, including his time as a professional referee in the NCAA, as well as his time as a teacher and coach in Little Falls, Minnesota.

1 cassette tape

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/scsu_oh/9 [15213]

Biographical Information: Roland Fischer grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota. He attended his first year of college at the University of Iowa and then transferred to St. Cloud State. Roland graduated in 1958 with majors in Art and Theatre. Upon graduation, Roland taught in Columbia Heights and Forest Lake, Minnesota. He returned to St. Cloud State to get a master’s degree and was instrumental in the establishment of Theatre L’ Homme Dieu in Alexandria in 1961. Over the next 25 years, Roland, his wife Rachel, and growing family moved all over the world: California, Minnesota, Ireland, New Zealand, Minnesota, China, and, then in 1987, Minnesota again and a job at St. Cloud State University. Roland was hired as a staff member in the Center of International Studies, eventually appointed its director in 1992. He served in that position until 1998 and then retired in 2000. He continued to work some after retirement, serviced from 2007 to 2015 as the first Nankai University Binhai College Visiting Professor and as St. Cloud State president Earl Potter’s senior consultant on China from 2008 to 2016. Roland married his wife Rachel in 1958 and they had two children.

Transcript Summary: Roland described his early family history, growing up in Alexandria. After high school, he attended the University of Iowa for a year, then transferred to St. Cloud State in 1955. Roland was very active in the theatre program at St. Cloud State and graduated in 1958. He detailed his participation in the theatre program as well discussed what campus was like in the mid to late 1950s. He taught in Columbia Heights and Forest Lake, Minnesota. Returning to St. Cloud State in the early 1960s, Roland described his role in the establishment of Theatre L’ Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota, which served as a summer stock theatre for campus.

After a brief move to California, Roland and family returned to Minnesota. From then on, they the family moved to places around the globe, including Europe, New Zealand, and China, returning between each move to Minnesota. Roland described these experiences and what they were doing internationally.

In 1982, Roland met newly arrived Chinese students at the University of Minnesota. They became friends with these students and those who arrived after them. The Fischers were often invited to Chinese events at the University of Minnesota. This connection gave them the opportunity to teach in China. That opportunity came when Roland was hired to teach at Nankai University. At Nankai University, Roland used theatre as a way to teach Chinese students English. Eventually, Roland was able to tour the United States with a Chinese theatre troupe, including stops at St. Cloud State University.

In 1987, Roland returned to the United State and was hired at St. Cloud State’s Center for International Studies. He described his efforts to recruit international students to attend St. Cloud State with the support of St. Cloud State’s president, alum, and Canadian-born Brendan McDonald. McDonald’s successor Robert Bess was supportive of Roland’s efforts, who by 1992 was now director of the Center for International Studies. Roland’s role began to change in 1995 when Bruce Grube. Roland described his job after Grube became president and then in 2000, after three years of phased retirement, retired.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7453#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Herbert Goodrich was born in Manhattan, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His father emigrated from Russia, while his mother came to America from Poland. Goodrich graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, and attended the City College of New York, where he received his bachelor's degree in Education in English with a minor in speech. From New York, he went to Penn State, where he received his master's degree and then earning his doctorate in Mass Communications from the University of Illinois. He arrived at St. Cloud State in 1964, teaching in the Sociology and Anthropology department until 1990.

Transcript Summary: Goodrich explained his family and educational history, with attention paid to his upbringing in the very urban Brooklyn, New York, and the vast differences between that world and St. Cloud, Minnesota. He also discussed his first years at St. Cloud State, comparing them with the university in 1990, at the time interview was conducted. For instance, he talked about how the huge growth in student population was accompanied by a failure of the state of Minnesota to provide sufficient funds and resources to deal with that growth. He claimed that the growth contributed to a decline in familiarity and personal connections among staff, as well as a greater focus on publishing rather than the classroom.

Goodrich described how the students themselves changed during his time at St. Cloud State. He claimed that when he arrived in the 1960s, students were very demanding and not afraid to question what was being taught. In 1990, he felt that students were much quieter, and that there had been somewhat of a withdrawal from active learning.

