Oral History Collection

Lee Miller Klinefelter, Professor Emeritus, was the first director of the Norfolk Division's Technical Institute. He served ODU from 1942-1959. He was born in Bolan, Iowa on April 17, 1892 and died on December 22, 1991. In addition to discussion of his background, the interview covers the development of the Technical Institute -- its various programs, courses, and students -- and his impressions of President Webb.

Dr. Marie C. Klinkhamer was a Professor of History at Norfolk State University (Va.) when this interview was conducted in 1978. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 21, 1917. The interview discusses her background as a Catholic nun with the Dominican Sisters and her religious beliefs. She also discusses her travels, her teaching experiences at several universities, including Norfolk State University (Va.), and issues concerning women.

Edgar A. Kovner, Professor Emeritus, served from 1943-1984 as a faculty member at the Technical Institute and in the Engineering Department. Kovner served as the Director of the Technical Institute from 1959-1963 and was the lacrosse coach from 1947-1950. This interview discusses Kovner's educational background, career plans, his teaching career, the faculty, students, and programs offered at the Technical Institute and his tenure as the lacrosse coach.

Dorothy Pierce Ladd was the first librarian, Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, after receiving her degree in library science from the College of William and Mary. Ladd was given a small budget for the purchasing of new books and furniture. By the end of Ladd's tenure, the library's total holdings had increased to 13,200 volumes, and the physical size of the library had doubled. In 1948 Ladd moved to Boston with her husband and began a 30-year career as a librarian at Boston University. She was born in Norfolk, Virginia on January 16, 1917 and died October 9, 2006. The interview discusses her educational background, her experiences with the early Norfolk Division from 1937-1948, and her involvement with the development of the library at the Norfolk Division.

Frank Aborn MacDonald served on the faculty at the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary from 1938-1956, teaching philosophy, psychology, and sociology. He also served as Assistant President. In 1956, MacDonald left for the College of William and Mary where he served for many years as the Chair of the Philosophy Department, retiring in 1976. He was born in Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada on August 8, 1910 and died January 4, 2006. This interview discusses MacDonald's family and educational background, his teaching and administrative careers at Old Dominion and impressions of faculty, students, and athletics. MacDonald also discusses the Webb administration, the honor system, his tenure as coach of the fencing team, and his teaching career at the College of William & Mary.

Roy Butler Martin, Jr., a Norfolk native, was mayor of Norfolk from 1962-1974. He served as a member of the City Council for over 20 years, beginning 1953. He attended the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary from 1939-1940. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia on May 13, 1921 and died May 20, 2002. The interview discusses his views on the early days of ODU and its growth and development through the 1960s, the Byrd Organization, massive resistance and his lone vote against cutting off funds from the black secondary schools in January 1959, and urban renewal and development.

Vivian Carter Mason, a civil rights activist and educator, was the founder and an active member of the Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on February 10, 1900 and died May 10, 1982. A series of four interviews were conducted with Vivian Carter Mason. Audio for the first interview conducted on March 24, 1978 was unplayable and not transcribed. The remaining interviews discuss her family history, civil rights in Norfolk, establishment of the Women's Council for Interracial Cooperation, the desegregation crisis in Norfolk, and the experiences of Afro-Americans in Norfolk.

Gisele McAdoo began her career at the ODU library in the early 1970s and retired in 2004. She was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1944. This interview is in two parts. The first part of this interview discusses her background in Egypt, Cuba and London. The second part focusses on her work at the ODU Library, primarily the Circulation Department, from the early 1970s through 2004. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dr. Heinz K. Meier served ODU from 1960-1975 as professor and then department chair in the History Department, and from 1975-1985 as Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. He was born in Zurich, Switzerland on October 13, 1929 and died in 1989. In addition to his background of growing up in Switzerland in the 1930s and 1940s, the interview discusses the philosophy behind American vs. Swiss education, developments in the History Department and College of Arts and Letters, his involvement with the Swiss American Historical Society and the World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads, and his views on life and religion. The interview took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Arthur B. "Bud" Metheny, Athletics Coach Emeritus, served as an athletics coach from 1948-1980. Metheny played professional baseball with the New York Yankees from 1943-1946. Metheny began his 32-year career with Old Dominion in 1948. He served as head baseball coach from 1948-1980, head basketball coach from 1948-1965 and as Athletic Director from 1963-1970. He became ODU's coach with the most wins in baseball and men's basketball. Metheny is enshrined in College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the William and Mary Hall of Fame and the Tidewater Baseball Hall of Fame. This interview is in two parts. Part 1 of this interview discusses Metheny's days as a student-athlete at the College of William & Mary, his professional baseball career, and his early career as the baseball and men's basketball coach and athletic director at Old Dominion. Part 2 of this interview continues to discuss Metheny's coaching career including upgrading the athletic program, faculty status of coaches, and prominent players that Metheny coached.

