Oral Histories

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Marion Munford, Class of 1932. During the interview, Munford discusses her 60th reunion; freshmen women's in-town housing; the disappointment of freshman year; the biology major; compulsory daily and Sunday chapel; campus activities; honorary societies; sororities and fraternities; the relationship between Middlebury College students and the town of Middlebury, Vermont; student life; dress code; weekends; college as career preparation; her career; teaching; libraries;...

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1 interview with Gertrude (Bittle) Murray, Middlebury College Class of 1939. During the interview, Murray discusses the Theatre major; the Weybridge playhouse; American literature; Professor Reginald L. Cook; debate team; Dean Ross; Depression; passion puddle; active political awareness; and the closeness of the college community.

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Group oral history collected by Rebekah Irwin and Aylie Baker (Middlebury Class of 2009) during the Iftar meal breaking the Ramadan fast at the Muslim Students Association Room in Forest Hall. Topics included racial discrimination, the Muslim bans (a series of discriminatory executive orders and proclamations issued by the Trump administration), and college experiences of Muslim students.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Walter "Duke" Nelson, retired Middlebury College Football Coach. Nelson discusses what he studied at Middlebury; athletics; field house; athletic facilities; coaching football, hockey and golf; teaching PE; intermurals; lacrosse; comparing Middlebury to other colleges; student activities; changes in Middlebury; teaching sports at a young age; World War II; what makes Middlebury unique; the rural setting; the growth of Middlebury; scholarships; financial aid; President Moody;...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Fred Neuberger, Middlebury College Dean of Admissions, conducted by Tom Alderman. During the interview, Neuberger discusses Middlebury College admissions (specifically the diversity and growth of the student population), the status of Middlebury in higher education, affirmative action and students of color, Middlebury's relationships with historically Black colleges, racism in the South, the Minority Advisory, recruiting students of color at DeWitt Clinton High School,...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Berthe O. Normano, Professor of Russian, by Ron Nief. Normano discusses the Russian Revolution; Saint Petersburg; public sentiment about Russian revolution; Lenin; German occupation; how she left Russia; how she got into Germany; living in Kiev; Russian education system; Red army; traveling to Finland; looking for her husband in Finland; being in political quarantine in Finland; assassination of the Tsar; how she came to Middlebury; living in France; why she decided to...

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1 interview with Victor Nuovo, Middlebury College Professor of Religion and Philosophy. During the interview, Nuovo discusses changes at Middlebury through five administrations; Middlebury students during the 1960s and 1970s; changes in curriculum; and the disbandment of fraternities.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Karl Obrath, Professor of German at the German School.Obrath discusses Middlebury's reputation; what he likes about Middlebury; teaching at Univeristy of Cincinatii; language program for musicians; recruiting; courses targetting teachers; what makes Middlebury SLS more effective than study abroad; language pledge; what students do in their free time; pressure on the students; types of students at German School; spies at SLS; shift from grammar translation method to...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Nobuo Ogawa, Professor Japanese at the Japanese School. Ogawa discussed why he likes teaching at Middlebury; the language pledge; live-in instructors; the isolation of Middlebury; Oral proficiency interviews; what students gain from studying in Japan; Japanese language school curriculum; using technology as a resource; Japanese grammar; what kinds of students attend Japanese language school; enrollment; Chinese studies; Japanese Exchange Teaching; Japanese education...

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1 interview with Ward L. Oliver, Middlebury College Class of 1925, by Joice Pangalila. During the interview, Oliver discusses his experience at Middlebury; academics; student social life; track and field; cross country; compulsory chapel; relationships between students and faculty; and reunion.

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Interview discussion between Jo Opot, Class of 2005, and Mike Schoenfeld, Senior VP and Chief Philanthropic Advisor. Collected by Danielle Rougeau, College Archivist.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Harold Parker, Middlebury College Class of 1944 and Instructor in Sociology. During the interview, Parker discusses having family members at Middlebury before he arrived in 1940; joining the military; majoring in sociology, psychology, and physical education; coming back to Middlebury after the war as a married student; his time as instructor in the Army Air Force; using "Free Frank Mails" to keep in touch with Middlebury while on military duty; being a student, faculty...

Scope and Contents 1 audio cassette tape containing interview with Gordon Perine, Class of 1949, conducted by David Stameshkin. Middlebury graduate 1949 - presently director, Alumni Affairs - has been college administrator since 1951 (00:30); Came to Middlebury in February, 1946 when he was 25, after marine corps, well-rounded student body, various economic backgrounds due to GI Bill, which he had (02:25) worked many student jobs on campus, made $225 month (03:05); scholarship changed economics at...

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1 interview with Gordon Perine, Class of 1949, and Middlebury College Senior Development Officer. During the interview, Perine discusses the evolution of the student population and the college community at Middlebury, as well as the changing status of fundraising in higher education.

