Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Interview with Ronald Martin, 1998
Item
Jean Dolores Schmidt, 1972. (WLA, Mundelein College 1972 Yearbook)
Interview Audio Side A
Interview Audio Side B
Interview Transcript
Title
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, Interview with Ronald Martin, 1998
Summary
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM was born in San Francisco in 1919. Sister Schmidt taught in the education department at Mundelein from 1961 through its affiliation with Loyola University Chicago in 1991 where she continues to serve as a chaplain. In this interview, Sister Jean Dolores relays her educational and teaching background before her arrival at Mundelein, including her experiences as a teacher for the San Fernando Valley St. Charles School where celebrity families, such as the Hope and the Crosby children attended. Sister Jean Dolores recalls her busy life as a teacher and administrator at Mundelein and describes it as having “several balls in the air.” Sister Jean Dolores recounts the many changes that Mundelein students and faculty experienced during the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and 1970s.
Date Created
1998
Biography
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt was born in 1919 in San Francisco, California. Sister Jean Dolores completed her bachelor’s degree at Mount St. Mary’s College and obtained her Master’s degree from Loyola University, Los Angeles. She taught in the education department at Mundelein from 1961 through its affiliation with Loyola University Chicago in 1991. Sister Jean Dolores has been a beloved member of the Loyola University campus for over fifty years where she continues to serve as a chaplain for the Loyola men's’ basketball team.
Time Log
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM
Interview with Ronald Martin, November 16, 1998
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
1-5 minutes
Introductions: Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt was born in San Francisco, California in 1919, She had two brothers. She recollects a strong Catholic tradition in San Francisco. She was taught by the BVMs in high school. Sister Jean Dolores went to Clarke College in Iowa. Sister Jean Dolores felt a calling to be a nun from childhood.
5-10 minutes
Describes her postulancy and her novitiate. Each novitiate went out to teach directly after they made their first vows. They earned their college degrees while they were teaching.
Sister Jean taught at St. Vincent’s while she went to DePaul for a year and a half. After this, she moved back to St. Bernard’s School in California. St. Bernard’s was not ready for the sisters so they had to live off-campus. The sisters taught in the parish hall and some taught in the Field and Fuel Store. Sister Jean was in Los Angeles area for twenty years. When Sister Jean taught at St. Charles she knew the Sinatras, the Crosby family, and other famous people. Sister Jean was made principal at St. Charles.
10-15 minutes
Took college classes while she was in California for a BA in English. In 1961, Sister Jean was sent to Mundelein. She was assigned to the education department, and supervised student teachers. Sister Jean loved this because it gave her an opportunity to be in the schools.
15-20 minutes
She was also a boys basketball coach. They did well. Sister Jean started a reading program where Mundelein students tutored children. Had a program that hosted 75 kids from second to eighth grade. The students paid $25 per semester. Mundelein used that money to buy books. This was a successful program.
Sister Jean was in the education department until 1967, then she became an assistant dean to assist with student matters. She also went to Northwestern for teaching on reading methods.
20-25 minutes
The academic office worked very closely with the student affairs office at Mundelein. Loyola has to learn this lesson.
Saw some changes in the 1960s, especially the attendance of more minority students. Mundelein always had minority students but they had been from other countries. Mundelein started out as a commuter college and was becoming more residential. Mundelein recruited minority students. We knew that we would have to give more financial assistance.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, students networked, especially after Kent State. It was overnight networking. Sister Jean was acting dean that year. It was hard for the students it was hard for everyone. Considered striking until the end of the war. The faculty and the students had the opportunity to do what they wished. Everyone did what they wanted and had to hand her as acting dean their plan.
25-30 minutes
It was very hard. The faculty adjusted to what the students needed. There was such a complete revolution in colleges. Mundelein actually voted not to have any general education classes at the time. The education had to do what the state required. Some ended up having lopsided degrees. This lasted for 8-10 years with no board requirements-from 1970-1978.
The Weekend College started their own curriculum. We had to work with the students as regards their needs, especially for grad school. Loyola never stopped their core curriculum. Memories of Mundelein College. Remembers their actions. The student body president was always a kind leader. First student body president I remember was black, her name was Mary Thomas. Mundelein was ahead of its time. Was at Mundelein until 1967.
