Elizabeth Pfordresher Havey, Interview with Melissa Newman, 2021
Item
Elizabeth Pfordresher Havey, 1969 (WLA, Mundelein College 1969 Class Photograph)
Interview Transcript
Title
Elizabeth Pfordresher Havey, Interview with Melissa Newman, 2021
Summary
Elizabeth Pfordresher Havey was an English major and education minor, graduating from Mundelein in 1969. Beth shares memorable stories about her freshman year English teacher, Paul O’Dea, and her sociology professor, Ann Matasar. When talking about her time living at Coffey Hall, Beth talked about the sense of community she shared with those on her floor that included borrowing clothes and participating in candle-lighting ceremonies when someone got engaged. Beth talks of being constantly busy with her studies, yet finding time to participate in Student Government—first as a representative and then as the Vice President in her senior year. She also shares memories of participating in the chorus, Mundelein Review, and the talent show. Beth also talked about working for the wonderful Carmen Fernandez in the Alumnae Office where she filed papers, made phone calls, and sent out mailings. Beth discusses her experiences during her six-week student teaching at Lane Tech, one of the best all-boys school in Chicago. Overall, Beth loved her time at Mundelein and can’t say enough good things about it. She went on to teach at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, earned her nursing degree, and is now a writer.
Content Note: These collections may include language or descriptions of events that may be upsetting to some users.
Content Note: These collections may include language or descriptions of events that may be upsetting to some users.
Date Created
November 17, 2021
Biography
Elizabeth “Beth” A. Pfordresher Havey is the middle of three children, one older and one younger brother, who were raised on the south side of Chicago by their mother. Beth’s family put high value in reading and music due to her well-educated aunts’ working in publishing, her mother’s participation in chorus, and her older brother’s love of music. This led to her majoring in English and minoring in education when she was a student at Mundelein. She graduated in 1969.
She participated in Student Government and was the Vice President of her Senior Class. Beth also published in the Mundelein College Review, was in the chorus, and performed the Sound of Silence with Barbara Valli for the talent show. As part of the Student Work Program, Beth worked for Carmen Fernandez in the Alumnae Office for all four years. She lived on the 3rd floor of Coffey Hall for all four years and valued the connections she made with those on her floor.
After graduation, she taught high school English at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, married her high school sweetheart, and had three amazing children and three grandchildren. Beth earned her Nursing Degree from Prairie State College in 1993; worked at Mercy Hospital and St. James Hospital in Labor and Delivery. In Des Moines, Iowa, she worked for the Polk County Health Department. Currently, Elizabeth is a writer. She has published one collection of stories and has other projects in the works.
She participated in Student Government and was the Vice President of her Senior Class. Beth also published in the Mundelein College Review, was in the chorus, and performed the Sound of Silence with Barbara Valli for the talent show. As part of the Student Work Program, Beth worked for Carmen Fernandez in the Alumnae Office for all four years. She lived on the 3rd floor of Coffey Hall for all four years and valued the connections she made with those on her floor.
After graduation, she taught high school English at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, married her high school sweetheart, and had three amazing children and three grandchildren. Beth earned her Nursing Degree from Prairie State College in 1993; worked at Mercy Hospital and St. James Hospital in Labor and Delivery. In Des Moines, Iowa, she worked for the Polk County Health Department. Currently, Elizabeth is a writer. She has published one collection of stories and has other projects in the works.
Interviewer Biography
Melissa Newman was a graduate student in the Public History program at Loyola University Chicago and a graduate assistant at the Women and Leadership Archives 2020-2022.
Time Log
0- 5 Minutes: Havey’s childhood, upbringing, family background, passing of father, education, reason for choosing Mundelein.
5- 10 Minutes: Importance of music and reading in Havey’s childhood, Havey’s mother, reason for choice of major at Mundelein, trimesters, graduation requirements, English class with Paul O’Dea.
10- 15 Minutes: Theology classes at Mundelein, Sociology class with Anne Matasar, Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. And reaction by Black students, Assassination of Robert Kennedy, English classes with Michael Fortune.
15- 20 Minutes: English classes with Michael Fortune, experience of living in Coffey Hall, five and seven-day residents, Havey’s job in the Mundelein Alumni Department, Sister Mary Francis, life in Northland Hall, candlelighting ceremony.
20- 25 Minutes: Havey’s experience with her first trimester roommate, living with Susan Bunce, changes at Mundelein, library in Piper Hall, opening of the Learning Resource Center, extracurricular activities at Mundelein, Havey’s time in chorus, the Mundelein literary magazine, and the Mundelein Student Congress (MSC), Havey’s time as representative and vice president of her class.
25- 30 Minutes: Commuter students at Mundelein, running for student office at Mundelein, community in Coffey Hall, dining in the Lewis Center, dressing and dress codes at Mundelein.
30- 35 Minutes: Balancing time between class and extracurricular activities, Havey’s writing, history class with Sister Margaret Thornton, Havey’s time in the Mundelein Chorus, Havey’s experience performing in the Mundelein Revue with Barbara Valli,
35- 40 Minutes: Working the Alumni Office with Carmen Hernandez, student government at Mundelein, the Skyscraper Ball, promotions for Mundelein.
40- 45 Minutes: Politics and activism on campus, Havey’s time as a student teacher at Lane Tech.
45- 50 Minutes: Student teaching at Lane Tech, break in recording, Havey’s experience in Catholic schools, Havey’s first job after graduation, Teaching at Bloom Township High School.
50- 55 Minutes: Havey’s experience with other women at Mundelein, trip Notre Dame mixer, mixers at Loyola, race at Bloom Township High School,
55- 60 Minutes: Havey’s experience teaching multiracial, multicultural students, diversity at Mundelein, crime on campus, nightlife and partying at Mundelein.
60- 65:53 Minutes: Curfew at Mundelein, student conduct at Mundelein, final reflection of Havey’s time at Mundelein, Sister Ann Ida Gannon.
5- 10 Minutes: Importance of music and reading in Havey’s childhood, Havey’s mother, reason for choice of major at Mundelein, trimesters, graduation requirements, English class with Paul O’Dea.
10- 15 Minutes: Theology classes at Mundelein, Sociology class with Anne Matasar, Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. And reaction by Black students, Assassination of Robert Kennedy, English classes with Michael Fortune.
15- 20 Minutes: English classes with Michael Fortune, experience of living in Coffey Hall, five and seven-day residents, Havey’s job in the Mundelein Alumni Department, Sister Mary Francis, life in Northland Hall, candlelighting ceremony.
20- 25 Minutes: Havey’s experience with her first trimester roommate, living with Susan Bunce, changes at Mundelein, library in Piper Hall, opening of the Learning Resource Center, extracurricular activities at Mundelein, Havey’s time in chorus, the Mundelein literary magazine, and the Mundelein Student Congress (MSC), Havey’s time as representative and vice president of her class.
25- 30 Minutes: Commuter students at Mundelein, running for student office at Mundelein, community in Coffey Hall, dining in the Lewis Center, dressing and dress codes at Mundelein.
30- 35 Minutes: Balancing time between class and extracurricular activities, Havey’s writing, history class with Sister Margaret Thornton, Havey’s time in the Mundelein Chorus, Havey’s experience performing in the Mundelein Revue with Barbara Valli,
35- 40 Minutes: Working the Alumni Office with Carmen Hernandez, student government at Mundelein, the Skyscraper Ball, promotions for Mundelein.
40- 45 Minutes: Politics and activism on campus, Havey’s time as a student teacher at Lane Tech.
45- 50 Minutes: Student teaching at Lane Tech, break in recording, Havey’s experience in Catholic schools, Havey’s first job after graduation, Teaching at Bloom Township High School.
50- 55 Minutes: Havey’s experience with other women at Mundelein, trip Notre Dame mixer, mixers at Loyola, race at Bloom Township High School,
55- 60 Minutes: Havey’s experience teaching multiracial, multicultural students, diversity at Mundelein, crime on campus, nightlife and partying at Mundelein.
60- 65:53 Minutes: Curfew at Mundelein, student conduct at Mundelein, final reflection of Havey’s time at Mundelein, Sister Ann Ida Gannon.
Index
Academy of Our Lady [Longwood], BH 0-5
Barta, Russell, BH 60-65
Becker, Monica, BH 15-20
Becker, Barbara, BH 40-45, BH 45-50
Beverley Association, BH 0-5
Bloom Township High School, BH 40-45, BH 45-50, BH 50-55, BH 55-60
Brown v. Board of Education, BH 10-15
Bunce, Susan, BH 20-25
Chicago, IL., BH 0-5, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 25-30, BH 30-35, BH 35-40, BH 40-45, BH 45-50, BH 50-55
Chicago Tribune, BH 5-10
Clark, Mark, BH 50-55
Edens Expressway, BH 55-60
Fortune, Michael, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 20-25
Gannon, Ann Ida (Sister), BH 60-65
Glenview, Illinois, BH 0-5
Hampton, Fred, BH 50-55
Hernandez, Carmen, BH 35-40
Humphrey, Hubert, BH 40-45
Kennedy, Robert, BH 10-15, BH 35-40
King Jr., Martin Luther, BH 10-15, BH 35-40
Kurtz, Gerry, BH 35-40
Lane Tech College Prep High School, BH 40-45, BH 45-50
LondonHouse Hotel, BH 35-40
Loyola University Chicago, BH 10-15, BH 50-55, BH 55-60
Mary Francis (Sister), BH 15-20
Matasar, Anne, BH 10-15
Madonna della Strada Chapel, BH 60-65
