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Dave Barsky, Oral History Interview, 2023
Katherine Hacanyan
In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Dave Barsky was a student at EMU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a dedicated student activist, and worked closely with others like Frank Michels on the Second Coming. Barsky was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union after getting expelled from EMU, and continued to be an activist leader.
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David Cahill, Oral History Interview, 2022
Cassandra Mitchell and Matt Jones
In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. A former political science assistant professor at Eastern Michigan from 1969 to 1970, David Cahill was "non-rehired" after just one year for his support of students and the underground newspaper, the Second Coming. His dismissal fueled student unrest and upset with EMU administration, which led to a student led strike.
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David Geherin, Oral History Interiew, 2019
Matt Jones
David Geherin served as professor of English Language and Literature from 1969 until his retirement in 2010. During his time at EMU, Geherin, an author of crime fiction novels and analytic studies of contemporary crime fiction authors, designed several courses, most notably on crime fiction. Geherin was also an avid traveler during his time with the University, accompanying students on World Cultural History tours across Europe, studying classic works or art, history, and literature in their places of origination. Geherin received Emeritus status in 2010.
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Debbie Sarafian, Interview, 2021
Matt Jones
On October 9, 2021, students from the EMU Archives and Oral History Program recorded stories of EMU students past and present. Using the EMU Aerie, the Archives’ mobile oral history recording booth, student oral historians captured the formative experiences and perspectives of EMU alums from a variety of campus eras. Here, alum Debbie Sarafian details coming up through the Detroit Public Schools, the cost of attending EMU in the 1980s, and getting proposed to in the Alexander Music Building after walking down the hallway with a rival love interest.
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Deisha Myles, Oral History Interview, 2021
Erica Moore and Matt Jones
A member of the Native American Student Organization at Eastern Michigan University at the time of the struggle to change the EMU mascot and logo, Deisha [Olszewski] Myles attended nearly every meeting related to the change of what many considered to be an insensitive depiction of Native American culture. Myles speaks of her experience as a student on the Logo Selection Committee, witnessing the tense interactions between university administrators and describing the divisions amongst indigenous participants, divisions that often adhered closely to differing generational values.
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Dennis Hertel, Oral History Interview, 2022
Katherine St. Amand and Matt Jones
In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Dennis Hertel was an EMU student in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Vice President of the student body, and president of the student senate, Hertel was involved in making important decisions regarding the status of student unrest and upset with EMU administration. He would go on to be a United States congressman.
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Donad Loppnow, pt.1, April 24, 2019
Matt Jones and Alexis Braun Marks
Joining EMU faculty in 1974, Donald Loppnow spent fifteen years as the Head of the Department of Social Work before moving to leadership positions in EMU central administration. Loppnow has served as Director of the Office of Research and Development, Associate Vice President for Extended Programs, Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Executive Vice President and Interim President on three different occasions. Since his arrival at EMU, Loppnow has been a bottomless well of support for Eastern Michigan University and it's surrounding community.
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Donald Loppnow Oral History Interview, 2017
Matt Jones
Donald Loppnow served Eastern Michigan University in several capacities over a total of 40 years. He was the department head of the School of Social Work, the assistant to the president for strategic planning, associate vice president for extended programs, provost, vice president and executive director of the EMU Foundation. In this informal interview, Loppnow discusses his relationship with Bruce Nelson, former Vice President for Instruction at EMU, and longtime supporter of a wide variety of University-related causes. Loppnow talks of his first meetings with Nelson, as well as his constant interest in the Ypsilanti community and the welfare of EMU students.
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Don Pearson, Oral History Interview, 1998
Laurence Smith
Don Pearson led the Economics Department at Eastern Michigan University from 1969-2009. In this interview, Pearson details the administrative and faculty power structure of Eastern Michigan University during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Pearson was also instrumental in the separation of the Economics Department from the History and Social Science Departments. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Don Ward, Interview, 2021
Matt Jones
On October 9, 2021, students from the EMU Archives and Oral History Program recorded stories of EMU students past and present. Using the EMU Aerie, the Archives’ mobile oral history recording booth, student oral historians captured the formative experiences and perspectives of EMU alums from a variety of campus eras. Here, alum Don Ward (class of 1992) describes his initial interest in, and journey to, EMU in the fall of 1984. He details his relationships and impressions of notable EMU employees like President John Porter, Laurence Smith, and Roy Wilbanks.
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Doug Harvey, Oral History Interview, 2022
Charles Calcaterra and Matt Jones
In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Harvey served two consecutive terms as sheriff between 1964 and 1972, and during that time he was tasked with managing the protests on EMU's campus. He was a strong individual in the Ypsilanti community, a force to be reckoned with until he passed away in 2023.
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Dr. Albert P. Marshall, Oral History Interview, 1998
Laurence Smith
Dr. Albert P. Marshall served Eastern Michigan University from 1969 until 1980, during which time he taught library science, served as Library Director and Dean of Academic Services. This interview serves as a comprehensive biography of Marshall, from childhood through his time as Dean of Academic Services at Eastern Michigan University. Notable are Marshall’s experiences as librarian for the United States Coast Guard before arriving at EMU, and his concern for the welfare of black students at Eastern. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Ed Mattos, Oral History Interview, 2022
Ellie Keys and Matt Jones
In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Ed Mattos was a student at EMU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was a student activist, most notably as the chairman of the Student Mobilization Committee. Mattos dedicated his time at EMU to being an activist, and was involved with demonstrations on campus.
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Egbert R. Isbell, Oral History Interview, 1967
Unknown
Egbert R. Isbell was an administrator and faculty member at Michigan State Normal College, Eastern Michigan College and Eastern Michigan University from 1937 until 1967. This presentation serves as an overview of EMU history until 1965, briefly profiling various facets of the University including student organizations, athletics, early presidents, and various department origins.
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Emily LaDuke, Interview, 2023
Christopher Durden
In November of 2023, Eastern Michigan University’s LGBT Resource Center hosted an event in collaboration with the University Archives’ Oral History Program during Transgender Awareness Week where students could share their experiences with being part of the LGBT community on and off campus. EMU student Emily LaDuke talks about transferring to Eastern, getting rid of social media app TikTok, and finding a sense of belonging.
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Eric Brown, Interview, 2021
Matt Jones
On October 9, 2021, students from the EMU Archives and Oral History Program recorded stories of EMU students past and present. Using the EMU Aerie, the Archives’ mobile oral history recording booth, student oral historians captured the formative experiences and perspectives of EMU alums from a variety of campus eras. Here, EMU alum and President of the Alumni Association Eric Brown speaks of his journey to EMU in the fall of 1982, his first impressions of campus, and the joy of having the EMU community turn out for high school track and field events on the EMU campus. He describes his relationship with mentors Glenna Frank Miller and Gregory Peoples, and the enormous influence of EMU President John Porter in his life.
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Evan Zimdars, Interview, 2023
Katie Delahoyde
On October 7, 2023, students from the EMU Archives and Oral History Program recorded the stories of EMU students past and present. Using the EMU Aerie, the Archives’ mobile oral history recording booth, student oral historians captured the formative experiences and perspectives of EMU alums from a variety of campus eras. Here, Zimdars (class of 2018) speaks of his experience obtaining degrees in Social Work, the importance of staying local, and the decision to pursue Social Work rather than Psychology.
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Everett Marshall, Oral History Interview, 1998
Laurence Smith
Everett Marshall taught in the Education and Psychology Departments at Eastern Michigan University from 1938-1949. From 1949-1979, Marshall served as Dean of Academic Records and Teacher Certification. In this interview, Marshall details his relationships with, and characteristics of, several EMU presidents and faculty members. Marshall also describes his methods of raising enrollment from 1,850 at the beginning of his tenure to over 19,000 at the time of his retirement. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
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Floyd Walton, October 24, 2018
Rachel Burns and Matt Jones
Floyd Walton is an alumnus of Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1973. Walton was a highly involved student activist serving as a member of the Campus Service Corps and the Black Student Association. Walton was also instrumental with the Black Demands and discussions with administration after the take over of Pierce Hall of February of 1969.