Goodrich discussed the St. Cloud State’s perception as a "party" school, and how that has affected both students and faculty. Goodrich discussed the relationship between the university and the community of St. Cloud. Here he felt his ideas about universities was often seen as a threat to a conservative community, and how St. Cloud State fit into that idea. Goodrich discussed the highs and lows he experienced as a teacher, and how both relate to his impact, or lack thereof, on his students. Overall, he gave an insightful analysis of how the school changed, both on a large scale, and on a smaller scale by discussing changes within his own department, and credited the university for 26 years of wonderful academic and teaching experience.

Interview by Jerry Westby

1 cassette tape

1 cassette tape

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/scsu_oh/2 [11651]

Biographical Information: Art Grachek was born on October 4, 1940, in Gilman, Minnesota. The youngest of five children, Art arrived at St. Cloud State in 1958, graduating with a BS degree in 1962. After graduation, Grachek continued his education at St. Cloud State, working as program advisor in the registrar’s office, and then earning his master’s degree in 1964. He then taught at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, as well as taught courses at St. Cloud State and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. With wife Barb, Art moved to Detroit in 1968 to attend Wayne State University. Grachek returned to St. Cloud State in the fall of 1971 to teach in Speech Communication. While at St. Cloud State, he finished his Ph.D. program in 1974. Grachek retired in 2003. Grachek married Barb Svela in 1964 and had two children together, Sara and Rebecca.

Transcript Summary: In an oral history conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Tom Steman on March 7, 2017, retired faculty member Art Grachek spoke about his time at St. Cloud State as a student and long-time faculty member, life in Detroit, and activities during retirement.

Grachek discussed his family growing up in Gilman and then, as the first person in his immediate family to attend college. Before coming to St. Cloud State in 1958, Grachek briefly considered attending Northern Arizona University. While at St. Cloud State as an undergraduate, Grachek lived with long-time faculty member L. Ruth Cadwell, who he described as pleasant. While an undergraduate at St. Cloud State, Grachek was heavily involved with the Newman Center, where he met his future wife, Barb Svela. Graduating in 1962, Grachek continued his education at St. Cloud State, working as a program advisor while earning his master’s degree, which he received in 1964.

After graduation, Grachek taught business and, later, speech courses at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. He also taught at St. Cloud State and spent a year teaching at St. John’s University. Grachek decided to enroll in the Ph.D. program in speech communication at Wayne State University in Detroit, though he did not start there full-time until 1968. He spent time there in the summer of 1967, witnessing the race riots that were happening not far from campus. Grachek, who had married Barb in 1964, started a family while stil in St. Cloud and had completed his coursework by 1971.

Amongst many other offers, Grachek was hired as a faculty member in Speech at St. Cloud State in fall 1971 in a position that fit well with his interests. Upon earning his Ph.D. from Wayne State in 1974, Grachek was appointed department chair. Here Grachek witnessed the change and evolution of speech communication, as various disciplines that were often connected to it were spun off and the curriculum was modified to meet the changing needs of students. Grachek also touched upon his time at faculty athletic representative and his trips abroad through St. Cloud State International Studies program at Alnwick and Denmark. Grachek also discussed his relationship with Presidents Bob Wick and Brendan McDonald.

Grachek retired in 2002 and keeps busy with his work with the Kiwanis Club, Catholic Charities, and Clara’s House.

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7429#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Art Grachek was born on October 4, 1940, in Gilman, Minnesota. The youngest of five children, Art arrived at St. Cloud State in 1958, graduating with a BS degree in 1962. After graduation, Grachek continued his education at St. Cloud State, working as program advisor in the registrar’s office, and then earning his master’s degree in 1964. He then taught at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, as well as taught courses at St. Cloud State and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. With wife Barb, Art moved to Detroit in 1968 to attend Wayne State University. Grachek returned to St. Cloud State in the fall of 1971 to teach in Speech Communication. While at St. Cloud State, he finished his Ph.D. program in 1974. Grachek retired in 2003. Grachek married Barb Svela in 1964 and had two children together, Sara and Rebecca.

Transcript Summary: Grachek detailed his education and his return to St. Cloud State University in 1971. 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 SCSU and how he became heavily involved with the Inter-Faculty Organization (IFO). He discussed the idea that the IFO needed a political force to accompany it, which is why they founded 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 his 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.

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/scsu_oh/3 [11652]

Biographical Information: Barbara (Svela) Grachek was born on February 10, 1941 in Moorhead, Minnesota. She grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, and graduated from Hopkins (MN) High School. She matriculated to St. Cloud State University in the fall of 1958 and majored in Business and Physical Education, earning her BS degree in 1962. She earned her master’s degree at St. Cloud State in 1963 and her Ph.D. in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota in 1978.

During her 42 year association with St. Cloud State, Grachek held numerous positions including clerical support in Industrial Arts and the Print Shop as an undergraduate, graduate assistant, assistant registrar, faculty member, teaching classes in business and business education, including teaching at St. Cloud State’s Alnwick and Denmark programs, associate dean in Liberal Arts and Sciences, director of International Programs, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and briefly, Chief Executive Officer. Grachek was instrumental in developing the Bachelor of Elective Studies at St. Cloud. She was also the first Affirmative Action officer and Title IX Coordinator. As one of the first female vice-presidents at St. Cloud State University, her tenure reflects not only the professionalization of higher education but also the changing role of women in higher education administration.

Grachek married Art Grachek in June 1964 and have two children, Sara and Rebecca.

Transcript Summary: In this oral history interview conducted by St. Cloud State University Archivist Tom Steman on March 8, 2017, Barb Grachek shares her memories as an undergraduate living in Whitney House and working several clerical jobs on campus in the late 1950s. Also included are anecdotes about her working relationship with Brendan McDonald, as a babysitter for his children, working in the Registrar’s Office, and McDonald’s final commencement as St. Cloud State president. Her stories of living and teaching in Dearborn and Detroit, Michigan, including her experience of being in Detroit during the 1967 race riots, earning her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota while working at St. Cloud State, and teaching at SCSU’s Denmark program highlight her ability to balance professional and family life.

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:6834#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: Charles Graham was born in 1929 in Peru, Illinois. In the 1800s, Graham's ancestors emigrated from Ireland to the United States. His family farmed in Illinois, where Graham grew up. After graduating from LaSalle-Peru Township High School and attending one year at a local junior college, Graham attended the University of Illinois to pursue political science. He received his bachelor's degree in 1950, master's degree in 1951, and Ph.D. in 1955. Graham received invaluable experience before heading to Wisconsin State College in 1954, where he taught until 1963. During this time he also took a year off to work as a legislative assistant to US Senator William Proxmire, who was elected in 1957 to replace Joseph McCarthy. Upon leaving River Falls in 1963, he accepted a position as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wisconsin State College in Whitewater. Graham stayed at Whitewater until 1971 when he was named St. Cloud State president. Graham was still St. Cloud State president at the time of this interview, but would leave shortly to become the president of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He passed away December 23, 2016 and survived by wife Bonnie and three sons.

Transcript Summary: Graham discussed his family background and his educational history. He shared an anecdote about an ancestor who fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Graham said that his entire family always farmed until his father decided to go to college to become a teacher. He 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, as well as his time working with Senator William Proxmire. He detailed his impressions of Whitewater, a town he described as tumultuous and heavily affected by the turmoil of the 1960s, as it was near several large cities, including Chicago and Milwaukee. Graham touched on his appointment to a New Mexico college that he had to turn down. That appointment created a firestorm because Graham was not of Spanish origin in a community that was almost entirely Spanish. He saw St. Cloud State University as a change of scenery as well as a good step for his career.

Graham discussed his presidency at SCSU, 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 of wanting 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 addition of new buildings in 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.

1 cassette tape

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/stc:7414#/kaltura_audio

Biographical Information: 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. Despite being born in Minneapolis, Growe grew up in Buffalo, Minnesota. She graduated from Buffalo High School in 1953, and attended St. Cloud State to become a teacher. She completed her bachelor's degree in 1956, and went on to teach in Bloomington, Minnesota for two years. After two years, Growe worked as a substitute and tutor while also 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.

Transcript Summary: Growe discussed her family and educational background. She described the few career opportunities for women at the time. However, her parents encouraged her to go to college, so she decided to pursue teaching.

Growe chronicled her time at St. Cloud State University. She discussed her decision to complete her degree in 3 years. 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.

Growe briefly summarized her experiences after attending St. Cloud State, as well as what inspired her to become involved in politics. She also briefly discussed the ways in which St. Cloud State University prepared her for her future career.