Showing 4501 - 4510 of 5709 Items
Date: 2019-11-09
Creator: Noma Petroff
Access: Open access
- Noma Petroff shares her time working at Bowdoin, as secretary of the Senior Center (1975-1979), secretary of Afro-American Studies (1979-1985), secretary Women’s Studies (1990), and academic coordinator of Theater and Dance (1991-2016). She discusses her path to Bowdoin, and specifically her path to working in Russworm, coming from working at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and even leaving Bowdoin for several years to work on a Pennsylvanian farm. She recounts how she tried to serve as an ally to students of color on campus. Petroff describes the dynamic environment of Russworm during the early eighties, including the work she put into starting the center’s library. She shares stories from various work-study students who worked with her, including two students who fell in love after separately working under her. Petroff describes the transformations to the African American Studies department over her many years at the college, including highlights of working under both Randy Stakeman and Lynn Bolles.
Date: 2019-11-09
Creator: Steve London
Access: Open access
- Steve London '64 describes his family's long connection to Bowdoin, spanning three generations. He shares his father's experience at the College as a Jewish student in the 1930s who found most allegiance with the several black students on campus at the time. Speaking of his own time as a student, London describes how the civil rights movement greatly influenced his experience as an undergraduate. His time at Bowdoin and engagement with racial activism led him to later work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for two years shortly after graduating from Bowdoin. London outlines the ways that activism and understanding the role of identity and inequity were a central part to his time at the College, and his path afterwards.
Date: 2019-11-09
Creator: George Khaldun
Access: Open access
- George Khaldun ’73 came to Bowdoin from New York at the suggestion of a mentor, the director of a library where Kahldun had worked part-time in high school. He shares that he was at first apprehensive of moving to Maine but decided to apply since it would provide a change of pace from the inner city. He discusses his political affiliation as a Black Panther and the comradery he felt in finding others at Bowdoin who shared his revolutionary beliefs. Kahldun found these men in the Afro-American Society, where he could connect with black people from across the country. He says this community helped hone his political beliefs but also adjust to the rigors of Bowdoin academics. Kahldun admits to struggling during his first year, after finding support in the Society, he was able to succeed in school.
Date: 2019-11-10
Creator: Mark Richter
Access: Open access
- Mark Richter ('14) shares his experience as an Africana Studies student who grew up in Brunswick, Maine. He tells of his path to the Africana Studies department, as largely influenced by his classes with Professor Brian Purnell, including his course on the popular television show, 'The Wire.’ Richter describes how his academic work at Bowdoin provided him with a certain language to explore and discuss topics that he had not had the verbage for before. He recounts certain classes in the department which allowed for conversations surrounding race and identity that may not have happened normally on campus. Finally, Richter offers insight into how his major at Bowdoin has prepared him for work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and given him tools as a white male to understand privilege and inequity.
Date: 2019-06-01
Creator: Emma Johnson, Chelsea Shaffer, Hannah Tennent
Access: Open access
- Emma Johnson (Class of 2014), Chelsea Shaffer (Class of 2014), and Hannah Tennent (Class of 2014) describe their memories of meeting one another as first year roommates in Coleman Hall. Johnson, Shaffer, and Tennent discuss their on-campus jobs as well as various extracurricular activities, including the Generous Enthusiasts, the Judicial Board, and the Outing Club, respectively. The three reminisce about some of their most impactful courses in departments like Anthropology, Earth and Oceanographic Science, and Visual Arts. They reflect on cultural conversations happening on campus during their tenure and mention hazing, the Social House system, and discussions of diversity. Additionally, the group comments on the life lessons they learned at Bowdoin and what the College means to them as alumni.
Date: 2009-03-28
Creator: Charles 'Chuck' B Kruger
Access: Open access
Biographial Note
Charles “Chuck” Kruger was born in Morristown, New Jersey, on July 2, 1950. His parents were Charles Bromley Kruger and Barbara Burke Kruger. His father was a WWII veteran and captain of a B-17 before starting an aviation business and then going into the family business. As a boy Chuck sang in St. Peter’s Church boys’ choir, and he started playing guitar at age 14. Chuck went to boarding school in New Hope, where he became interested in theatre, English, and writing. After high school, he went to New York City, where he played in a band and sang in the Masterwork Chorus for about a year. He attended Nasson College, started his own acoustic band, lived off-campus and did gigs at the ski areas. After graduating, he performed professionally and met with success as a singer/songwriter solo act. He married and had a son in 1984. He drove and helped raise funds for George Mitchell and became increasingly interested in Maine politics. In 1986 he began to work on campaigns and joined the State Committee while also working for MBNA. At the time of this interview, he had recently been elected to the Maine state legislature.
Summary
Interview includes discussion of: family background and education; Chuck’s father’s experience in the war; singing and playing in New York in 1969; attending Nasson College in Maine and the ski area gigs with the Mirror Lake Band; the Profile Theater Company; career as a professional musician and recording albums; driving for Mitchell in 1974; performing at fund raisers; story about Mitchell and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Ceremony; working in Maine politics; booking off-site programming for MBNA; the decision to run for state senate; being a state senator; tax reform and not creating a bill; thoughts and memories of the business and people involved; reflections on Mitchell; and the state legislature today.
