Claire Geddes (interview); Creator: Geddes, Claire; Interviewer(s): (no name given); Interview location: unknown; Running time: 30 min., Jun 14, 1905

Coverage: 1944-1992
Topics discussed : (side A): WestConn in 1940s; first job was in physical education; no men because of the war, but men had been here; the gym was in basement of Old Main; two tennis courts where student union is now; athletic field where Berkshire is now; only buildings on campus were Old Main and Fairfield Hall; Dr. Jenkins; was president when she arrived; dies shortly after she arrived; Dean of Women; appointed position by Dr. Haas after she became president; lived in Fairfield Hall; Various Committees; coordinated admissions; had role in scholarships; guidance committee; chair of screening committee; Men enter the school; came back after end of WW II; Al Geddes became Dean of Men and took charge of some of the committees; Dorm situation; always had problem w/ it; had full control over housing; checked all available housing before allowing students to go there; Litchfield Hall came while she was there; worked w/ architect; house mothers were needed; Newbury Hall came as well; drew up original plans for Grasso Hall; finally got chance to see it; Background; a year at Arnold College (now a division of University of Bridgeport); transferred to New College (experimental branch at Columbia); Master's at University of Michigan; started Doctorate at Columbia (never finished though); Coming to WestConn; had taught in East Hartford when Dr. Haas and Dr. Jenkins needed a physical education teacher; former teacher got job in red cross and recommended her; Changes after WW II; enrollment increased and that allowed more course offerings; they received music program as a specialty focus; nursing was unique at the college; business school last major difference; Returning students; title of Dean of Men and Women lasted until Dean of Students Affairs; Dorms; strict rules; no drinking or smoking; had to be in their rooms by a certain time; Tunnels; between Fairfield Hall and Higgins; held pipes for heating; Activities w/ the students in dorms; always had Christmas parties; always had to chaperone the girls; Age of majority; state lowered the age from 21 to 18; allowed drinking in dorms after that, but smoking (safety issue); Boys in dorms; boys weren't allowed above first floor lounges; when Litchfield Hall built, were allowed in rooms w/ doors open; became co; ed few years before she retired; Fairfield Hall experimented w/ becoming a separate men's dorm; Ratio of students to faculty; Enrollment before men; "Do; Day"; everyone worked on various projects to beautify campus; lead to Sing Night, proms and dances; WestConn today; has no connection w/ WestConn now; Political issues of the 1950s; 60s; never really a huge problem at WestConn; always had black students at school (although few in numbers); few protests and such; probably some male students avoiding draft; always more women than men; Dr. Haas; was great to work with and worked very closely w/ her; Tragic moments; Curley Hall named after Tom Curley, who died in hospital; Changes at WestConn; change in program (teacher's college to liberal arts); college to university; Westside campus; Dr. Burke; Dean of Student Affairs; Dr. Bersi; Attitude towards her job; Retirement; retired in 1976, year after Dr. Haas had retired; knows very few people there now; Interaction between administration and faculty