Voices of Peabody:
The Peabody/Vanderbilt Merger, 1979
An Oral History

Biographical Note

This Oral History Project was begun in the spring and summer of 2005 with the intention of making an archival record of diverse experiences of the Merger in 1979 of Vanderbilt University with George Peabody College for Teachers. This electronic archive and the transcriptions along with supporting materials include 27 interviews with faculty, staff, former students, and former Board Members both at Vanderbilt and Peabody and covers a range of questions including changes brought about at both institutions by the Merger and reactions to the announcement of the Merger and coverage by the news media.

Dr. Hal Ramer, former Peabody College Board Member, is the donor for this project, and Juanita Murray, Director of Special Collections and University Archives and Sharon Weiner, Director of the Peabody Library are the co-ordinators for the project. Molly Dohrmann of Special Collections conducted this series of interviews most of which took place on the Peabody College Campus.

Visit the Voices of Peabody web site for transcripts and audios.

Box Listing

Box 1: Transcriptions of the Interviews and individual CDs

1. Euline Behm / Peabody Staff and Assistant to President Dunworth / 11-17-05 / 12:26 min.
2. Glen Clanton / Associate Provost and Dean for Academic Services at Vanderbilt / 3-22-06 / 33:28 min.
3. Paul Conkin / Professor of History Emeritus, Vanderbilt / 9-9-05 / 13:54 min.
4. Joseph Cunningham / Professor of Special Education and Human and Organizational Development / 5-16-06 / 45:37 min.
5. Janet Eyler / Professor of Education / 12-9-05 / 40:14 min.
6. Melanie Ford / Peabody Staff, Development and Alumni Relations / 11-03-05 / 17:33 min.
7. Edwin Gleaves / Professor of Library Science / 8-16-05 / 34:28 min.
8. Frank Grisham / former Director of the JUL / 11-08-05 / 35:45 min.
9. H. Carl Haywood / Professor Emeritus of Psychology and former Director of the Kennedy Center / 1-27-06, 73:00 min. / 3-14-06, 25:23 min. / 3-24-06, 31:01 min.
10. Alexander Heard / Chancellor Emeritus / 8-11-05 / 13:40 min.
11. Byrd Helguera / Librarian / 4-14-06 / 28:08 min.
12. James Hogge / Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean, Peabody / 10-25-05 / 32:48 min.
13. Kathleen Hoover-Dempsey / Professor of Psychology and Human Development / 8-10-05 / 39:44 min.
14. Robert Innes / Professor of Human and Organizational Development / 9-6-05 / 16:20 min.
15. David Kearley / former Director of the Education Library / 10-27-05 / 31:40 min.
16. Betty S. Lee / Peabody Staff / 2-14-06 / 23:49 min.
17. Charles B. Myers / Professor Emeritus; Peabody Dean’s Office; former student at Peabody / 3-8-06 / 28:35 min., 27:51 min.
18. J. Robert Newbrough / Professor Emeritus of Human and Organizational Development / 10-11-05 / 17:35 min., 18:08 min., 3:12 min.
19. Hal Ramer / Professor and former Peabody Board Member / 7-7-05 / 26:55 min.
20. Jan Rosemergy / Director of Communications at the Kennedy Center / 3-8-06 / 22:51 min., 1:48 min.
21. J. Michael Rothacker / Associate Professor of Library Science / 1-26-06 / 52:43 min.
22. Edwin Rugg / former Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at Peabody / 1-30-06 (by telephone) / 26:47 min.
23. Howard Sandler / Professor of Psychology / 1-09-06 / 19:39 min.
24. Sharon Shields / Professor of Human and Organizational Development / 2-16-06 / 37:59 min., 6:37 min., 2:29 min.
25. Thomas Stovall / Professor and Executive Dean for Academic Affairs at Peabody / 12-15-05 / 80:00 min. (in 2 parts)
26. Marice Wolfe / Librarian and former Head of Special Collections and University Archives / 10-05-05 / 17:42 and 40:03 min.
27. Jean Wright / Librarian / 1-23-06 / 22:54 min.
28. Questions covered in the interviews
29. Articles on the Merger:
    • Vanderbilt Gazette - April 4, 1979; May 16, 1979
    • Peabody Reflector - Summer 2005, Vol. 74, No. 2 - “Pride and Prejudice” by Ray Waddle, and “Formed in the Fire” by Bonnie Arant Ertelt
30. Voices of Peabody Oral History Transcripts (CDs)

Overview | Complete Finding Aid (pdf)

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