Collections : [Indiana University, Center for Documentary Research and Practice]

James Dye attended Indiana University from 1949 to 1953. After graduation he served as a real estate officer in Korea and went to work in real estate and construction. His university connection continued and he was appointed to the board of trustees. He discusses the search for President Ehrlich, his impressions of past and present presidents, the relationship between research and teaching, and how Indiana University has changed over time.

Arthur Gentile is a botanist who ended up being a professor and administrator at Indiana University-Kokomo, where he served as vice-chancellor and acting chancellor. He discusses the future of Indiana University-Kokomo, financial problems and concerns, teaching versus research, and important qualities of a university president.

Martha B. "Bonnie" Kendall, born on July 9, 1943, came to Indiana University in 1968 and went on to earn both her master's and doctoral degrees in anthropology. In this interview, she speaks of her childhood with extremely conservative, racist parents, a high-quality high school education in San Diego, and her eye-opening undergraduate years at the ultra-conservative College of William and Mary. Kendall discusses her field of anthropology and some of her negative experiences with the anthropology faculty at Indiana University, both as a student and as a fellow faculty member. She speaks of campus protests, effects of the Kent State University Massacre, the unfairness of associate instructorships, and the teaching versus research debate, especially in the context of her years teaching at Vassar College. In addition, Kendall discusses the negative changes in students' attitudes over the years. Some of the mentors and colleagues she speaks of are Carl Voegelin and Alan Merriam.

Lynne Merritt began teaching chemistry at Indiana University in 1948 and remained a professor at Bloomington until his retirement forty years later. Merritt discusses his work at the University with chemistry and computing and the administrative positions that he held, like Associate Dean of Faculties and Vice President and Dean of Research and Advanced Studies, while at Indiana University Bloomington. Merritt also discusses different president, particularly Joe Sutton, the changes that have occurred on the campus, and the impact of wars on life at Indiana University Bloomington.

Born on September 11, 1946, Charlie Nelms earned his graduate degree from Indiana University in 1971 and completed his doctorate at the university in 1976. After working at the Indiana University Northwest campus for several years and at several other college positions in other states, Nelms returned to Indiana in 1987 to serve as chancellor of Indiana University East. In this interview, he speaks of his years as an Indiana University student, African-American students, experiences of racism, and his development of the Foster Quad Black Student Association. In addition, he speaks of his work at the City University of New York, its experimental open admission system, and the importance of the Indiana University Indiana University regional campuses. Finally, Nelms discusses the financial problems facing higher education, the teaching vs. research debate, and his proposed resolutions to these problems.

Henry H. H. Remak, born on July 27, 1916, discusses his family background and youth in Germany, his education, his long association with Indiana University and recalls much of the university's history from the years spanning 1936 through 1996. A long-time faculty member, Remak discusses his career in languages, particularly German and French, and speaks of the German Department and the Institute for Advanced Study. Dr. Remak comments on the beauty of the Indiana University campus, the social anti-Semitism he experienced in the United States, the effects of World War II on enrollment in the German Department, and German Americans and culture in America. In addition, he speaks of teaching, especially in the context of the Cold War, McCarthyism, and the Vietnam War and the unrest of the nineteen sixties. Professor Remak shares anecdotes about two of the most well-known figures in the history of Indiana University, Herman B Wells and Alfred Kinsey, and he speaks of the increased and misplaced emphasis on academic specialization, the teaching vs. research debate, and faculty tenure.

Born in 1913, Lawrence Leslie Waters joined the faculty of Indiana University in the School of Business in 1948 and served as a professor until 1979. Throughout this period, Waters also continued to play an active role in the world of business and he gave innumerable talks throughout the world, as well as writing many articles. In this interview, he speaks of the effects of the Great Depression, stories of his former students, the McCarthy era, the teaching versus research debate, and some of the major events of his long and successful career as a businessman and as a professor. In addition, Waters discusses the Indiana University School of Business and his role in the development of several organizations, including the Mid-West Business Administration Association, or the MWBA.

Born on February 17, 1928, James Weigand came to Indiana University in 1962 to complete his doctoral degree in the area of science education. After earning his Ph.D., he joined the faculty and became chair of the fledgling and developing Department of Science Education in 1965. In this interview, Weigand discusses the development of the field and department of science education, his education philosophy, dress codes, and the teaching versus research debate. In addition, he recalls the racism, integration, and African-American doctoral students of the past few decades. Weigand also discusses Herman B Wells and relates some stories about the former president.

Born in 1915, York Willbern joined the Indiana University faculty as a full professor in the department of political science in 1957. In this interview, he discusses his years at Indiana University, the administration under different Indiana University presidencies, and the impact of different phenomena on education in general and Indiana University specifically. These phenomena include World War II and the Cold War. Willbern also speaks of some of the controversies he has experienced at the university such as those involving faculty tenure, teaching versus research, and the regional campus system. In addition, he discusses the creation of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, or SPEA, his involvement with it, and the IUPUI campus.