Dr. Alfred Geddes (interview); Creator: Geddes, Dr. Alfred; Interviewer(s): (no name given); Interview location: unknown; Running time: 60 min., ca.Jun 14, 1905

Coverage: 1937-1990s
Topics discussed : (side A): Dean of Men; different environment in beginning; school had role of "loco parentis"; dorm space was limited (only for women); had task of locating housing for the men; Men at Western; men before and after WW II were career oriented; first big class w/ men was in 1936 (few during the Normal School years); he came as a professor in 1937, left during war, and came back after; WW II changes; male students brought back diversity of experiences; faculty expanded w/ the student body expansion; many came in under GI Bill; became Dean of Men after war; Campus tone; attitude of the women rubbed off on the men; Standout students; Dr. Truman Warner; Welfare of students; was the focal point of the deans; making sure they were housed and feed; take care of any problems they might have; History of WestConn; Danbury Normal School (2 year program to 3 year); Danbury State Teacher's College to Danbury State College; change came w/ addition of new programs; Dr. Jenkins; president of college when he began; followed Dr. Higgins and Dr. Perkins (whom he didn't know); Dr. Jenkins died in 1946 and Dr. Haas, who had been Dean took over; Dr. Haas; she was very interested in development of male students; it was the "Golden Age" of WestConn when she came in; Olympics; went as a spectator to the 1932 games in Los Angeles; Men's Basketball team; he was the second coach (Mr. Pilkinton was first); always hated to play New Britain and New Haven; Music department; Students from outside area; students from far away were coming to the college; many girls followed their boyfriends up north, many of whom went to West Point, and came here; Harvey Jessup; he came in for the expansion of the sports program (except football); coach of the baseball and basketball teams; his players were fully behind; left to take position at Tulane; when he returned for visit, old players greeted him; Ed Rosenberg coached soccer after he left; Physical education; early days, preparing teachers for the responsibilities of elementary education teacher; students needed diversity in their educational background; Disciplinary actions; rare in the beginning; problems didn't occur until later; Feeling of men entering the college; they were career oriented; Activities; proms and dances that brought men and women together; drama productions; Quality of teaching; school size didn't allow for many scholars, but had high quality teachers; Female teachers; when men came, three women teachers were very interested in establishing them as teachers; More about Dr. Haas; "Golden Years" of college; became president after Dr. Jenkins died; college expanded (Old Main and Fairfield only buildings in beginning); Student Union; original was a Quonset Hut; act at snack bar there; Claire Geddes; she was the Dean of Women; she worked w/ architects in developing buildings; she made great contributions to the school; Dr. Haas and school; took great interest in the students; she had lived in Fairfield Hall while she was Dean of Women; Sports programs; basketball grew (side B): Sports programs (cont.); emphasis on winning; travel was always a problem; Playing on the road; time in New Haven when they played Yale Trinity School; went to see a hockey game after; played a Teacher's College in Vermont (loss by one point); Al Thomas; followed Harvey Jessup; was here same time as Bill Williams (who died at young age); Gym; originally in Old Main (now offices); known as a matchbox because of its small size; practiced basketball there; 1960s; disciplinary problems weren't a major problem; since community changed, students weren't a disruption; Changes at college; new faculty and expansion of student body; expectation of college student changed; had been come and graduate in four years, but now many stay longer; many stated coming here to get higher GPA for another college; Dr. Cook; was dean of the college; as new semester began, he always had line of students outside his door of students who had flunked; Tuition; have played role in where students go