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 14: William Koenker
Interviewed by John Davenport and Dan Rylance, May 18, 1976
William Koenker started as an Associate Professor at UND in 1946, later became Chairman of the Economics Department, and in 1959 became director of the Bureau of Economic Research. In 1962 he was appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs. He retired on July 1, 1976.
Koenker worked with Cliff Kelley to develop the Bureau of Economic Research. Part of its original purpose was providing faculty with summer employment, and organizing research projects.
In 1962, when Koenker was selected Vice President for Academic Affairs, he was given almost complete freedom in defining his job. He saw a large part of his job as being the faculty's representative in the central administration. One of his major goals was improving the selection process for deans and department chairmen. Koenker discussed some of the mistakes made in dean selections over the years, and some of the important qualities in a dean.
Koenker said President Tom Clifford was more of an organizational man than Starcher. Clifford assigned specific areas of responsibility so that the vice presidents could each run their own shops while he was gone, and he also provided enough interaction between the vice presidents so they could work well together on issues that overlapped their boundaries.
Koenker said McCarthyism did not have much impact at UND as both President West and President Starcher were strong defenders of academic freedom. Koenker also reported that Starcher deserves much more credit than J. Lloyd Stone for nurturing contacts with benefactors such as Chester Fritz and Edmund Hughes. He also commented on the roles of the State Board of Higher Education, the Higher Education Commissioner and university presidents. He said both Starcher and Clifford have made it clear that university decisions would be made by UND and not by the city of Grand Forks.
Most of the events discussed date from the 1940s to the 1970s.
Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 782-784
Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 1, Folder 12
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]