Rikert, Carroll (trustee, administrator), July 1, 1975

1 interview with Carroll Rikert, Jr. conducted by David Stameshkin.

Trustees Procter, Hadley, Allen take leading role (01:01); MIT treasurer (01:30); Dr. Stephen A. Freeman, acting president 1953, Hadley, Procter, Allen active roles (04:05) Ted Lang named treasurer, succeeds Allen (04:30) senior trustees: Lang was least recognized and most significant (05:00) Lang's influence on the college was great (05:45); Hadley, Procter, Allen relied upon Brigham's judgement; (06:01) National Life (6:15); Brigham- formal and conservative (06:40) Gertrude Cornish Milliken, first woman named a Middlebury trustee - held in high esteem by Hadley, Allen, Procter (07:08) Milliken close friend of Hadley's wife from college (08:00); men difficult, but Milliken dealt with them well (08:47) Elizabeth Walt Baker Kelly was another who gained respect from male trustees (09:00); Judge Kerry, 1911 alum-very helpful in law committee (10:20); Stratton-Kerry fallout (11:10); board meetings with Allen, Hadley, Procter available, Ted Lang (12:38); Sunderland, senior partner-Gardner Reed NY law firm (13:55); board member Sunderland generous to Middlebury as chairman of Finance Committee (14:56) Mrs. Sunderland, brochure-effect on trustees Brigham, Allen (15:17); Sunderland telegram, $3 million endowment (16:30) Sunderland personality as name dropper (17:03) Allen, Procter not Midd alum-McCullough held in highest regard by Hadley, Procter and Lang due to intelligence and wit (18:15); Sunderland showed persistence, generated admiration-later years with health ailment on face-he attended commencements and board meetings (19:40); Stratton was very smart, incisive, persistent, stubborn (21:18) G.I.s wanted to return after the war-they were replaced by female students (22:06) Stratton faceoff with Storrs Lee (22:48); Stewart Hall built-money borrowed from federal government first time-Stratton, Lee have a faceoff regarding Battell building (24:24) Stratton committed to residential life (24:32) alum Stan Wright (25:59); Stratton as master salesman in getting students from "better families" to Middlebury after the war (26:42); first wave G.I.s flooded college (27:04); sought male bodies (27:24); Stratton intention to bring in students from town, Snow Bowl development used as benefit to recruit faculty (29:01); Stratton worked hard to establish faculty compensation (31:20); Stratton created opportunity to get Ford Foundation Challenge Grant-10-year budget layout. He should get credit for that achievement (32:59); Memorial Field House, Starr Library addition, Procter Hall completed- also Stratton responsible for bringing in faculty from abroad, Art Dept. (35:00); Dr. Freeman expanded summer language school (35:50); educating teachers in secondary schools (36:30); Freeman's loyalty to Stratton (37:11); major change faculty shifts loyalty from the institution to specific discipline (38:45); faculty forgives student shortcomings (40:05); John Boward departure in sports, Bob Klafer to Maine (41:24); student body is second major change-lack of community as a whole (42:48); class restructured-student choir formed, end of chapel service (49:15); community is relative, large versus small institution, younger professors and goal to attain recognition outside of college (50:45); how to develop community atmosphere (53:03); church plays minor role in faculty (53:55) students back on track (53:58).