Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 1998
Item
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, N.D. (WLA, Mundelein College Photograph Collection)
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 1998 Audio Side A
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 1998 Audio Side B
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 1998 Transcript
Title
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, 1998
Summary
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.
Date Created
1998
Biography
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM graduated in the class of 1951 from Mundelein College with a bachelor’s of arts in Psychology with a minor in Music. Both of Sister Irene's parents migrated from Germany and Irene was the first of her family to go to college. She grew up as a Lutheran but converted to Catholicism. Sister Irene entered the BVM community in 1952. Sister Irene earned her doctorate in Psychology from St. Louis University and returned to Mundelein College to teach.
Time Log
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM, Class of 1951
Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, November 18, 1998
Wilmette, IL
Time Log
NOTE: Hard to listen to Meyer’s voice at beginning. Also, Side A does not completely line up with transcript. Transcript ends early, does not cover Side B.
Side A
0-5 minutes
Class of 1951. Irene Margaret Meyer full name. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Music. Parents came from Germany. Only child. Parents were firm. First generation American. First generation college student. Very important to go to college. Had been a Protestant, a Lutheran. Interested in Catholic Church before Mundelein. Baptized before Mundelein. Selected college because of it being Catholic. Came from public school. Tough to make friends in the beginning.
5-10 minutes
Started attending Mundelein a year before because of the orchestra. Sister Severina invited her to come and play. She was a Psychology major. Loved playing in the orchestra. Was involved in Sodality. Senior comps were difficult. Some of the courses were really challenging. Enjoyed the orchestra. Enjoyed Psychology classes. Appreciated Sister Mary Ambrose’s Western European History class, though she hated History.
10-15 minutes
Sister Justa taught first year religion course and served as a mentor; great friend. Sister Mary Benedict was a psychology instructor; worked for her. Sister Mary St. Leonard, Director of Admissions; worked for her. Meyer took people on tours of Mundelein and to Madonna della Strada. Remember feeling terrible when Sister Mary St. Leonard died. Spent time with fellow student, Terri. Can’t remember many names.
15-20 minutes
After college, taught at St. Athanasius in Evanston, fourth grade. Following year, joined BVM community for sixteen years. Taught in St. Paul, Minnesota for a year. Twenty-one nuns living in a house for six or eight people; really crowded. Could not fit into chapel. Sister Mary Adoremus was going to send her to Rosary College to study French. Came to Mundelein at end of time. Assigned to St. Louis for her degree, and then went to Mundelein. Received PhD at St. Louis University. Sister Mary Emily.
20-25 minutes
Went back to teach Psychology. Psychology prepared her for historical issues, language issues, and English. Loves music. Educational environment at Mundelein fine. Boys were missing. Served as Associate Prefect in Sodality.
25-30 minutes
Played in Catholic Women’s Symphony. Played for some operas at Loyola. Played with orchestra at North Park. Became involved in Civil Rights Movement.
30-35 minutes
Involved in attempts to banish the death penalty. Interest in women’s movement; idea that women were as good as men. Dissertation on women seeing themselves as persons. Mundelein faculty member from 1957 to 1992. Three years off for doctorate. Sister Mary Benedict as president. Department chairperson.
35-40 minutes
Accepted role as a junior faculty member. Enjoyed teaching, particularly continuing education. Faculty meetings were frustrating. Continuing education students better prepared for psychological studies because of being older.
40-45 minutes
Spontaneous groups outside of class. Had a student fall asleep in class due to long working hours. Loyola classes large. Some involved, others just came. Students similar over the decades, though more focus on keeping students engaged later on. [Transcript ends at 44:02, tape keeps going]
45-50 minutes
Some professors really wanted to get students involved in social responsibility. Abnormal psychology course; students had to go to Chicago State or one of the hospitals. Write papers related to reading.
Side B
0-5 minutes
Complaints that she was sending students into dangerous situations. Push at Loyola for service learning; not a new thing. Opened up students’ eyes. Worked at community health center in Uptown. Later a private practice. Overcommitted herself. Private practice, 18-20 years.
5-10 minutes
Thinks about how patients turned out.
Interview with Sister Mary Alma Sullivan, BVM, November 18, 1998
Wilmette, IL
Time Log
NOTE: Hard to listen to Meyer’s voice at beginning. Also, Side A does not completely line up with transcript. Transcript ends early, does not cover Side B.
Side A
0-5 minutes
Class of 1951. Irene Margaret Meyer full name. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Music. Parents came from Germany. Only child. Parents were firm. First generation American. First generation college student. Very important to go to college. Had been a Protestant, a Lutheran. Interested in Catholic Church before Mundelein. Baptized before Mundelein. Selected college because of it being Catholic. Came from public school. Tough to make friends in the beginning.
5-10 minutes
Started attending Mundelein a year before because of the orchestra. Sister Severina invited her to come and play. She was a Psychology major. Loved playing in the orchestra. Was involved in Sodality. Senior comps were difficult. Some of the courses were really challenging. Enjoyed the orchestra. Enjoyed Psychology classes. Appreciated Sister Mary Ambrose’s Western European History class, though she hated History.
10-15 minutes
Sister Justa taught first year religion course and served as a mentor; great friend. Sister Mary Benedict was a psychology instructor; worked for her. Sister Mary St. Leonard, Director of Admissions; worked for her. Meyer took people on tours of Mundelein and to Madonna della Strada. Remember feeling terrible when Sister Mary St. Leonard died. Spent time with fellow student, Terri. Can’t remember many names.
