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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State Normal University alumni Mildred Jungels and C. D. “Rich” Richardson, Class of 1941. The interview was conducted on October 17, 1981 by Jewel Shockey of the Student Alumni Council. The interview covers various aspects of Jungels and Richardson’s experiences at ISNU, including the close-knit community, the emphasis on personal connections, and notable figures such as university president Raymond Fairchild. They discuss extracurricular activities, mentioning organizations like the Women's Recreational Association, Kappa Mu Epsilon, and Kappa Delta Pi. The interview also touches on the cultural and entertainment events of the time, including big band dances and a performance by the Vienna Choir boys.
The conversation delves into students’ typical mode of dress at the time, highlighting the conservative and formal attire worn by both men and women. Mildred recalls the stringent alcohol ban for ISNU students and an incident where some students were caught violating the rule off campus, resulting in their immediate expulsion. She also shares an anecdote about taking famed scat singer Johnnie Davis to the seedy Nighthawk café in Bloomington. National events, such as the outbreak of World War II in Europe and the organizing of the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) are mentioned. The interview concludes with a discussion of the campus layout, including buildings like Fell Hall, Smith Hall, Old Main, Cook Hall, and the Old Castle (Cook Hall). They conclude by reminiscing about the Co-Op, a student hangout on School Street near campus.
Interview Date
10-17-1981
Index
- Introductions; initial recollections: 00:00-01:05
- University president Raymond Fairchild: 01:05-02:32
- Extracurricular activities and entertainment: 02:32-04:40
- Student services: 04:40-05:32
- Typical mode of dress on campus: 05:32-06:41
- National and world events: 06:41-07:57
- Alcohol ban: 07:57-11:08
- Campus boundaries and buildings: 11:08-13:36
- Johnnie Davis anecdote; transportation: 13:36-14:41
- Co-Op: 14:41-15:44
Biographical Statement
Mildred Ida Theis (1919-2009) was born to Charles H. and Olinda (Ruwisch) Theis in Granite City, Illinois. She graduated valedictorian of Granite City High School, then attended McMurray College for Women in Jacksonville, Illinois before transferring to Illinois State Normal University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration on mathematics. At ISNU she participated in Kappa Mu Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi, Honor Council, and the Women’s Recreation Association. Mildred also met her future husband, social science student Charles H. Jungels, while attending. Charles received a commission as a lieutenant in the United States Army in 1942; the couple were married in Clovis, New Mexico in early 1943. They would go on to have two children. Mildred later taught middle school in the Granite City school district for twenty-two years.
Clarence Denby “Rich” Richardson (1921-2019) was born to William and Della Mae (Byers) Richardson in rural Warrick County, Indiana. Richardson enrolled in Illinois State Normal University in 1937 to pursue his bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics. While there, he served as baseball manager, president of Kappa Mu Epsilon, and vice-president of Pi Kappa Delta. Richards also participated in University Club and Intercollegiate Debate. Following graduation he enrolled in the University of Chicago, where he studied electronics and microwave technology, before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. By the time of his discharge he had been deployed to Japan, China, and the Pacific arena and had attained the rank of captain. He married Claire Marie McCabe in Quantico, Virginia in 1944; the couple would go on to have four children together. Following the war Richardson went to work for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company, holding several management positions in Springfield and Chicago. He retired in 1982 after 41 years at the company.
Recommended Citation
Jungels, Mildred Ida and Richardson, Clarence Denby, "Interview with Mildred Jungels and C. D. "Rich" Richardson, Class of 1941" (1941). Alumni Oral Histories. 11.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/11