Oral History Collection
| MAIN ENTRY: | Jenkins, Jean A. (Mrs. J. Harmon) |
| DATE OF INTERVIEW: | February 6 and 10, March 10, and April 16, 1975 |
| LOCATION OF INTERVIEW: | Lubbock, Texas |
| INTERVIEWER: | Marshall L. Pennington |
| LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: | 5 hours, 30 minutes (total) |
| SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: | Mrs. Jean Jenkins, a 1935 Texas Tech graduate, recalls early Texas Tech faculty and students and her work with the Tech Placement Service as its director since 1947. On Tape 5 she recalls the introduction of the women’s sorority system onto the Tech campus in the early 1950s. |
| TAPE ONE, SIDE ONE: | Autobiographical data presented Father described Meeting of parents in Sterling City Grandparents were of Swiss background Anecdote about a mean cow Attended Texas Tech after one year at Missouri State University Women’s self-governing council in Doak Hall Dean Mary W. Doak characterized Met various deans through work on La Ventana Dr. M. E. Ogden, early government professor, mentioned Relationship with faculty Very familiar with Dean Arthur H. Leidigh’s family Comments on friendliness of Tech students Apathy of Tech students |
| TAPE ONE, SIDE TWO | West Texans’ pride in Texas Tech
(continued) Reason Tech was located in Lubbock Tells of General Electric representative who came to Lubbock to discover the secret of good will between Lubbock and Tech Mortar Board, women’s honorary society, discussed Discussion of the Forum, an honorary women’s service organization Dean James M. Gordon remembered Canon Clements, Tech’s first Rhodes scholar Father’s objection to football Early initiation of athletes into Double T Association recalled Recollections of football coach Pete Cawthon Married J. Harmon Jenkins (1937) Dean Margaret Weeks mentioned National Youth Administration (1930s) First placement activities noted School administrators sought personnel |
| TAPE TWO, SIDE ONE: | Work as secretary to Dean Mary W. Doak in Dean
of Women’s office Dealt with students’ records Women’s Recognition Service described J. H. Grimsley mentioned Forum again mentioned Difficulty in bringing women’s clubs to campus Importance of American Association of University Women approval Sue Rainey’s work with Mortar Board Dean Doak recalled Strong affiliation of Tech students discourages outside interference Placement Service originated (1947) Took position as director Anecdote concerning Dr. William M. Whyburn Changed from small teacher placement service to a university-wide service Importance of a well-organized student file Tips given a student on how to improve his file |
| TAPE TWO, SIDE TWO: | Cooperation of faculty in compiling
students’ files Problems in bringing together employer and teacher to discuss student Traits important to employers 600 employers worked through the Placement Service (1969)
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| TAPE THREE, SIDE ONE: | First signs of recession in early 1970s Single unfavorable incident concerning recruiting mentioned Reason for Texas Tech being chosen as site for recruiting school Credit given to faculty for being helpful Discontent of students and faculty when job recruiters did not hire from Tech Anecdote about Jay Thompson, a former Student Association president Protest concerning Texas Tech’s name change Attitude toward budget for Placement Service Problems with staffing Effect of recession on Placement Service Comments on budget cuts History of Placement Service under Dr. William M. Whyburn Humorous incidents related to interviewing Placement Service under later presidents Dr. Robert Ewalt mentioned Milton Peeples’ conversation with Carl Swenson, a Stamford rancher |
| TAPE THREE, SIDE TWO: | Mr. Swenson’s favorable impression of
Texas Tech John Bradford’s support of the Placement Service Plans for movement of the Placement Service to West Hall Activities Membership on campus committees Advisor to Tech women’s organizations Board of Lubbock Campfire Council Professional placement associations Women who helped form Mortar Board mentioned Margaret W. Weeks Mary W. Doak Vivian Adams Sue Rainey Recognized by Ex-Students Association Participation of Tech faculty and administration in community affairs Story of General
Electric representative retold |
| TAPE FOUR, SIDE ONE: | Discussion of change from 44 to 40 work hours
per week Attitude toward working Story told about bus ride in New York Incidents during World War II concerning human nature |
| TAPE FOUR, SIDE TWO: | Blank |
| TAPE FIVE, SIDE ONE: | National fraternities Banned (1924-1953) Allowed Board of Regents’ decision Switch from local to national Alumni Students Sororities Impact on campus life American Association of University Women Switch from local to national (again) National Rush Groups’ names Selection Process Kappa Kappa Gamma Role of the University Faculty Advisers Dean Allen Dean of Women Pan-Hellenic Council La Chapparitas Club decision Lodge vs. house systems Greek dormitory proposal Cost of lodge system Later sorority arrivals Alpha Delta Pi Benefits to girls and schools of sorority system As advisor Competing traditions Local vs. national Presentation dances [Blank tape at end] |
| TAPE FIVE, SIDE TWO: | [Blank tape at beginning] Clothing styles Girls in men’s wear (1940s) Petticoats, long earrings (1950s) Church service tradition Chapter size Local clubs Women’s fraternities Pledge quotas Kappa Kappa Gamma (again) Traditions Men’s fraternities Transition from local to national Service organizations AWS transition to WSO Fraternal bonds Houses Importance of chapter officers |
| RANGE DATES: | 1924-1975 |
| BULK DATES: | 1930-1975 |