Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Robert “Bob” Beam, Vice President for Business and Finance, conducted and recorded by Tom Coyne on November 29, 1995. Beam graduated with a business degree from Western Michigan University in 1965. He began working at WMU full-time as a senior. Bob discusses his career at WMU while working under multiple presidents, various aspects of the university’s financial history, building projects, and the changes technology has created to the administration of the...

Scope and Contents

Oral history interview with Chauncey Brinn, alumnus and former administrator, conducted by Lew Carlson on July 23, 1989 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He discusses his experience working with student financial aid, minority student services units, the MLK Academy, as secretary for the Board of Trustees, and short terms as athletic director. Brinn retired in 1994 from Western Michigan University as vice president emeritus for administrative affairs.

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Mary Cain (1924-2016), professor emerita of education, conducted by Mary Hurlbut Cordier on January 31, 1995 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Cain discusses the School of Education and her career there, including her work on undergraduate curriculum development and the early childhood program. She also touches on the position of women in education. Cain talks about being involved in the early years of AAUP, striking in 1984, and faculty/administration relationships during...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Patrick “Pat” Clysdale, student athlete, coach, administrator and professor at Western Michigan University, conducted and recorded Lew Carlson on October 25, 1989 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Pat discusses playing youth sports in Detroit and then coming to Western and playing basketball for coach Buck Read and football for coach John W. Gill. He received his B.S. in 1952 and his M.S. in 1953, returning to WMU in 1958 to coach basketball and recruit players. He worked...

Scope and Contents Oral history interview with Mary Hurlbut Cordier, conducted and recorded by Mary Cain on April 19, 1996. Mary recounts her early career in education, starting at Western’s campus school in 1958, joining the Education Department in 1964 and working in teacher education until her retirement in 1990. She shares what it was like to be a women in higher education in the 1960s, the environment of WMU throughout her career, collaborations with other faculty, and her enjoyment in working with...