Series III. Brian Huggins Undergraduate Student Life in Washington Square Project, 1977-1979, inclusive
Extent
Extent
Scope and Contents
This series contains audio recordings of alumni and faculty interviews conducted by Brian Huggins from 1977 to 1978. These interviews include stories about students' fashion; fraternity life; experiences of female law students; students use of Washington Square Park; the influx of military veterans into classes after World War II; experiences of Jewish and Catholic students at the University Heights campus; and athletic team activities and events. The interviewee's memories are not only shared through the lens of a university student, but also their experience as New York City area residents during key events in United States history during the early to mid-20th century including Prohibition during the 1920s; the 1929 financial crash, followed by the Great Depression of the 1930s; exposure to music and theater; and also urban and youth cultural issues that marked the 1950s and 1960s. The series also contains Huggin's project proposal, correspondence, book chapter samples, interview summary notes, and a small number of interview transcripts from the audio recordings.
Historical Note
Brian Huggins, a former New York University student (class of 1978) and feature editor for the Washington Square News, organized a project from 1977 to 1978 to gather oral history interviews from alumni and write a book on the experience of the University's undergraduate students during the early part of the 20th century. Huggins had previously written well-received articles on the experiences of NYU students which inspired him to write a book. Huggins received a $1,000 grant from the Office of Student Affairs and obtained a recommendation from the University Archives Office, encouraging funders to support the project. The plan was to interview a large selection of University alumni, using the information to write the book and then and publish it during the University's sesquicentennial anniversary, but the project was never completed as originally conceived.
Project Proposal, Correspondence, Notes, Book Outline, 1977-1978, inclusive
Anonymous Woman Alumna, December 10, 1977
Original Recording
Notes
Baudin, Maurice, 1977-1978, inclusive
Original Recording, December 2, 1977
Original Recording, December 2, 1977
Notes
Benton, Paul, October 17, 1977
Original Recording
Original Recording
Original Recording
Bloustein, Oscar, December 9, 1977
Original Recording
Correspondence
Digangi, Charles, December 12, 1977
Original Recording
Correspondence, Notes
Ehmann, W. Howard, September 19, 1977
Original Recording
Correspondence
Epstein, Harry, October 13, 1977
Original Recording
Notes
Hirschhorn, Herbert, September 28, 1977
Original Recording
Correspondence
Jarvis, N. Leonard -- Telephone Interview Responses, circa 1977-1978, inclusive
Karlin, Margaret Fuller, 1977-1978, inclusive
Original Recording, January 13, 1978
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Duration: 55 minutes