Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990
Collection Overview
Title: Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990
ID: OGLMC1213
Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1990
Subjects: Civil Rights, Great Depression, Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL), University of North Dakota - Administration, University of North Dakota - Camp Depression
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Subject/Index Terms
Civil Rights
Great Depression
Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL)
University of North Dakota - Administration
University of North Dakota - Camp Depression
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Donation; 90-1723
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Oral History Interviews Collection. OGLMC 1213, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in October 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Item:
[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]
- Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger
Interviewed by John Davenport on October 17, 1975
During the late 1940s and 1950s, their goal was to reestablish conditions as they had been before the Great Depression. They resumed publication of North Dakota Quarterly, worked to get library acquisitions increased, and tried to increase the number of graduate students.
Attracting faculty to the history department was hindered by Department Head Felix Vondracek's lack of leadership. The department had only one phone and no clerical help, because Vondracek never requested budget funds for these things. There was a lack of privacy and professionalism.
They reported that faculty members had higher ambitions for the university than the administration, and that the administration was not very responsive to what younger faculty members were trying to do. President George Starcher, however, brought in a new attitude. It was reported that UND's six-member history faculty did a better job of teaching than a lot of larger history departments because UND concentrated on teaching. Other universities were more concerned about research, a matter which did not effect UND, as the university lacked the resources to conduct a lot of research.
They discussed the beginnings of archive and manuscript collections at the library. They did not recall any stigma ever associated with being political, although President John West was concerned about keeping the university nonpartisan.
Some of the changes in teaching and students over the years from the 1940s to the 1970s include increased usage of audio-visual materials instead of straight lectures, a preference among students for a variety of readings instead of one textbook, and more classroom discussion.
Events discussed in this interview range from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 787, 788, and 789
Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 1, Folder 7 (46 pages)
Browse by Item:
[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]