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Depression Era Exhibit

People of Illinois

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Written on the brink of the Great Depression, Olive Dean Hormel's novel Co-Ed is about a student whose life plans get turned around after getting a taste of Midwestern University life. A student herself at the University of Illinois, it is easy to guess Hormel's work is somewhat autobiographical. The novel's main character is Lucia, whose experience with her studies, sorority life and social circles paint a picture of a time on campus ready to fall into the national economic unrest of the Great Depression.
Albert Lee was the "Chief Clerk of the President's Office (1920-42) (at the University of Illinois), defacto dean of African-American students for the University, and (a) prominent leader within the East-Central Illinois African American Community". During the Great Depression, economic troubles plagued many lower to middle class families in the Champaign-Urbana area, affecting students coming to the University no less. Charismatic among his peers and said to have had a great sense of humor, African American students would come to him for help. According to many, he was always there to give it.
In 2000, the Student Life and Culture Archives contacted Allan Hicks to ask him if he would recount some of his experiences at the U of I in the years following the Great Depression. A transcription of Hicks' letter follows: "August 9, 2000. Dear Ellen, you asked for a little background information on the notebooks in which I detailed my expenses in 4 years at the U of I. I grew up in Botavia with vivid experiences of the Depression since we were one of the poor families- and we really were poor, but my parents refused to go on relief—something, as children, we couldn’t understand as neighbors had the relief truck pull up and drop off food. We lived on the wrong side of the tracks until my sophomore years in high school when for the first time we had indoor plumbing, central heating and electricity. I could give the gory details, but that’s enough. I graduated from high school in 1928 as salutatorian of a class of 76 students with little thought of higher education other than an attempt at West Point by taking a test- actually a warded effort since appointments were political. A ½ scholarship offer from Cornell College to play football didn’t help because the cost was still out of reach. The owner of the foundry where my father worked as a laborer and where the pay was well above average would not hire me until I went to college-then I could have all the work I wanted during vacations. In later years I thanked him for his position, but, at the time, I thought he was terrible. In 1938, we were in a recession, and jobs were hard to find. (The recession was really broken by the demand for arms from Europe as the start of World War II developed.) For a couple of months, a lot of us got around without jobs until I took Chester Lindgren (the foundry owner) seriously and decided to save money for college. I found jobs and worked long hours every day at 25 to 30 cents an hour to save money. In September 1939, I enrolled at the U of I. At that time, admittance was easy- just be from the state of Illinois and a high school graduate. My choice of commerce was not very scientific and Cavalry R.O.T.C sounded like the fun of riding horses. For the first two years, I lived in a small apartment with 3 others in a frame house at 608 E. Healey- a block away from Prehn’s on Green. The house contained 5 apartments with John Henry from Urbana as the owner- rent was $44 a month or $11 for each of us. Three small rooms...and we did our own cooking, rotating days for getting dinner. Sunday night we went to Maid-Rite for a Maid-Rite sandwich and shake for 25 cents. For entertainment on late afternoons, sip a 5-cent Coke at Prehn’s and listen to bands e.g. Johny Mack Brown. Both Prehn’s and 608 Healey are long gone. The last two years were at the Shamrock Co-op seated at the southwest corner of First and Green. The frame building was replaced years ago by a gas station. About 25 men shared the work including cooking under the supervision of our house mother- a delightful lady who kept us in line and was really loved by all of us. Here the monthly charge for room and meals started at $25 a month. This might help explain some of the entries in the daily expenses. To students today, I imagine many items would seem impossible. -a coke date for 10 cents -paying 25 cents to sit in the Huff gym to hear big bands (Dorsey, Whiteman, etc.) playing for major dances -sending laundry home in a laundry box and having a box of cookies included when the clean laundry was mailed back -going to school with all of your belongings in a suitcase- up to 2 suitcases by the senior year -buying a ½ interest in a used textbook and sharing the book with another class member-then reselling the textbook and getting as much as $.25 each. -never having a car at school and the only ones being there with special permits -etc. etc. I have enclosed the following- -the 4 notebooks of expenses -an old Illinois banner picked up at a farm auction-date of origin not known -dance programs. Hopefully, some part of this will be of interest to someone. Sincerely, Allan Hicks"
Ellsworth Hazzard was a pitcher on the University of Illinois baseball team during the early years of the Great Depression. An all around athlete, he also participated in bowling, horseshoes, and volleyball. Later, in the years surrounding World War II, he worked in the naval reserve travelling all over the world. In 2010, Ellsworth Hazzard donated a number of game baseballs, sports memorabilia and other artifacts from his well-traveled life to the University of Illinois Archives. They now reside in the Student Life and Culture Archives.