30-35 minutes
Had three or four different balls in the air at the same time. The student leaders brought up the need for changes in curriculum. The student leaders had a great deal of influence on the faculty. The students themselves changed the dress code so that the girls could wear jeans. They went to Sister Ann Ida Gannon and she said that they would have to go to a faculty meeting. The student leader just informed the faculty that the school no longer had a dress code. The student leaders directed the curriculum committee too. They had the same voting power in the college senate as the faculty. For several years Mundelein did not record Ds or Fs. If you did not pass a class, you did not get a grade.
35-40 minutes
Notable faculty members, Sister Margaret Thornton in the History Department was such a fantastic teacher that no one was ever late for her classes or missed her classes. Sister Mary Griffin was perhaps the most outstanding teacher. She was Dean from 1961-1967 or 1968. Later she taught English at Mundelein. Michael Fortune from University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point was excellent. Sister Eileen from French Department was good. Many good ones, some not so good. Russ Barker was the first layman to teach here. Sister Ann Ida hired lay people.
Side B
1-5 minutes
Mundelein’s relationship with the neighborhood: Some students helped with the elderly. The nursing home would come twice a year for food and coffee. One of the nursing homes had a fire and Mundelein brought all of the residents to the dorms to stay temporarily. Mundelein and the Diocese: Sister Mary Francis Jegen founded the Religious Studies program and was responsible for Diocese relations. We had a great relationship with the Diocese. The Cardinals always used to come for graduations. Many student teachers became teachers for the Diocese.
Did Mundelein have a strong relationship with the other Catholic Colleges in the city?
The schools attracted different kinds of students.For example, Xavier had different students.
5-10 minutes
Before Vatican II the nuns did not run around so much. Sister Ida Gannon was called the nun that runs by the Tribune. She was involved in the larger community. Rosary and Malencrott had a good relationship with us. Mundelein was networked with other women’s colleges. The community of BVMs’ mission is to educate young men (in grade school) and women. After entering administrative work Sister Jean stopped teaching after 6 months.
Sister Jean reflects on Mundelein daily life: Had morning prayers, mass, at noon each sister was responsible for their own prayers, at 5:00 all had prayers, and after dinner, all had prayers and spiritual reading and recreation.
The sisters did not go out until 1967. Here at home if there was a volleyball game or basketball game in the Mundelein gym, Sister Mary Donnell and Sister Bernice and Sister Jean would go. In the 1970s they did things differently. From 1970s-1978 Sister Jean was the hall director for Coffey Hall.
10-15 minutes
Looking back at 30 years of Mundelein, how did the student body change?
Different pockets of change. Now every freshman class is different. With the change from a commuter to residential college, the faculty and students got closer. People on campus had a great love for the school. In the early 1970s, the students were not as connected to the college. In the later years, as Mundelein diversified, things changed and the college accepted students who needed tutoring and financial assistance. In the 1980s Mundelein had other challenges and sports took off in volleyball, basketball, and swimming. Regular enrollment declined and the Weekend College grew and great relationships resulted.
15-20 minutes
The Mundelein full time population began to drop because more students went to coed institutions. Mundelein was not able to make that adjustment. In the late 1970s the students had an open forum about going coed. Loyola students came and said, “Don’t do it!.” Mundelein had an exchange program of classes with Loyola. It changed in the early 1990s when enrollment went lower and lower and the same students did everything. Sister Jean sees the affiliation as a good thing.
Were there any problems with the affiliation?
Sister Jean was grateful that the Jesuits would take them. The city could have come in and have opened a city college or a developer could have made it into a nursing home. There were pangs of sadness though. Both Mundelein and Loyola worked hard.
20-25 minutes
The problems came, but Loyola and Mundelein had to sit down and work them out. Sister Jean became an assistant dean at Loyola. However, she had had to go through an interview process with Loyola. The Jesuits offered their assistance to anyone who was struggling. The students struggled and protested. Jack Christia, Loyola director of admissions, would come to Mundelein almost everyday in the student dining room talking and having coffee with the students. Jim Dwyer, in charge of Loyola financial assistance helped Mundelein students, including the Weekend College students. They talked to Loyola administers. John Walker and Jim Wiser and made a big noise.
25-30 minutes
Since the affiliation, Sister jean works with the adult students on Tuesday afternoons and Saturdays as an academic advisor. From 1994-1997, Sister Jean worked with the basketball students and in 1998 is their chaplain. She is on the Madonna Del Astrada committee which concerns itself with the condition of the chapel. She is on several committees. Appointed as a liaison for Asian American students at one time. There was no need after a while.
Dr. Moylan and Dr,. Harrington would like recollections of the skyscraper building. What was it like to work there?
It was okay with her. Only lived in the Skyscraper for a couple of years. Some of the older ones just stayed in the building and that felt closed in. Sister Jean was able to get away. Not good for man or beast. After Coffey hall was built, a recreation was built for the sisters on the 14th floor. Today, Sister Jean lives in Coffey Hall. Never felt compelled to stay at the Skyscraper. The skyscraper was a great building to work in. She was moved around for work at least over a dozen times.
30-35 minutes
Once the skyscraper was so crowded she worked in the hallway.
Interview with Ronald Martin, November 16, 1998
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
1-5 minutes
Introductions: Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt was born in San Francisco, California in 1919, She had two brothers. She recollects a strong Catholic tradition in San Francisco. She was taught by the BVMs in high school. Sister Jean Dolores went to Clarke College in Iowa. Sister Jean Dolores felt a calling to be a nun from childhood.
5-10 minutes
Describes her postulancy and her novitiate. Each novitiate went out to teach directly after they made their first vows. They earned their college degrees while they were teaching.
Sister Jean taught at St. Vincent’s while she went to DePaul for a year and a half. After this, she moved back to St. Bernard’s School in California. St. Bernard’s was not ready for the sisters so they had to live off-campus. The sisters taught in the parish hall and some taught in the Field and Fuel Store. Sister Jean was in Los Angeles area for twenty years. When Sister Jean taught at St. Charles she knew the Sinatras, the Crosby family, and other famous people. Sister Jean was made principal at St. Charles.
10-15 minutes
Took college classes while she was in California for a BA in English. In 1961, Sister Jean was sent to Mundelein. She was assigned to the education department, and supervised student teachers. Sister Jean loved this because it gave her an opportunity to be in the schools.
15-20 minutes
She was also a boys basketball coach. They did well. Sister Jean started a reading program where Mundelein students tutored children. Had a program that hosted 75 kids from second to eighth grade. The students paid $25 per semester. Mundelein used that money to buy books. This was a successful program.
Sister Jean was in the education department until 1967, then she became an assistant dean to assist with student matters. She also went to Northwestern for teaching on reading methods.
20-25 minutes
The academic office worked very closely with the student affairs office at Mundelein. Loyola has to learn this lesson.
Saw some changes in the 1960s, especially the attendance of more minority students. Mundelein always had minority students but they had been from other countries. Mundelein started out as a commuter college and was becoming more residential. Mundelein recruited minority students. We knew that we would have to give more financial assistance.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, students networked, especially after Kent State. It was overnight networking. Sister Jean was acting dean that year. It was hard for the students it was hard for everyone. Considered striking until the end of the war. The faculty and the students had the opportunity to do what they wished. Everyone did what they wanted and had to hand her as acting dean their plan.
25-30 minutes
It was very hard. The faculty adjusted to what the students needed. There was such a complete revolution in colleges. Mundelein actually voted not to have any general education classes at the time. The education had to do what the state required. Some ended up having lopsided degrees. This lasted for 8-10 years with no board requirements-from 1970-1978.
The Weekend College started their own curriculum. We had to work with the students as regards their needs, especially for grad school. Loyola never stopped their core curriculum. Memories of Mundelein College. Remembers their actions. The student body president was always a kind leader. First student body president I remember was black, her name was Mary Thomas. Mundelein was ahead of its time. Was at Mundelein until 1967.
30-35 minutes
Had three or four different balls in the air at the same time. The student leaders brought up the need for changes in curriculum. The student leaders had a great deal of influence on the faculty. The students themselves changed the dress code so that the girls could wear jeans. They went to Sister Ann Ida Gannon and she said that they would have to go to a faculty meeting. The student leader just informed the faculty that the school no longer had a dress code. The student leaders directed the curriculum committee too. They had the same voting power in the college senate as the faculty. For several years Mundelein did not record Ds or Fs. If you did not pass a class, you did not get a grade.
