The Oral History Collection consists of histories from former college Presidents, Trustees, faculty members, alumnae/i, members of the Lawrence family, and other individuals connected to Sarah Lawrence College. The histories include remembrances of the founding of Sarah Lawrence College and early college history, changes on campus over the years, campus life, and biographical information. Topics also range from the Center for Continuing Education, the founding of the Nursery School, outstanding faculty, student activism, the Writing and Dance programs, Music and Art in the curriculum, campus relations with Bronxville, veterans on campus, and the move to co-education. Documents on highly acidic and fragile paper were photocopied and the originals discarded.
Conversation between Constance Warren and Henry Noble MacCracken, 1961
Subject(s): President Warren talks with Dr. MacCracken about the early days of Sarah Lawrence College.
Conversation between Constance Warren, Ermine Stone, Helen McMaster, and Paul Ward, 1962
Subject(s): Presidents Warren and Ward talk with Professor McMaster and Librarian Stone about the early days of Sarah Lawrence College and education.
Andrews, Lucia Meigs, 1978
Subject(s): Relative of the Lawrence family discussing her life and family history in connection with the college and the town of Bronxville.
Arnheim, Rudolph, 2002
Subject(s): Professor Emeritus of the college discussing his life, time at Sarah Lawrence College and his professional pursuits.
Baylis, Sally Whiting, 2007
Subject(s): Alumna Sally Whiting Baylis (BA ’37) recalls her experiences as a day student at the College from 1932 through 1937. She also recalls her work with photography and the physical education department at the College. Baylis worked closely with Marion Knighton Bryan in the Physical Education department assisting with the various athletic programs on campus. (Interview by Abby Lester)
Bernhardt, Elise, 1986
Subject(s): Second in a series of interviews with Bernhardt and Bessie Schönberg conducted by Joan Harrison. Dancer and Choreographer Bernhardt discusses her mentor Bessie Schönberg, and her own career in the dance world. (The first interview is catalogued under Schönberg, Bessie).
Bernhardt, Elise and Bessie Schonberg, 1986
Subject(s): Third interview in a series of three interviews with Bernhardt and Schönberg conducted by Joan Harrison. Schönberg discusses her professional relationship with Bernhardt, the Sarah Lawrence connection, teaching dance at the college, and professional projects. Bernhardt discusses her relationship with mentor Schönberg, and the two discuss various dance projects. (The first interview is catalogued under Schönberg, Bessie).
Beyer, Evelyn, 1982
Subject(s): Founder of the College’s nursery school in 1937 discussing the beginnings of the program and its educational philosophy.
Beyer, Evelyn, 1989
Subject(s): First Director of the College nursery program discussing her memories of Lois Barclay Murphy with Murphy’s granddaughter Colleen Small and Beyer’s memories of the nursery program.
Blauvelt, Brita Neilson, 2006
Subject(s): Alumna ’30 discusses memories of being a member of the first graduating class. Reminiscences of the early college days. (Interview by Abby Lester)
Bryan, Marion, 1969
Subject(s): The founder of the early Sarah Lawrence Dance Program discusses its early history.
Butler, Margaret Lowry, 2006
Subject(s): Alumna ’31 discusses memories of her time at Sarah Lawrence from 1929 to 1931. Reminiscences of the early college days including Presidents Coats and Warren and early faculty members. (Interview by Abby Lester)
Cavert, Twila Lytton, 1982
Subject(s): Professor of Social Sciences at Sarah Lawrence from 1928-1936 discussing early history of the College, the development of the College’s social service program, and the effects of the depression on the College.
Clark, Winifred Wood, 1966
Subject(s): Alumna ’32 and Member of the College Board of Trustees discussing the beginnings of the College Alumnae Association, and early years at the College.
Clark, Winifred Wood, 1995
Subject(s): Clark discusses her early family life, college social life, becoming the youngest College Trustee in the nation, memories of early teachers and administrators of the college, and college administration from the thirties to the the seventies (Clark was Trustee Representative to the Black Students’ Association).