Ellsworth Hazzard was a pitcher on the University of Illinois baseball team during the early years of the Great Depression. An all around athlete, he also participated in bowling, horseshoes, and volleyball. Later, in the years surrounding World War II, he worked in the naval reserve travelling all over the world. In 2010, Ellsworth Hazzard donated a number of game baseballs, sports memorabilia and other artifacts from his well-traveled life to the University of Illinois Archives. They now reside in the Student Life and Culture Archives.
Ellsworth Hazzard was a pitcher on the University of Illinois baseball team during the early years of the Great Depression. An all around athlete, he also participated in bowling, horseshoes, and volleyball. Later, in the years surrounding World War II, he worked in the naval reserve travelling all over the world. In 2010, Ellsworth Hazzard donated a number of game baseballs, sports memorabilia and other artifacts from his well-traveled life to the University of Illinois Archives. They now reside in the Student Life and Culture Archives.
Ellsworth Hazzard was a pitcher on the University of Illinois baseball team during the early years of the Great Depression. An all around athlete, he also participated in bowling, horseshoes, and volleyball. Later, in the years surrounding World War II, he worked in the naval reserve travelling all over the world. In 2010, Ellsworth Hazzard donated a number of game baseballs, sports memorabilia and other artifacts from his well-traveled life to the University of Illinois Archives. They now reside in the Student Life and Culture Archives.
Ellsworth Hazzard was a pitcher on the University of Illinois baseball team during the early years of the Great Depression. An all around athlete, he also participated in bowling, horseshoes, and volleyball. Later, in the years surrounding World War II, he worked in the naval reserve travelling all over the world. In 2010, Ellsworth Hazzard donated a number of game baseballs, sports memorabilia and other artifacts from his well-traveled life to the University of Illinois Archives. They now reside in the Student Life and Culture Archives.
Fred H. Turner was the Dean of Men through most of the Great Depression, from 1931-1943. He experienced many shifting roles of faculty members and the development of the University administration during his tenure. The University of Illinois experienced many changes and Turner’s administration faced many difficult decisions through the hardships of the 1930’s. Interviews with Fred Turner are available at http://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/index.php?p=digitallibrary/digitalcontent&id=6100&q=fred+h+turner
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Not only was (Mildred Chapin) a member of various honor societies, she was highly involved in in the McKinley Foundation. She served on the student council for two years and was a member of the McKinley Mimes for three years. As head of the dramatic department of the McKinley Foundation, she played Puck in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Pauli Arndt in Channing Pollock’s “The Enemy.” During her four years at University, she attended a speech given by Jane Addams, listened to Sergei Rachmaninoff in concert, watched John Philip Sousa direct his band, and attended countless University dances. Valedictorian of the class of 1934, Mildred Chapin obtained her degree in home economics and continued with her Masters, earning a $300 scholarship for the continuance of her studies. After spending time at Iowa State College teaching nutrition, in 1941 the Board of Trustees appointed her instructor of Home Economics with a $2,000 salary. Even as an instructor, Chapin continued her extracurricular interests. She was elected as vice-president of the University Woman’s Club, a Y.M.C.A. board member and served on the Student Affairs Audit and Supervision Committee from 1944-45. She continued teaching at the University of Illinois until 1946, when she took a sabbatical to continue her graduate studies at Ohio State University. As a prospective candidate for the open position of Dean of the College of Economics, Chapin’s aim was a doctorate in home economics and higher education. It was in an education graduate class that she met Paul Klohr; her future plans changed dramatically. Upon completing the sabbatical, Chapin resumed her previous Illinois position in the guidance and placement of home economics students and counseling for the student personnel bureau until her resignation in 1948. She married Paul Klohr shortly thereafter and continued to teach part-time at Ohio State University. They remained married until her death in 1982. The papers of Mildred Chapin include a family history, grade-school memory book, graduation certificates, and a scrapbook from her college years containing programs, dance cards, news clippings, graduation cards, photographs, and brief descriptions of notable events. (Mildred Chapin Papers, Angela Jordan, Student Life and Culture Archives, University of Illinois, 2014)
Roger Reeder became a student at the University of Illinois in 1931, two years into what is commonly referred to as the greatest economic crash in the history of the United States. In the 42-page manuscript of his memoir, housed in the University of Illinois Student Life and Culture Archives, the author gives his account of entering the university, his life on the a small farm in DeWitt county, the Great Depression, social life on campus, housing conditions and his ROTC involvement.