Kathleen Devereaux, Interview with Melissa Newman, 2022
Item
Kathleen Cummins Devereaux, (WLA, Mundelein College 1970 Yearbook)
Interview Transcript
Title
Kathleen Devereaux, Interview with Melissa Newman, 2022
Summary
Kathleen Cummins Devereaux was an English and French double major and Journalism minor who lived in Coffey Hall. She graduated from Mundelein in 1970. She recalls her participation in the student newspaper, The Skyscraper, where she wrote the “Skyscrapings” column under the pseudonym “Tully.” Kathleen was also discusses her political activities while at Mundelein, including helping campaign for Eugene McCarthy’s presidential nomination for the Democratic party. Memorable professors that Kathleen discusses include Dr. Barta from the sociology department, Sister Ann Leone and Dr. Michael Fortune from the English department, and Professor William (Bill) Hill from the theology department. Kathleen also talks about studying abroad in Switzerland during her senior year and, as a result, missing Mundelein’s graduation ceremony.
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
January 3, 2022
Biography
Kathleen Devereaux was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan in 1948. Her mother, Irene Kenney Cummins, grew up in Chicago and attended Mundelein College from 1942-1946. After visiting both Mundelein College and Barat College with her cousins, Kathleen decided she would rather be in the bustling city of Chicago at Mundelein rather than out in the Lake Forest suburb at Barat. Initially nervous about going away to school, Kathleen became friends with Mary Menzel who lived in the room next to hers in Coffey Hall and Mary Jo Rudolf, their floor’s dorm moderator (e.g. Resident Advisor). While at Mundelein, Kathleen majored in English and French and minored in Journalism, graduating in 1970.
Mundelein’s student-run newspaper, The Skyscraper, played a large part in Kathleen’s college experience. She began writing for it during her freshman year and worked her way up to feature editor in the fall of 1968. Kathleen wrote articles on politics, theater, and other Mundelein events as well as drew comics for the paper. It was through her experiences as a writer for The Skyscraper that Kathleen was able to delve into the political climate of the country at the time.
After graduating, Kathleen worked in market research before deciding to attend law school at the University of Detroit. However, after practicing law for several years, she quit so she could write full-time.
Mundelein’s student-run newspaper, The Skyscraper, played a large part in Kathleen’s college experience. She began writing for it during her freshman year and worked her way up to feature editor in the fall of 1968. Kathleen wrote articles on politics, theater, and other Mundelein events as well as drew comics for the paper. It was through her experiences as a writer for The Skyscraper that Kathleen was able to delve into the political climate of the country at the time.
After graduating, Kathleen worked in market research before deciding to attend law school at the University of Detroit. However, after practicing law for several years, she quit so she could write full-time.
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
[0:00 - 5:00]: Introductions, family background, and how she chose Mundelein.
[5:00 - 10:00]: First night at Mundelein, wanting to go home, making friends, and living on-campus.
[10:00 - 15:00]: Living on-campus and joining the newspaper staff.
[15:00 - 20:00]: Coup at the newspaper.
[20:00 - 25:00]: Meeting Verandah Porche and being radical with the newspaper and getting fired for it.
[25:00 - 30:00]: Radical newspaper things like changing titles and using phrases not “appropriate.”
[30:00 - 35:00]: Reactions to the newspaper changes and getting fired from the newspaper.
[35:00 - 40:00]: Continuing to write, drawing cartoons of political events, and studying abroad in Europe.
[40:00 - 45:00]: Studying abroad in Europe, not knowing about Kent State being in Europe, and campus shutting down after Kent State.
[45:00 - 50:00]: Being an English major, writing/creative writing, and notable professors.
[50:00 - 55:00]: English major continued, English department, and more professors.
[55:00 - 1:00:00]: Classes she took and plans after school.
[1:00:00 - 1:05:00]: What she did after graduation and the Upward Bound program.
[1:05:00 - 1:10:00]: World events that happened while at Mundelein, Upward Bound program, and reactions to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
[1:10:00 - 1:15:00]: Being politically active on campus and the Chicago Seven trial.
[1:15:00 - 1:20:00]: Mundelein Revue, USO Troupe, Christmas candlelighting, and candlelighting.
[1:20:00 - 1:25:00]: Candlelighting.
[1:25:00 - 1:27:17]: Wrap up.
[5:00 - 10:00]: First night at Mundelein, wanting to go home, making friends, and living on-campus.