Clifford, Margery Meigs, 1978
Subjects(s): Relative of the Lawrence family discussing Lawrence family history and moral beliefs.
Comstock, Anita Inman, ca.1978
Subject(s): Two reports by Comstock ’30. “The First Year of Sarah Lawrence College,” a history of the college’s first year based on Bronxville Review reports from 1928; “A Day Student’s First Year at SLC,” a retrospective picture of Comstock’s first year at the college in its inaugural year.
Cooper, Jane, 2000
Subject(s): Professor Emeritus of Literature and Poet in Resident from 1950-1987 discusses the writing program and teaching over the years at Sarah Lawrence College.
DeCarlo, Charles, 1980
Subject(s): Copy #1 of a series of four interviews with Charles DeCarlo, President of Sarah Lawrence College from 1969-1981. In interview #1 he discusses his early family history, military service during World War II, his education. In interview #2 he discusses his various occupations including work for IBM before coming to Sarah Lawrence College. In interview #3 President DeCarlo discusses his initial work in education and his initial relationship with the college. He covers the sit-in, the tuition increase and college finances, the shift to co-education, and the building of the library and other campus buildings, and his first years as President. In interview #4 DeCarlo describes his relationship to the faculty and the board and the changes he made on campus as President.
DeCarlo, Charles, 1980
Subject(s): Copy #2 of a series of four interviews with President DeCarlo.
DeCarlo, Charles, 1980
Subject(s): Personal reminiscences of Esther Raushenbush by President DeCarlo and his initial involvement in college affairs.
DeCarlo, Charles, 2001
Subject(s): President DeCarlo discusses his initial relationship with the college and his move into the presidency. He also covers the Women’s History Program, trying to establish a Black Studies Program, Grace Paley, among other stories.
Doerschuk, Beatrice, 1966
Subject(s): Former Director of Education at Sarah Lawrence College recalls the founding and early days of the college and its educational philosophy.
Drisler, Elizabeth (Elizabeth Drisler Berry), 1997
Subject(s): Alumna Elizabeth Drisler ’31 recalls her years at the college and life in the town of Bronxville.
Franklin, Margery B., 2005
Subject(s): Faculty emerita Franklin discusses her experiences teaching Psychology at Sarah Lawrence College from 1965 to 2002. She discusses teaching at the College, experiences with faculty, students and administration, committee work, activism on campus, and coeducation.
Gladstone, Gary, 2003
Subject(s): Yearbook photographer from the mid fifties to the late seventies recalls working for the college. Copy #1.
Gladstone, Gary, 2003
Subject(s): Copy #2 of interview with Gary Gladstone.
Goldman, Irving, 1996
Subject(s): An interview with Professor Emeritus Irving Goldman who taught at Sarah Lawrence College from 1947-1980. He discusses teaching at the college and views of students, faculty, and the administration during his years at the college, including McCarthyism, the Sexual Revolution on Campus, Student rebellion, and Jewish students at SLC. He also discusses his biography before and after his time at Sarah Lawrence College.
Gould, Philip, 1993
Subject(s): A reminiscence from Professor Gould who taught at Sarah Lawrence College from 1959-1992 in Art History. Professor Gould was very active on campus and discusses organizing art exhibits, creating the College Slide Collection, helping to institute Disability Insurance for the faculty, initiating Tuition Remission for college employees, starting Oriental Month, and other memories.
Grastorf, Grant, 2006
Subject(s): Interview with Director of College Events, Grant Grastorf, who directed campus events from 1991 to 2006. Subjects include Special Programs, Summer Programs, student life, committees, past presidents and faculty and staff.
Hobler, Anne, 2000
Subject(s): Alumna Class of 1939 discusses college life in the late thirties, Sarah Lawrence summer school in Florence, and development work for the college, including the College’s refusal to move to Princeton.
Kane, Libby, 2010
Subject(s): Alumna CCE ’81 and long term employee discusses her employment under Presidents Raushenbush, DeCarlo, Ilchman, and Myers as well as her experience as a student through the Center for Continuing Education.
Kilsheimer, Ralph, 2008
Subject(s): Alumnus Class of 1951, one of the veterans to attend Sarah Lawrence College on the G.I. Bill. He discusses his impressions of SLC and his course work and professors.
Kleinman, Hyman, 1998
Subject(s): Professor Emeritus Hyman H. Kleinman discusses growing up, attitudes about Jewish teachers, teaching literature, memories of students, and changes at the college from 1964-1983, and Friends of the Library.
Lawrence, Dudley, 1966
Subject(s): Relative of the Lawrence Family gives a narrative of the college’s early days. Includes a letter from Noble MacCracken dated 1958 regarding his collaboration in founding Sarah Lawrence College, and verification of Dudley Lawrence’s narrative.
LeVine, Mary, 2010
Subject(s): Long term Director of Physical Education and Athletics discusses the progression of physical education and athletics at the College from the mid 1980s through 2010 including the building of the Campbell Sports Center.
Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1966
Subject(s): Professor Lynd recalls the founding and early days of Sarah Lawrence College, faculty and academic organization, the Scholarship Program, and campus in the sixties, including a mention of Alice Walker. See also: 1973-1974 boxed interview and 1973 interview in bound copies.
Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1973-1974
Subject(s): Interview by Elfie Stock Raymond on Professor Lynd’s family, education, teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, the Jenner Committee and the effects of McCarthyism on the Sarah Lawrence campus, Sarah Lawrence students, changes on campus over time, professional projects, and philosophy and politics. See also: 1966 boxed interview and 1973 interview in bound copies.
Mansell, Kathryn, 1983
Subject(s): Professor Emeritus Kathryn Mansell discusses the early years of the college, the Depression, quotas, faculty and administration members, memories of students (including Yoko Ono and Barbara Walters), the McCarthy era, and the sixties on campus.
Murolo, Priscilla, 2008
Subject(s): Interview by Leah Mahony ’08 for use in conference work: “Sarah Lawrence College and the Evolution of Progressive Liberal Arts Education”
Murphy, Lois Barclay, 1969
Subject(s): Professor of Psychology from 1927-52 discusses early days of the college, memories of Dr. MacCracken, the Nursery School, early Committees, Exploratory Courses, and the “Study of the Class of 1952.”
Murphy, Lois Barclay, 1988
Subject(s): Professor Murphy discusses family influences on her career, early days teaching at the college, being interviewed by the Jenner Committee, the Nursery School, her husband Gardner Murphy, and her educational philosophy.
Murphy, Lois Barclay, 1982
Subject(s): Professor Murphy remembers Helen Merrell Lynd.
Papaleo, Joseph, 2000
Subject(s): One of the first veterans to attend Sarah Lawrence College on the G.I. Bill and faculty member in literature and writing from 1960-1992 discusses the G.I. Bill, and studying and teaching at Sarah Lawrence College.
Peters, Sarah Whitaker, 1998
Subject(s): Alumna ‘54, remembers attending college during World War II, school as a married student and mother, and teaching Art History.
Price, Charlotte, 2002 (RESTRICTED)
Subject(s): Professor Price from the Economics Department discusses studying and working in Economics as a woman, the Women’s Studies Department, and the Teacher’s Institute, activism as an educator, and teaching at Sarah Lawrence College.
Rabban, Meyer, 1999
Subject(s): Professor Emeritus Meyer Rabban remembers Professor Lois Barclay Murphy. Included is a brief history of the Psychology Department written by Professor Rabban. Professor Rabban also provides a brief autobiographical sketch.
Raushenbush, Esther, n.d., 1964, 1967
Subject(s): Written remembrances of President Raushenbush including reflections on continuing education and biographical notes.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973
Subject(s): Index to interview with President Raushenbush. Copy #1.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 1-130)
Subject(s): President Raushenbush remembers teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, moving into the administration, veterans studying on campus, co-education, the McCarthy period, The Whitney Foundation, Women’s Studies, The Continuing Education Program, and inequality in education. Copy #1.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 131-260)
Subject(s): Pages 131-260 of interview with President Raushenbush. Copy # 1.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 261-390)
Subject(s): Pages 261-390 of interview with President Raushenbush. Copy #1.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 391-520)
Subject(s): Pages 391-520 of interview with President Raushenbush. Copy # 1.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 521-end)
Subject(s): Pages 521-end of interview with President Raushenbush. Copy #1.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973
Subject(s): Index to Copy #2 of interview with President Raushenbush.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 1-130)
Subject(s): Pages 1-130 to Copy # 2 of interview with President Raushenbush.
Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 261-390)
Subject(s): Pages 261-390 to Copy # 2 of interview with President Raushenbush.Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 391-520)
Subject(s): Pages 391-520 to Copy # 2 of interview with President Raushenbush.Raushenbush, Esther, 1973 (Pages 521-end)
Subject(s): Pages 521-end to Copy # 2 of interview with President Raushenbush.Raushenbush, Esther, 1974
Subject(s): An addendum to the 1973 oral history with President Raushenbush.Raushenbush, Esther, 1974
Subject(s): Copy # 2 of the addendum to the oral history with President Raushenbush.Reid, Alastair, 1998
Subject(s): Professor Reid remembers his arrival in the United States, teaching at Sarah Lawrence College in the fifties, discusses other faculty and President Taylor, and his relationships with other writers. Copy #1Reid, Alastair, 1998
Subject(s): Copy #2 of interview with Alastair Reid.Richardson, Frances (Frances Richardson Keller), 1997
Subject(s): Recipient of Distinguished Alumna Award (Class of 1935) discusses her life and time at Sarah Lawrence College. Includes a copy of her speech upon receiving the Distinguished Alumna Award.Rowe, Catherine Linville “Kitty”, 1983
Subject(s): Music faculty member discusses her time at Sarah Lawrence as well as what brought her to the College and her experience with teaching at the College.Roycroft, Margaret, 1966
Subject(s): Employee of the Lawrence family and former Director of Buildings and Grounds discusses the early history of the college.Roycroft, Margaret, 1979
Subject(s): Roycroft discusses her early history on the Lawrence estate, the Lawrence family, and college history.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Index to the oral history with Schönberg. Copy #1.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Pages 1-149) (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Dance Choreographer and teacher Schönberg discusses her family, growing up in Europe, her evolution as a dancer, working with Martha Graham, teaching at Bennington and Briarcliff, dance at Sarah Lawrence, the graduate program, teaching methodology, former students, and various productions Copy #1.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Pages 150-300) (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Pages 150-300 of the interview with Schönberg. Copy #1.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Pages 301-475) (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Pages 301-475 of the interview with Schönberg. Copy #1.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Index to Copy #2 of Interview with Schönberg.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Pages 1-150) (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Pages 1-150 to Copy #2 of Interview with Schönberg.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Pages 151-300) (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Pages 151-300 to Copy #2 of Interview with Schönberg.Schönberg, Bessie, 1976 (Pages 301-475) (Copyright New York Public Library)
Subject(s): Pages 301-475 to Copy #2 of Interview with Schönberg.Schönberg, Bessie, 1986
Subject(s): First in a series of three interviews with Schonberg and Elise Bernhardt conducted by Joan Harrison. Schönberg discusses her career in the dance world, her professional relationship with student Elise Bernhardt, and teaching at Sarah Lawrence College.Singer, André, 1996
Subject(s): Professor Emeritus of Music discusses music, his training, teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, and emigrating to the United States.Stone, Ermine “Pebble,” 1966
Subject(s): Faculty research librarian discusses the early history of the college, experimental education, and the early Sarah Lawrence library.Swinford, Jerome, 1966
Subject(s): Professor of Music discusses the early days of the music program at Sarah Lawrence College and the need for fundraising.Taylor, Harold, 1985
Subject(s): Index to interview with President Taylor.Taylor, Harold, 1985 (Pages 1-130)
Subject(s): President Taylor discusses his life before coming to Sarah Lawrence College including meeting Duke Ellington, influences on his life and educational philosophy, his relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt, college faculty, veterans on campus, Jewish and Black students, the Jenner Committee, student activism, changes on campus over time, and his work after leaving Sarah Lawrence. (Includes editing marks on the pages; see also bound copy).Taylor, Harold, 1985 (Pages 131-260)
Subject(s): Pages 131-260 of interview with President Taylor.Taylor, Harold, 1985 (Pages 262-end)
Subject(s): Pages 262-end of interview with President Taylor. Includes addendum.