Date: 2009-06-11
Creator: Joseph 'Bob' Robert Kerrey
Access: Open access
Biographial Note
Joseph Robert “Bob” Kerrey was born August 27, 1943, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School and entered the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where he earned a degree in pharmacy in 1966. He served in the U.S. Navy after graduation until 1969 and was wounded in combat in Vietnam, receiving the Medal of Honor and the Bronze Star. He returned to Nebraska, and in 1982 he was elected governor. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1988 and was reelected for a second term in 1994. He ran in the Democratic presidential primaries in 1992 but lost the nomination to Bill Clinton. He was a member of the 9/11 Commission. When he left the Senate, he became president of The New School, a position he held at the time of this interview.
Summary
Interview includes discussion of: Kerrey’s incoming Senate class; contact with Mitchell prior to coming to the Senate; supporting Mitchell for majority leader; Mitchell’s leadership style; the 1990 budget; the role of the majority and minority leaders; the differences between being a governor and a senator; friendships in the Senate; Mitchell’s logical arguments; Mitchell’s TV presence; Mitchell’s relationship with Dole; Mitchell’s role in helping Kerrey achieve the goals he had in various policy areas; Health U.S.A.; Kerrey’s understanding of agricultural interests; the 1991 War Powers Resolution; the Clean Air Act; Mitchell’s relationship to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton; Kerrey’s stance on the stimulus bill of 1993 and budget issues; health care reform of 1994 and Mitchell’s leadership on that effort; Kerrey’s reaction to Mitchell’s decision to retire; Kerrey’s decision to retire in 2001; Mitchell’s neutrality in the Democratic presidential primaries in 1992; Mitchell’s legacy in the Senate; Tom Daschle as majority leader; and Mitchell’s loyalties to country, state and political party.
Date: 2009-08-26
Creator: Barbara Keefe
Access: Open access
Biographial Note
Barbara Keefe was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1940, and grew up in Trenton, New Jersey. She was graduated from Seton Hall University. She received a fellowship to study deaf education and worked at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, Mackworth Island, Maine. She joined the League of Women Voters and became involved in the National Women’s Political Caucus. She was treasurer for Senator Mitchell’s reelection campaigns in 1982 and 1988, and she has served on the Mitchell Institute Board since 1994.
Summary
Interview includes discussion of: Keefe’s introduction to politics through her father’s involvement; Keefe’s activity in the Maine League of Women Voters; starting the Maine Women’s Political Caucus with Patty Ryan; Keefe’s recollections of Mitchell’s 1974 campaign; what appealed to both Democratic and Republican women about George Mitchell; Keefe’s becoming treasurer for Mitchell’s 1982 reelection campaign; working with Larry Benoit and Mary McAleney on Mitchell’s staff; Mitchell’s friendship with Pat and Joe Angelone; Mitchell’s win in 1982; Keefe’s involvement with Mitchell between the 1982 and 1988 campaigns; fund-raising for Mitchell’s campaign in 1988; the development of the Mitchell Institute; how the Mitchell Institute is funded; and Mitchell’s commitment to education.
Date: 2009-10-28
Creator: David F Durenberger
Access: Open access
Biographial Note
David F. Durenberger was born August 19, 1934, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He attended St. John’s University and the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1959. Beginning in 1966, he was chief of staff to Minnesota Governor Harold LeVander. In 1978, he won a special election to finish the unexpired term of Senator Hubert Humphrey, was reelected twice, and held the seat until 1995. He served as chairman on the Select Committee on Intelligence, was vice chair of the Pepper Commission, and had a special interest in issues involving health care. At the time of this interview, he was a health policy fellow at the University of St. Thomas, and he sat on the advisory board for Energy Literacy Advocates.
Summary
Interview includes discussion of: the Republican influx to legislature in 1980; first impressions of Mitchell and how Mitchell differed from Muskie; Mitchell as a colleague on committees; Iran-Contra; observations on Mitchell’s staff; reactions to Mitchell’s being elected majority leader; Clear Air Act; Mitchell’s ability to build consensus; Voting Rights Act; Mitchell’s reputation with the Republican Caucus; Warren Rudman; health care; the mainstream group on the Clinton health plan; Mitchell as a centrist on health care; Dole on Clinton’s plan; the future of political parties; and Mitchell’s legacy.
Date: 2008-09-23
Creator: Janet M Dennis
Access: Open access
Biographial Note
Janet Mary Dennis was born on September 5, 1945, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Clemenza Rowlandson Sullivan and William Aloysius Sullivan. Her father was a postal inspector and her mother was a parochial schoolteacher. Janet grew up in Waterville, Maine, and was the youngest of five children. She attended Thomas College. In May of 1965, she spent a year as Senator Muskie’s secretary in Washington, D.C., and then became the office manager in Muskie’s Waterville and Augusta state Senate offices. She also did work for the Senate Public Works Committee on the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution under Leon Billings until May of 1970. She worked with George Mitchell on Muskie’s 1970 U.S. Senate reelection campaign. In 1980, when Mitchell was appointed to Muskie’s Senate seat, she remained on staff working in the Waterville state Senate office. Janet’s sister graduated in the same high school class as George Mitchell’s sister, Barbara.
Summary
Interview includes discussions of: family and educational background; Waterville community; working for Muskie and Mitchell; Mitchell’s personality and intellectual capacity; comparison between Mitchell and Muskie; Muskie’s 1972 presidential campaign; Mitchell’s Waterville office; Muskie’s 1970 Senate campaign; and Colby College.