Oral History Collection

Mr. Louis G. Plummer, Emeritus professor, served ODU from 1956-1975. He was a member of the Department of Health and Physical Education, served as head track coach, and became Director of Summer and Evening Programs in 1972. The interview discusses Dean Hodges, Scrap Chandler, developments in the Department of Physical Education, coaching track, and the summer and evening programs.

Norman Pollock, Professor Emeritus, served in the History Department at ODU from 1964 and beyond his retirement in 1998.. He was born in 1922. The interview discusses his impressions of ODU from the 1960s (including racial integration, campus expansion, program expansion) to the distance education program of the 1990s. He also discusses his role in stopping white flight in the Colonial Place neighborhood of Norfolk. Note: Audio portion is not available.

Carolyn Hodgson Meyers Rhodes began as an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Old Dominion University (then Old Dominion College) in 1965. During her tenure at Old Dominion University, Dr. Rhodes co-founded the Women's Caucus, worked as the Principal Investigator for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Pilot Grant in Women's Studies, co-founded the Friends of Women's Studies organization, and was a Fulbright Lecturer in both Romania and China. She retired in 1990 but remained active at ODU. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama on May 16, 1925 and died March 24, 2019. Part 1 (of 6 interviews) discusses Dr. Rhodes’s personal and educational background, her arrival at ODU in 1965, activism on campus, teaching and curriculum development in the English Department, and some of her research and publications. The interview took place in Perry Library on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Alfred Brooks Rollins, Jr. served as the third President of Old Dominion University from 1976-1985, after which he taught in the History Department until his retirement in 1991. He was born in Presque Isle, Maine on May 28, 1921 and died February 20, 2013. The interview discusses his background, his agenda for the growth of the University, cooperation with Norfolk State to integrate ODU, development of the arts, programs for Women's Studies and International Studies, and growth of the women's basketball program, among many other accomplishments.

Dr. Anne Raymond Savage retired from Old Dominion University in 2004 after 33 years of service. She began as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, served in the School of Continuing Studies, taught in the Biology Department, was appointed Director of the Center for Instructional Development, then Director of Academic Television Services and the Center for Instructional Services, and finally Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. After "retiring" from that position in 1999, she worked with Distance Learning and in 2001 was appointed interim Vice Provost for Distance Learning and then in 2002 became the official Vice Provost. She officially retired in 2004. Dr. Savage received numerous awards and recognition for teaching and administration, among other things. She is considered the "Mother of Teletechnet" at ODU. She was born in Scituate, Rhode Island on April 10, 1939. This interview, in two parts, discusses her personal background, family and career in addition to developments at ODU during her time there, including Distance Learning and Teletechnet. The interview took place in Albert Brooks Gornto, Jr. Hall on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Allene F. Scott is the wife of Thomas L. "Tommy" Scott, who coached four sports at the Norfolk Division and served as athletic director during its first 11 years.

Dr. Herbert L. Sebren, Professor Emeritus, served on the faculty of the English and Music Departments from 1948-1987.Among the topics discussed are his role in various music groups in the area, including first clarinetist of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra; his involvement with various music programs at ODU, including band director; and, students and courses in the English Department.

This interview discusses Seward's educational background and early academic career. Seward discusses his association with various novelists, including his friendship with Ernest Hemingway. He also discusses his tenure in the English Department, membership in the Poetry Society of Virginia, and his involvement with The Virginian-Pilot.

Mr. W. Bruce Shafer was a Norfolk native, politician and businessman. He was also an honorary member of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1894 and died in 1990. This interview is in two parts. The first interview, January 12, 1977, discusses his family and personal background, war bonuses for veterans, Andrew Mellon, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Norfolk City Council Election of 1928. The second interview, February 16, 1977, discusses Schafer's Congressional candidacy in 1930, political corruption, and his involvement with the development of Military Circle Mall.

General Lemuel Cornick Shepherd, Jr., a Norfolk native, was a General in and Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia on February 10, 1896 and died August 6, 1990. The interview discusses his background growing up in Norfolk, Virginia and his military experiences.

David T. Shufflebarger served in various capacities as Assistant to the President for University Relations and Governmental Relations. He was born in Hampton Virginia. The interview discusses his position at ODU, his involvement with the General Assembly, the lengthy political process of getting permission for dormitories and maintaining Foreman Field, and the financial and enrollment future of ODU.

