Please refer to the Lesley University Archives Oral History Collection Finding Aid to learn more about the collection.
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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.
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Martha Barry Mckenna
Alyssa Pacy
Martha Mckeena and Barbra Vacarr discuss their experience establishing the adult learning division.
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Itty Chan '61, Interview 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.
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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.
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Diane Labell Feinzig '58
Alyssa Pacy and Jenny Gilbert
Diane Labell Feinzig discussed her undergraduate career at Lesley University, studying to become an elementary school teacher. She elaborated on her childhood experiences and how that influenced her aspirations. Fenizig also expanded on her time on campus, the specific courses she took, and her involvement with Lesley later in life.
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Itty Chan '61, Interview 1, Part 1
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.
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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.
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Julia 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.
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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.
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Shirley Sargent Forsman '41
Alyssa Pacy
Shirley Sargent Forsman talks her background and childhood in Quincy, MA. Shirley describes the earlier campus layout and campus life at Lesley. She also shares that Lesley students of the time spent a lot time at the Harvard Museum for their science classes.Stating that "she probably knew every inch of the museum." Shirley then discusses some info about her life after Lesley.
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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.
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Debbie Sherman
Alyssa Pacy
In her first interview Debbie Sherman discusses her education background and her tenure at Lesley University.
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Carol Anne Levine Pozefsky '56
Alyssa Pacy and Randy Stabile
Carol Anne Levine Pozefsky discussed her undergraduate experience at Lesley University. Carol mentioned the groups she was a part of and the professors that she connected with. Pozefsky also elaborated on her childhood in Hempstead NY and shared numerous anecdotes regarding her student life in Cambridge.
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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.
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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.
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Diane Butterfield Borsnan '53, Part One
Alyssa Pacy and Jenny Gilbert
First interview with Diane Butterfield Brosnan on Wednesday July 15, 2009. Alyssa Pacy and Jenny Gilbert of Lesley University speak with Brosnan, accompanied by Brosnan's daughter-in-law Yvonne Higgins at Brosnan's home in Plymouth MA. She discusses her undergraduate career at Lesley University, studying Elementary Education from 1949 to 1953.
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Ella Riccioli Buzzotta, '46 AIB
Alyssa Pacy and Jennifer Gilbert
Ella Riccioli Buzzotta is interviewed at her home in Burlington, MA. During the interview Ella discusses how she found her way to the School of Practical Art and her time enrolled at SPA. Ella also discusses what it was like to be in Boston during WWII.
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Thomas Morgan, '09
Alyssa Pacy
Thomas Morgan began to discuss his undergraduate career. From making the decision to be a first generation college student to becoming part of the first fully co-ed class, Morgan elaborated on his process. Among other stories, he mentioned living with AIB students, choosing his major, and the internships he had.
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Selma Chervin Bell, '48
Alyssa Pacy and Jenny Gilbert
Selma Chervin Bell is interviewed at her home in Gloucester, MA. During the interview Selma discusses her undergraduate time at Lesley, as well as her life after Lesley. Teaching early childhood education, and later becoming a teaching principle. Selma also shares a bit about what she has been up to since retiring from being a principle.
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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.
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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.
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Phyllis Horvitz Friedman '49
Alyssa Pacy
Phyllis describes about her childhood growing up during the depression in Fall River, Mass. Phyllis also discusses her reasoning for choosing teaching as career path and her impression of Lesley during her time attending.
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Nancy Langstaff, Pt. 2
Alyssa Pacy
An addendum to the previous interview, Nancy Langstaff addressed her experience teaching at the White House.
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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.
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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.