Dr. Laura Morris was an active member of the medical community in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to being a pediatrician, she served as medical director of Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, chief of Medical Services for the Norfolk Public School System, assistant director for the Norfolk Public Health Department, and Assistant Director of Admissions at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She was also very active in community organizations and activities. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 21, 1910 and died February 3, 2000. The interview discusses her family and educational background, her experiences as a physician, and her views on the changing role of women in medicine over the years. The interview includes a biographical sketch of Morris and a research paper on women physicians. The interview is part of the Norfolk Women's History collection and was conducted as a class project for Dorothy Johnson's History 495/595 course, "Recapturing Women's History: Local and National," in Fall, 1982.

Sara "Chip" Mueller and her family settled in Virginia Beach where the Navy moved her husband. She became active in the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. She was born in Snyder, Texas on August 2, 1938 and died November 25, 2004. The interview discusses her background, her involvement as Senior Warden in the church, and the introduction of Pat Park, the first ordained woman priest in the Diocese of Southern Virginia at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. Interview includes a biographical sketch of Mueller. The interview is part of the Norfolk Women's History collection and was conducted as a class project for Dorothy Johnson's History 495/595 course, "Recapturing Women's History: Local and National," in Fall, 1982.

Kathryn Noble Ogg was involved in the Girl Scout movement for over 50 years, among many other volunteer ventures. At 60, she earned a degree in history and women's studies from Old Dominion University. She would go on to earn three master's degrees. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 17, 1919 and died November 13, 2006. The interview discusses her background and her involvement in Girl Scouts. Also included with the interview is a biography. The interview is part of the Norfolk Women's History collection and was conducted as a class project for Dorothy Johnson's History 495/595 course, "Recapturing Women's History: Local and National," in Fall, 1982.

Mrs. Lida Maddox Outland lived in the neighborhood of Old Dominion University for over 40 years. She is the mother of Jean Outland Chrysler and Nancy Chandler. She was born in Maryland in 1887 and died December 14, 1981. The interview discusses her family and growing up in Maryland at the turn of the century. It also discusses her experiences in Norfolk, her involvement with various organizations, and her recollections of ODU and its supporters.

In 1982, Pat Merchant Park became the first ordained woman priest in the Diocese of Southern Virginia at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. She was born in 1947. This interview recounts Park's background, her views on women and religion, and her experiences with the Episcopal Church. The interview is part of the Norfolk Women's History collection and was conducted as a class project for Dorothy Johnson's History 495/595 course, "Recapturing Women's History: Local and National," in Fall, 1982.

Dean E. Vernon Peele, Professor Emeritus, served ODU from 1948-1975 as Assistant Director from 1948-1956, Dean of Instruction from 1956-1966, and Dean of Arts & Sciences from 1966-1975. He was born in South Carolina. After a brief discussion of his background, the interview discusses his recollections of the college from 1948 when he began as Assistant to Dr. Webb until his retirement in 1975. Topics include the reaction of the College of William & Mary to the Norfolk Division's early development, the academic development of the college, and the college's community and military relationships.

Dr. Leland Peterson, Professor Emeritus, served ODU from 1961-1992 as a professor in the Department of English. He was born in Stanchfield, Minnesota on July 9, 1926 and died January 12, 2012. The interview describes his background, controversial issues related the student literary magazine The Gadfly in 1968 and his advisory role, student liberalism v. conservatism, and changes in the English Department.

G. Conoly Phillips served on Norfolk's City Council for many years and was also a candidate for the United States Senate. He was born on December 17, 1931 and died April 22, 2020. The interview discusses Norfolk politics, his involvement on the City Council, his Senate candidacy, and issues in politics and religion.

Margaret Phillips, Professor Emeritus, served ODU from 1943-1979 where she primarily taught Mathematics and Physics. In addition to her background and experiences during the war years, the interview discusses her experiences with the early developments of mathematics and physics at ODU, the early buildings and changes to the physical campus, the social climate and faculty and student camaraderie in the early days.

Emily V. Pittman, Professor Emeritus, was Chairman of the Women's Physical Education Department and Coach for women's field hockey, basketball and tennis from 1950-1976. In addition to her background, the interview discusses women's athletics at ODU, developments in the Physical Education Department, athletic scholarships for women, and the effect of women's liberation movement on athletics.