[10:00 - 15:00]: Living on-campus and joining the newspaper staff.
[15:00 - 20:00]: Coup at the newspaper.
[20:00 - 25:00]: Meeting Verandah Porche and being radical with the newspaper and getting fired for it.
[25:00 - 30:00]: Radical newspaper things like changing titles and using phrases not “appropriate.”
[30:00 - 35:00]: Reactions to the newspaper changes and getting fired from the newspaper.
[35:00 - 40:00]: Continuing to write, drawing cartoons of political events, and studying abroad in Europe.
[40:00 - 45:00]: Studying abroad in Europe, not knowing about Kent State being in Europe, and campus shutting down after Kent State.
[45:00 - 50:00]: Being an English major, writing/creative writing, and notable professors.
[50:00 - 55:00]: English major continued, English department, and more professors.
[55:00 - 1:00:00]: Classes she took and plans after school.
[1:00:00 - 1:05:00]: What she did after graduation and the Upward Bound program.
[1:05:00 - 1:10:00]: World events that happened while at Mundelein, Upward Bound program, and reactions to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
[1:10:00 - 1:15:00]: Being politically active on campus and the Chicago Seven trial.
[1:15:00 - 1:20:00]: Mundelein Revue, USO Troupe, Christmas candlelighting, and candlelighting.
[1:20:00 - 1:25:00]: Candlelighting.
[1:25:00 - 1:27:17]: Wrap up.
Index
Allen, Diane, KD 65-70
Alliance Française, KD 40-45
Atlantic Monthly, KD 45-50
Barat College, KD 0-5
Barta, Dr. Russell, KD 30-35, KD 50-55
Birmingham, Michigan, KD 0-5
Black Students Coalition, KD 65-70
Boston College, KD 0-5
Boulevard St-Germain, KD 40-45, KD 45-50
Bread Loaf Writers Conference, KD 45-50, KD 50-55
Buckley, Betsy, KD 75-80
BVMs (Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary), KD 50-55, KD 65-70
Charity, John, KD 50-55
Chicago, KD 0-5, KD 5-10, KD 40-45, KD 55-60, KD 60-65, KD 65-70, KD 75-80, KD 85-90
Chicago Police, KD 70-75
Chicago Seven, KD 70-75
Christ the King Grade School, KD 0-5
Christmas, KD 75-80
Cicero, Marcus Talia (Tully), KD 10-15
Civil Rights Legislation, KD 70-75
Coffey Hall, KD 5-10, KD 15-20, KD 75-80
Colorado, KD 65-70
Columbia University, KD 55-60
Com Lab, KD 55-60
Democratic National Convention, KD 20-25, KD 70-75
Detroit, Michigan, KD 0-5, KD 5-10, KD 30-35, KD 65-70
EuroCentres de Lausanne, KD 40-45
Europe, KD 35-40
Evanston, KD 25-30
Fortune, Dr. Michael, KD 50-55
Gannon, Sister Ann Ida, KD 0-5, KD 30-35
Georgetown University, KD 0-5
Gibbel, Winnie, KD 75-80
Glen Ellyn, KD 5-10
Glencar, March, KD 70-75
Graham, Sister Anne Leone, KD 45-50, KD 50-55
Great Lakes, KD 80-85, KD 85-90
Hill, William, KD 50-55, KD 55-60
Holocaust, KD 55-60
Holocaust Cinema, KD 55-60
Huế, Vietnam, KD 15-20
Humphrey, Hubert, KD 35-40, KD 70-75
Immaculata High School, KD 0-5
Iowa, KD 55-60
Janice, KD 5-10
Joan of Arc, KD 30-35
Johnson, Lyndon B., KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Kearney, John, KD 30-35
Kennedy, Robert F., KD 35-40, KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Kent State Massacre, KD 35-40, KD 40-45
Kurtz, Jerry, KD 30-35
Lake Forest, KD 0-5
Lausanne, Switzerland, KD 35-40, KD 40-45
Le Beau, Marda, KD 40-45
Liberation News Service (LNS), KD 20-25
