William McKee (interview); Creator: McKee, William ; Interviewer(s): Chris Pitman and Peter Adams; Interview location: 2nd Floor of Ruth Haas Library; Running time: 40 min., May 2, 1991

Coverage: 1940s-1991
Topics discussed : (side A ): Lab Schools (as a student); as a freshman, sent to them to observe students; as a sophomore, sent there doing things w/ students; as a junior, training period; as a senior, taught at these schools under supervising teachers; all supervisors were employed by Danbury State Teacher's College; Lab School (as principal); four lab schools were: Locust Ave, Roberts Ave, Margery Brooks, and Balmforth Ave; his job as principal was to prepare teachers; he was in charge of Locust Ave. (Fred Gamble at Roberts Ave); the superintendent of schools of Danbury later decided that the city should be in charge of these schools, not WestConn; Salary; Student teaching; more exposure to inner city schools would be beneficial; Old Main; beginning it, along w/ Fairfield Hall only buildings; hasn't changed much externally; gym, auditorium, and library were there at one point; no real labs; importance/significance of building was lost as campus grew; Changes at WestConn; all positive and can do more; like the concept of Westside providing enough students; Position in Register's office; having prior administrative experience was helpful; met w/ Dr. Cook when he was seeking position; the types of courses and how they were kept track of; Guidelines for scheduling classes; can't have conflicting classes (which didn't happen often); Transfer students; Being a "Western" person; Dr. Haas; knew her well, but worked closer w/ her deans; got along w/ her well socially; open door policy; Dr. Bersi; was on screening committee to hire replacement for Dr. Haas; Screening Committee; Dr. Bersi compared to Dr. Haas; both had open door policy, but Bersi spent less time on campus; Bersi was usually in Hartford trying to get money for the college; Gertrude Braun; she was Academic Vice President; always had high administrative position; she was dean; was an acting president for a short period between Haas and Bersi; Dean of the Night School; he held position for the undergrad level; organized the programs for undergrad; register the grad programs; primarily part; time students, but not exclusive to them; Day School Program; when he came in as student in 1940, only education taught; when he came back, more was offered; Full; time and part; time students; basically the same as both are interested in getting an education; Football team; felt they should have used the money elsewhere; football attracts students, but better use in buildings; not happy about the field house; Westside; when it was established, thought was to WestConn to Ridgefield or Wilton and turn the campus in Danbury into a 2 year college (side B): Westside (cont.); the acreage of land at Westside is huge; the amount paid for land would have been same for a little section in downtown area; Changes at WestConn; most things have been progressive; greatest increase in enrollment came in night school; Westside campus good, field house bad; White Hall good, not purchasing Locust Ave school bad; some great programs and bad ones as well; Dorms; demonstrations; the female only dorms couldn't last; Budget cuts on classroom; long term effects not major; down the line they might have effect; "Do; Day"; everyone and anyone participated in it (both faculty and students); establishing tennis courts; rebuilt parking lots; day ended w/ a festival; Dr. Janick; planting trees on campus to beautify the university