35-40 minutes
Notable faculty members, Sister Margaret Thornton in the History Department was such a fantastic teacher that no one was ever late for her classes or missed her classes. Sister Mary Griffin was perhaps the most outstanding teacher. She was Dean from 1961-1967 or 1968. Later she taught English at Mundelein. Michael Fortune from University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point was excellent. Sister Eileen from French Department was good. Many good ones, some not so good. Russ Barker was the first layman to teach here. Sister Ann Ida hired lay people.
Side B
1-5 minutes
Mundelein’s relationship with the neighborhood: Some students helped with the elderly. The nursing home would come twice a year for food and coffee. One of the nursing homes had a fire and Mundelein brought all of the residents to the dorms to stay temporarily. Mundelein and the Diocese: Sister Mary Francis Jegen founded the Religious Studies program and was responsible for Diocese relations. We had a great relationship with the Diocese. The Cardinals always used to come for graduations. Many student teachers became teachers for the Diocese.
Did Mundelein have a strong relationship with the other Catholic Colleges in the city?
The schools attracted different kinds of students.For example, Xavier had different students.
5-10 minutes
Before Vatican II the nuns did not run around so much. Sister Ida Gannon was called the nun that runs by the Tribune. She was involved in the larger community. Rosary and Malencrott had a good relationship with us. Mundelein was networked with other women’s colleges. The community of BVMs’ mission is to educate young men (in grade school) and women. After entering administrative work Sister Jean stopped teaching after 6 months.
Sister Jean reflects on Mundelein daily life: Had morning prayers, mass, at noon each sister was responsible for their own prayers, at 5:00 all had prayers, and after dinner, all had prayers and spiritual reading and recreation.
The sisters did not go out until 1967. Here at home if there was a volleyball game or basketball game in the Mundelein gym, Sister Mary Donnell and Sister Bernice and Sister Jean would go. In the 1970s they did things differently. From 1970s-1978 Sister Jean was the hall director for Coffey Hall.
10-15 minutes
Looking back at 30 years of Mundelein, how did the student body change?
Different pockets of change. Now every freshman class is different. With the change from a commuter to residential college, the faculty and students got closer. People on campus had a great love for the school. In the early 1970s, the students were not as connected to the college. In the later years, as Mundelein diversified, things changed and the college accepted students who needed tutoring and financial assistance. In the 1980s Mundelein had other challenges and sports took off in volleyball, basketball, and swimming. Regular enrollment declined and the Weekend College grew and great relationships resulted.
15-20 minutes
The Mundelein full time population began to drop because more students went to coed institutions. Mundelein was not able to make that adjustment. In the late 1970s the students had an open forum about going coed. Loyola students came and said, “Don’t do it!.” Mundelein had an exchange program of classes with Loyola. It changed in the early 1990s when enrollment went lower and lower and the same students did everything. Sister Jean sees the affiliation as a good thing.
Were there any problems with the affiliation?
Sister Jean was grateful that the Jesuits would take them. The city could have come in and have opened a city college or a developer could have made it into a nursing home. There were pangs of sadness though. Both Mundelein and Loyola worked hard.
20-25 minutes
The problems came, but Loyola and Mundelein had to sit down and work them out. Sister Jean became an assistant dean at Loyola. However, she had had to go through an interview process with Loyola. The Jesuits offered their assistance to anyone who was struggling. The students struggled and protested. Jack Christia, Loyola director of admissions, would come to Mundelein almost everyday in the student dining room talking and having coffee with the students. Jim Dwyer, in charge of Loyola financial assistance helped Mundelein students, including the Weekend College students. They talked to Loyola administers. John Walker and Jim Wiser and made a big noise.
25-30 minutes
Since the affiliation, Sister jean works with the adult students on Tuesday afternoons and Saturdays as an academic advisor. From 1994-1997, Sister Jean worked with the basketball students and in 1998 is their chaplain. She is on the Madonna Del Astrada committee which concerns itself with the condition of the chapel. She is on several committees. Appointed as a liaison for Asian American students at one time. There was no need after a while.
Dr. Moylan and Dr,. Harrington would like recollections of the skyscraper building. What was it like to work there?