LSAT, KD 55-60, KD 60-65
Martin Luther King Jr., KD 65-70
Mary Grove College, KD 0-5
McCarnan, Rose, KD 70-75
McCarthy, Eugene, KD 15-20, KD 35-40, KD 70-75
McCarthy, Sheila, KD 40-45
McCormick Lounge, KD 65-70, KD 75-80
Menzel, Mary, KD 5-10
Mont, Mary Beth, KD 15-20
More Than the Greatest Love This World Has Known, KD 75-80
Mundelein College, KD 0-5, KD 5-10, KD 10-15, KD 20-25, KD 25-30, KD 30-35, KD 35-40, KD 40-45, KD 50-55, KD 55-60, KD 60-65, KD 65-70, KD 70-75, KD 75-80, KD 85-90
Mundelein College Revue, KD 75-80
Mundelein Literary Review, KD 45-50
Mundelein Voices, KD 50-55
Mundt, Mary Beth, KD 70-75
National Honor Society, KD 0-5
New School for Social Research, KD 55-60
New York, KD 55-60
Nixon, Richard, KD 35-40
Oak Park, KD 5-10
O’Reilly, James, KD 75-80
Palatine, KD 0-5
Paris, France, KD 40-45, KD 45-50
Pigasus, KD 20-25
Porche, Verandah, KD 20-25
Rocky Mountains, KD 65-70
Rose, Sister Sharon, KD 25-30
Rubin, Jerry, KD 15-20
Rudolph, Mary Jo, KD 5-10, KD 80-85
Rush Street, KD 10-15
Sass, Janet, KD 15-20, KD 20-25, KD 25-30, KD 30-35, KD 55-60, KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Saturday Evening Post, KD 45-50
Shakespeare, KD 45-50, KD 85-90
Sheridan Road, KD 0-5
Sirtaki, KD 35-40
Skyscraper (Building), KD 20-25
The Skyscraper (Newspaper), KD 10-15, KD 15-20, KD 20-25, KD 25-30, KD 30-35, KD 40-45, KD 45-50, KD 50-55, KD 55-60, KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Space Odyssey, KD 5-10
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), KD 70-75
Switzerland, KD 35-40
Tea Room, KD 25-30
Thompson, Sister St. George, KD 65-70
Trump, Donald, KD 70-75
United States Student Press Association, KD 15-20
University of Chicago, KD 55-60, KD 55-60, KD 60-65, KD 75-80
University of Detroit, KD 60-65
University of Lausanne, KD 40-45
University of Massachusetts, KD 45-50
University of New York at Binghamton/Stony Brook, KD 55-60
University of Wisconsin, KD 55-60
Upward Bound, KD 60-65, KD 65-70
USO Troupe, KD 75-80
Vermont, KD 20-25
Vietnam, KD 15-20, KD 75-80
Wallace, George, KD 70-75
WAMU, KD 55-60
Washington, D.C., KD 15-20
Washington Post, KD 15-20
Wiesel, Elie, KD 55-60
Wisconsin, KD 70-75
World War II, KD 0-5
Yippies, KD 20-25
Young Republicans, KD 35-40
Zach, Nancy, KD 40-45, KD 75-80
Zoom, KD 45-50
Zorba the Greek, KD 35-40
Alliance Française, KD 40-45
Atlantic Monthly, KD 45-50
Barat College, KD 0-5
Barta, Dr. Russell, KD 30-35, KD 50-55
Birmingham, Michigan, KD 0-5
Black Students Coalition, KD 65-70
Boston College, KD 0-5
Boulevard St-Germain, KD 40-45, KD 45-50
Bread Loaf Writers Conference, KD 45-50, KD 50-55
Buckley, Betsy, KD 75-80
BVMs (Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary), KD 50-55, KD 65-70
Charity, John, KD 50-55
Chicago, KD 0-5, KD 5-10, KD 40-45, KD 55-60, KD 60-65, KD 65-70, KD 75-80, KD 85-90
Chicago Police, KD 70-75
Chicago Seven, KD 70-75
Christ the King Grade School, KD 0-5
Christmas, KD 75-80
Cicero, Marcus Talia (Tully), KD 10-15
Civil Rights Legislation, KD 70-75
Coffey Hall, KD 5-10, KD 15-20, KD 75-80
Colorado, KD 65-70
Columbia University, KD 55-60
Com Lab, KD 55-60
Democratic National Convention, KD 20-25, KD 70-75
Detroit, Michigan, KD 0-5, KD 5-10, KD 30-35, KD 65-70
EuroCentres de Lausanne, KD 40-45
Europe, KD 35-40
Evanston, KD 25-30
Fortune, Dr. Michael, KD 50-55
Gannon, Sister Ann Ida, KD 0-5, KD 30-35
Georgetown University, KD 0-5
Gibbel, Winnie, KD 75-80
Glen Ellyn, KD 5-10
Glencar, March, KD 70-75
Graham, Sister Anne Leone, KD 45-50, KD 50-55
Great Lakes, KD 80-85, KD 85-90
Hill, William, KD 50-55, KD 55-60
Holocaust, KD 55-60
Holocaust Cinema, KD 55-60
Huế, Vietnam, KD 15-20
Humphrey, Hubert, KD 35-40, KD 70-75
Immaculata High School, KD 0-5
Iowa, KD 55-60
Janice, KD 5-10
Joan of Arc, KD 30-35
Johnson, Lyndon B., KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Kearney, John, KD 30-35
Kennedy, Robert F., KD 35-40, KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Kent State Massacre, KD 35-40, KD 40-45
Kurtz, Jerry, KD 30-35
Lake Forest, KD 0-5
Lausanne, Switzerland, KD 35-40, KD 40-45
Le Beau, Marda, KD 40-45
Liberation News Service (LNS), KD 20-25
LSAT, KD 55-60, KD 60-65
Martin Luther King Jr., KD 65-70
Mary Grove College, KD 0-5
McCarnan, Rose, KD 70-75
McCarthy, Eugene, KD 15-20, KD 35-40, KD 70-75
McCarthy, Sheila, KD 40-45
McCormick Lounge, KD 65-70, KD 75-80
Menzel, Mary, KD 5-10
Mont, Mary Beth, KD 15-20
More Than the Greatest Love This World Has Known, KD 75-80
Mundelein College, KD 0-5, KD 5-10, KD 10-15, KD 20-25, KD 25-30, KD 30-35, KD 35-40, KD 40-45, KD 50-55, KD 55-60, KD 60-65, KD 65-70, KD 70-75, KD 75-80, KD 85-90
Mundelein College Revue, KD 75-80
Mundelein Literary Review, KD 45-50
Mundelein Voices, KD 50-55
Mundt, Mary Beth, KD 70-75
National Honor Society, KD 0-5
New School for Social Research, KD 55-60
New York, KD 55-60
Nixon, Richard, KD 35-40
Oak Park, KD 5-10
O’Reilly, James, KD 75-80
Palatine, KD 0-5
Paris, France, KD 40-45, KD 45-50
Pigasus, KD 20-25
Porche, Verandah, KD 20-25
Rocky Mountains, KD 65-70
Rose, Sister Sharon, KD 25-30
Rubin, Jerry, KD 15-20
Rudolph, Mary Jo, KD 5-10, KD 80-85
Rush Street, KD 10-15
Sass, Janet, KD 15-20, KD 20-25, KD 25-30, KD 30-35, KD 55-60, KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Saturday Evening Post, KD 45-50
Shakespeare, KD 45-50, KD 85-90
Sheridan Road, KD 0-5
Sirtaki, KD 35-40
Skyscraper (Building), KD 20-25
The Skyscraper (Newspaper), KD 10-15, KD 15-20, KD 20-25, KD 25-30, KD 30-35, KD 40-45, KD 45-50, KD 50-55, KD 55-60, KD 65-70, KD 70-75
Space Odyssey, KD 5-10
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), KD 70-75
Switzerland, KD 35-40
Tea Room, KD 25-30
Thompson, Sister St. George, KD 65-70
Trump, Donald, KD 70-75
United States Student Press Association, KD 15-20
University of Chicago, KD 55-60, KD 55-60, KD 60-65, KD 75-80
University of Detroit, KD 60-65
University of Lausanne, KD 40-45
University of Massachusetts, KD 45-50
University of New York at Binghamton/Stony Brook, KD 55-60
University of Wisconsin, KD 55-60
Upward Bound, KD 60-65, KD 65-70
USO Troupe, KD 75-80
Vermont, KD 20-25
Vietnam, KD 15-20, KD 75-80
Wallace, George, KD 70-75
WAMU, KD 55-60
Washington, D.C., KD 15-20
Washington Post, KD 15-20
Wiesel, Elie, KD 55-60
Wisconsin, KD 70-75
World War II, KD 0-5
Yippies, KD 20-25
Young Republicans, KD 35-40
Zach, Nancy, KD 40-45, KD 75-80
Zoom, KD 45-50
Zorba the Greek, KD 35-40
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