Mount Mary University, BH 5-10
Mundelein College, BH 0-5, BH 5-10, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 20-25, BH 25-30, BH 30-35, BH 35-40, BH 45-50, BH 50-55, BH 55-60, BH 60-65
Mundelein College Alumni Department, BH 0-5, BH 15-20, BH 30-35, BH 35-40
Mundelein College Candlelighting Ceremony, BH 15-20
Mundelein College Coffey Hall, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 25-30, BH 35-40, BH 45-50, BH 50-55, BH 60-65
Mundelein College Review, the, BH 25-30
Mundelein College Lewis Center, BH 10-15, BH 25-30, BH 55-60
Mundelein College Northland Hall, BH 15-20, BH 55-60
Mundelein College Piper Hall, BH 20-25
Mundelein College Skyscraper Building, BH 25- 30
Mundelein Revue, BH 30-35
Mundelein Student Chorus, BH 20-25, BH 30-35
Mundelein Student Congress, BH 20-25, BH 30-35
Northwestern University, BH 40-45
New York City, BH 0-15
National Worker's Project, BH 0-5
O’ Dea, Paul, BH 5-10, BH 45-50, BH 55-60
Pullman Foundation, BH 0-5
Saint Barnabas Grade School, BH 0-5
Saint Xavier University, BH 0-5
Scott Foresman Publishing Company, BH 0-5
Shakespeare, William, BH 15-20, BH 40-45
Sheridan Road, BH 20-25, BH 55-60
Simon and Garfunkel, BH 30-35
Sinatra, Frank, BH 5-10
Skyscraper, The, BH 10-15, BH 20-25, BH 30-35
Skyscraper Ball, BH 35-40
Thornton, Margaret (Sister), BH 30-35
Tribune Tower, BH 5-10
University of Chicago, BH 0-5
University of Notre Dame, BH 50-5
University of Dubuque, BH 40-45
Valli, Barbara, BH 30-35
Vietnam War, BH 35-40
Winnetka, IL., BH 55-60
Wrigley Field, BH 40-45
Barta, Russell, BH 60-65
Becker, Monica, BH 15-20
Becker, Barbara, BH 40-45, BH 45-50
Beverley Association, BH 0-5
Bloom Township High School, BH 40-45, BH 45-50, BH 50-55, BH 55-60
Brown v. Board of Education, BH 10-15
Bunce, Susan, BH 20-25
Chicago, IL., BH 0-5, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 25-30, BH 30-35, BH 35-40, BH 40-45, BH 45-50, BH 50-55
Chicago Tribune, BH 5-10
Clark, Mark, BH 50-55
Edens Expressway, BH 55-60
Fortune, Michael, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 20-25
Gannon, Ann Ida (Sister), BH 60-65
Glenview, Illinois, BH 0-5
Hampton, Fred, BH 50-55
Hernandez, Carmen, BH 35-40
Humphrey, Hubert, BH 40-45
Kennedy, Robert, BH 10-15, BH 35-40
King Jr., Martin Luther, BH 10-15, BH 35-40
Kurtz, Gerry, BH 35-40
Lane Tech College Prep High School, BH 40-45, BH 45-50
LondonHouse Hotel, BH 35-40
Loyola University Chicago, BH 10-15, BH 50-55, BH 55-60
Mary Francis (Sister), BH 15-20
Matasar, Anne, BH 10-15
Madonna della Strada Chapel, BH 60-65
Mount Mary University, BH 5-10
Mundelein College, BH 0-5, BH 5-10, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 20-25, BH 25-30, BH 30-35, BH 35-40, BH 45-50, BH 50-55, BH 55-60, BH 60-65
Mundelein College Alumni Department, BH 0-5, BH 15-20, BH 30-35, BH 35-40
Mundelein College Candlelighting Ceremony, BH 15-20
Mundelein College Coffey Hall, BH 10-15, BH 15-20, BH 25-30, BH 35-40, BH 45-50, BH 50-55, BH 60-65
Mundelein College Review, the, BH 25-30
Mundelein College Lewis Center, BH 10-15, BH 25-30, BH 55-60
Mundelein College Northland Hall, BH 15-20, BH 55-60
Mundelein College Piper Hall, BH 20-25
Mundelein College Skyscraper Building, BH 25- 30
Mundelein Revue, BH 30-35
Mundelein Student Chorus, BH 20-25, BH 30-35
Mundelein Student Congress, BH 20-25, BH 30-35
Northwestern University, BH 40-45
New York City, BH 0-15
National Worker's Project, BH 0-5
O’ Dea, Paul, BH 5-10, BH 45-50, BH 55-60
Pullman Foundation, BH 0-5
Saint Barnabas Grade School, BH 0-5
Saint Xavier University, BH 0-5
Scott Foresman Publishing Company, BH 0-5
Shakespeare, William, BH 15-20, BH 40-45
Sheridan Road, BH 20-25, BH 55-60
Simon and Garfunkel, BH 30-35
Sinatra, Frank, BH 5-10
Skyscraper, The, BH 10-15, BH 20-25, BH 30-35
Skyscraper Ball, BH 35-40
Thornton, Margaret (Sister), BH 30-35
Tribune Tower, BH 5-10
University of Chicago, BH 0-5
University of Notre Dame, BH 50-5
University of Dubuque, BH 40-45
Valli, Barbara, BH 30-35
Vietnam War, BH 35-40
Winnetka, IL., BH 55-60
Wrigley Field, BH 40-45
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