Charles Kenneth Sibley earned the Eminent Scholar distinction and served in the Art Department from 1955-1980. He was the first faculty member in the Art Department and also served as its Chair for a time. Sibley was a noted artist in the Tidewater area and elsewhere. He was born in Huntington, West Virginia on December 20, 1921 and died August 13, 2005. In addition to discussing his background as an artist and professor, he talks about the development of the Art Department, from its roots in the basement of the Old Larchmont Elementary School building; the formation of the University Gallery; his views on art students; and art in the Tidewater area. The interview took place in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Mr. A. Lee Smith was one of the first faculty members, teaching mathematics, drafting and engineering courses at ODU from 1931-1941. His interview discusses various courses he taught, his views of the administrators, his salary, his community involvement and his military service, which ended his tenure at ODU.

Dr. Warren F. Spencer taught in the History Department at ODC from 1956-1967 and served as Department Chair from 1961-1967. He was born in Swan Quarter, North Carolina on January 27, 1923. Through audiotaped answers to interview questions submitted by Dr. James R. Sweeney, Spencer discusses his background, developments in the History Department and University, faculty interactions, and the Webb presidency.

Dr. Dorothy Evelyn Stanley, Professor Emeritus, served ODU from 1960-1975 as a member of the Department of Foreign Languages. She is also the author of two books: "They Call it Courage" and "How to Live Creatively." She was born in Nuremburg, Germany in 1910 and died on August 14, 2000. The interview discusses her background and education in Europe, her views on Hitler and anti-Semitism, being expelled from the University of Heidelberg because she was 1/16th Jewish, her holocaust experiences, and memories of her arrival in the United States in 1937. The interview also discusses her experiences teaching at the Norfolk Division, developments in the Department of Foreign Languages, and her interest in painting and astrology.

Mr. Yates Stirling III was a faculty member in the Engineering Department from 1948-1951 and 1954-1972. He retired in 1972. His interview discusses his role as a professor and adviser during this time and various changes that occurred.

Hugh L. Stovall served as Clerk of the Circuit Court in Norfolk. He was born on October 29, 1915 and died January 29, 1991. In addition to his family history, the interview discusses the growth and redevelopment of Norfolk, Hampton Roads as a metropolitan area, Virginia's division into counties, and his recollections of Norfolk -- its streetcars, etc.

Albert Tatem was a student at the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary from 1946-1948. In 1960, he was hired as a Professor in the Physical Education Department and retired with Emeritus status in 1985. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia. The interview discusses his background, including high school and a teaching job in the Norfolk Public Schools, his days as a student at the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, developments in the Physical Education Department, intramural sports, and the tennis program.

Albert Teich, Jr., Professor Emeritus, was a student at the Norfolk Division from 1945-47. He joined the faculty and taught in the College of Business from 1957-1992. Teich also was a lawyer, served as a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly from 1972-1974, and a Norfolk Circuit Court Clerk from 1996-2002. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia on February 22, 1929 and died in 2006. This interview discusses Teich's days as a student at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, his service in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, and his teaching career at Old Dominion University. He discusses his impression of students, faculty, the Webb and Bugg administrations, the Faculty Senate, and the university's Credit Union. Teich also discusses UVa law school, his legal career, politics, and his involvement with the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, the Young Democrats, and his various community activities.

A. Rufus Tonelson, Professor Emeritus, was one of the first three students to enroll at the Norfolk Division in 1930; the Principal of Maury High School, 1955-1965; Dean and faculty member for the College of Education from 1966-1971; and Assistant to the President for School and Community Relations from 1971-1976. He was bonr in New York, New York on November 17, 1911 and died August 6, 2006. This interview is in two parts. It discusses his background, enrolling in the Norfolk Division when it first opened, his impressions of the early faculty, facilities, social activities and athletics. Tonelson discusses his teaching jobs with Norfolk Public schools and with the College of William & Mary, and being principal of Maury High School during the massive resistance crisis. He also discusses joing the Education faculty at the Old Dominion College in 1966 and his various roles with the College of Education, including Dean, and his administrative roles in Community Relations and Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity.