Description: Ruth Kuhn Youngerman (1914-2021) was a member of the Class of 1935. She studied Economics and attended graduate school for business. Ruth joined the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, but she was not very active in it. Finally, Ruth said she did not experience discrimination as a Jewish student. At the time of her death in December 2021 at age … Read More
James Vaky
Description: James Vaky (1911-2012) was a member of the Class of 1933. He initially studied music, but graduated with a degree in Education. James played in the band, and he was a member of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. Also, he won the Poetry Prize. Date of Interview: 5/22/2001 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: James Vaky Oral History Transcript Related Resources: Archives … Read More
Jean Peabody Taylor
Description: Jean Peabody Taylor (1914-2009) was a member of the Class of 1935. She graduated with a degree in Accounting, but retrained to be a teacher. Jean worked throughout college and lived at home. Date of Interview: 1/23/2001 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: Jean Peabody Taylor Transcript Related Resources: Archives Alumni Oral History Project Files
Audrey Moore Stewart
Description: Audrey Moore Stewart (1910-2018) graduated in 1932 with a degree in Journalism. She took some graduate courses and finished a second BA in English in 1934. Audrey joined the Alpha Delta Theta sorority and the Glee Club; and she wrote for the Daily Illini. Her family was well-off, so Audrey did not experience financial difficulty in the Depression. She … Read More
Portia Allen Smith
Description: Portia Allyn Smith (1916-2015) attended the University from the fall of 1934 through 1937. She studied Geology and lived in a co-op house. Portia worked for the National Youth Administration as a clerk to pay for her living expenses. She remembered a bias against women in the sciences. Date of Interview: 4/18/2001 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: Portia Allyn Smith Oral History Transcript … Read More
Darius Phebus
Description: Darius Phebus (1910-2007) graduated in 1933. He studied Liberal Arts as an undergraduate; and he later went to law school. Darius did not have a lot of money during the Great Depression. In fact, he worked for a sorority to help pay for his education and his living expenses. Date of Interview: 12/6/2000 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: Darius Phebus Oral … Read More
Mary Kay Hansen Peer
Description: Mary Kay Hansen Peer (1914-2002) graduated in 1934. She majored in English, but she had an unfulfilled dream of studying Business and managing a hotel. Mary Kay was a typist in high school and college. Also, she worked for a handful of departments across the University. She said the Depression was hard, but she did not suffer too much. Date … Read More
Barbara Bischoff Patten
Description: Barbara Bischoff Patten (1914-2004) was a member of the Class of 1936. She joined a sorority and majored in History. Barbara did not have a lot of extra money during the Depression, but she was not impoverished. Nevertheless, Barbara worked as a store clerk during college. Date of Interview: 5/1/2001 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: Barbara Bischoff Patten Oral History Transcript Related Resources: … Read More
William O’Dell
Description: William O’Dell (1909-2009) graduated in 1931. He joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity and studied Commerce and Business. William said his choice of major made him aware of the stock market crash and the Great Depression. He said he felt a pinch during the Depression, but he was not seriously impoverished. Date of Interview: 3/18/2001 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: William O’Dell Oral … Read More
Mary Monahan
Description: Mary Monahan (1905-2003) was a member of the Class of 1927. She studied Journalism and wrote for the Daily Illini. Mary did not need to have a job when she was in college. She enjoyed watching sports and was active in the Newman Chapel. Date of Interview: 3/28/2001 Interviewer: Ellen Swain Transcript: Mary Monahan Oral History Transcript Related Resources: Archives Alumni Oral History … Read More