Abstract
This interview with members of the Pembroke College class of 1967 documents the undergraduate experiences of Carol Lemlein, Susan Haas, Brenda Hubbard, Karen Wolk, Sharon Drager, and Judith Minno, at their 50th reunion.
The interviewees begin by introducing themselves, explaining what drew them to Pembroke, and sharing some of what their lives entailed after graduation including marriages, divorces, children, and professional development. They go on to remember some of their fondest memories of their time at Pembroke, highlighting the intense intellectual stimulation fostered on campus, as well as their favorite professors Frank Rothman, Peter McGraw, William Jordy, and James Hedges. The alumnae briefly consider the lack of female professors on campus but specifically recall Elizabeth Leduc, the first female full professor at Brown University.
The interviewees also situate themselves in historical context, describing the moments they learned of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, and watched the Beatles visit the United States. They remember the effects of the Vietnam War on campus, particularly as it pertained to the draft and family life. This leads to a broader conversation about marriage, children, and women in the workforce in the 1960s. They go on to share their direct and indirect involvements in the Women’s Movement and the on-campus support from Dr. Roswell Johnson for contraception and safe abortions. They specifically recall one student who suffered through an illegal abortion performed poorly who then became extremely ill back at her dormitory and had to be hospitalized.
The alumnae conclude the interview by noting the current openness of LGBTQ students and the selectivity of Pembroke’s admissions compared to Brown’s.
Recorded on May 27, 2017 in Pembroke Hall, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Interviewed by Mary Murphy, Nancy L. Buc ’65 LLD‘94 hon Pembroke Center Archivist
Suggested Chicago style citation: 50th Reunion, class of 1967. Interview. By Mary Murphy. Pembroke Center Oral History Project, Brown University. May 27, 2017.
Biography
The Pembroke College class of 1967 graduated under Dean Rosemary Pierrel and was the first to graduate under Brown University President Ray Heffner. They celebrated popular traditions such as Father-Daughter Weekend and Spring Weekend. During their senior year, the Civil Rights Movement was at a peek and the Vietnam War raged. In April of 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his “Beyond Vietnam” speech, calling for defeat of “the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism.” A cabin fire during a launch rehearsal of Apollo 1 killed three NASA crewmembers, and the twenty-fifth amendment to the United States constitution was added in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.