It was okay with her. Only lived in the Skyscraper for a couple of years. Some of the older ones just stayed in the building and that felt closed in. Sister Jean was able to get away. Not good for man or beast. After Coffey hall was built, a recreation was built for the sisters on the 14th floor. Today, Sister Jean lives in Coffey Hall. Never felt compelled to stay at the Skyscraper. The skyscraper was a great building to work in. She was moved around for work at least over a dozen times.
30-35 minutes
Once the skyscraper was so crowded she worked in the hallway.
Index
Jean Dolores Schmidt 1998 Index
KEY
JDS1998= Jean Dolores Schmidt 1998
INDEX
Barker, Russell, JDS1998 A 35-40
Basketball, JDS1998 A 15-20
Catholic tradition, JDS1998 A 0-5
Clarke College, JDS1998 A 0-5
Crosby family, JDS1998 A 5-10
DePaul, JDS1998 A 5-10
Financial assistance, JDS1998 A 20-25
Fortune, Michael, JDS1998 A 35-40
Hope family, JDS1998 A 5-10
Kent State shootings, JDS 1998 A 20-25
Los Angeles, California, JDS1998 A 5-10
Loyola University Chicago, JDS1998 A 20-25
Loyola University Chicago Core Curriculum, JDS1998 A 25-30
Minority students, JDS1998 A 20-25
Mundelein academic office, JDS1998 A 20-25
Mundelein board requirements, JDS1998 A 25-30
Mundelein College Senate, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein curriculum committee, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein dress codes, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein Education department, JDS1998 A 10-15, JDS1998 A 15-20
Mundelein grading system, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein reading program, JDS1998 A 15-20
Mundelein student body presidents, JDS1998 A 25-30
Mundelein student strike, JDS1998 A 20-25
Mundelein tutoring program, JDS1998 A 15-20
Novitiate, JDS1998 A 5-10
Postulancy, JDS1998 A 5-10
San Francisco, California, JDS1998 A 0-5
Sinatra family, JDS1998 A 5-10
Sister Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, JDS1998 A 30-35, JDS1998 A 35-40
Sister Margaret Thornton, JDS1998 A 35-40
Sister Mary Griffin, JDS1998 A 35-40
St. Bernards, JDS1998 A 5-10
St. Charles, JDS1998 A 5-10
St. Vincents, JDS1998 A 5-10
Vows, JDS1998 A 5-10
Weekend College, JDS1998 A 25-30
KEY
JDS1998= Jean Dolores Schmidt 1998
INDEX
Barker, Russell, JDS1998 A 35-40
Basketball, JDS1998 A 15-20
Catholic tradition, JDS1998 A 0-5
Clarke College, JDS1998 A 0-5
Crosby family, JDS1998 A 5-10
DePaul, JDS1998 A 5-10
Financial assistance, JDS1998 A 20-25
Fortune, Michael, JDS1998 A 35-40
Hope family, JDS1998 A 5-10
Kent State shootings, JDS 1998 A 20-25
Los Angeles, California, JDS1998 A 5-10
Loyola University Chicago, JDS1998 A 20-25
Loyola University Chicago Core Curriculum, JDS1998 A 25-30
Minority students, JDS1998 A 20-25
Mundelein academic office, JDS1998 A 20-25
Mundelein board requirements, JDS1998 A 25-30
Mundelein College Senate, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein curriculum committee, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein dress codes, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein Education department, JDS1998 A 10-15, JDS1998 A 15-20
Mundelein grading system, JDS1998 A 30-35
Mundelein reading program, JDS1998 A 15-20
Mundelein student body presidents, JDS1998 A 25-30
Mundelein student strike, JDS1998 A 20-25
Mundelein tutoring program, JDS1998 A 15-20
Novitiate, JDS1998 A 5-10
Postulancy, JDS1998 A 5-10
San Francisco, California, JDS1998 A 0-5
Sinatra family, JDS1998 A 5-10
Sister Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, JDS1998 A 30-35, JDS1998 A 35-40
Sister Margaret Thornton, JDS1998 A 35-40
Sister Mary Griffin, JDS1998 A 35-40
St. Bernards, JDS1998 A 5-10
St. Charles, JDS1998 A 5-10
St. Vincents, JDS1998 A 5-10
Vows, JDS1998 A 5-10
Weekend College, JDS1998 A 25-30
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