Lesley Oral History

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Loyal Lesley Daughters: An Oral History of Massachusetts' Women Teachers 1925 - 1965

Patricia Kramer, Alyssa Pacy, Meryl Perlson, and Jim Ospenson

This video was part of the Loyal Lesley Daughters: An Oral History of Massachusetts Women Teachers, 1925-1965 exhibit that took place at the Marran Art Gallery from May 26-July 1, 2010. The video was commissioned for the exhibit and drew from materials from the Loyal Lesley Daughters oral history project created by Alyssa Pacy. The video combines audio excerpts from the oral histories with archival images and a new recording of the Loyal Lesley Daughters song.
Itty Chan '61, Part 2

Alyssa Pacy

Itty Chan continued to discuss her undergraduate career at Lesley, following up the previous interview by comparing her experiences in America with Thailand and China. She mentioned the teaching techniques and philosophies she learned of, internships, and general student life. Chan also shared about her post Lesley journey, including research at other colleges, a twenty-seven year Kindergarten teaching career in BPS, the Headstart program, and a study group trip to China.
Judith Diggs Potter

Alyssa Pacy

Judith Diggs Potter discussed her undergraduate career at Lesley University, from 1961 to 1964. She elaborated on her transfer from Jackson College at Tufts University, her experience as a black student on campus, and her Early Childhood Major. Potter also mentioned her classroom stories and Sorority bonding among other stories.
Martha Barry Mckenna

Alyssa Pacy

Martha Mckeena and Barbra Vacarr discuss their experience establishing the adult learning division.
Ella Purington Curtis '35

Tricia Kramer

Ella Purington Curtis discusses her early life in Bowdoinham, ME where she still lived at the time of the interview. She began her academic career at Lesley in 1933. Some of the topics that are discussed in the interview are the professors that Ella had during her time at Lesley, her memories of Edith Lesley, traveling to Lesley by car and by train. Ella also describes Gertrude Malloch, playing competitive basketball at Lesley, and her teaching career at after her graduation from Lesley.
Brenda Engel

Alyssa Pacy

Brenda Engel discussed her tenure at Lesley University. She described her background, specifically her 1945 undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from Radcliffe College. She also elaborated on some of the courses that she taught at Lesley. Engel made a point to mention that she believed she was the only professor at Lesley without a graduate level degree nor courses under her belt at that time.
Brenda Engel, Pt 2

Alyssa Pacy

Engel followed up the previous interview by elaborating on the North Dakota study group, working to reform education in the state. She discussed her thoughts on standardized testing, the administrative shift to President Margaret McKenna, and her retirement from Lesley.
Debbie Sherman

Alyssa Pacy

In her first interview Debbie Sherman discusses her education background and her tenure at Lesley University.
Diane Butterfield Brosnan '53, Part Two

Alyssa Pacy

Second Interview with Diane Butterfield Brosnan on Tuesday November 3rd, 2009. Alyssa Pacy speaks with her at Brosnan's home in Plymouth MA, continuing to discuss her undergraduate career at Lesley University. She mentions various teachers that made an impression on her, dorm life, etc.
George Hein, Part 1

Alyssa Pacy

George Hein discusses his tenure at Lesley University. George talks in detail about his childhood growing up in Germany but having to move to Italy to escape the Nazi's. Then moving from Italy and finding his way to America. He also speaks on his educational background, and his arrival at Lesley.
George Hein, Part 2

Alyssa Pacy

During the second interview some of the topics that are discussed are the open education movement, the North Dakota Study Group and George's focus on early education.
George Hein, Part 3

Alyssa Pacy

During the third interview George talks about qualitative analysis, PERG, various positions he held at Lesley, classes he taught, the P.H.D program, and the transition to Margret McKenna.
George Hein, Part 4

Alyssa Pacy

In the fourth and final interview George talks about the International studies in China, other programs at Lesley, his role as professor emeritus, and his role in Agassiz Neighborhood.
Helen Briggs Miller '29

Alyssa Pacy

Alyssa Pacy interviews Helen Briggs Miller in her apartment in Needham, Massachusetts. Miller goes in-depth about her experiences as a student at Lesley University.
Iris Fanger

Alyssa Pacy

Iris Fanger discussed her tenure at Lesley University. She mentioned her time as director of the Magic Circle Theater for Children while getting her PhD in theater studies. At Lesley, Fanger founded the Arts in Education Program and served as Harvard's Summer Dance Center Director. She also elaborated on her education beforehand, including her 1957 undergraduate degree, a 1963 Masters of Arts, and the aforementioned 1972 PhD at Tufts University.
Itty Chan '61

Alyssa Pacy

Itty Chan began to discuss her undergraduate career at Lesley University. Born in China and living in Bangkok Thailand, Chan described coming to America to get a college degree. Among other stories, her reasoning for coming to Lesley, Chan's exposure to American culture and her interactions with students were given mention.
Itty Chan '61, Interview 1, Part 2

Alyssa Pacy

Itty Chan answered the last few questions in this segment of the interview. She offered insight regarding the struggles of women in China vs. America, experiences on a minority on a mostly white campus, and her career choices as a woman at the time.
Jeanne Norton Palmer '53

Alyssa Pacy

Jeanne Norton Palmer discussed her Undergraduate career at Lesley University. After briefly mentioning her graduation from Dedham High School in 1949, she elaborated on her transfer from Curry College in 1950.Palmer majored in Education, "the only thing you could major in at the time." Palmer described her shift in major, her interactions with then President Trentwell Mason White, and the classes she remembered taking. She also mentioned her teaching experience and time as a stewardess.
Juila Mentzer Fifield

Alyssa Pacy

Julia Mentzer Fifield discusses her early life, being an only child growing up in the early 1900's. She details her first interactions with Edith Lesley, describing her as "a breath of fresh air!"Julia shared that her dorm room that was right above Edith Lesley's residence. She discusses some her memories on early dorm life, and school life.
Nancy Langstaff, Pt. 1

Alyssa Pacy

Nancy Langstaff discussed starting the Arts in Education graduate school program at Lesley.
Nancy Langstaff, Pt. 2

Alyssa Pacy

An addendum to the previous interview, Nancy Langstaff addressed her experience teaching at the White House.
Natalie Saltmarsh Pogson, '45

Alyssa Pacy

Pogson discussed her undergraduate career at Lesley University, from 1942 to 1945. She elaborated on her Early Childhood Education Major, her teaching experiences and serving on the Board of Trustees among other stories.
Norma Canner, Part 1

Alyssa Pacy

Norma Canner discusses her early career as an actress turned dancer, as she worked with various productions on Broadway. Her work with children and later arrival at Lesley University as a dance therapist is also mentioned.
Norma Canner, Part 2

Alyssa Pacy

Norma Canner follows up the first interview by describing her psychological techniques she used for psychotherapy, the effect of Freudian thinking on her work, and advice on helping students deal with their work. She describes the work that she did with students at the time, remarking on the classroom environment and other experiences in her classes at Lesley.
Paolo Knill

Alyssa Pacy

Paolo Knill discussed his tenure at Lesley University. He elaborated on his youth during the war in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, a Switzerland town near Germany's border. Knill detailed how those experiences in early life influenced his expressive arts teaching career.