Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Roger Schnaitter, Roger Schnaitter, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Schnaitter is a collector of focused, discrete artifacts. He did not talk to Myers about his collecting habits but witnessed some of Myers' collecting activities and expresses opinions about them. Schnaitter describes some of Myers' personal and leadership characteristics and his influences on buying pianos and harpsichords for the School of Music. On reflection, Schnaitter believes Myers' interests in collecting influenced his own and he describes Myers' collecting methods compared to his own.

Stacey Shimizu, Stacey Shimizu, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Shimizu shares her thoughts on the purpose of Myers' collecting through a story about a book's inscription he shared. She recalls dinners at the president's home, his philosophy about libraries, what she felt his vision for IWU was, and the effect his personal characteristics, combined with U.S. economy, had on the University.

Anke Voss, Anke Voss, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Voss discusses the origin/creation of the archives in the new library, her early teaching experiences in Illinois and being identified as person to take over at a time when plans to host the Remington Trust exhibit of rare books were under way. Myers gave presentations on those books, encouraging their use by students and faculty. She recalls Myers saying there would be an "archives pedestal" on top of the new library and that he was a "love everything, celebrate everything" kind of person who was rarely idle. Voss recounts Myers' visits to her office and that he did not interfere …

Brian Rogers, Brian Rogers, Meg Miner

All oral histories

An abstract of this interview is available below. A time-annotated index is linked above and to the right. A transcription will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Rogers states that Myers was the chair of the search committee when Rogers was selected as Connecticut College Librarian in 1975. Myers was a member of the Friends of the Library and frequently wrote for their Bulletin. Myers also edited the publication for a few years and helped with a book sale that the Friends held to benefit the library. Myers was active in evaluating and organizing materials that were donated …

Lynda Duke, Lynda Duke, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Duke recalls work involved in hosting the annual book sales that Myers instituted and thinks the sales were well attended but doesn't think they brought much value for campus as a whole. She describes the labor involved by staff time in the Physical Plant and the heavy use of her time in planning, organizing and conducting the sales. She didn't speak with Myers about his interest in libraries but understood he valued all books and recalls there was no collection weeding until well after the move to The Ames Library. Duke also describes instances at events in Myers' home when …

Thomas Griffiths, Thomas Griffiths, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Griffiths recalls that Myers had the "urge to collect" and built collections purposefully, even to the point of paying a higher price to fill a gap. Recalls Myers discarding books, one of which he has, but suspects it was only if Minor had duplicates. Reflects on the influence Myers had on faculty, through emphasis on and support for scholarship, and on students and facilities. Also discusses being present during meetings about the book auction, the last conversation he had with Myers and the one book he received as a gift after Myers' illness. The idea of wearing chrysanthemums at the …

Sue Anderson, Sue Anderson, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Anderson describes her hiring process and Myers' actions in trying to influence it. Anderson details the changes she intended to make in library services and collections and the difficulties she encountered in achieving these goals. She also recounts instances in planning The Ames Library and her relationships with Provost McNew, Associate Provost Schnaitter and faculty.

Michael Young, Michael Young, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Young was on Myers' search committee and the two following. Young began collecting after Myers' death and may have been influenced by Myers' example. Young recalls the so-called U-Haul collection from the Corn Belt library system and a discussion with Myers about their potential value for IWU. He speculates how Myers would have felt about IWU's library changes. Young shares his opinions about libraries and disagrees with how Myers' collection was dispersed. Young recalls asking Myers to keep an eye out for a specific set Young was interested in; Myers called him about a year later when he spotted it …

Jim Matthews, Jim Matthews, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Matthews views Myers as a "well-educated liberal arts specialist...who can talk with anybody intelligently about anything that person is interested in." Myers recommended book purchases to Matthews and he summarizes the effect that and conversations about French history had on him. He recounts why and how Myers recruited him to be Dean of Students and describes changes to Student Affairs that followed, what he saw in Cabinet and Board of Trustee meetings about budget decisions, an incidence of racism involving Sodexho (ca 2000), and remarks Myers made on the first anniversary of September 11, 2001 [n.b., there are no recordings …

Robert Bray, Robert Bray, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Bray and Myers went on book buying trips in the local area. Recalls that Myers used the word "sickness" to describe himself but with some level of humor. Discusses different ways Myers' collected and differences from his own methods and knowledge of books. Bray also shares views on the effect Myers' personal characteristics had on IWU and individuals.

Joy Doran, Joy Doran, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Doran recalls the musical interests she shared with Myers, including being founding board members of the Pratt Music Foundation, which sponsors music education in the local community, and that they shared a vision for expanding the preparatory program available through the IWU School of Music. The former was realized during Myers' era but the latter idea did not come to fruition. She and Myers viewed themselves as "philosophers of potential and advocates of opportunity" and Doran was pleased to have support for her ideas even if they were not always success.

Dan Terkla, Dan Terkla, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Terkla describes books and other types of collections Myers had and how he loaned them to Terkla to take to classes. Memorable books were Dante's La Comedia, a Mexican Bible and John Speed's Atlas. He also describes an event called "Minor watch," which was a practice he and his students had of waving to Myers as he walked by their window. Terkla includes accounts of events at the President's House in which Myers played music and also of the way Myers displayed his books in his home. Terkla recalls only a few times Myers came to his office but on …

W. Michael Weis, W. Michael Weis, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Weis recalls Myers wanting IWU's niche to be the multi-talented and sold everyone on the idea that IWU was already great and would be better. Prior to Myers there was a "micro university" focus and he supported that. Provost McNew was focused on establishing a liberal arts ideal; Myers didn't oppose that idea but also wanted to keep Nursing. He wanted to expand and grow the University and the faculty supported him. Myers inculcated a love of collecting among people and speculates that collecting helps you think about all the things surrounding the object--time period, materials--that it helps "broaden perspective …

Vadim Mazo, Vadim Mazo, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Mazo recalls his first conversation with Myers and the support he felt from him right away for their mutual interests in music and also discusses encounters he had with Myers in his studio and about "Musical Bridges," a program he feels Myers' interest in his work inspired. Mazo feels Myers was a personal inspiration with his example of curiosity. He credits the widening of his interest in bows and batons to Myers' influence. In turn, he is sharing his interests with his students. He speculates that visitors Myers brought in were to improve the intellectual health of the campus and …

Nancy Sultan, Nancy Sultan, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Minor interviewed her for her position and she engaged with him on the train collection she saw in his office. She recalls giving him advice on books to purchase for his Classica collection. Myers loaned her a particular book and he expressed anxiety over its safety. She observes that he was not an astute collector of books in her area of expertise but recalls that he kept "want lists" of titles to look for and he would also look for items she was interested in. Sultan believes that Myers' "curiosity about learning" was infectious and important for students, staff and …

Fred Hoyt, Fred Hoyt, Meg Miner

All oral histories

Hoyt shared an interest in stamps with Myers and recalls the differences in their interests and acquisition methods. He makes the analogy of Myers' personal characteristic being like a lighthouse; meaning, he would focus intently on something for a brief amount of time and then move on to a new interest. Hoyt observes the effect of changes in teaching load on the institution and on other influences Myers had on students and the institution.