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1 interview with Bruce B. Peterson, Class of 1956, conducted by David Stameshkin in the Library basement. Peterson discusses his role as faculty chairman; trustees; the Arts Center; the student center; new departmental programs; salary; tenure; raising tuition; curriculum; science departments; winter term; fluctuation in enrollment in various departments; faculty relations; growth of student body; and student-faculty interactions.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Bruce B. Peterson (Class of 1956) conducted by Deborah Clifford. Judith and Bruce Peterson discussed the difference between female and male Middlebury applicants; social class differences; diversity; double standards for women, restrictions on women; freedom of men; the social divide between men and women; getting pinned; fraternities; blanket permission; going to New York state to drink legally; changes in fraternities over the years; sororities; compulsory chapel; Storrs...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Max P. Peterson, Director of Sports Information. During the interview, Peterson discusses his retirement in 1991; his time as Director of Sports Information; the changing role of college public relations; the News Service and the College's response to Vietnam activism; South Africa divestment; campus dialogue; the college campus as a reflection of society; the changing nature of the College population; the relationship between Middlebury College and the town of Middlebury,...

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1 interview with Robert Pickard, Middlebury College Class of 1940, by Joice Pangalila. During the interview, Pickard discusses life at Middlebury; student and faculty relationships; academics; limited programs and excellent quality; student social life; and fraternities and sororities.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Lawrence J. Pierce, Middlebury College Class of 1921. During the interview, Pierce discusses World War I; the Vermont voluntary militia; the effect of the war on the College; the 1918 flu epidemic; academic experience; Babson Institute; financial research; move to Seattle; World War II; education at Harvard and Yale; education administration; 75th reunion; rhododendron cultivation; West Coast alumni; the town of Middlebury, Vermont; travel; "Reminiscences & Reflections:...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Edwin L. Pool, Middlebury College Professor of Chemistry. From 18:00 to 29:00 minutes static and additional static throughout tape. Pool discusses how he got a position at Middlebury; Professor Voter; slow growth of Middlebury; facilities; low salaries; designing the science center; Chemistry department; 4 1 4 program; relations within the chemistry department; 1st generation college students; student faculty relations; distribution requirements; biology; the hippie...

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1 interview with Chandler Armstrong Potter, Middlebury College Professor of Drama. During the interview, Potter discusses education and the Theatre department; comparisons of fine arts and academic programs; and the relationship between Middlebury College and the town of Middlebury, Vermont.

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1 interview with Alfredo Ramon, Professor of Spanish at the Spanish School.Ramon discussed his work as a painter and his work with the theatre; the Middlebury program in Madrid; traveling to Spain; how he came to Middlebury; what the Spanish school is known for; feminism; differences between Spanish and American culture; and what he likes about teaching.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Jean Claude Redonnet and Pierre Souque, Professors of French at the French School. Redonnet and Souque discussed what they like about the Middlebury community; French class sizes; their future jobs; the language pledge; why it is better to go to Middlebury than France; how demanding Language school is; graduate students; diplomacy; Language school alumni; how to teach French culture; the connection between culture and language; French media programs; tailoring the curriculum...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Jochen Richter, Professor of German and Director of the German School.Richter discussed how long he was working with the German school; being acting director; what he likes about teaching; the intensity of the program; what kinds of student come to Middlebury; visiting guests; East German attitudes toward West Germans; German curriculum; sprapo; East German attitudes toward West Germans; German curriculum; sprapo to enforce the language pledge; funny German School stories;...

Scope and Contents Includes one interview featuring three panelists from the sociology, economics, and anthropology departments. Also includes one oral history interview with Justin Ricker. Vice-presidents Walter Rooker and Bud Leeds (02:45); 49 years as teacher (03:50); president made millions of dollars (04:27); 2 students in his high school class-Elcat and his brother, Jewish faith. "Fired" Elcat from his class (06:25); Elcat's writing career began, thanked Ricker for "firing" him...

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Caroll Rikert, Jr. College treasurer 1952-1975, Knew management issues at colleges compared to commercial institutions. Scheduling is different due to language programs added to within a short summer period (1:56); different hierarchy (3:17); Cape Cod's challenging programs (4:10); no down time because of summer programs (5:30); pyramid reporting in hierarchy-lack of continuity and must be rebuilt each year (8:24); endowment future needs- descending incentive...

Scope and Contents 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...

Scope and Contents The history of cross-country sking at Middlbury College and building the facility at the Bread Loaf campus now known as the Rikert Ski Touring Center. Interviewees are Ken Perine '73, John Rubright, former Director of the Bread Loaf cross-country facility 1982-2011, Jane Moulton, Rikert Operations Associate, and Joanne Scott, wife of John Rubright. Ralph Myhre, who saw the growing interest in x-c skiing, hired Perine in 1975 to cut trails at Bread Loaf and to establish the course around the...

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This oral history interview, Riley [unknown last name] (Class of 2022) discusses reactions to the 2020 election as a trans-femme individual, the need to stay radical, and hopes for the future and the rest of the semester.

Scope and Contents 1 interview with Middlebury College President Olin Clyde Robison by David Stameshkin.Increase term trustees, decrease amount of alum trustees from 8 to 6, results in reduced number of charter trustees- result is a regenerated Board - accelerate turnover-it is politically sensitive (01:52); pleased with annual giving, $75-$76,000 in 1986, in 1975 it was $40,000 (02:47); next year number will increase- due to aging of alumni (04:50); comparing Middlebury students to Amherst,...