Interviewer
David Brooks
Files
Description
Professor Emeritus Meyer Chessin describes his childhood in a Russian Jewish immigrant family living in the Bronx in New York City, New York, during the early 20th century. He tells of attending the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of California-Berkeley, and Ohio State University during the Great Depression and World War Two (WWII). He talks about his social and political activism during his tenure from 1949 to 1990 at the University of Montana focusing on issues such as the use of herbicides, pollution, the Vietnam War, and atomic testing. Chessin describes political meetings run by English Department faculty and attended by professors such as Leslie Fiedler, Mel Wren, “Smoky” Joe Kramer, and Burt Pfeiffer. He reminisces about the challenges of being Jewish in Montana. Chessin discusses some of the research projects conducted in the Botany Department during his tenure. He concludes by mentioning the changes to the University from the mid to late 20th century including growth and funding.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Botany Department, University of Montana; Leslie Fiedler; Mel Wren; “Smoky” Joe Kramer; and Burt Pfeiffer; World War (1939-1945); Great Depression
Original Date
9-15-2006
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
University of Montana Oral History Project, OH 408, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 408-005
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound file (1:37:55 min.) : digital, + 1 transcript (34 p. : 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
1:37:55 minutes
Local Filename
oh 408-05.mp3; OH408-005.pdf
Citation
Chessin, Meyer, "Meyer Chessin Interview, September 15, 2006" (2006). University of Montana Oral History Project. 5.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/umoh/5