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Indiana University, Center for Documentary Research and Practice

Indiana University Oral History Archive, 1991-1998

194 interviews Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral materials
This project is a compilation of interviews of subjects with strong ties to and memories of Indiana University, primarily at the Bloomington campus, including former students, faculty, and staff, among others. The information spans most of the twentieth century and deals with the administrations under presidents Herman B Wells, John Ryan, Thomas Ehrlich, and Myles Brand. The project occurred in two parts. The first round of interviews was with administrators, trustees, and other high-ranking members of the university hierarchy. The second round of interviews was with senior faculty from a number of departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. The project is a survey of Indiana University's history as a whole including information about various academic departments, athletics, student organizations, campus growth, and the university's growth in the twentieth century. This project was funded by President Emeritus John Ryan.
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Day, Harry May 18, 1994

Harry Day came to Indiana University in 1940 as a chemistry professor and remained at Bloomington for the rest of his career. Day tells the story of the discovery of Crest toothpaste. He also talks about the changes that have taken place at the University since the nineteen forties, the development of the chemistry department, the effects of national events, like the Civil Rights Movement, on Indiana University, and the different Indiana University presidents and their legacies.

Edmondson, Frank K. October 30, 1996

Frank K. Edmondson earned his undergraduate degree in 1933 and his masters degree in 1934 from Indiana University. After earning his Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard, he joined the Indiana University Department of Astronomy in 1937, and became chairman of the department in 1944, a position he held until 1978. He speaks of his academic roots at Seymour High School, his experiences at Indiana University, and his use and/or association with the Lowell, Harvard, Goethe Link, and Kirkwood observatories. In addition, Edmondson speaks of many of the leading figures in the field of astronomy, including Henry Norris Russell and Wilber Cogshall, and he discusses the development and changes undergone by the Indiana University Department of Astronomy. He recalls the effects of Sputnik on this field and his involvement with associations such as the National Science Foundation, or NSF, and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, or AURA. Finally, he recalls his experiences and interactions with many people at Indiana University including Herman B Wells and Alfred Kinsey.