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Member of the class of 1951, Kathryn Quinn Knowles recounts her memories as a student at Mundelein, particularly her work as a staff member for literary magazines, Quest and The Review. Quinn Knowles recounts her experiences with several Mundelein faculty members such as Sister Richard, Sister Clara in the library, and Sister John Michael Dee. Quinn Knowles recounts several visitors to Mundelein Assemblies including author, Graham Green and ex-communist Catholic convert, Elizabeth Bentley.
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Grevas discusses with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM her life trajectory. She was born to Greek immigrants in Chicago in 1930. She explains that although her parents raised her in the Greek Orthodox Church, she learned more about Christianity through Catholic schools, including Mundelein College. At Mundelein College, she did well in her studies, graduating in 1951. Following graduation, she taught for a few years before getting married. Grevas concludes by talking about her community service work in her hometown of Rock Island, Illinois.
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A member of the Mundelein 1951 class, Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM returned after graduation to teach English for over two decades. Sister Mary Alma recounts memories of her childhood in Chicago and her extended family gatherings in Freeport, Illinois where her grandfather played fiddle. Sister Mary Alma discusses the “double sided” nature of Mundelein College training in which the students were taught both to become both housewives and rigorous burgeoning academics. Sister Mary Alma describes the interior of the skyscraper in detail, particularly her recollections of working on the Skyscraper student newspaper on the fifth floor.
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Margaret Egan Namovic was a 1951 Mundelein graduate. Egan Namovic recollects her Chicago, Irish Catholic family background and the decision making process that resulted in her attendance at Mundelein. Egan Namovic loved her experiences at Mundelein and asserts that it, “opened up the world” for her. She majored in Physics and recollects her experiences with the eminent Mundelein physicist and professor, Sister Therese Langerbeck who was “like a second mother to her.” Egan Namovic recounts her participation in the Red Cross as a student and her early professional career as a chemist for several companies including Kraft Foods where she developed innovative food products. Egan Namovic concludes her interview by recounting her experiences as a young mother of many children in Skokie, Illinois.
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Sister Irene Meyer, BVM reflects on how Mundelein College shaped her as a graduate of the class of 1951. She grew up in a German Lutheran family, but was interested in the Catholic Church, and chose Mundelein because it was Catholic. Sister Irene studied Psychology and played in the college’s orchestra. She received her doctorate at St. Louis University, returning to Mundelein to teach Psychology and Continuing Education. Mundelein emphasized service learning, which she advocated. Sister Irene finishes talking about her career later in life working in public health at a community health center and through her own private practice.
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Sister Judith Therese McNulty, BVM considers her the impact of Mundelein College upon her life as an alumna of the class of 1951. She grew up in an Irish Catholic family. Sister Judith Therese attended Mundelein because she lived in St. Gertrude’s Parish. Her classmates were some of her best and lasting friends. She enjoyed her classes, as well as her extracurricular activities at Mundelein. The college fostered leadership among the women. Sister Judith Therese concludes the interview by evaluating why single-sex schools have closed, considering finances and increasing comfort between men and women.
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Joan Holland was a 1951 graduate of Mundelein College. Holland discusses her childhood in Evanston, Illinois and her high school experiences at Loretto Academy in Hamilton, Ontario. Holland was a child actress and she briefly outlines her “Hollywood” experiences on the set of several movies including the award winning, The Great Ziegfeld. Holland discusses her experiences at Mundelein, in particular her recollections of English professor, Sister Irma Corcoran, her best friend among the Mundelein faculty. Holland discusses her social activism after her graduation, including a 1989 peace march which took her to several cities including Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.