Trinkaus, Charles, 1996
Subject(s): Professor of History discusses changes over the years at Sarah Lawrence College, outstanding faculty members, and educational reform.
Wachs, Ilja, 2001 (RESTRICTED)
Waite, Joan Berry, 2006
Subject(s): Alumna Class of 1955 discusses college life in the 1950s as a Black student, her experiences as a student in the first year of the Junior Year in Paris program and on the Tennessee Valley Authority trip in 1951, her time back at the College on the faculty, participation on the Diversity Panel during Reunion 2005.
Warren, Constance, 1962
Subject(s): President Warren reminisces about the early days of Sarah Lawrence College.
Wohl, Bruce, 2008
Subject(s): Alumnus, Class of 1972, discusses his experiences at SLC as a transfer student in the early 1970s. Includes discussion of his individual faculty members and what his education at SLC has meant to him. Taped during Reunion 2008.
Woodard, Komozi, 2008
Subject(s): Interview by Leah Mahony ’08 for use in conference work: “Sarah Lawrence College and the Evolution of Progressive Liberal Arts Education”
1. Conversation between Constance Warren and Henry Noble MacCracken, 1961
Subject(s): Bound copy of the conversation between Warren and MacCracken. See description listed above.
2. Conversation between Constance Warren and Henry Noble MacCracken, 1961
Subject(s): Bound copy #2 of this oral history. See description listed above.
3. Kleinman, Hyman, 1998
Subject(s): Bound copy of the oral history with Professor Emeritus Hyman. See description listed above.
4. Kleinman, Hyman, 1998
Subject(s): Bound copy #2 of the oral history with Professor Emeritus Hyman.
5. Lawrence, Ruddick C., 1984 (Copyright New York Stock Exchange Archives and Corporate Research Center)
Subject(s): Sarah Lawrence College Trustee and Board President discusses his background and brief career in publishing, the evolution of his career in business, the Stock Exchange from mid to late century, and the relationship between business, the public and education.
6. Lawrence, Ruddick C., 1997
Subject(s): Sarah Lawrence College Trustee discusses changes at the college over the years, Presidents Harold Taylor, Harrison Tweed, Paul Ward, Esther Raushenbush, and Charles DeCarlo, the First Capital Campaign, the decision to go co-ed, the 1969 sit-in, and his work on the Board of Trustees.
7. Lawrence, Ruddick C., 1997
Subject(s): Copy # 2 of the oral history with Ruddick C. Lawrence.
8. Lawrence, Ruddick C., 1997
Subject(s): Tape index to the Trustee’s oral history.
9. Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1973
Subject(s): Professor Lynd discusses her family, studying at Wellesley and Columbia, the art of teaching, the Middletown study, teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, the Jenner Committee, Sarah Lawrence students, changes on campus over time, professional projects, and philosophy and politics.
10. Park, William, 2000
Subject(s): Professor of literature discusses his education, working in academia, his creative projects, teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, and his educational philosophy.
11. Park, William, 2000
Subject(s): Copy #2 of interview with Professor Park.
12. Schuman, William, 1977
Subject(s): Volume 1 of an oral history with composer and musician William Schuman. Schuman discusses growing up, his early interest in music, the development of his career, teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, musical guests and faculty on campus, leaving the college, and study with Roy Harris.
13. Schuman, William, 1977
Subject(s): Volume 2 of an oral history with composer and musician William Schuman. Schuman discusses Lincoln Center and Jullliard, his colleagues, an invitation to be President of the Lincoln Center, and other work for the arts and music.
14. Taylor, Harold, 1985
Subject(s): Bound copy of oral history with President Taylor. See description listed above.