Loyola University Chicago

Women and Leadership Archives

Oral History Collection

Mundelein College Oral History Project

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Irma Corcoran, BVM

English professor whose career at Mundelein spanned 42 years, beginning with the opening of the college in 1930. Interviewed by Carolyn Farrell, BVM, and Valerie Gerrard Browne on 27 September 1993 (transcript); by Joan Steinbrecher on 7 May 1996 (tapes and transcript); and by Jeanine Moran, BVM, twice in 1997. Tapes and transcripts.

Mary Cramer, BVM

A former Dean of Students (1955–1968) who taught history at Mundelein. Interviewed by Joan Steinbrecher on 3 March 1997 (2 tapes) and Angela Abbinante on 1 December 1998. Tape and transcript.

Joan Frances Crowley, BVM

Former history professor and student residence administrator. Interviewed by Lisa Oppenheim on 16 November, 1998. Subjects include her decision to become a BVM, her early teaching experiences, and her years as Assistant Dean in Residency at Mundelein College during the 1960s. Tape and transcript.

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Mary John Michael Dee, BVM

Former President of Mundelein College (1951–1957). Subjects include her first days at Mundelein in the 1930s, impressions of many influential BVM administrators, her appointment as President and the many challenges she experienced. Sister Mary John Michael provides rich insight regarding the development of Mundelein college during its first three decades of existence. Interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM on 9 June 1999. Tape and transcript.

Mary DeCock, BVM

Former director of public relations and development who first taught English and journalism and later became part of the Religious Studies Program and Weekend College at Mundelein. Interviewed by David B. Cholewiak on 3 November, 1998. Subjects include her entrance into religious life, reflections on four decades at Mundelein, its changing administration, the final years of Mundelein, the civil rights movement, the women's movement and the Church, and comparison of Church culture in the 1940s, the Vatican II years, and the 1990s. Tape and transcript.

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Mary Francine Gould, BVM

Sister Mary Francine experienced Mundelein College during its earliest years, from 1931–1933. Subjects discussed in her interview include her assignment to Mundelein and her various activities while teaching at the college. Also discussed are her memories of Sister Mary Justicia Coffey, BVM and Mother Isabella Kane, BVM. Interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM on 10 June, 1999. Tape and transcript.

Patricia Karras Grevas

Remembrances of her experiences as a member of Mundelein Class of 1951, interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 10 November, 1998. Tape and transcript.

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Mary Pat Haley, BVM

Former Administrator and Professor of English and Communications. Subjects include her entrance into religious life, her teaching career and philosophy, and reflections on her time at Mundelein, including student activism and changes in curriculum. Also included are reflections on her administrative tenure, the field of communications, and Mundelein's affiliation with Loyola University. Interviewed by Cheryl Lemus on 9 October, 2000. Tape and transcript.

Joan Holland

Remembrances of her experiences as a member of Mundelein Class of 1951, interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 17 January, 1999. Tape and transcript.

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Kathryn Quinn Knowles

Remembrances of her experiences as a member of Mundelein Class of 1951, interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 13 November, 1997. Tape and transcript.

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Mercedes McCambridge

This acclaimed actress and member of Mundelein Class of 1937 taped her remembrances of Mary Leola Oliver, BVM, her Mundelein theatre professor and mentor. Tape and Transcript.

Judith Terese McNulty, BVM

Remembrances of her experiences as a member of Mundelein Class of 1951. Interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 9 November, 1998. Tape and transcript.

Irene Meyer

Remembrances of her experiences as a member of Mundelein Class of 1951. Interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 18 November, 1998. Tape and transcript.

Prudence Moylan

Former student at Mundelein (1961–1963) and Professor of History (1963–1991). Provides rich insight into the atmosphere of Mundelein College during three distinct decades. Subjects include social activism of the 1960s, Weekend College development, the Contractual Degree Program, and teaching philosophy. Also provides comment on Mundelein's affiliation with Loyola University in 1991. Interviewed by Angela Schlater on 26 October, 2000. Tape and transcript.

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Margaret Egan Namovic

Remembrances of her experiences as a member of Mundelein Class of 1951. Interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 2 October, 1998. Tape only.

Carmen Navarrete

Director of Mundelein's Hispanic Women's Program and Hispanic Services Office, 1985–1991. Interviewed by Susan Hanf on 11 November, 1998. Subjects include Mundelein's Hispanic Women's Program, the Latina community at Mundelein, the effects of the affiliation on that community, and Mundelein's influence on students and on her. Tape and transcript.

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David Orr

Presently Clerk of Cook County, he was affiliated with Mundelein from 1967–1979, teaching in the Upward Bound Program and Weekend College before leaving to enter the local political arena. Interviewed by Elizabeth Fraterrigo on 18 November, 1998. Subjects include the Upward Bound Program, Weekend College, Experimental College (Mandala), the Mundelein culture and atmosphere, and the debates surrounding the campus strike of 1970. Tapes and transcript.

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Mary Benedict Phelan, BVM, PhD

Former professor and chairperson of the departments of Education and Psychology who first came to Mundelein in 1934 and left in 1957 to become President of Clarke College. Interviewed by Sara McAlpin, BVM, 24 March, 1998. Tapes only.

Mary Josetta Phoenix, BVM

Former Mundelein English professor, organizer and head of Media Services, and archivist. Interviewed by Patricia Nolan, BVM, on 10 January, 1998. Tapes only.

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Susan Rink, BVM

President of Mundelein College, 1975–1983. Subjects include the many changes Mundelein endured during the 1970s and early 1980s, including the inception of the Weekend College. Provides crucial insight into the complexities of college administration. Interviewed by Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 13 November, 1997. Tape and transcript.

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Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM

Former Mundelein administrator in many capacities and professor of education. Interviewed by Ronald P. Martin on 16 November, 1998. Provides an administrative overview of the events and changes that took place at Mundelein from the early 1960s through the affiliation with Loyola in 1991. Tape and transcript.

John P. Slobodnik

Mundelein Superintendent of Maintenance just prior to the affiliation. Interviewed by Keith Gill on 18 November, 1998. Subjects include condition of the buildings, the effect of Mundelein's financial condition of Mundelein on building maintenance, his respect and sympathy for the BVMS, and the relationships between Mundelein students and faculty. Tape and transcript.

Kay (Heerey) Sullivan

Member of the Class of 1938. Provides crucial insight into the Home Economics department of the College during its formative years, including memories of several key professors such as Sister Mary Pierre Flynn and Sister Mary St. Remi McNamara. Subjects also include reflections on student life. Interviewed by Laura L. Carroll on 12 December, 2001. Tape and transcript.

Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM

Former student (Class of 1951) and Professor of English and Communications (1970–1991). Subjects include student life, the feminist movement and its effects on Mundelein students, memories of numerous faculty, social justice issues, and numerous additional subjects that provide a unique glimpse of Mundelein's later years. Interviewed by Sandra LaBlanc on 20 October, 2000. Tape and transcript.

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Margaret Zonsius, BVM

College Bursar, 1949–1974, and secretary to five college presidents, 1940–1983. Interviewed by Joan Steinbrecher on 24 July, 1997. Tape and digital (cd, wav. file) copies only.

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