Curtis, Mark (b.1920)
President, Scripps College
1990
BA Yale University, 1924. Masters, 1947 and doctorate, 1953 in History, Yale
University. Military service in Navy during World War II. Married Maria Isabel
Birdy Zalduono (known as Tati) in 1945. In 1953 took a position in History at
University of California, Los Angeles. Named President of Scripps College in 1964.
Recounts reasons for accepting presidency and his initial rebuilding of administrative
staff. Reassessment of Humanities Program, status of Mary B. Eyre Nursery School,
and addition to Denison Library. Establishment of the Student Investment Fund
by Mary Wig Johnson. He discusses service as Provost during turmoil of mid-sixties
and seventies and dealing with Black Student Union’s demand for change. Dr. Curtis
comments on the Deans of Faculty during his term as President. When he resigned
in 1976 as President to continue his career in new directions, he indicated the
college should hire a woman as his replacement. He became President of the Association
of American Colleges.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of the page.
Fogle, Caroline Bennett (b.1910)
First Class (1931), Board member (1940-1980)
1989
Born in Pasadena. Accepted by the new college and began classes in 1927. Discusses
in detail the experiences of being a member of the founding class. Her activities
reflected her keen interest in writing and editing. She wrote for the student
newspaper (produced at Pomona College) and edited La Semeuse, the first Scripps
College yearbook. Mrs. Fogle details her four years at Scripps. On 1943, she married
Gregg Anderson, co-founder of the Anderson-Ritchie Press in Los Angeles. He was
killed in the invasion of Normandy in 1944. In 1955, she married French R. Fogle,
who later served on the faculty in English at Claremont Graduate School. Caroline
Fogle was active on many of the important committees of the Scripps board. She
chaired the Library Committee and had a primary interest in the Scripps College
Press.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
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Hatch, Ada (b. 1909)
First Class, Board Member
1990
Born in Los Angeles and attended Claremont High School. First student to apply
and enroll in Scripps College. She describes her preliminary interview, the original
faculty, and President Ernest J. Jaqua. She talks about her many activities at
the college, including serving as senior class president. After graduation from
Scripps she earned a master’s degree at Teachers College, Columbia University.
In 1937, she married William B. Hatch, Jr. She has been active in alumnae activities
and served a five-year term (1961-1966) as alumnae representative on the Scripps
Board of Trustees.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
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Jaqua, Ernest J.
See Jaqua, Ernest J. in
Claremont Colleges.
Johnson, Mary Wig (b. 1913)
Graduating Class of 1935 Board Member 1958- 1982
1991
Born in Washington D.C. Her father, Rudolph J. Wig, joined the Board of Trustees
of Pomona College in 1929 and served for thirty-eight years, including service
as board president from 1928-1961. Her sister, Helen, enrolled in Pomona College.
She decided to enroll in Scripps College. Reflecting her family’s interest in
music, she played the violin and flute in various musical groups while a student.
She served as president of her class. In 1935, she married James Stanley Johnson.
She served as president of the Scripps College Alumnae Association (1940-1942).
After service as Alumnae Trustee on the board from 1958 to 1963 Mrs. Johnson was
asked to serve as a regular trustee, and she has served the college since, becoming
a Trustee Emeritus in 1990. Beginning in 1964, she served on the Educational Policy
Committee, for nine years its chairman. She served on the Executive Committee
for twenty-three years. In addition to other committee service she was a member
of two Presidential Search Committees. She was a founding member of the Ellen
Browning Scripps Associates and received its award in 1980 for distinguished service
to the college.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
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Jones, Molly Mason (b. 1911)
Faculty Member 1939-1976 Director, Mary B. Eyre Nursery School
1990
Discusses the founding of Mary B. Eyre Nursery School and her coming to Scripps
in 1939 to head the Nursery School and then to offer college courses through it.
Comments on early signs of trouble with the Jaqua presidency, the internment of
Fritz Caspari, the World War II years at the college, and the terms of Presidents
Frederick Hard and Mark Curtis. Reflects on lack of financial support for the
Nursery School and the place of Psychology courses in the Humanities Curriculum.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
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Jones, W. T. (1938-1972)
Professor of Philosophy, Pomona College
1992
Discussion of social environment of the colleges and Mr. Jones’ associations
with Scripps College. Comments on Scripps faculty, presidents, and board chairs.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of the page.
Revelle, Ellen Clark (b.1910)
First class (1931), Board Member
1989
Born in La Jolla. Her mother, Grace Scripps, was the niece of Ellen Browning
Scripps, founder and benefactor of Scripps College. Graduated from Pasadena High
School in 1927. Enrolled in first class, she discusses the Humanities Program
and the closeness between the original faculty and her class. Married Roger Revelle
in 1931. She describes the academic and social life of the college. She was active
in the Drama Club. She comments on the Clark family gift of a dormitory and the
mix-up in designating its name. In 1938, she was name Alumnae Trustee of the Scripps
board. She discusses the alarming rate of faculty turnover and the Caspari-Bergstraesser
incident. She was a member of the board when it requested the resignation of President
Jaqua and subsequently named Mary Kimberly Shirk as Acting President. She describes
Mrs. Shirk’s very capable handling of her new position. Following her absence
from California she was named to the college board, and served until her retirement
in 1985. She discusses her board committee activities on Buildings and Grounds,
Development, Educational Policy, and Presidential Selection. In 1989 Mrs. Revelle
was selected for the Ellen Browning Scripps Associates Award for distinguished
service to the college and the community.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of the page.
