During the 1930s, the state of Illinois suffered the effects of the Great Depression, just like the rest of the country. Students at the University of Illinois felt the effects of the economic downturn in a number of ways.
This collection of 45 oral histories was compiled from a series of interviews conducted by the Student Life and Culture Archival Program in 2000, 2001, and 2007 in an effort to document student life at the University of Illinois from the years 1928 to 1938.
The last living interviewee died in December 2021. This makes these recordings all the more important, as they preserve the experiences, memories, thoughts, and voices of those who are no longer here to share them.
Albert Spurlock (1913-2015) graduated in 1938. He joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, majored in Industrial Education, and made the track team. Albert experienced discrimination as a black student in the towns and from other students. However, he had a good experience on the campus. Finally, Albert worked in Greek houses for his meals.
Alfred Kamm (1911-2004) graduated in 1934. He and his twin brother received full scholarships from their county. Alfred and his brother joined the Sigma Pi fraternity, and both majored in Agricultural Education. Also, the twins played varsity basketball during college; and Alfred worked as a waiter in a fraternity.
Anita Margaret Crites Crawford (1913-2005) was a member of the Class of 1935. She earned a teacher's certificate and later entered law school. She said that she was not hurt by the Depression because a placement service helped her find a teaching job.
Audrey Moore Stewart (1910-2018) graduated in 1932 with a degree in Journalism. She took some graduate courses and finished a second BA in English in 1934. Audrey joined the Alpha Delta Theta sorority and the Glee Club; and she wrote for the Daily Illini. Her family was well-off, so Audrey did not experience financial difficulty in the Depression.
She died in May 2018, just a few days after her 108th birthday, making her the longest-lived interviewee from the Great Depression oral history series.
Joe Florio (1910- before 2006) was a member of the Class of 1934. At first, Joe studied to teach physical education. Later, he earned a Master's of Sociology in 1936, and he taught at the University of Illinois. Joe worked as a waiter to earn money when he was an undergraduate.
Austin Dyson (1915-2013) was a member of the Class of 1937. He studied Electrical Engineering, and he was a member of ROTC. Austin said his family had a hard time during the Great Depression. In fact, Austin worked as a golf caddy throughout college to pay for his education.
Barbara Bischoff Patten (1914-2004) was a member of the Class of 1936. She joined a sorority and majored in History. Barbara did not have a lot of extra money during the Depression, but she was not impoverished. Nevertheless, Barbara worked as a store clerk during college.
Beth Olwin Dawson (1911-2002) graduated in 1933. She was a member of the Pi Phi sorority, and she studied English with minors in History and French. Beth came from a more affluent family and therefore did not feel hurt by the Great Depression.
