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Moravian College for Women Oral Histories

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Moravian College for Women Oral Histories

The Moravian College for Women History Project (2001-2003) recorded oral histories of Moravian College for Women graduates, to preserve knowledge of their educational experiences and life patterns. The Project leaders were Moravian College alumni: Jeanne Taccarino Guaraldo, 1969, Garry Earles, 1970 and Elizabeth Tyler Bugaighis, 1987. The Projects Leaders shaped the research project in consultation with Dr. Daniel R. Gilbert, Sr., Professor Emeritus of History and College Archivist.

Connecting Our Past and Present article [Moravian College Magazine Winter 2002]

1930s

Rose Feilbach Broberg, 1934
This video interview of Rose Feilbach Broberg, class of 1934, was recorded in 1984 and is a clip of a full video on recollections of the class of 1934. Miss Feilbach received her AB degree, magna cum laude, from Moravian College for Women. She went on to earn her MS in special education at Teachers' College, Columbia University. Miss Feilbach also studied lip-reading at the Nitschie School in New York City. The class of 1934 was interviewed by alumnus Arthur Nehring, class of 1954, on their 50th anniversary.

Olivia Pauline Musselman Barnes, 1938
This video interview of Olivia Pauline Musselman Barnes, class of 1938, was recorded on February 2, 2001. Miss Musselman was a history and French major and was active in the Players Club, class hockey and basketball, May festival and business manager. While in college, Olivia worked in her father's radio station part-time and continued with a career in radio after graduation.

Christine Smith Roberts Fraley, 1938
This video interview of Christine Smith Roberts Fraley, class of 1938, was recorded on May 31, 2003 2001. Miss Roberts graduated with a degree in English and history, followed by her M.E. at the University of Pittsburgh. Activities included: Phi Mu Epsilon, treasurer; Junior class vice-president, Y.W.C.A., Benigna, Mirror, Spanish club, Belfry, Jr. Varsity basketball, class basketball and hockey, and Press Club.

Mary McElroy and Leone Quinn, 1939.

 

This video interview of Leona B. Quinn and Mary C. McElroy, both class of 1939 and secretarial students, was recorded on July 14, 2003. Miss McElroy was a member of Fair Secs, the Press club and the Belfry newspaper. Miss Quinn was Fair Secs Secretary and President, Alpha Epsilon Pi, recording secretary and on the Benigna staff. Both young women went on to work for Bethlehem Steel.

 

1940s

Barbara Ellen Bastian Uhrig, 1941
This video interview of Barbara Ellen Bastian Uhrig, class of 1941, was recorded on May 18, 2001. Barbara Ellen, affectionately known as Bundle, Barby or Lambchop, majored in Music and English. Activities included: Glee Club, Triple Trio, the "Y", Player's Club, S.G.A., Pi Delta Epsilon following her Mirror reviews, Benigna editorial board and Phi Mu Epsilon.

Ruth Reese Schantz Fortino, 1942.
This video interview of Ruth Reese Schantz Fortino, class of 1942, was recorded on August 13, 2003. Miss Schantz was a medical technician graduate. She worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem during her senior year at Moravian and continued there until 1944. She also worked at General Aniline, a chemical firm in Easton and later at the Miller Blood Bank in Bethlehem. After having her first child, she returned to work at Xerox, where she worked on creating light-changing chemicals to create photocopies.

Mary Grace Keeler Hodge, 1946
This video interview of Mary Grace Keeler Hodge, class of 1946, was recorded on May 19, 2001. Miss Keeler graduated with a B.S. in Medical technology. She was Athletic Association president, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi and lived at the Hark House for three years.

Ada Lovina Zellner Flower, 1946.
This video interview of Ada Lovina Zellner Flower, class of 1946, was recorded on May 18, 2001. Ada earned her degree in English, History and Spanish from Moravian College for Women. Ada became a teacher in elementary school and returned to teaching after her four daughters began to enter college.

Barbara Louise Dalton Shepherd, 1946
This video interview of Barbara Louise Dalton Shepherd, class of 1946, was recorded on May 19, 2001. Miss Dalton graduated with a degree in English and history and was active as business manager for the Belfry and member of A.E. Pi and Alpha Psi Omega. Barbara earned her M.Ed. at Lehigh University.

 

1950s

Nancy Oplinger Dover, 1951.
This video interview of Nancy Oplinger Dover, class of 1951, was recorded on Alumni weekend, May 18-19, 2001. Nancy was a medical technology major, a member of the Bi-Chem-Zo Club and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital in the sterilization room while attending Moravian College for Women. Nancy worked at Geisinger Memorial Hospital and four years later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to work at Indian Hospital.

June Fay Schaffer Scholl, 1951
This video interview of June Fay Shafer Scholl, class of 1951, was recorded on May 31, 2002. Miss Shafer graduated with a B.A. in Spanish. Activities included: Y.W.C.A. (treasurer and president), W.S.S.F. chairman, in Who's Who, Triple Trio and Glee club; Manuscript associate editor, Belfry staff, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Modern Language club, May festival. She went on to work at Bethlehem Steel, as the Director of Tourism.

Helen Desh Woodbridge, 1954.
This video interview of Helen Louise Desh Woodbridge, class of 1954, was recorded on September 24, 2002. Miss Desh graduated with a B.A. in English. She was known as "Louie," and was also a Moravian. Activities included: Phi Mu Epsilon, Belfry, Glee club, the Manuscript, International Relations club, Music club, and the Benigna.

 

Family Oral Histories

Margaret Heidenreich Thaeler, 1924
This video interview of Margaret Heidenreich Thaeler, class of 1924, was recorded March 17, 1990. Margaret graduated from Moravian College for Women with a degree in the sciences and received her nursing degree from the Kahler School of Nursing at the Mayo Clinic. Her future husband, Dr. David Thaeler, requested her help as a nurse in the Moravian mission in Nicaragua. They married and together they opened new medical facilities in Bilwaskarma, Nicaragua. Margaret established a nursing school there and later they founded the Ruth Thaeler Memorial Hospital. The hospital offered programs to control malaria and tuberculosis. Margaret assisted in surgeries as both an anesthesiologist and an assistant surgeon. In 1965 she received Moravian College's prestigious Comenius award for her work contributing to the nursing and missionary fields. Margaret's son-in-law, Rev. Gordon B. Mowrer (husband of Mary Thaeler), interviewed Margaret. Videography was performed by Gordon Mowrer's son, Greg.