15-20 minutes
After college, taught at St. Athanasius in Evanston, fourth grade. Following year, joined BVM community for sixteen years. Taught in St. Paul, Minnesota for a year. Twenty-one nuns living in a house for six or eight people; really crowded. Could not fit into chapel. Sister Mary Adoremus was going to send her to Rosary College to study French. Came to Mundelein at end of time. Assigned to St. Louis for her degree, and then went to Mundelein. Received PhD at St. Louis University. Sister Mary Emily.
20-25 minutes
Went back to teach Psychology. Psychology prepared her for historical issues, language issues, and English. Loves music. Educational environment at Mundelein fine. Boys were missing. Served as Associate Prefect in Sodality.
25-30 minutes
Played in Catholic Women’s Symphony. Played for some operas at Loyola. Played with orchestra at North Park. Became involved in Civil Rights Movement.
30-35 minutes
Involved in attempts to banish the death penalty. Interest in women’s movement; idea that women were as good as men. Dissertation on women seeing themselves as persons. Mundelein faculty member from 1957 to 1992. Three years off for doctorate. Sister Mary Benedict as president. Department chairperson.
35-40 minutes
Accepted role as a junior faculty member. Enjoyed teaching, particularly continuing education. Faculty meetings were frustrating. Continuing education students better prepared for psychological studies because of being older.
40-45 minutes
Spontaneous groups outside of class. Had a student fall asleep in class due to long working hours. Loyola classes large. Some involved, others just came. Students similar over the decades, though more focus on keeping students engaged later on. [Transcript ends at 44:02, tape keeps going]
45-50 minutes
Some professors really wanted to get students involved in social responsibility. Abnormal psychology course; students had to go to Chicago State or one of the hospitals. Write papers related to reading.
Side B
0-5 minutes
Complaints that she was sending students into dangerous situations. Push at Loyola for service learning; not a new thing. Opened up students’ eyes. Worked at community health center in Uptown. Later a private practice. Overcommitted herself. Private practice, 18-20 years.
5-10 minutes
Thinks about how patients turned out.
Index
Sister Irene Meyer, BVM 1998 Index
KEY
IM 1998=Irene Meyer 1998 Interview
INDEX
BVMs, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
Catholic Church, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Catholic Women’s Symphony, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Chicago State University, IM 1998 Side A 45-50
Civil Rights Movement, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Class of 1951, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Continuing Education, IM 1998 Side A 35-40
English, IM 1998 Side A 20-25
Evanston, Illinois, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
Germany, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
History, IM 1998 Side A 5-10
Loyola University Chicago, IM 1998 Side A 25-30, IM 1998 Side A 40-45, IM 1998 Side B 0-5
Lutheranism, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Madonna della Strada Chapel, IM 1998 Side A 10-15
Mulholland, Mary Ambrose, IM 1998 Side A 5-10
Mundelein College, IM 1998 Side A 0-5, IM 1998 Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 10-15, IM 1998 Side A 15-20, IM 1998 Side A 20-25, IM 1998 Side A 30-35
Music, IM 1998 Side A 0-5, IM 1998 Side A 20-25
North Park, Chicago, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Orchestra, IM, Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Phelan, Mary Benedict, IM 1998 Side A 10-15, IM 1998 Side A 30-35
Psychology, IM 1998 Side A 0-5, IM 1998 Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 20-25, IM 1998 Side A 35-40
Rosary College IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Athanasius School, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Louis, Missouri, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Louis University, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Paul, Minnesota, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
Shinners, Mary St. Leonard, IM 1998 Side A 10-15
Sodality, IM 1998 Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 20-25
Stratton, Mary Severina, IM 1998 Side A 5-10
Uptown, Chicago, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Women’s Movement, IM 1998 Side A 30-35
KEY
IM 1998=Irene Meyer 1998 Interview
INDEX
BVMs, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
Catholic Church, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Catholic Women’s Symphony, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Chicago State University, IM 1998 Side A 45-50
Civil Rights Movement, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Class of 1951, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Continuing Education, IM 1998 Side A 35-40
English, IM 1998 Side A 20-25
Evanston, Illinois, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
Germany, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
History, IM 1998 Side A 5-10
Loyola University Chicago, IM 1998 Side A 25-30, IM 1998 Side A 40-45, IM 1998 Side B 0-5
Lutheranism, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Madonna della Strada Chapel, IM 1998 Side A 10-15
Mulholland, Mary Ambrose, IM 1998 Side A 5-10
Mundelein College, IM 1998 Side A 0-5, IM 1998 Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 10-15, IM 1998 Side A 15-20, IM 1998 Side A 20-25, IM 1998 Side A 30-35
Music, IM 1998 Side A 0-5, IM 1998 Side A 20-25
North Park, Chicago, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Orchestra, IM, Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 25-30
Phelan, Mary Benedict, IM 1998 Side A 10-15, IM 1998 Side A 30-35
Psychology, IM 1998 Side A 0-5, IM 1998 Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 20-25, IM 1998 Side A 35-40
Rosary College IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Athanasius School, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Louis, Missouri, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Louis University, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
St. Paul, Minnesota, IM 1998 Side A 15-20
Shinners, Mary St. Leonard, IM 1998 Side A 10-15
Sodality, IM 1998 Side A 5-10, IM 1998 Side A 20-25
Stratton, Mary Severina, IM 1998 Side A 5-10
Uptown, Chicago, IM 1998 Side A 0-5
Women’s Movement, IM 1998 Side A 30-35
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