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Francis Goodrich, Oral History Interview, 1956
Egbert Isbell
Francis Goodrich was a graduate of Michigan State Normal College, class of 1897. Following gradutation, Goodrich remained in the College library, assisting reference librarian Genevieve Walton until his departure in 1906. In this oral history interview, Goodrich gives an account of the activities of himself and Librarian Genevieve Walton at the turn of the century. Book binding, classification, and book buying is discussed here, as well as the adaptation of the Dewey Decimal System to the MSNC Library.
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Frank Michels, Oral History Interview, 2022
Katherine Hacanyan and Matt Jones
In the Fall of 2022, Matt Jones’s Oral History Techniques class conducted a set of interviews documenting the stories behind the student unrest on Eastern Michigan University’s campus from 1966-1972. Frank Michels was a student at EMU in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Frank was a student activist, a dedicated member of Students for a Democratic Society, and the creator of the underground newspaper, The Second Coming. He was a radical leader on campus who fought back against the administration's policies and their efforts to take his newspaper down.
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Fred Barney, Oral History Interview pt. 1, 2005
Dick Bowman
Fred Barney (b.1922) entered the Army Specialized Training Program on October 11, 1943, at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Marching to and from classes and meals, and kept busy from dawn till dusk, Barney and his fellow ASTP trainees were educated in various military specialized fields. Shipped out to France shortly after D-Day, Barney’s unit, the 76th Infantry Division in General George Patton’s Third Army, became the spearhead in piercing the Siegfried Line of fortifications on Germany’s western border. In this interview, Barney recalls the daily routine of the ASTP Program, the journey to France, and many details of combat and routine in Europe.
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Fred Barney, Oral History Interview pt. 2, 2005
Dick Bowman
Fred Barney (b.1922) entered the Army Specialized Training Program on October 11, 1943, at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Marching to and from classes and meals, and kept busy from dawn till dusk, Barney and his fellow ASTP trainees were educated in various military specialized fields. Shipped out to France shortly after D-Day, Barney’s unit, the 76th Infantry Division in General George Patton’s Third Army, became the spearhead in piercing the Siegfried Line of fortifications on Germany’s western border. In this interview, Barney recalls the daily routine of the ASTP Program, the journey to France, and many details of combat and routine in Europe.
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Frederick Cleveringa, Oral History Interview, 1960
Bates
Born in 1890, Frederick Cleveringa began work in the Michigan State Normal College in 1913 while a student at MSNC. When Librarian Genevieve Walton stepped down in 1940, Fred was appointed Reference LIbrarian and Assistant Professor in the new Department of Library Sciences. Cleveringa retired from the library in 1952. In this oral history, Fred recounts the early days of his employment under Genevieve Walton, and the values Walton instilled in all of her employees.
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Gary Hawks, Oral History Interview, 1998
Laurence Smith
Gary Hawks spent 17 years at eastern Michigan University, starting in 1964 as a supervisor of Accounts Receivable, executive director of University Relations, director of personnel, and as Vice President of University Relations. He was secretary to the Board of Regents from 1970 until retiring in 1981. In this interview, Hawks details his relationships with several University presidents, and also describes the overall growth of the school, from issues of enrollment to the building of physical structures on campus. This interview is distributed over two cassette tapes. This interview was conducted for the purpose of gathering primary research for Laurence Smith’s book, Eastern Michigan University: A Sesquicentennial Portrait (1999).
An initiative that began in 2017, the University Archives has begun to digitize items from the Historical Audio Recordings collection and other collections. We have sorted these recordings into four categories: Lectures and Presentations, Oral Histories, Performances and Speeches.
At present the category of Oral Histories is the only category that we are actively adding to. With support from the Office of the Provost, the University Archives has been interviewing current and emeritus faculty, staff and students on their experiences at Eastern Michigan University.
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