Rhodes, Kenneth O. (b. 1912)
Board Chairman, 1975-1980
1993
Born in Pasadena. Attended The Thacher School, graduating in 1930. In 1934,
he received his Bachelor’s Degree (History) at Stanford University and then earned
a degree from Harvard Law School in 1937. In 1938, he married Margaret Elizabeth
Fleming. He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy during World War II.
After the war he set up his own practice and conducted a great deal of pro bono
work. In 1980, he became a partner in Pasadena law firm of Taylor, Kupfer, Summers
& Rhodes. Elected to the Scripps board in 1968, he served as chairman from
1975 to 1980. After serving as chairman of the Board of Fellows of Claremont University
Center and Graduate School (1981-1985), he returned to the Scripps board in 1987
and co-chaired the Campaign for Scripps. In 1989, he became an emeritus trustee.
Mr. Rhodes discusses the management style of Scripps President Mark Curtis and
the Humanities Curriculum. He talks about the problem of enrollment attrition,
faculty tenure, and the era of student unrest. He speaks of Irving Walker, the
first Scripps board chairman and other board members. Mr. Rhodes reviews the Horton
Estate problem and the mission of Scripps College. He served on the Executive
Committee of the board most of the time he was on the board. He speaks of his
management style in the role of chairing the board of an educational institution.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of the page.
Sait, Una Bernard (1886-1969)
College Professor
Reminisces of John Dewey and Scripps College, 1963
College Professor, doctoral student of John Dewey, wife of Edwrad McChesney
Sait. Describes her childhood and schooling in Europe and her impressions of John
Dewey, whom she knew well. Details the early years of Scripps College, where she
was a faculty member and the controversy culminating in President Ernest Jaqua’s
resignation in 1941. Discusses the career of her husband, the prominent political
scientist Edward McChesney Sait, at Columbia University, the University of California,
Berkeley, and Pomona College.
Interviewers: John H. Kemble, Professor of History, Pomona College and Claremont
Graduate School; Caroline Beatty, Oral History Program.
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Shirk, Mary Kimberly (b.1881)
Philanthropist
Fond Memories of Scripps College, 1970
In 1927 Mrs. Shirk joined the Scripps College Board and served in that position
until 1966. She tells of her experience as the only woman president of Scripps
when she was asked to fill the role of Acting President from 1942 to 1944, due
to a crisis. The interview is a charming reminiscence of meeting Miss Scripps
and a fascinating account of the nature of Scripps College over the years.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
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Smith, Isabel Fothergill (1890-1990)
Dean of Faculty Professor of Geology
1971
Bryn Mawr bachelors and masters degrees, and doctorate in Geology. In 1929,
after serving as a geology professor at Smith College for six years, she was appointed
Dean of Scripps College and Professor of Geology and Tutor in Sciences. As Dean
she was responsible for student life. In 1935, she resigned as Dean and took a
sabbatical leave, during which time she audited courses on the history of science
at Columbia University. On returning to Scripps, she taught the History of Science
and Mineralogy. She retired in 1953.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of the page.
Welles, Carlotta (b. 1918)
Member, Class of 1939
1994
Born in Seattle. Her family later moved to Altadena. After being a student
at several private schools she enrolled in South Pasadena High School, which she
enjoyed very much, and graduated in 1935. Her mother, Muriel Seeley Welles served
as one of the Honorary Alumnae of Scripps College. Mrs. Welles enrolled her daughter
at Scripps at the time the college was established. Miss Welles lived in Clark
Hall during her four years at Scripps. She describes the impact of the 1938 flood
on the campus. She started the Scripps Camera Club, served as president of the
Scripps Athletic Association and was a staff member of La Semeuse, the college
annual. Her adviser was J. Edward Caster, professor of Natural Sciences. In her
junior year she was elected to the “S” Club Honorary Society. That
year she was among a small group of students who communicated with the Board of
Trustees about problems they perceived in the administration of the college, with
particular reference to the President and the Assistant to the President. This
action helped initiate extended discussions with reference to the President, which
finally resulted in his dismissal in 1941. Miss Welles discusses this incident
and the people involved. After graduation from Scripps she attended Boston School
of Occupational Therapy and later earned a master’s degree in that field from
the University of Southern California. She talks about her satisfactions from
her distinguished career in occupational therapy, and the recognition she has
received. She speaks of her activities in the Scripps Alumnae Association.
Interviewer: Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program.
Restricted Interview. Contact us for more information. Top of the page.
Interview Manuscripts deposited in the Denison Library, Scripps College.