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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State Normal University alumni from the Class of 1930. The interview was conducted on May 10, 1980 by an unidentified interviewer. The interviewees discuss various aspects of their time at ISNU, including their memories of President David Felmley, notable faculty members, campus buildings, and the social and economic conditions of the time.
Thomas Barton reflects on President Felmley's influence and the “superior faculty” he assembled at ISNU. Barton also mentions his involvement in building maintenance, including installing bulletin boards in the Science Building (now Felmley Hall).
Robert Classon talks about his positive impressions of President Felmley and recalls influential professors like Dr. Browne and W. A. L. Beyer. He emphasizes the importance of extracurricular activities and mentions changes in typical modes of dress.
George Means shares memories of faculty members, including Dean Manchester and President Felmley, who he describes as “a very humanistic fellow but a very strict disciplinarian.” Means discusses the daily general assemblies and a unique class called "Rhetoricals" taught by President Felmley. He appreciates the personal association students had with the president and other faculty.
Roy Moore discusses his teaching career and describes the challenges faced by Black ISNU athletes in terms of accommodations while traveling. He also mentions his involvement in extracurricular activities, including dramatics and writing poetry.
Carrie Dawson talks about the significance of ISNU in her life and education. She mentions the racial challenges that she and other Black students faced, especially the barrier of not being allowed to live in university housing. Dawson emphasizes the positive impact of ISNU faculty on her career and expresses hope at finding an International House on the site of a formerly-segregated dormitory upon her return to campus 50 years later.
Sula Splitek recalls an encounter with President Felmley and expresses gratitude for the moral standards upheld by ISNU during her time. She mentions working her way through college and the value she placed on education due to financial struggles.
Margaret Whiteside discusses the financial challenges faced by students during her time, the lack of dating opportunities due to a significant gender imbalance, and the strict rules against alcohol and tobacco use. Whiteside also shares a humorous story about violating lights-out rules while serving as an honor resident.
Interview Date
5-10-1980
Index
- Introduction: 00:00-00:30
- Barton: 00:30-02:42
- Classon: 02:42-05:24
- Means: 05:24-09:07
- Moore: 09:07-12:22
- Dawson: 12:22-17:45
- Splitek: 17:45-20:32
- Whiteside: 20:32-23:14
- Conclusion: 23:14-23:43
Biographical Statement
Thomas Franklin Barton (1905-1985) was born in Long Branch, Illinois to Frank and Martha (Gamblin) Barton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Illinois State Normal University in 1930, followed by a master’s of philosophy from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska. While in Wisconsin, he met and married Erselia Monticello; they would later have one child together. Barton served as the head of the Department of Geography and Geology at Southern Illinois University from 1935 to 1947, then joined the faculty at Indiana University where he remained until his retirement in 1976. Barton wrote more than 120 articles over his 40-year career, as well as 10 geography textbooks and three children’s books on historical figures. Between 1957 and 1959 Barton and his family lived in Bangkok, Thailand, where Barton worked to establish a geography department at that city’s College of Education (a detailed account is available in the Nov. 1961 edition of Alumni Quarterly, ISU’s alumni magazine) Barton received Illinois State University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1975, as well as a honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1977.
Robert Harold Classon (1906-1991) was born in Marseilles, Illinois to Silas and Ida (Fruland) Classon. He graduated from Illinois State Normal University in 1930. In 1931 Classon married Carrie Vaksdal; together they had two children. He worked as a debate coach in Illinois for eight years before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota to assume a role as a teacher at Central High School in 1937. In 1949 he became principal of Minneapolis’ Southwest High School, a role he continued to hold until his retirement in 1969.
Carrie Belle Dawson (about 1911-2006) was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, to the Rev. Hal and Ida Dawson. She earned a two-year teaching diploma from Illinois State Normal University in 1930, then returned home to teach in East St. Louis. While working, she went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson, Missouri, well as two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign; in 1957, she became the first Black woman to earn a doctoral degree in educational administration from that institution. In 1958 Dawson moved to Gary, Indiana to take a position an elementary school principal. She eventually became the first woman assistant superintendent of that city. Following her retirement in 1977 she moved to East Point, Georgia and served for two years as a post-doctoral Rockefeller fellow in the Graduate School of Educational Administration at Atlanta University. Dawson received the U.S. House of Representatives’ distinguished career citation and was named a 1981 Illinois State University Distinguished Alum.
George Robert Means (1907-2000) was born in Bloomington, Illinois to Arthur and Alice (Johnson) Means. He graduated from Illinois State Normal University in 1930 with a bachelor’s degree in geography and went on to receive a master’s degree in the same subject from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He served as a cartographer in World War II, achieving the rank of commander. Means was employed by Rotary International for the majority of his career, beginning in 1935. In 1953 he was elected to the highest office in the organization, that of general secretary, and served as such until his retirement in 1972. Means married Martha Cowart in 1950. The George R. and Martha Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Illinois State University is named in their honor. George Means held honorary doctorates from Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan, Illinois Wesleyan University, Kentucky Wesleyan University, and Illinois State University.
Roy Benjamin Moore (1908-1993) was born to Clair and Ann (Ricketts) Moore in Clinton, Illinois. He graduated from Illinois State Normal University in 1930 and thereafter took a job as a coach at the high school in Sumner, Illinois. While there he met and married Latin teacher Margaret Cox; together they had one daughter. The Moores left Sumner for Iowa City in 1934 so Roy could pursue a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Iowa. He continued coaching in Iowa for many years and earned his Ph.D. there in 1949. Roy served as director of health, physical education and athletics for the public schools of Oshkosh, Wisconsin for six years, then took a position as director of physical education and athletics at Mankato State College (now University of Minnesota, Mankato). Margaret died in 1963 and Moore remarried in 1965 to Wilma Kerr.
Sula “Lula” Susan (Wallen) Splitek (1903-1994) was born to Oliver Wallen and Sarah (Davis) Wallen-Livesay in Wabd, Kentucky. She graduated from Illinois State Normal University in 1930, then moved to Sioux City, Iowa to begin teaching. There she met railroad engineer Frank Splitek; the two were married 1932. They later settled in Frank’s hometown of Huron, South Dakota and had one child together, a daughter named Blossom. In later life, Sula taught at Elisinor Navy and Military School in Lake Elsinor, California where the couple resided for 22 years following Frank’s retirement.
Margaret Louise (Hiett) Whiteside (1911-2006) was born to Asa and Estella (Erb) Hiett in Chenoa, Illinois. She earned a two-year teaching diploma from Illinois State Normal University in 1930 and later a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Chicago. She married John Whiteside in 1943 and later left the workforce to raise their three children. In the 1960s she returned to higher education, receiving a master’s degree from the University of Delaware in reading. Afterwards, she taught English and reading at Springer Junior High School until her retirement.
Recommended Citation
Barton, Thomas Franklin; Classon, Robert Harold; Means, George Robert; Moore, Roy Benjamin; Dawson, Carrie Belle; Splitek, Sula Susan; and Whiteside, Margaret Louise, "Interview with Half Century Club Inductees, Class of 1930" (1930). Alumni Oral Histories. 3.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/3