Allen, James
Mr. James Allen summarizes his background and education and discusses his career at Texas Tech, particularly during the 1920s, and his work in the English department.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: James Allen
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: May 10-June 25, 1973
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Jeff Townsend
Length: 5 hour, 20 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1:
(Tape one: 1 hour),
May 10, 1973Came to Texas Tech in 1927 as a part-time instructor,
Became Dean of Men in 1937,
Stresses importance of administrators continuing to teach,
Biographical information given,
Reviews parents' education,
Grandparents' home described,
Characterizes grandfather,
Education summarized,
Cites problems of adjustment of soldiers returning from World War I,
Decision to enter teaching recalled,
Discusses the dance band he headed while attending SMU,
Lists reasons for the band's success
Tape 1, Side 2:
Did graduate work at Harvard,
Names distinguished professors under whom he studied,
Became a part-time instructor of English at Tech in 1927,
Circumstances of his work coming to Tech explained,
Evaluation of Dr. Paul W. Horn as President,
Emphasis on liberal arts development,
Board's reasons for banning Greek fraternities cited,
Notes relationship between Dr. Horn and the faculty,
Importance of freshman English emphasized,
Certification of English proficiency for foreign students discussed
Tape 2, Side 1:
(Tape two: 50 minutes),
May 28, 1973Athletics at Texas Tech discussed,
Football coach Pete Cawthon characterized,
Outlines requirements of his athletes,
Sometimes was unethical and overzealous in his devotion to football,
Received great loyalty from the players,
Personal experiences as tennis coach described,
Few athletic activities were offered at Tech in 1930s
Tape 2, Side 2:
Continues discussion of career at Texas Tech,
Cawthon forbade his athletes to join social clubs,
Business manager Tom Gaston mentioned,
Explores early student housing problems,
Miss Mozelle Craddock's administration of the first residence halls recalled
Tape 3, Side 1:
(Tape three: 1 hour),
June 4, 1973Problems with the first residence halls at Tec outlined,
Improvements in the administration and supervision made,
Business manager Tom Gaston discussed again,
Influence on Dr. Clifford Jones' election to the presidency,
Relationship with Miss Mozelle Craddock,
Miss Craddock's social center described
Tape 3, Side 2:
Miss Mozelle Craddock characterized,
Inability to work with people created many problems,
Speculates on Dr. Clifford Jones' presidency,
Kindness and sensitivity recalled,
Set up trust fund for the football stadium,
Dr. Jones' understanding of the educational process explained,
Mentions Dr. Bradford Knapp's aid to the Agriculture School
Tape 4, Side 1:
(Tape four: 25 minutes),
June 4, 1973Dr. Bradford Knapp strengthened the School of Agriculture,
Dr. D. M. Wiggins' presidency evaluated,
Had great administrative ability,
Lists problems caused by building too many residence halls
Tape 4, Side 2:
Blank
Tape 5, Side 1:
(Tape five: 1 hour),
June 18, 1973,
Dr. D. M. Wiggins' presidency evaluated further,
Very objective in his understanding of the purposes and needs of a university,
J. Roy Wells' career at Tech discussed,
Explains practice of naming the Tech buildings for people,
Dr. Gene Hemmle's contributions to the Music Department cited,
Business Manager Marshall Pennington characterized
Tape 5, Side 2:
Pennington and his work discussed further,
Had difficulty delegating responsibility,
Dr. E. N. Jones' presidency evaluated,
Emphasizes importance of a president's considering the future of a university,
Cites Dr. Grover Murray as a good example
Tape 6, Side 1:
(Tape six: 15 minutes),
June 18, 1973ICASALS discussed,
President Grover Murray's assets and limitations evaluated,
Student unrest in 1968-69 recalled,
Successor as Dean of Student Life characterized,
Development of faculty participation in decision-making outlined
Tape 6, Side 2:
Blank
Tape 7, Side 1:
(Tape seven: 40 minutes),
June 25, 1973,
Lack of a Ph.D. not a personal handicap,
Appointment of Dr. E. N. Jones as president discussed,
Effects of the censure by AAUP outlined,
Various English Department heads characterized and evaluated,
Mentions The Catalyst underground newspaper,
Student organizations listed,
Alamo Club recalled,
Productionof a student handbook took two years,
Describes problems encountered
Tape 7, Side 2:
Approves increased freedom of the student publications,
Speculates on distribution of the student services fees,
Problems involved in subsidizing cheerleaders and other Tech representatives analyzed
Range Dates: 1927-1968
Bulk Dates: 1927-1968
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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