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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State Normal University alum John Ryman, Class of 1942. The interview was conducted on October 9, 1982, by Madonna Curtis of the Student Alumni Council.
Ryman discusses the growth of the university since his time as a student, noting a loss in personal contact due to the expansion. He recalls President Raymond Fairchild as friendly but somewhat aloof, expressing a perception of him as an authoritarian figure. Ryman remembers various professors and administrative officials, highlighting the personal connections he had with individuals like Dean Schroeder, Dr. Decker, and Dr. Carrington.
The interview covers various aspects of campus life, especially extracurricular activities. Ryman talks about the impact of the Great Depression and the passage of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21and 45 to register for the draft. He reminisces about the availability of cultural events, athletics, and activities like dances and movies on campus.
Ryman reflects on the campus layout, mentioning buildings like Old Main, Metcalf School, Capen Auditorium, Fell Hall, McCormick Gym, and North Hall. He touches on the prohibition of tobacco and alcoholic beverages on campus. The interview explores Homecoming traditions, including floats, the homecoming queen election, and the Saturday night dance. Ryman recalls the absence of fraternities and sororities, with social activities primarily organized within academic departments.
As the interview concludes, Ryman expresses a fondness for ISNU, emphasizing the friendships he formed during his time there. He acknowledges the changes the university has undergone, recognizing its growth and the challenges that came with it.
Interview Date
10-9-1982
Index
- Introduction: 00:00-01:10
- President Raymond Fairchild: 01:10-02:18
- Influential faculty: 02:18-04:17
- Challenges of completing a college education: 04:17-6:16
- Campus services: 6:16-07:27
- Entertainment on campus: 07:27-09:37
- Prices for common goods: 09:37-10:49
- Clothing: 10:49-11:50
- Music: 11:50-13:16
- Sports: 13:16-14:42
- Campus buildings: 14:42-16:53
- Alcohol and tobacco: 16:53-17:57
- Homecoming: 17:57-19:22
- National and international events: 19:22-21:40
- Special memories: 21:40-26:15
- Changes since 1942: 26:15-27:38
Biographical Statement
John Franklin Ryman (1920-2007) was born to Robert F. and Goldie (Farmer) Ryman to in Edina Knox, Missouri but grew up in Ashland, Illinois. While a student at Illinois State Normal University he played baseball and football, serving as unofficial assistant to Coach Joe Cogdal. Ryman graduated from ISNU with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education on June 8, 1942 and enlisted in the coast guard as a chief boatswain’s mate on June 19. Following his separation from the coat guard in February 1946, he took a position as a teacher and coach at Carlinville High School. Six months later he married his former high school teacher Helen Graff (1903-1994) in Bloomington, Indiana. Ryman attended summer school at the University of Indiana between 1946 and 1950 in pursuit of a master’s degree, then accepted a dual position teaching civics and world history at Lincoln High School while coaching basketball at nearby Lincoln College. Soon after, he switched to coaching baseball full-time at the high school, a position he held for the next thirteen years. In 1978 he pivoted again, electing to finish his career as a social studies teacher at the school. Ryman retired in 1983 after 30 years in the Lincoln school system. He and Helen established the John F. and Helen (Graff) Ryman Scholarship in 1987 in order to financially assist graduates from Lincoln High School who are attending Illinois State University.
Recommended Citation
Ryman, John Franklin, "Interview with John Ryman, Class of 1942" (1942). Alumni Oral Histories. 32.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/32