Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990

Oral History Interviews Collection

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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

This collection contains oral history interviews recorded on audio cassettes, as well as transcripts of most of the interviews. The interviews were conducted from 1974 to 1990, mostly by members of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

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 27: Robert Wilkins

Interviewed by John Davenport, January 23, 1976

Robert Wilkins joined the faculty of the UND History Department in 1945. He was born in Hammond, Indiana, and graduated from high school there. He attended West Virginia University at Morgantown and Indiana University at Bloomington. He taught high school history at Hammond, Indiana, and he worked for the Sinclair Refining Company during World War II.

In this interview, Wilkins commented on many faculty members and administrators employed by the university over the years. He said President John West was of administrative rather than academic background and had a philosophy of practicality in education.

Wilkins discussed Felix Vondracek's tenure as chair of the History Department. Vondracek was not a good planner for the department, which caused problems. The faculty had to circumvent him when they needed something. Vondracek was very militaristic and held extreme anti-Communist views.

Dean Robert Witmer was a scientist and accomplished little for the arts during his years as Dean of Arts and Sciences. Wilkins also discussed Dean Olaf Thormodsgard and the changes in the law profession and law school over the years. He said Thormodsgard did not believe in tough grading standards. Wilkins said Richard Bek presided over the stagnation of the languages department. Bek always promoted himself, but missed the opportunity to upgrade the department when a lot of money was available for education after the Sputnik incident. Wilkins also mentioned Joe Tamborra, a professor of Italian and French.

He also described various radio programs involving university students and faculty, including a series called "Dakota Sketches," based on Elwyn Robinson's Heroes of Dakota series.

Wilkins was chair of the Honors Day committee during George Starcher's presidency. The Honors Program was Starcher's idea. Wilkins said he has been very disappointed in the Honors Program, because the students involved are no smarter than anyone else, and the program has become a way to do less work. Faculty lectures were another of Starcher's ideas. Wilkins thought that many of the lectures were not of the quality that faculty lectures should be.

Wilkins said Starcher had a cold, aloof image, but did bring brought more money to the university than West. Wilkins felt this was because Starcher had a better understanding of what a university should be and his earnestness convinced people of the importance of the university and of what he was trying to accomplish.

He mentioned the Wranglers, a conservative campus group made up of Witmer, Thormodsgard, and others who were against changes that Starcher was making.

Most of the events discussed in this interview date from the 1930s through the 1960s

Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 790-800

Transcript: OGLMC 1213, Box 2, Folder 6 and Folder 7 (236 pages)

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids