Sister Mary Pat Haley, BVM, Interview with Cheryl Lemus, 2000
Item
Mary Pat Haley, 1976. Pictured: Mary Pat Haley is riding in the back while Sister Susan Rink, BVM is driving. (WLA, Mundelein College Photograph Collection)
Interview Audio Side A
Interview Audio Side B
Interview Transcript
Title
Sister Mary Pat Haley, BVM, Interview with Cheryl Lemus, 2000
Summary
Sister Mary Pat Haley, BVM describes her life path to interviewer Cheryl Lemus. She explains that she spent a happy childhood in Des Moines, Iowa, entered the BVMs in 1952, and received her bachelor’s degree from Clarke College. She arrived at Mundelein College during a period of political turmoil in the United States in 1966. Sister Mary Pat was initially an instructor at Mundelein, became its Chief Academic Officer, and eventually served as the college’s Dean. She believes that Mundelein’s sense of community was lost with its affiliation to Loyola University. Sister Mary Pat ends by explaining the importance of engaging students.
Date Created
2000
Biography
Sister Mary Pat Haley, BVM was born in 1933 in Des Moines, Iowa. She entered the novitiate in 1952 and began teaching grade school in 1955. Sister Mary Pat returned to school and earned her bachelor’s of arts in English from Clarke College in 1959. In 1967, she earned a master of arts in American Literature from the University of Iowa and in 1973 a doctorate from Northwestern University in Speech: Radio-TV-Film. At Mundelein College, Sister Mary Pat held positions in the English and Communications departments, as well as being the Academic Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Time Log
Sister Mary Pat Haley, BVM
Interview with Cheryl Lemus, October 9, 2000
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
0-5 minutes
Born in Des Moines, Iowa. Extremely happy childhood. Des Moines was a very quiet community. She was a Depression baby. Her sisters and her went to a parochial grade school. She has three younger sisters and a brother. Brother was spoiled. Father was a mortgage banker; did quite well. Comfortable middle-class life. She remembers loving school, didn’t like summers much.
5-10 minutes
Rode to library on her bike, loved to read. Remembers V-E Day and V-J Day during World War II. Made a scrapbook of the Pacific Theater because her cousin fought in the Battle of Midway. Remembers the day that Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Remembers church functions. Celebrated forty hours of the Blessed Sacrament. Remembers being a girl scout. Memories are around church or school. Ice-skating in the winter at the Greenwood Park Lagoon. Strict, but not repressive upbringing. Went to a Catholic high school founded by the BVMs.
10-15 minutes
Enjoyed visiting the Mother House of the BVMs in Dubuque, Iowa; something about that place. Entered the Mother House in 1952. Graduated from high school in 1951. In meantime, went to St. Mary of the Woods College for a year. For grade school, she had the Adrian Dominicans. Providence nuns run St. Mary of the Woods. Did not enter the BVMs to teach, did not think about what she would do. Women were strong, wonderful, fun-loving, committed people. Earned Bachelor’s Degree at Clarke College in Dubuque. Process of becoming a nun: six months as postulates, two years as novices.
15-20 minutes
First year spiritual formation. Second year returned to school. Made vows in march 1955. Taught at Mary Queen of Heaven in Cicero in 1955. Teaching was awful at first. Taught sixth and seventh grade. Taught Arithmetic, English, History, Geography, etc. Went to St. Tarcissus on northwest side of Chicago. Not customary to change after one year. Did not graduate from college until 1959.
20-25 minutes
Taught eighth grade at St. Tarcissus. Sister Mary Irenea helped her. There for six years. Had to teach civics, prepare students to take the constitution test. Young teacher. 1962 to 1964, went to teach English and Journalism at Regina High School in Iowa City. Never received much warning about being moved.
25-30 minutes
Wonderful couple of years. Co-ed school; diocesan school. Faculty was a group of priests from the diocese, her community, and lay men and women. Teaching when Kennedy died. Taught American literature. Majored in English as an undergraduate. Wasn’t certified to teach until after grade school and high school teaching. Wanted to major in journalism. School paper moderator at St. Mary’s. Finished undergraduate work in 1959. 1962, teaching high school in Iowa City at University of Iowa. Took classes at University of Iowa and at Loyola. Commuted to Loyola from Our Lady of Lourdes convent. Classes were awful.
30-35 minutes
Changed to Guadalupe College in Los Gatos. Idea that she would do her Master’s at Stanford. Far enough along at University of Iowa and Loyola. Stanford did not accept her, so she could finish at University of Iowa. Still went to California, taught the novices college English. Loved it. Came to Mundelein in 1966. Guadalupe College was a sister’s college. They received credits from Mundelein. In the late 1960s, all you needed to teach at Mundelein was to have a Master’s.
35-40 minutes
Finished work in 1966. Loved Mundelein. Taught freshman composition. Taught American literature. Late 1960s, many politically and socially active young women. Many of the faculty, many BVMs involved in the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War activities. Before she arrived, several faculty and students marched in Selma. Faculty were BVMs and lay faculty. Lay faculty also politically active and socially oriented. She didn’t go on any marches. During this time, riot in Chicago, assassination of King, assassination of Robert Kennedy. Students went to marches in D.C.
40-45 minutes
Student wanted to attend a march, but her father was in the Army. She went anyways. Mundelein radically changed the curriculum before she arrived. Trimester system. Students would go in depth into classes. Non-traditional curriculum at the time. Jane Trahey was a Mundelein graduate and worked to grow the enrollment through advertising. Stopped wearing habit. Went back to real names. Mary Pat Haley is her real name. Her baptismal name was Sister Mary St. Thomas.
45-50 minutes
Didn’t set out to develop a philosophy of teaching. Never been a good lecturer. Always looking for connections.
Side B
0-5 minutes
Worked with Susan Rink for six years. She was the President of the College and Haley was the Chief Academic Officer. Complemented each other. Started as an instructor in 1966. After two years at Mundelein, Sister Ann Ida Gannon told her it was time for her to get her doctorate. Entered a program in Communications at Northwestern.
5-10 minutes
Finished in record time. Dissertation on an experimental program at the television station at the University of Wisconsin. Reads more like a novel than a dissertation. In 1972, she came in as Chair of the English Department, which soon became English and Communication. Was an instructor, unusual to be head of department. Eventually chosen to be Dean.
10-15 minutes
1981, went back to teaching. Served for two terms as Dean, six years. Susan Rink served for a few more years as President and then moved on. Communications more than the intricacies of television, radio, motion pictures, advertising, and public relations. It was a maverick discipline, incorporating humanities and social sciences. Field dates back to the 1920s. After her PhD, went straight into teaching and administration.
15-20 minutes
Not encouraged to do research at Northwestern University. Professors were not research active. Against Loyola-Mundelein merger. In Mundelein, there was always five local BVMs who served as members of the corporation. Eventually there was a lay board of trustees. Group had final say on appointing the President or to sell the school or property. She was privy to a lot of internal operations. The college was in the black between 1975 and 1981. Combination of financial and demographic factors made the situation more desperate. Conversations going on with Loyola before general population knew.
20-25 minutes
Affiliation might have been avoided; not a happy time. Some people felt Mundelein was a better fit with DePaul University. Father Baumhart and Loyola board administered affiliation. A lot of pain. Kept her teaching style at Loyola, but taught different kinds of classes. Developed feminist consciousness at Mundelein. Active classroom culture at Mundelein, passive culture at Loyola. Twenty-six faculty came over with rank and tenure. In a small college, all one family. Now, stuck in department, no sense of the whole.
25-30 minutes
She still has a philosophy of engagement. Students keep her on her toes. Tries to relate to students.
30-35 minutes
Best courses are when students come together in willingness, if not eagerness. Proud of former student who is now studying communications at the Annenberg School. If she would go back to graduate school, she would go to the Annenberg School. Relationships make teaching worthwhile.
Interview with Cheryl Lemus, October 9, 2000
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
0-5 minutes
Born in Des Moines, Iowa. Extremely happy childhood. Des Moines was a very quiet community. She was a Depression baby. Her sisters and her went to a parochial grade school. She has three younger sisters and a brother. Brother was spoiled. Father was a mortgage banker; did quite well. Comfortable middle-class life. She remembers loving school, didn’t like summers much.
5-10 minutes
Rode to library on her bike, loved to read. Remembers V-E Day and V-J Day during World War II. Made a scrapbook of the Pacific Theater because her cousin fought in the Battle of Midway. Remembers the day that Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. Remembers church functions. Celebrated forty hours of the Blessed Sacrament. Remembers being a girl scout. Memories are around church or school. Ice-skating in the winter at the Greenwood Park Lagoon. Strict, but not repressive upbringing. Went to a Catholic high school founded by the BVMs.
10-15 minutes
Enjoyed visiting the Mother House of the BVMs in Dubuque, Iowa; something about that place. Entered the Mother House in 1952. Graduated from high school in 1951. In meantime, went to St. Mary of the Woods College for a year. For grade school, she had the Adrian Dominicans. Providence nuns run St. Mary of the Woods. Did not enter the BVMs to teach, did not think about what she would do. Women were strong, wonderful, fun-loving, committed people. Earned Bachelor’s Degree at Clarke College in Dubuque. Process of becoming a nun: six months as postulates, two years as novices.
15-20 minutes
First year spiritual formation. Second year returned to school. Made vows in march 1955. Taught at Mary Queen of Heaven in Cicero in 1955. Teaching was awful at first. Taught sixth and seventh grade. Taught Arithmetic, English, History, Geography, etc. Went to St. Tarcissus on northwest side of Chicago. Not customary to change after one year. Did not graduate from college until 1959.
20-25 minutes
Taught eighth grade at St. Tarcissus. Sister Mary Irenea helped her. There for six years. Had to teach civics, prepare students to take the constitution test. Young teacher. 1962 to 1964, went to teach English and Journalism at Regina High School in Iowa City. Never received much warning about being moved.
25-30 minutes
Wonderful couple of years. Co-ed school; diocesan school. Faculty was a group of priests from the diocese, her community, and lay men and women. Teaching when Kennedy died. Taught American literature. Majored in English as an undergraduate. Wasn’t certified to teach until after grade school and high school teaching. Wanted to major in journalism. School paper moderator at St. Mary’s. Finished undergraduate work in 1959. 1962, teaching high school in Iowa City at University of Iowa. Took classes at University of Iowa and at Loyola. Commuted to Loyola from Our Lady of Lourdes convent. Classes were awful.
30-35 minutes
Changed to Guadalupe College in Los Gatos. Idea that she would do her Master’s at Stanford. Far enough along at University of Iowa and Loyola. Stanford did not accept her, so she could finish at University of Iowa. Still went to California, taught the novices college English. Loved it. Came to Mundelein in 1966. Guadalupe College was a sister’s college. They received credits from Mundelein. In the late 1960s, all you needed to teach at Mundelein was to have a Master’s.
35-40 minutes
Finished work in 1966. Loved Mundelein. Taught freshman composition. Taught American literature. Late 1960s, many politically and socially active young women. Many of the faculty, many BVMs involved in the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War activities. Before she arrived, several faculty and students marched in Selma. Faculty were BVMs and lay faculty. Lay faculty also politically active and socially oriented. She didn’t go on any marches. During this time, riot in Chicago, assassination of King, assassination of Robert Kennedy. Students went to marches in D.C.
40-45 minutes
Student wanted to attend a march, but her father was in the Army. She went anyways. Mundelein radically changed the curriculum before she arrived. Trimester system. Students would go in depth into classes. Non-traditional curriculum at the time. Jane Trahey was a Mundelein graduate and worked to grow the enrollment through advertising. Stopped wearing habit. Went back to real names. Mary Pat Haley is her real name. Her baptismal name was Sister Mary St. Thomas.
45-50 minutes
Didn’t set out to develop a philosophy of teaching. Never been a good lecturer. Always looking for connections.
Side B
0-5 minutes
Worked with Susan Rink for six years. She was the President of the College and Haley was the Chief Academic Officer. Complemented each other. Started as an instructor in 1966. After two years at Mundelein, Sister Ann Ida Gannon told her it was time for her to get her doctorate. Entered a program in Communications at Northwestern.
5-10 minutes
Finished in record time. Dissertation on an experimental program at the television station at the University of Wisconsin. Reads more like a novel than a dissertation. In 1972, she came in as Chair of the English Department, which soon became English and Communication. Was an instructor, unusual to be head of department. Eventually chosen to be Dean.
10-15 minutes
1981, went back to teaching. Served for two terms as Dean, six years. Susan Rink served for a few more years as President and then moved on. Communications more than the intricacies of television, radio, motion pictures, advertising, and public relations. It was a maverick discipline, incorporating humanities and social sciences. Field dates back to the 1920s. After her PhD, went straight into teaching and administration.
15-20 minutes
Not encouraged to do research at Northwestern University. Professors were not research active. Against Loyola-Mundelein merger. In Mundelein, there was always five local BVMs who served as members of the corporation. Eventually there was a lay board of trustees. Group had final say on appointing the President or to sell the school or property. She was privy to a lot of internal operations. The college was in the black between 1975 and 1981. Combination of financial and demographic factors made the situation more desperate. Conversations going on with Loyola before general population knew.
20-25 minutes
Affiliation might have been avoided; not a happy time. Some people felt Mundelein was a better fit with DePaul University. Father Baumhart and Loyola board administered affiliation. A lot of pain. Kept her teaching style at Loyola, but taught different kinds of classes. Developed feminist consciousness at Mundelein. Active classroom culture at Mundelein, passive culture at Loyola. Twenty-six faculty came over with rank and tenure. In a small college, all one family. Now, stuck in department, no sense of the whole.
25-30 minutes
She still has a philosophy of engagement. Students keep her on her toes. Tries to relate to students.
30-35 minutes
Best courses are when students come together in willingness, if not eagerness. Proud of former student who is now studying communications at the Annenberg School. If she would go back to graduate school, she would go to the Annenberg School. Relationships make teaching worthwhile.
Index
Sister Mary Pat Haley, BVM 2000 Index
KEY
MPH 2000=Mary Pat Haley 2000 Interview
INDEX
Adrian Dominican Sisters, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
Annenberg School, MPH 2000 Side B 30-35
Arithmetic, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Battle of Midway, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Baumhart, Raymond C., MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Blessed Sacrament, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
BVMs, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20
Clarke College, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
Communications, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 5-10, MPH 2000 Side B 10-15
Chicago, Illinois, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Cicero, Illinois, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Civil Rights Movement, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
DePaul University, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Des Moines, Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Dubuque, Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
English, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30, MPH 2000 Side B 5-10
Gannon, Ann Ida, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Geography, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Great Depression, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Greenwood Park Lagoon, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Guadalupe College, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35
Haley, Mary Pat, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
History, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Iowa City, Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30
Irenea, Mary, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
Journalism, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30
Kennedy, Robert Francis, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
King, Jr., Martin Luther, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Loyola Mundelein Affiliation, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Loyola University Chicago, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Mary, Queen of Heaven School, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Mundelein College, MPH 2000 Side A, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Northwestern University, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20
Our Lady of Lourdes Convent, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30
Pacific Theatre, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Regina High School, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
Rink, Susan, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 10-15
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
St. Mary of the Woods College, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
St. Tarcissus School, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
St. Thomas, Mary, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
Selma, Alabama, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Stanford University, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35
Trahey, Jane, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
United States Army, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
University of Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35
University of Wisconsin, MPH 2000 Side B 5-10
Victory in Europe Day, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Victory in Japan Day, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Vietnam War, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Washington, D.C., MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
World War II, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
KEY
MPH 2000=Mary Pat Haley 2000 Interview
INDEX
Adrian Dominican Sisters, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
Annenberg School, MPH 2000 Side B 30-35
Arithmetic, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Battle of Midway, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Baumhart, Raymond C., MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Blessed Sacrament, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
BVMs, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20
Clarke College, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
Communications, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 5-10, MPH 2000 Side B 10-15
Chicago, Illinois, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Cicero, Illinois, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Civil Rights Movement, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
DePaul University, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Des Moines, Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Dubuque, Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
English, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30, MPH 2000 Side B 5-10
Gannon, Ann Ida, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Geography, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Great Depression, MPH 2000 Side A 0-5
Greenwood Park Lagoon, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Guadalupe College, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35
Haley, Mary Pat, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
History, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Iowa City, Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30
Irenea, Mary, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
Journalism, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30
Kennedy, Robert Francis, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
King, Jr., Martin Luther, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Loyola Mundelein Affiliation, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Loyola University Chicago, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Mary, Queen of Heaven School, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20
Mundelein College, MPH 2000 Side A, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20, MPH 2000 Side B 20-25
Northwestern University, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 15-20
Our Lady of Lourdes Convent, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30
Pacific Theatre, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Regina High School, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
Rink, Susan, MPH 2000 Side B 0-5, MPH 2000 Side B 10-15
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
St. Mary of the Woods College, MPH 2000 Side A 10-15
St. Tarcissus School, MPH 2000 Side A 15-20, MPH 2000 Side A 20-25
St. Thomas, Mary, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
Selma, Alabama, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Stanford University, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35
Trahey, Jane, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
United States Army, MPH 2000 Side A 40-45
University of Iowa, MPH 2000 Side A 25-30, MPH 2000 Side A 30-35
University of Wisconsin, MPH 2000 Side B 5-10
Victory in Europe Day, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Victory in Japan Day, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
Vietnam War, MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
Washington, D.C., MPH 2000 Side A 35-40
World War II, MPH 2000 Side A 5-10
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