The Great Depression

Item set

Title
The Great Depression
Description
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.
project start date
2000

Items

Advanced search

  • Betty Ann Knight

    Betty Ann Knight (1916-2014) was a member of the Class of 1938. She studied Home Economics, took a teaching certificate, and later earned a Master's.  Betty Ann joined Alpha Xi Delta during college, but baby-sat to earn extra money during the Great Depression.

  • Alfred Kamm

    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.

  • Rudard Jones

    Rudard Jones (1913-2005) graduated in 1936. He majored in Architectural Engineering and worked in the Ricker Library and as a waiter. He said he needed the extra money in the Depression. He was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma honorary society, and he received the Alpha Rho Chi professional honor metal.

  • Junette Peile James

    Junette James (1913-2012) attended the University of Illinois on a full scholarship. She studied education and graduated in 1935. Also, she was active in the Lutheran Student Association. Junette's family was not wealthy, and she felt broke throughout the Great Depression.

  • David Hubbard

    David Hubbard (1914-2001) was a member of the Class of 1937. He grew up on a farm and earned a BS in Agriculture. He also took a teaching certificate and completed some graduate coursework. David said his family experienced a lot of hardship during the Great Depression.

  • June Yarnell Foster

    June Foster (1917-2010) was a member of the Class of 1939 and a recipient of a Home Economics scholarship.  She was widowed early and returned to graduate school, earning an MS in Child Development in 1962.  June said her family had financial difficulties during the Great Depression.

  • Jack Foersterling

    Frederick Jack Foersterling (1916-2002) graduated in 1937 with a degree in Political Science.  While a student, Jack joined ROTC and the Theta Xi fraternity.  Later, he earned a JD from Valparaiso University.  Jack did not experience financial hardship during the Depression.

  • Aurelio "Joe" Florio

    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

    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.

  • Sidney Barr Dilks

    Sidney Dilks (1906-2006) came to the University of Illinois as an undergraduate in 1924 and attended the law school for a year before transferring. Dilks recalls difficulty paying his education, and he was the first member of his family to attend college. He also remembers watching Red Grange score four touchdowns at the opening of Memorial Stadium in 1928.