Oral History Interview with Burgess, Charles O.

Dr. Charles O. Burgess came to the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in 1955 as an Instructor in the English Department. In addition to becoming Full Professor in 1966, he also served as Director of Freshman English, Graduate Program Director, and was appointed the University's first Dean of Graduate Studies in 1970. By 1972, he became Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. In 1980, Dr. Burgess returned to the English Department to teach, and by 1985 he was again in an administrative role as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. He retired from that position in 1995, but continues to teach part-time in the English Department. He was born in New York, New York on January 30, 1929 and died May 29, 2019. This interview is in three parts. Part 1 discusses his personal and educational background, his arrival at the Norfolk Division in 1955, his thoughts on Norfolk, the Norfolk Division, and the English Department, his role as Graduate Programs Director, and events and activism through the 1960s. Part 2 discusses his tenure as Provost, the growth and expansion of ODU, affirmative action, budgets and budget crises, and the development of international programs. Part 3 discusses his tenure as Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences, curriculum development in general education, women's studies, international studies, and African American studies; teaching, and the ODU Friends of the Library. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Interview recorded on Sony Digital Audio Recorder; audio quality is good. 1:28:50

Dr. Charles O. Burgess came to the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in 1955 as an Instructor in the English Department. In addition to becoming Full Professor in 1966, he also served as Director of Freshman English, Graduate Program Director, and was appointed the University's first Dean of Graduate Studies in 1970. By 1972, he became Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. In 1980, Dr. Burgess returned to the English Department to teach, and by 1985 he was again in an administrative role as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. He retired from that position in 1995, but continues to teach part-time in the English Department. He was born in New York, New York on January 30, 1929 and died May 29, 2019. This interview is in three parts. Part 1 discusses his personal and educational background, his arrival at the Norfolk Division in 1955, his thoughts on Norfolk, the Norfolk Division, and the English Department, his role as Graduate Programs Director, and events and activism through the 1960s. Part 2 discusses his tenure as Provost, the growth and expansion of ODU, affirmative action, budgets and budget crises, and the development of international programs. Part 3 discusses his tenure as Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences, curriculum development in general education, women's studies, international studies, and African American studies; teaching, and the ODU Friends of the Library. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dr. Charles O. Burgess came to the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in 1955 as an Instructor in the English Department. In addition to becoming Full Professor in 1966, he also served as Director of Freshman English, Graduate Program Director, and was appointed the University's first Dean of Graduate Studies in 1970. By 1972, he became Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. In 1980, Dr. Burgess returned to the English Department to teach, and by 1985 he was again in an administrative role as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. He retired from that position in 1995, but continues to teach part-time in the English Department. He was born in New York, New York on January 30, 1929 and died May 29, 2019. This interview is in three parts. Part 1 discusses his personal and educational background, his arrival at the Norfolk Division in 1955, his thoughts on Norfolk, the Norfolk Division, and the English Department, his role as Graduate Programs Director, and events and activism through the 1960s. Part 2 discusses his tenure as Provost, the growth and expansion of ODU, affirmative action, budgets and budget crises, and the development of international programs. Part 3 discusses his tenure as Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences, curriculum development in general education, women's studies, international studies, and African American studies; teaching, and the ODU Friends of the Library. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Interview recorded on Sony Digital Audio Recorder; audio quality is good. 2:07:00

Dr. Charles O. Burgess came to the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in 1955 as an Instructor in the English Department. In addition to becoming Full Professor in 1966, he also served as Director of Freshman English, Graduate Program Director, and was appointed the University's first Dean of Graduate Studies in 1970. By 1972, he became Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. In 1980, Dr. Burgess returned to the English Department to teach, and by 1985 he was again in an administrative role as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. He retired from that position in 1995, but continues to teach part-time in the English Department. He was born in New York, New York on January 30, 1929 and died May 29, 2019. This interview is in three parts. Part 1 discusses his personal and educational background, his arrival at the Norfolk Division in 1955, his thoughts on Norfolk, the Norfolk Division, and the English Department, his role as Graduate Programs Director, and events and activism through the 1960s. Part 2 discusses his tenure as Provost, the growth and expansion of ODU, affirmative action, budgets and budget crises, and the development of international programs. Part 3 discusses his tenure as Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences, curriculum development in general education, women's studies, international studies, and African American studies; teaching, and the ODU Friends of the Library. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dr. Charles O. Burgess came to the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in 1955 as an Instructor in the English Department. In addition to becoming Full Professor in 1966, he also served as Director of Freshman English, Graduate Program Director, and was appointed the University's first Dean of Graduate Studies in 1970. By 1972, he became Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. In 1980, Dr. Burgess returned to the English Department to teach, and by 1985 he was again in an administrative role as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. He retired from that position in 1995, but continues to teach part-time in the English Department. He was born in New York, New York on January 30, 1929 and died May 29, 2019. This interview is in three parts. Part 1 discusses his personal and educational background, his arrival at the Norfolk Division in 1955, his thoughts on Norfolk, the Norfolk Division, and the English Department, his role as Graduate Programs Director, and events and activism through the 1960s. Part 2 discusses his tenure as Provost, the growth and expansion of ODU, affirmative action, budgets and budget crises, and the development of international programs. Part 3 discusses his tenure as Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences, curriculum development in general education, women's studies, international studies, and African American studies; teaching, and the ODU Friends of the Library. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Interview recorded on Sony Digital Audio Recorder; audio quality is good. 1:38:00