White Hall Art Studio
7 images
The Art Department moved from White Hall around 2013 into which it had moved in 1967 shortly after the building's conversion from its previous life as Danbury High School. These are images of the space the Art Department had occupied in on the mid-town campus. The Art Gallery and Twin Studios
2021
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Attic of White Hall Graffiti
5 images
Student graffiti from the attic of White Hall which had been Danbury High School. Includes Jeanne Hafte '43, Claire Hatch '43, Leon Goetz '39, Bob Schanze '61,
2021
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Views of Berkshire Hall
18 images
Images captured before the renovation of Berkshire Hall
2021
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Commencement Exercises, May 2002 (program)
20 pgs
2002
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Commencement Exercises, May 2003 (program)
22 pgs
2003
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Ed Rosenberg Interview
1 cassette (60 min stock), ~60 mins.
Interview generally about the history of WestConn.
1998-05-06
0-10 mins.
Coverage: 1956-1998 Topics discussed : (side A): Background; hired in 1956 as part of the History/Social Science department; taught American history and Western Civilization; taught economics; gradually picked up more math courses; Math department; only Chester Floyd was there in beginning; as college grew, more math courses were needed; came point where he had to decide which department to teach and choose the math department and stayed until he retired in 1989; Physical changes between 1958; 1989; when he began, college was just Old Main, Fairfield Hall, and the original section of Higgins Hall; Berkshire was here and the gym had just been finished when he arrived; White Hall was still the high school in beginning; "the Hut" was here (Quonset Hut) that housed bookstore and lounge; Dr. Haas; very knowledgeable woman; school was her life; she did change over the years and adapted w/ the times; she was short changed by state w/ other universities due to her gender; Population; grew over the years; "Project Acorn"; the green between Berkshire and Higgins and Library and White was part of the beautification process; that area, the Quad, was originally a parking area; Parking; parking has always been a problem;
10-20 mins.
Had to take a ticket in order to get into parking lot, which saw several difficulties over years; Pre; Union history; faculty association in beginning, which was somewhat informal; this association had no power; could only have representation; usually held parties and other gatherings; in the 1970s, efforts made to form unions; Formation of Unions; AFT and AAUP, both teacher's unions; voted to go w/ the AAUP; Memorable moments; Vietnam War Era was a tense time; he had children in college at the time; they were hippies (one was arrested for demonstrating);
20-30 mins.
Kent State; after incident, students at Western did a few things; once during faculty senate a group of students came asking for the campus to be closed down in observation of what happened at Kent State; a decision wasn't made immediately, but w/in a couple of days a group of students showed up at Dr. Haas' office demanding campus closing; Majors occurrences during 1960s; a microphone was set up on 7th Avenue where students would speak; while students sometimes demanding classes canceled, they never were; he did use time in his class to talk about the JFK assassination; Changes in students; attitude in how they took education; small percent went from high school to college in beginning;
30-40 mins.
College went from privilege to a right; growth of college contributed to change; Spring events; "Sing Night" and "Skit Night" done by the four classes; brought everyone together and attended by everyone; gradually as college grew, this event disappeared; Older students; many were much more serious about their education than younger ones; tended to be better students and use time more efficiently; Student preparation; it began to fall off w/ increase of student population; the establishment of the Basic Studies program to keep numbers up; Basic Studies; brought in students who weren't college ready to prepare them; given special courses to give them experience; professors w/ Ph. D found teaching in program to be step down because it dealt w/ lower level material; Satisfaction w/ teaching career; He got involved w/ many things when he got to Western (started soccer); has kept in touch w/ many of his former students (particularly first ones);
40-50 mins.
Took a two; year leave between 1976; 78; took him awhile to get back involved in committees and such; didn't feel he had as much influence or contact w/ students; towards end it became less fun; Presidents; Dr. Haas was great supporter of students and had an open door policy; Dr. Bersi was very good and able to get more from the state; Dr. Feldman he wasn't a fan of and felt he shouldn't have been president; Dr. Roach he feels is a good person, but he never worked for him, so isn't sure of his work (does believe he is probably doing a good job): Dr. Haas supporting her faculty; always protected them; once a member accused of being a communist (he wasn't) and she defended him; Dr. Bersi; did support faculty; wasn't on campus very much
0-10 mins
(side B): History of WestConn; one written by Dr. Charlotte Isham (1903; 1978); he wrote a follow; up later on; Expansion of college; been able to serve more students; take larger role in community; has separated the school however; Influence of WestConn; many of the recent mayors of Danbury have been WestConn grads; many principals and teachers in area are grads; has a good record and glad he worked at WestConn