This collection contains interviews detailing student and faculty life at the University of Montana from the 1930s to the 1980s. The interviews were conducted in 1991 by Annie Pontrelli in preparation for the University of Montana’s centennial in 1993. The interviewees discuss attending the University, the student organizations and activities in which they participated, their faculty colleagues, and former and current University presidents. The interviewees also provide advice to current students about how to make the most of their time at UM. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 270 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 42 interviews.
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Maxine Blackmer Interview, August 30, 1991
Maxine Blackmer
Maxine Blackmer describes her time as both a graduate student and faculty member in the University of Montana’s Department of Art. Blackmer discusses changes in the organization and operation of the department during her tenure. She talks about student attitudes and the relationships among faculty ... Read More
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Meyer Chessin Interview, July 16, 1991
Meyer Chessin
Meyer Chessin describes his career as a professor in the University of Montana’s (UM) Department of Botany from 1949 until his retirement in 1988. Chessin talks about witnessing many changes in the growth of the faculty and student population at UM as well as the ... Read More
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Patricia Freeman Dunkum Interview, July 31, 1991
Patricia Dunkum
Patricia Freeman Dunkum, daughter of University of Montana (UM) English professor Edmund Freeman, discusses her father’s life from 1919 until his death in 1976. Dunkum describes Freeman’s teaching style and his dedicated involvement on campus. She read excerpts from his writings about university life, relationships ... Read More
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Phillip Wright Interview, July 22, 1991
Phillip Wright
Phillip Wright describes his tenure teaching ornithology and mammalogy at the University of Montana (UM) from 1939 until 1985. He recalls serving as chairman of the Zoology Department and teaching at the Biological Station. He notes the changes that occurred during his tenure including an ... Read More
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Reuben A. Diettert Interview, July 30, 1991
Reuben A. Diettert
Reuben Diettert discusses coming to the University of Montana (UM) in 1937, where he taught in the Botany Department until 1972. He describes some of his career accomplishments including organizing the state science fair, the bowling league, and the Missoula Rose Society. He talks about ... Read More
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Richard Solberg Interview, October 16, 1991
Richard Solberg
Richard Solberg reminisces about attending the University of Montana (UM) in the 1950s and returning in 1961 to teach in the Department of Botany. He describes serving as director of the Biological Station, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and then dean ... Read More
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Richard Solberg Interview, October 30, 1991
Richard Solberg
Richard Solberg talks about teaching at the University of Montana (UM) in the Department of Botany, and he details his personal teaching philosophy. He discusses the rivalry between UM and Montana State University (MSU) students as well as the student protests of the late 1960s. ... Read More
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Robert Burgess Interview, July 29, 1991
Robert Burgess
Robert Burgess recalls beginning his career as an assistant professor of French in 1947 at the University of Montana (UM). He describes the strenuous requirements for university faculty for teaching multiple classes in addition to serving on committees. He discusses his appointment to department chair ... Read More
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Robert C. "Bob" Hendon Interview, 1991
Robert C. Hendon
Robert Hendon describes attending the University of Montana (UM) during the late 1920s and obtaining his bachelor’s degree in journalism. He discusses getting his law degree at UM and meeting his wife there.
This interview is only partially transcribed due to poor audio quality.
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Robert Henry "Ty" Robinson Interview, August 6, 1991
Robert Henry Robinson
Robert “Ty” Robinson describes attending the University of Montana (UM) between the 1930s and 1940s and obtaining his law degree in 1948. He discusses changes and growth in Missoula, Montana, since that time including the governance of university presidents and the evolution of student life ... Read More
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Robert Sullivan Interview, September 24, 1991
Robert Sullivan
Robert Sullivan describes serving as assistant dean, and then, dean of the University of Montana (UM) School of Law from 1954 until 1978, when he became vice-president and general counsel of Montana Power Company. Sullivan discusses the School of Law’s transition to the semester system, ... Read More
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Robert T. "Bob" Pantzer Interview, July 9, 1991
Robert T. Pantzer
Robert T. Pantzer speaks about three distinct phases of his time at the University of Montana (UM) from the 1930s to the 1970s. He remembers his student years as a carefree time where students had few responsibilities. He recalls serving in the U.S. military during ... Read More
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Robert "Van" Loren Van Horne Interview, August 7, 1991
Robert Loren Van Horne
Robert Van Horne describes his tenure at the University of Montana (UM) as Dean of the School of Pharmacy from 1956 until his retirement in 1985. He discusses the small student body and limited budget when he arrived in the 1950s. Van Horne talks about ... Read More
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Sherman V. Lohn Interview, November 4, 1991
Sherman V. Lohn
Sherman Lohn describes attending the University of Montana (UM) from 1939 to 1942, then serving World War Two. He talks about returning in 1946 to obtain his Bachelor of Law degree, acquiring his master’s from Harvard University, then returning to UM again in 1952 to ... Read More
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Thomas Payne Interview, August 1, 1991
Thomas Payne
Thomas Payne recounts some of the changes to the University of Montana (UM) campus since the 1950s, the attitudes of students and faculty near and during the Vietnam War and transitions under different presidents. He talks about completing his undergraduate degree in Missouri then serving ... Read More
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Violet Elizabeth "Vi" Thomson Interview, August 2, 1991
Violet Elizabeth Thomson
Violet Elizabeth "Vi" Thomson describes attending the University of Montana (UM) from 1936 to 1938, where she majored in English and graduated with a teaching certificate. She discusses the difficulty of being a non-traditional student with two children and a sick husband. Thomson talks about ... Read More
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William R. Ballard Interview, July 24, 1991
William R. Ballard
William Ballard discusses the changes in the Department of Mathematics during his tenure at the University of Montana (UM). He relates his experiences under different administrations and the strengths of each UM president. Ballard further explains his personal teaching philosophy and his career accomplishments and ... Read More